Eskişehir Mevlevihane Cultural Association and Foundation
Visit us at Kurşunlu Library, open everyday between 13.00-17.00 or email yk@emev.org

In 2005, THE MEVLEVI SEMA CEREMONY was appointed by UNESCO, as

the MASTERPIECE OF ORAL & INTANGIBLE HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

In the cultural history of Anatolia, 13th century was a period of social structuring in which various confraternities began to be organized on the foundations of Islamic mysticism or sufi thought. The mystical foundations of Mevlevism were based on the fusion of the Khorasan school of sufism and the Seljuk-Turkish Culture.

The Story

Mevlâna Celâleddin-i Rûmi's family emigrated from Balkh (Afghanistan) to Konya (Turkey), the capitol of Seljuk Empire, while fleeing from the Mongols, when he was at the age of 7. An acclaimed scholar, later renowned as a mystical master, Rumi's exquisite poetry and words of wisdom were translated into many languages.

His teachings advocated tolerance, acceptance, reason, goodwill, charity and awareness through love for God. The Mevlevi Order (known as the whirling dervishes) was later organized by his son Sultan Veled in Konya, around Rûmi's teachings. The concept of "Chelebi" implies to the descendants of Rumi.

Eskişehir Mevlevihane was founded around 1572, consisting of a mosque, a hall for Sema Ceremony, an elementary school (now Kurşunlu Library), dervish cells, ceremonial kitchen (matbah), guest rooms (hanigah), storage & soup kitchen (imarethane) and an inn (caravansarai). Kurşunlu Mosque was built in 1525 under the auspices of Mustafa Pasha, grand vizier of Sultan Sulaiman the Magnificient. Mustafa Pasha was known as a Mevlevi and the inscription above the entrance of the mosque pays tribute to him.

Eskişehir Mevlevihane was an "asithane" equipped to train dervishes during their 1001 days of service and seclusion. There were about 140 Mevlevi Lodges across the Ottoman Empire serving until 1925, when all were closed down by law.

The 20th line descentant of Rûmi, Dr. Berna Chelebi Şener resides in Eskişehir and is Vice Chair of Eskişehir Mevlevihane Cultural Association, established in 2006 and Eskişehir Mevlevihane Foundation, established in 2019.

Mevlâna Celâleddin-i Rûmi (1207-1273)