Minister Ersoy: Hajj is a great bridge of civilization where memory is carried across generations

Speaking at the opening, Minister Ersoy said, “Hajj is one of the most deep-rooted and profound spiritual journeys in human history. This blessed journey, which has held a special place in the heart of Islamic civilization for centuries, is not only a form of worship, but also a great bridge of civilization where knowledge, culture, art and most importantly memory are carried across generations. This journey has carried with it not only a physical journey but also a cultural memory for centuries.”

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy attended the opening of the exhibition titled 'Road and Forget: Written Memory of the Pilgrimage'. Istanbul Governor Davut Gül and President of the Manuscript Institution of Turkey Coşkun Yılmaz also attended the program held at the Rami Library. Following the opening speeches, Minister Ersoy, Governor Gül and President of the Manuscript Institution of Turkey Yılmaz toured the exhibition.

'HAJJ IS ONE OF THE MOST ROOTED AND DEEP SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS IN HUMAN HISTORY'

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said, “Hajj is one of the most deep-rooted and profound spiritual journeys in human history. This blessed journey, which has held a special place in the heart of Islamic civilization for centuries, is not only a form of worship, but also a great bridge of civilization where knowledge, culture, art and most importantly, memory are carried across generations. This journey has carried with it not only a physical journey but also a cultural memory for centuries. The exhibition ‘The Road and the Memory: The Written Memory of the Hajj Journey’ meticulously prepared by the Presidency of the Turkish Manuscripts Institution is a unique work that reveals exactly this spiritual and historical depth. Many rare works in our exhibition, from address books to surregisters, from prayer magazines to miniature city depictions, remind us of the memory and narrative power of our civilization. Throughout history, pilgrimage routes have not only been the physical travel routes of believers, but also a strong cultural memory network where knowledge, wisdom and art accumulation are transferred between different lands without interruption. has seen. These manuscripts recorded on routes extending from Üsküdar to Anatolia, from Damascus to Medina, from Mecca to Taif have become the most vivid witnesses to the science, culture and art of past times that have survived to this day. The Mushafs, destination lists, surre registers and depictions of sacred places in the exhibition attract attention not only with their scientific value but also with their refined examples of our understanding of art and aesthetics. In particular, the miniature depictions of sacred places such as the Kaaba and Ravza-i Mutahhara, depicted with exquisite artistic taste, remain in our memory as a rare heritage where the sacred meets the aesthetic. A significant portion of the rare works on display are being brought to light for the first time on this occasion, thus presenting our visitors not only with the traces of a journey, but also with a living heritage documenting how our science, art and memory of faith have been carried through the centuries. "This exhibition brings the memory of the past to the present and helps us to re-understand the spirit of our civilization, which is kneaded with science, culture and art," he said.

'IT HAS PLAYED A PIONEER ROLE IN THE PRESERVATION OF MANUSCRIPTS TO THEIR RESTORATION'

Minister Ersoy said, “Our Presidency of the Manuscripts Institution of Turkey is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Established with the visionary approach of our President, our institution has become the largest manuscript organization in the world with approximately 500 experts and personnel. It has assumed a pioneering role in every field from the preservation of manuscripts to their restoration, from cataloging to digitalization. In this context, approximately 12 thousand rare works in the Koyunoğlu Collection taken over from Konya Metropolitan Municipality and over 5 thousand valuable manuscripts transferred from the General Directorate of Foundations have been brought to our Presidency. In addition, studies regarding the transfer of manuscripts in institutions such as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul Archaeology Museum, and Mevlana Museum continue at full speed. Another important step was the Presidency of the Manuscripts Department established on the Night of Power with the signature of our President. This new unit will allow for stronger Mushaf historical studies to be conducted in Türkiye and the Islamic world; will pioneer the research and publication of our thousands of years of Mushaf heritage. Our Presidency has hosted more than 60 cultural and scientific events to date. Exhibitions such as Mushafs of Sultans, Marbling in Manuscripts, Peace Lessons, and Ramazaniyes have brought a new breath to this field. The First International Manuscript Symposium, which we will hold soon, will present Türkiye's knowledge in this field to the world and will provide an opportunity for information exchange with the world's leading institutions and scientists.

Ersoy said, “Our Presidency has also made significant progress in cataloging, digitizing and increasing accessibility of manuscripts. The catalogs of all manuscripts in the collections of the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum and the Istanbul Archaeology Museum have been completed and the necessary infrastructure has been prepared for opening them to digital access. As of June 15, these works will be available to the public via the website. Culture is a memory, civilization is the continuity of a memory. Manuscripts are the living witnesses of this memory. Protecting this valuable heritage, transferring it to future generations and ensuring our cultural continuity is our greatest responsibility.”

DHA

Editor: News Center