Minister of National Education Nabi Avcı voiced his pleasure to be attending the 2nd International and 22nd National Seyyid Sultan Şücaaddin Veli Commemoration activities organized jointly by the Governor’s Office of Eskişehir and the Foundation of the Turkish World held at the Atatürk Culture, Arts and Congress Center.

Minister Avcı said they are not here only to attend a panel and the inauguration of a restored facility and went on to say “today we are a congregation of people who have been brought together by a great benevolence, by a great meaning, by a faith that extends from the Balkans to Khorasan (in Central Asia). I want to say we should talk less here today and get on with our mission. Sultan Şücaaddin Veli is reminding us about a mission entrusted by the Almighty to us and the efforts of the ancient scholars who made these lands a home for us. May their benevolence be forever upon us. With the will of the Almighty this moral sense will spread in waves not only in Turkey but throughout all of the Islamic geography, from the depths of Asia to the Balkans, from Northern Africa to the Caucasus.”

After the protocol speeches a group from Bulgaria performed the whirling dervishes act. After a concert by the Iranian music group called Mushtak a panel titled “the Şücaaddin Veli Cult from Khorasan to the Balkans.”

“May the times be for charities, may the charities rule, may us be rid of malice, let the believers establish ranks, let the souls be in peace, let us call the name of the Almighty.”

After the speeches Minister Avcı proceeded to the Arslanbeyli village in the Seyitgazi township in the Eskişehir province and inaugurated the ŞücaaddinVeli Islamic complex where restoration work has been completed. “The restoration work at the Seyyit Sultan Şucaaddin Veli dervish convent which is one of the hubs of Anatolian wisdom has been completed. We have come together again for this occasion.” Minister Avcı recalled that the ŞücaaddinVeli Islamic complex was put on the list of permanent works of art to be restored by the Eskişehir 2013 Agency of the Cultural Capital of the Turkish World and went on to say “a total of 2 million 990 thousand liras were spent on the restoration work. A land of 12 thousand 500 meter square was included in the land of the complex. We also built recreation areas for visitors, a mortuary, a butchery, kitchen and cafeteria. I hope the Cemevi (cultural center and worship quarters of the Alawites) and a guest house which has been earmarked by the 2013 Agency of the Cultural Capital of the Turkish World will be completed by the Foundation of the Turkish World. We hope the Cemevi and the guest house will be completed in due course. I am sure that this dervish convent will continue serving as a peace and salvation center of humanity as it has been a center of wisdom for several centuries.

Thanking everyone who contributed for the construction of the complex led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Minister Avcı completed his speech declaring “May the times be for charities, may the charities rule, may us be rid of malice, let the believers establish ranks, let the souls be in peace, let us call the name of the Almighty.”