About Us

The Istanbul Sufi Ceremonies Ensemble was established in 2018 under the auspices of the General Directorate of Fine Arts, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The ensemble is dedicated to preserving, researching, and faithfully transmitting the deep-rooted traditions of Anatolian Sufism. It performs a wide range of rituals, hymns, ceremonies, and musical forms associated with various Sufi paths—including Mevlevi, Khalvati, Qadiri, Rifa'i, Bayrami, and Bektashi traditions—following their original methods (usûl) and codes of conduct (erkân). These ceremonies are not only held in modern concert halls, but also in historical religious and cultural spaces such as restored sufi lodges, mevlevihanes, madrasas, and complexes. Through these programs, the centuries-old spiritual discourse once transmitted in sufi lodges—viewed as “schools of spiritual wisdom” (irfan)—has been revived and returned to public life under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. The ensemble’s core repertoire includes Mevlevi Sema ceremonies, Devrân, Semah, and various forms of dhikr (remembrance). Mevlevi rites begin with naat (poetic eulogy of the Prophet Muhammad) performed by vocalists and instrumentalists (mutrib), followed by compositions in Persian lyrics and conclude with the recitation of the Qur’an. During the ritual, semazens (whirling dervishes) engage in silent (khafî) dhikr while performing the Sema. The ensemble also performs vocal (jahrî) dhikr ceremonies from other Sufi traditions such as Khalvati, Qadiri, Rifa’i, Badawi, Vefai, and Sadi orders. These include practices like Quud, Qiyam, Devrân, Bedevi Güllesi, Vefa Devri, and Zenbûrî Dhikr, all presented under the guidance of qualified Sufi leaders. During these performances, zakirân (reciters) chant ilahis (devotional hymns) carefully arranged according to rhythm, maqam, and dhikr structure, enhancing the ceremonial flow. For the first time in Türkiye’s republican history, the ensemble has recorded and archived previously endangered rituals such as Devrân Dhikr and Vefa Devri, producing documentary-level material with the support of the Ministry. Historical works once performed in Ottoman palaces, mosques, and lodges are now revived in their original settings under the banner of "Âsitâne Meşkleri". Devotional lyrics written by great Sufi masters are explained and contextualized, providing audiences with access to the moral and metaphysical teachings once transmitted in the Meydan—the ceremonial space of a sufi lodge. The ensemble also includes in its repertoire traditional musical forms such as shughul, tawshih, durak, naat, and qasida. It actively researches and revives compositions written in Ottoman Turkish that had long been forgotten on dusty shelves, transcribing and preserving them for future generations. In keeping with the historical tradition of master-apprentice (meshq) transmission, the ensemble seeks to convey the harmony of knowledge and love that defined the spiritual and musical heritage of classical Sufi practice. Through its performances, the Istanbul Sufi Ceremonies Ensemble offers not simply a concert, but a lived experience of sufi wisdom.