CHRONIS PECHLIVANIDIS – A JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF SUFISM
The exhibition Chronis Pechlivanidis – A journey into the world of Sufism was originally presented by the Benaki Museum at Piraeus Street in Athens, from May 2 to July 27, 2014. In the context of the collaboration between the Benaki Museum and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the exhibition will move on to the Ottoman monument, the Alatza Imaret, to introduce the audience of Thessaloniki to the mysticism of the East, its history and basic concepts.
Islamic mysticism or Sufism is a spiritual movement within Islam. Sufism is an esoteric philosophy, a way of life, a spiritual path towards the divine, whose main purpose is the discovery of the truth and unification with God through love and devotion. It is an inexpressible experience that can only be felt through specific mystical practices. In that sense, mysticism is an esoteric movement found in many religions.
One of the core practices of Sufism is the devotional act of remembrance (Zikr), in which short prayers or the names of God are repeatedly recited, often accompanied by music, helping the initiated transcend his individual ego and approach the divine. It is believed that mystical teachings and acts are still practised by a great number of Muslims in many parts of the Islamic world today. These practices differ depending on their origins, history and locality.