Arabati Baba Bektashi Teke, a photo from Tetovo, West

Photographer's Note

禅etovo - Arabati Baba Bektashi Teke�

On a large site on the edge of the city you will find the Arabati Baba Bektahsi Teke (Macedonian: Арабати баба-теќе, Albanian: Teqeja e Baba Harabatit).
A teke is the Sufi or dervish equivalent of a monastery belonging to one of the 12 orders of dervishes (Muslim mystics). Sufism is derived from the Sunni branch of Islam.

The teke was originally built in 1538 around the mausoleum of an Ottoman dervish (Sersem Ali Baba).
What you see today, was built at the end of the 18th century. This teke remained the seat of the Bektashi until 1912 when the Ottomans were driven out of Macedonia.

In Yugoslav times the lands were taken as state property.
In recent years the Bektashi have regained access to the teke.
Today you can see well-kept flowered lawns, old-style inns, wooden pavilions, prayer rooms, meditation platforms and a fountain.
The teke is quite large. Here are three photos taken on different spots.

On arrival there was a family who was just leaving. There were no other visitors.
To my surprise there was a baba (priest) who spoke French.

Information from Wikipedia and from Bradt Travel Guide.

Fis2, pierrefonds, ikeharel, ChrisJ, COSTANTINO, holmertz, NickVu, jhm, Royaldevon, pajaran, adramad, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Fis2 (169709) 2021-11-27 13:36

Witaj Paul!
A very interesting set of photos.
Curious places and views.
I like buildings and cemetery.
Good frames, colors and light.
TFS.
Nice presentation.
Have a nice sunday.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (220577) 2021-11-27 13:46

Ciao Paul, great perspective on fantastic architecture, fine details, excellent clarity, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

lousat (138599) 2021-11-27 15:16

Hi Paul,I looked for something about the green flag but didn't find any news. A new nice surprise from Tetovo, changed hands from the church to the state to return to the church, really an interesting and unique building, 3 excellent photos as always. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

pierrefonds (113572) 2021-11-27 15:27

Bonsoir Paul,

Les arbres cadrent bien le monast鑽e. La prise de vue permet de voir les d騁ails du monast鑽e. La qualit� de la lumi鑽e embellit les couleurs de l'image. Bonne soir馥.

Pierre

ifege (46923) 2021-11-27 17:55

Hi Paul
I came across the Dervish in Turkey (Konya) but was unaware of them in Macedonia. An interesting history and a good photo.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (115515) 2021-11-27 22:52

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
the beauty is into the simplicity
and here this constructions
build in stones create
the best atmosphere for me
personally...
regards
cOSTANTINO

ChrisJ (171220) 2021-11-27 22:52

Hi Paul,

An interesting historic photo of the Islamic building from Ottoman times. An observant traveller would notice that even today, there is still a strong undercurrent of mistrust and dislike of anyone, usually Albanians or from Kosovo, who is still a practicing Muslim. From a Serbian Pov, this area and adjoining Kosovo was the historic heartland of ancient Serbia before the Ottomans invaded. This animosity ignited in the 1990's disintegration FYR, which included North Macedonia. Over time I hope this mistrust and the hostilities subside. It is a sad state of affairs when Serbian Churches and Muslim Mosques have to be barricaded with razor wire to prevent arson attacks by the opposing side. Tfs!

holmertz (101980) 2021-11-28 0:39

Hello Paul,
These photos are all interesting, partly thanks to the informative note. Strictly from a photographic point of view my favourite would be WS #1, which is well composed and the graves actually quite attractive. The other WS is quite colourful (but neither I have found out about the green flag). The building in the main photo and its surroundings are very neat, even though the modern sign on the wall is slightly disturbing.
Best regards,
Gert

Gerrit (62042) 2021-11-28 6:28

Dag Paul,
Ik zie dat Macedonia nog veel moois te bieden heeft uit de Ottomaanse tijd, nog meer dan ik heb gezien in Albani� en Bulgarije. Dit is ook een erg charmant gebouw,
groet, Gerrit

jhm (211734) 2021-11-28 9:42

Goedenavond Paul,

Het is steeds duidelijk dat geloofsinvloeden onze wereld steeds beheersen.
Om het even wat het ook mag zijn, ze eten allemaal het het zelfde geld bakje.
Heel mooi om naar te kijken, probeer eens ietsje contrast toe te voegen, dan verdwijnt de lichte sluier over de foto.
Maar dit is maar een klein detail.
Goed foto werk, bedankt.

Groeten uit Oost-Vlaanderen,
John

Tue (91564) 2021-11-28 10:15

Hallo Paul,
Een uitstekende foto van dit mooie oude gebouw met de elegante toren boven het lage dak. De bomen en bloemen vormen een goede voorgrond en het zonlicht was heel aangenaam. Mooi werk. Noord-Macedoni� lijkt me een erg interessant land om te bezoeken.
Lars

Royaldevon (85606) 2021-11-29 6:44

Hello Paul,

This teke, is in lovely repair and beautifully photographed, to show its stone walls, with huge stone lintels and jambs around the windows. The method is more organised than random stone walling yet not quite coursed.
The design suggest careful organisation but not the ostentation found in many religious buildings. I suppose the building reflected the Sufi, who, I seem to remember, wore simple woollen clothes.

You have chosen a fine viewpoint, creating a strong f/g triangle as well as strongly positioned features.

The cylindrical building (in your w/s) has a completely different building style. It seems more ancient, though I can't quite remember where I have seen it before!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

pajaran (114891) 2021-11-29 15:18

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepo mesto sa cvecem i stara arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i uhvacenim trenutkom sa oblacima koji dolaze.
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici.
Lepo uredjeno mestod sa zelenom travom i drvecem.

Zelim vam sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Paja

ikeharel (112419) 2021-12-01 5:56

A humble local Derwish monastery, built from local stones with a prominenr minaret, Paul.
A fine take from a good distant POV, included the green surroundings.
Good afternoon,
Ike

mkamionka (73344) 2021-12-01 9:23

Hi Paul,
Now by comparison to the house of cards this is a very modest temple. It certainly has a nice minaret. I thought first it was a chimney but knowing that it is a mosque -a minaret makes more sense, and there are loudspeakers on the top as well.
Lovely capture, and your reportage tells us more about the area and its culture,
M

adramad (72558) 2021-12-01 12:24

Hello Paul.
The two photos that you show us in the WS together with this main one, give us a fairly clear idea of these architectural ensembles used by dervishes in the past, very well restored and maintained, thanks to your good work we enjoy such an interesting place , the magnificent note also completes the vision very well.
A magnificent range of colors, in very attractive tones, which give great chromaticism.
Good brightness and sharpness management.
Very well done. Love it.
Have a great day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

worldcitizen (15956) 2021-12-03 11:41

Hello Paul,
All the greenery and flowers, combined with the monastery building, create a lovely scene. Each site you show us in Tetovo has a a lot of character.

mcmtanyel (67635) 2021-12-04 20:33

Hello Paul,
Without the note (or the title), I would guess this was an old factory. Very nice view of this old Ottoman tekke (with a double k).
Regards,
MT

foxy (3445) 2021-12-06 6:45

Hello Paul,
I must admit that all three photos are very interesting combined with the note to read.
You have indeed broadened my horizons through your photos about this country or the neighbour countries.
Maybe one day I'll ....
I think I would prefer the picture WS1 more.
I don't know ... could it be the cemetery old grave 'headstone', making it more 'mystical' to the past history.
Well,I do like the 'neat & tidy' courtyard with flowering borders in this main photo.
As for WS2 ... lovely stones ( honeycomb colours ) on the ground , matching the building walls. It's so beautiful.
I would reckon that the green flag is an 'emblem' of this teke - Bektashi.
Thanks for sharing this part of the small country in Europe.
Loong