Erkmen Senan's Writings: Moonlight Monastery – Hagios Dimitrios Ta Selina – Pateriça, Cunda-Ayvalık

Nearly all of the steps are broken, and a large portion of the second-story upper floor has been destroyed. The Moonlight Monastery's vulnerability to natural and human impacts has led to its collapse over time.

The only surface research in the Ayvalık and Yunda/Cunda region was carried out by Prof. Dr. Engin BEKSAÇ, who analyzed the region with his scientific studies. At the 17th excavation results meeting of the BEKSAÇ survey, YUNDA/CUNDA provided the following information about PATERIÇA: “The research conducted on ALIBEY (CUNDA) Island, which had us suspicious of the presence of a pre- or protohistoric settlement due to water problems, proved us right. No data was found in this area except for the registered area at the entrance of the island, which may be Pordoselene or Nesos. A dense concentration of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine ceramics, as well as some architectural fragments, was observed in this area. A damaged Roman sarcophagus was also found in front of a fountain at the beginning of the road to Pateriça. (The fountain and the sarcophagus in front of it you see in the photo?) On the eastern side of Lale Island, east of Alibey Island, it was observed that the land eroded by the sea contained Aeolian, Hellenistic, and Roman ceramics. In light of this data, it was understood that this area, along with the areas currently submerged, was part of a larger Ancient and Byzantine settlement.

A businessman bought the monastery, what can we do, it's good, he's supposedly restoring it, but after the sign, they don't even let anyone in or around it. This is unacceptable, as if everywhere, the entire surrounding area is Pateriça, belonging to the one who printed the money... We must share this magnificent beauty, just like in my childhood, cultural assets belong to all of us, not to the one who printed the money, but to humanity.

We find important information about the monastery in Mr. AHMET YORULMAZ's comprehensive study, research, memoir and travel book, TRAVELING IN AYVALIK.

To get detailed information about camping and caravanning and to see all our articles, you can visit our TurkeyOutdoor Camping Guide page.

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