​In early May, pilgrims meet at the shrine of Turbalı Sultan Baba, a Muslim Bektashi saint. Greek Orthodox Christians join Albanian Muslims who immigrated in the 1990’s or 2000’s and who take care of the old building (tekke), a former St. George’s Christian monastery. 
This feastday is linked to the celebration of the spring time and to “Hederlezı”, a popular holiday for Bektashi in the Balkans and related to Elijah and Hıdr. After the devotions, families dance, drink and eat together.

Monastery and Tekke Sign © Manoël Pénicaud

Entrance of the Tekke with Haci Bektash, Angels and Crown of thorns © Manoël Pénicaud

Mixed Iconographies behind Mother and Child © Manoël Pénicaud

Holy Grave and Turban of a Bektashi Dervish © Manoël Pénicaud

Pilgrims eating, drinking and dancing around the Shrine © Manoël Pénicaud

Dr Manoël Pénicaud is an anthropologist, filmmaker and photographer, represented by Le Pictorium Agency. He is a research fellow at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), based in Aix-en-Provence at the Institute of European Mediterranean and Comparative Ethnology (IDEMEC, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University). He is one of the curators of the international touring exhibition 'Shared Sacred Sites'. This series is part of the wider Shared Sacred Sites project.