Ozler Centre Artisanal and Onyx, Cappadocia, Turkey

Mehmet Buyukata, (buyukata_mehmet@hotmail.com) took me to where Onxy is turned into pottery and vases. Onxy ware from Cappadocia was used in the Dolmadabe Castle in Instanbul.

Mehmet and me.

Finished onyx

Large slabs of Onyx piled against the wall.

Modern onyx work with rotary and chisel.

Glazing the onyx

Upstairs where onyx and other fine work was being done on jewelry

Upstairs in the Ozler Centre Artisanal there was a wonderful display of finished onyx work. There was also lovely jewelry in gold and silver with precious and semi precious stones. Sultanite was a new found stone that changed colour with light.  Turquoise - actually is named for Turkey.  The blue of the local turquoise stone was resplendent.

Cappadocia - some more pictures

These are some pictures I took of Cappadocia. Some may have been put up in my blog but others didn’t really fit anywhere so I’m just uploading them now.  Partly its that I’m sometimes taking pictures with my iPhone and then those pictures get uploaded to the computer in a different order so I don’t see them when I’m first writing the blog.  Some I just like second time round and others were just too many of a kind first time round.  There’s just that much to see in Cappadocia.  Everywhere I looked there was a picture.
Picture of Mehmet Buyukata (buyukata_(mehmet@hotmail.com) and me.





Family of feather chimneys.  father mother son daughter


The region’s leader is a potter.

Sema, the Whirling Dervish Ceremony, Cappadocia, Turkey

I felt really privileged to attend a Sema, the Whirling Dervish Ceremony. My guide, Mehmet Buyukata (muyukata_mehmet@hotmail.com) took me in the evening to the place where these ceremonies are held.  I’ve always loved Rumi and the Sufi tradition so was so thankful to be present for the ecstatic dance.  No cameras were allowed during the sacred music and dance.
Sema has seven parts and each part symbolizes a stage in the mystic journey to perfection called ascension (“Mirac” in Turkish) The Whirling Dervishes cause their minds to participate in the revolutions (atoms revolve, electrons revolve, the sufis revolve). The dervish head dress represents the ego’s tombstone., their wides skirts the ego’s shroud. They are spiritually born to truth by removing their black cloaks.  They journey through each stage of the Sema.  At the onset of each stage they hold their arms in a criss cross position, representing the number one and testifying to God’s unity.

While whirling, their arms are open, their right hand directed to the sky and ready to receive God’s beneficence, gazing up, they turn their left hand toward the earth and turn from right to left, pivoting around the heart. Revolving, they embrace all of humankind, all of creation with affection and love.
The ceremony itself involved several musicians, playing wind instruments, stringed instruments and drums as well as chanting. There were six whirling dervishes.  When the ceremony was over two returned to allow photos.

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Goreme Open Air Museum, Cappadocia, Turkey

Goreme is a sacred place. It was referred to as Korama where St. Hieron was born at the end of the 3rd century. A very large Christian community had formed into Cappadocia in the 2nd century,with 2 bishoprics , one at Kayseri and the other at Malatya. By the 4th century it was known as the land of three saints, (St. Basil - Bishop of Kayseri 329-379, his brother  St. Gregory of Nyssa 335-394 and St. George of Nazianus 329-394. The monastery at Goreme is reflective of St. Basil’s community of worship.  The Tokali Church is the oldest known rock - cut church in the region. The old church was built in 10th century.
They didn’t allow photographs with or without flash to be taken in the Goreme churches. Indeed there was a guard there in each to ensure against that and vandalism.
My guide, Mehmet Buyukata (buyukata_mehmet@hotmail.com) teaches history and religious studies at the university.  Guides weren’t allowed to speak in the church so he would tell me from memory what was on each of the walls. That was impressive by itself.  I was very moved by the ancient paintings.
I later bought the Goreme book by archeologist Murat Gulyaz so I would have some of the pictures that most moved me .I’ve taken a picture of these from that book and one from a post card.
There were chapels without the fine frescos. In one I sat and prayed for family, friends and closest connection to God.  It is good to be in spaces where for hundreds of years individuals such as myself have humbly asked for guidance from the great unknown.



Entrance to Tokali Church










 Mother and baby Jesus (Tokali Church -Goreme by Gulyaz)

In front of each of the chapels, there was an information panel in several languages. I’ve just included a few of these.



Picture of St. George from Chapel of St. Basil (Goreme, Gullyaz).












A dog found a cosy place out of the wind.



















Refectory in Chapel of St. Catherine.