Vazelon Monastery is located in the Maçka district of Trabzon, Turkey, approximately 40 km south of the city. It was built in AD 270 and served as a central hub for Greek Orthodox life in the Maçka region. Until its abandonment, the monastery maintained control over the surrounding villages.

On the northern outer wall of the monastery, there are frescoes depicting Heaven, Hell, and the Last Judgment. Throughout history, the monastery was subjected to numerous attacks. In the 500s, it was raided by Sasanian and Persian invaders who damaged parts of the structure and killed the resident monks.

Vazelon Monastery is a multi-story stone building, now in ruins, situated in the Pontic Mountains near the Black Sea and surrounded by mixed forests. It was developed and renovated several times from its initial construction until it was abandoned in 1923. The main body of the monastery was built using lime mortar and local stone, likely granite. The outer walls are thicker than the interior partition walls. Wood was used for the roof and floors, much of which has since decayed or disappeared. The monastery consists of four floors, including various rooms. It once contained a dining hall, a kitchen, and a cistern for collecting water.

Due to its strategic location and wealth, Vazelon Monastery held great importance in medieval Anatolia. It was funded by both the Byzantine and Komnenos emperors and stood along a road leading to Trabzon, a historic trade port. The monastery was also situated in the midst of rich, fertile lands and maintained control over nearby villages, further contributing to its wealth. Even in the late Ottoman period, particularly in the 1890s, it retained some influence over the surrounding villages.