The World Headquarters of the Bektashi or Bektashi World Center ( sq, Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane; often simply known in Albanian as the Kryegjyshata) is the international headquarters of the
Bektashi Order, a
Sufi order. It is located on
Dhimitër Kamarda Street at the eastern edge of
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
city,
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
. It serves as the centre of the
Albanian Bektashi Order.
The headquarters also has a museum, library, and archives.
History
Before the
secularization of Turkey in 1925, the
Haji Bektash Veli Complex in
Hacıbektaş
Hacıbektaş, formerly Karahöyük, is a town and district of Nevşehir Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 11,929 of which 5,169 live in the town of Hacıbektaş. Located in C ...
, Turkey was home to the ''pir evi'' (Turkish for "
pir's house") of
Haji Bektash Veli
Haji Bektash Veli or Wali ( fa, حاجی بکتاش ولی, Ḥājī Baktāš Walī; ota, حاجی بکتاش ولی, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli; sq, Haxhi Bektash Veliu) (1209 – 1271) was a Muslim mystic, saint, Sayyid and philosopher from Kh ...
, which served as the international headquarters of the
Bektashi Order.
Atatürk's 1925 ban on all
dervish
Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from fa, درویش, ''Darvīsh'') in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (''tariqah''), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage i ...
orders caused the exodus of the
Bektashi Order to
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
in 1925, and the complex was closed for religious use. As a result, the administrative seat of the Bektashi Order was shifted to the World Headquarters of the Bektashi in
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
, Albania in 1930.
In 1930,
Sali Njazi, the 1st
Dedebaba
The Dedebabate is the leadership of Bektashism
The Bektashi Order; sq, Tarikati Bektashi; tr, Bektaşi or Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi mystic movement originating in the 13th-century. It is named after the Anatolian saint Haji Bektash ...
of the Bektashi Order, established the World Headquarters of the Bektashi movement ( sq, Kryegjyshata) in
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
. Sali Njazi had originally planned to set up the headquarters in
Melçan
Melçan is a community in the Korçë County, Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Korçë.
History
During the 1920s, when the Bektashi Order and its headquarters in Hacıbektaş, Turkey were banned, the ...
,
Korça (which had served as the first ''
de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
'' headquarters of the Albanian Bektashi community during the 1920s), but finally decided to build it in
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
instead. The construction of the headquarters was finished in 1941 during the
Italian occupation of Albania
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
.
The headquarters were closed in 1967, when Albanian Communist dictator
Enver Hoxha shut down all religious organizations. On 27 January 1991, a temporary committee for the resurrection of the Bektashi Community was established in Tirana. Since that year, the new community has worked hard to revive the traditions of Bektashism in Albania. The World Headquarters in Tirana was officially reopened on 22 March 1991 on
Sultan Nevruz
Nevruz Day is celebrated annually in Albania on 22 March as Sultan Nevruz. In Albania, the festival commemorates the birthday of Ali ibn Abi Talib (died 661 CE) and simultaneously the advent of spring. Declared a public holiday in 1996, it is prom ...
.
Headquarters campus
Tyrbes
The
tyrbes (holy tombs) of several
dedebaba
The Dedebabate is the leadership of Bektashism
The Bektashi Order; sq, Tarikati Bektashi; tr, Bektaşi or Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi mystic movement originating in the 13th-century. It is named after the Anatolian saint Haji Bektash ...
s, including
Kamber Ali
Kamber Ali (also known as Kamber Ali Dede, Ali Kamberi of Prishta, or Kamber Ali Pagria) (1869–1950) was the 3rd Bektashi Dedebabate, Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashism in Albania, Bektashi Order. He served as Dedebaba for only several m ...
,
Abaz Hilmi
Abaz Hilmi (''Abaz Hilmi Dede''; 13 March 1887 – 18 March 1947) was the 5th Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order. , and
Ahmet Myftar
Ahmet Myftar (also known as Ahmet Myftar Dede, Ahmet Myftari, or Ahmet Myftar Ahmataj) (1916–1980) was the 6th Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order. , are buried at the Kryegjyshata.
Museum
The Bektashi Museum (or Bektashee Museum) was officially inaugurated on 7 September 2015.
Library
The Bektashi Library (or Bektashee Library) was officially inaugurated on 7 September 2015.
Archives
The archives contain many historic documents in various languages such as Albanian, Arabic,
Ottoman Turkish, English, French, and Italian, with the earliest document dating back to 1847. There are also photograph collections, audio tapes, and microfilms. The audio collection preserves rare recordings of Bektashi musical traditions.
The Phonoteca of the Bektashi World Seat
Kryegjyshata Botërore Bektashiane. Accessed 19 September 2021.
Gallery
Image:Panoramic view of the Bektashi World Center Complex in Tirana, Albania.jpg, Panoramic view
Image:Qendra Botërore Bektashiane.jpg, Gateway
Image:World headquarter of the Bektashis.jpg, Columns
Image:World headquarters of the Bektashis coulmns.jpg, Columns next to the main building
Image:World headquarters of the Bektashis from another point of view.jpg, Columns next to the main building
Image:World headquarters of the Bektashis.jpg, Garden
Image:Dede Ahmeti, Tyrbe.jpeg, The tyrbe of Ahmet Myftar
Ahmet Myftar (also known as Ahmet Myftar Dede, Ahmet Myftari, or Ahmet Myftar Ahmataj) (1916–1980) was the 6th Dedebaba (or Kryegjysh) of the Bektashi Order. Dede at the Kryegjyshata
See also
*List of Bektashi tekkes and shrines
This article is a list of Bektashi ''tekkes'' (convents or gathering places) and '' tyrbes'' (shrines or holy tombs) in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Greece, and other countries. The list is based on Elsie (2019).
List
Gallery
File:Ara ...
References
External links
*{{official, https://kryegjyshataboterorebektashiane.org/
Bektashi Order
Buildings and structures in Tirana
Religion in Tirana