Galata Mevlevi Lodge

The Mevlevi, or Mevleviye, one of the most well-known of the Sufi orders, was founded in 1273 by Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi's followers after his death. The Mevlevi, or "The Whirling more... Dervishes", believe in performing their dhikr in the form of a "dance" and music ceremony called the sema.

The Sema represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to "Perfect." Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives to the "Perfect." He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation.