International Symposium in Kavala discusses Bektashi and Alevi traditions

The MOHA Research Center is organizing the International Symposium titled "Bektashis and Alevis in the Balkans and Anatolia: Worldviews and Practices through Ages and Places," to be held at the Imaret of Kavala from November 3 to 5. This symposium, a pioneering endeavor in Greece, aims to shed light on the rich spiritual, historical, and anthropological aspects of Alevism and Bektashism. Audiences worldwide can access the lectures through a live stream on the MOHA Research Center's YouTube channel.

Alevism and Bektashism, mystical traditions with origins in Persian Khorasan, later flourished in Anatolia and the Balkans post-14th century. The symposium will examine these intertwined traditions, tracing their development and exploring their philosophical, religious, political, and social contexts. The event will also focus on how these communities have interacted with diverse surrounding societies and adapted to multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-lingual environments.

The symposium's agenda includes discussions on spirituality and rituals, Bektashi's role in the Janissary Corps, the radical restructuring post-1826, and the communities' transition into modern nation-states.

Key topics include the understanding of worldviews constructed by Bektashis and Alevis, the survival strategies in different political and ethnic contexts, and issues like "silent" communities and "neo-Alevism" in Europe.