Ottoman in Statue on Charles Bridge, Prague

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Charles Bridge is a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of 15th century. There are 30 statues mounted to the balustrade of this bridge.

Statues of Saints of John of Malta, Felix of Valois, and Ivan are the most spacious and expensive sculptures on the bridge. This was designed in 1714  by Ferdinand Brokoff and sponsored by František Josef Thun, the lord of Klášterec nad Ohří. The sculpture was intended to honour the two founders of the Trinitarians, the order that supervised buying back and redeeming of Christians in captivity under Turks. St. Ivan, the saint patron of Slavs was added to the group for unknown reasons. The base depicts a cave in which three chained Christians are praying to the Lord for salvation.

 

Sheykh Efendi wearing a Circassian / Caucasus Hat

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With a lineage that traces to Daghestan as well, Sheykh Abdul Kerim elegantly displaying the black wool hat.

[Picture courtesy of yursil.com/blog]

[Picture courtesy of Virginia Hakkani]

 

Hilal (Crescent) the Black Beauty

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Black Stallion Hilal

 

General Zikr Photos – Virginia 2/14/2009

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Photos from Sheykh Abdul Kerim Efendi’s visit to Jamal’s place in Virginia are up on Flickr:

General Zikr Virginia 2/14/2009

Thanks to Suleyman for the pictures.

 

Davos’dan Kurgu Resim

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“You let this barbarian here scream for 25 minutes. Don’t try to quiet me!”

“Man, we got embarassed in front of the whole world. The bruise even reflects on my face.”

 

Some Photos from Ashura Time

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Sheykh Abdul Kerim Efendi starting the Juma Khutba, second week of Muharram, 1430 – January 9, 2009.

Osmanli Nakshibendi murids preparing for Juma Khutba in early Muharram.

Our cook making Ashuré while some are reciting Kuran and duas.

 

The Hijaz Railway

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A website worth checking out for its pictures, if not for its articles or inaccuracies:

www.nabataea.net/hejaz.html

 

Osmanli Naksibendi Eid Kurban Pictures – Peru 1429

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Thanks to Nureddin and Yursil. Click for more pictures.

 

Flickr Photos

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Yeni resimler yüklenmiş bulunuyor.

A new collection of pictures have been uploaded.

 

England’s patron saint — a third-century Turkish soldier

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This article appeared on the main page of Yahoo.com under the title, “English celebrate with flags, food on St. George’s Day.”

Excerpts of the last paragraphs read:

Little is known for certain about the saint’s life, but he is thought to have been a soldier of the Roman Empire from Cappadocia, in present-day Turkey, who was executed after refusing to persecute Christians. The story of him slaying a dragon that was terrorizing a village has been circulating since the Middle Ages. He is the patron saint of several countries — including Germany, Portugal and Georgia, which is named for him — as well as the city of Beirut and the Boy Scout movement.

St. George’s popularity spread from the Middle East to Europe with knights returning from the Crusades, and he came to be regarded as a protector of English troops. In 1222 religious leaders in England — which was then Roman Catholic — declared a holiday in his honor, and by the end of the 14th century he was seen as England’s patron saint.

“He was a rebel from the Middle East. His father was Turkish and his mother probably Palestinian,” Tatchell said. “St. George’s parentage embodies multiculturalism and his life expresses the values of English liberalism and dissent.

For the full article, visit

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080423/ap_on_re_eu/proud_to_be_english

His “Turkish” identity might be contentious. Yet, some traditional knowledge reveals him as Hızır (aleyhis selam), Sayyidina Khidr, or Hagia Georgi.