Sufi Culture & Whirling Dervish Ceremony in a Monastery

Idea: During this Monastery visit & Dervish Ceremony; you will find out the story of Sufism, Sufis, and their communities in Istanbul, Turkey. You will meet the Sufi community and their monastery, listen to their music, eye-witness the Whirling Dervishes Ceremony. The ceremonies are every Thursday. ( Not Touristic Show )

Known to the west as Whirling Dervishes, the Mevlevi Order was founded by Mevlana Rumi in the 13th century. The Order wrote of tolerance, forgiveness, and enlightenment. They survive today as a cultural brotherhood. They are not theatrical spectacles but sacred rituals. The ritual of the Mevlevi sect, known as the sema, is a serious religious ritual performed by Muslim priests in a prayer trance to Allah. Mevlevi believed that during the sema the soul was released from earthly ties, and able to freely and jubilantly commune with the divine. Dervish literally means “doorway” and is thought to be an entrance from this material world to the spiritual, heavenly world. The Whirling Dervishes played an important part in the evolution of Ottoman high culture.

From the fourteenth to the twentieth century, their impact on classical poetry, calligraphy and visual arts was profound. Rumi and his followers integrated music into their rituals as an article of faith. Rumi emphasized that music uplifts our spirit to realms above, and we hear the tunes of the Gates of Paradise.

The ceremony is in a real monastery on Thursday evenings
** In the monastery there is a lecture on tv in Turkish language
** Please be there at 20:00 pm

  • Booking

  • Information

Whirling Dervish Ceremony Real Monastery in Fatih Every Thursday @ 20:00 pm

Duration: 120 minutes (approx.) BCS. it is not a touristic show, durations are flexible.
Location: Fatih / ISTANBUL
Price : 1350 TL
For Online Reservation: Click Here

Istanbul Dervish Ceremony Reservation Office – Old IstanbulCOM

Cankurtaran Mah. Ishakpasa Cad. No: Sultanahmet 34400
( Senguler Tourism )
Istanbul, Turkey

How can one participate?

You can make reservations from here ( online ), you can e-mail us or you can visit our culture center in advanced and make your reservation in person.

Lecture : There is no lecture. If you have any questions about the ceremony, Sufism & Islam, we can try to answer them.

Dress Code : Long Sleeves & Long pants or skirts. It is a religious ceremony in the monastery, not a touristic show therefore please respect the dress code.

Photography : Yes you can take pictures without flash and not disturbing the Ambiance of the Monastery.

** Please note that there may be a little time changes and flexibility on the ceremony due to the prayer hours.

** Also we are taking limited number of guests to the monastery in order not to disturb the ambiance.

Photo Gallery