Sarı Saltuq’s many shared sites in Eastern Europe

What is it about?

This article discusses the shared sites associated with the semi-legendary 13th-century saint Sarı Saltuq (d. 1297) in Eastern Europe. Before his death, Saltuq is said to have instructed his followers to bury him in multiple graves, claiming he would be found in each one. This led to the legend that his body miraculously multiplied, resulting in seven, fourteen or even 72 tombs each containing a part of his body, which is believed to transfer holiness to the new location. Once known as an extraordinary Rifaʿi Sufi shaykh, Saltuq evolved into a saint revered for transcending religious boundaries. Stories portray him as an ecstatic Muslim warrior who crossed religious divides, often embodying other identities and performing miracles similar to Christian saints. Known for his ability to appear in several places at once and assume multiple identities, he is associated with Christian saints, especially Nicholas, George, Naum, Simeon, and Spyridon. This allowed Saltuq to play a pivotal role in the Islamization of the Balkans. Today he is claimed by various Sufi orders, including the Bektashi and Saʿdi. Numerous natural sites, including caves, mountaintops, and springs, as well as churches, tekkes, and türbes, are associated with him. His presence is tied to healing and elemental control. All sites have been shared at different times in their history, and some continue to be shared today. They all reflect the complex and shifting interrelationships between Muslim and Christian commemorative rites at mutually sacred sites and offer evidence of a shared conceptual vocabulary.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Stories about Sarı Saltuq depict him as an ecstatic Muslim warrior who blurred religious boundaries, often embodying other identities and performing miracles similar to Christian narratives. For example, he is associated with Christian saints like Nicholas, George, Naum, Simeon, and Spyridon, and performed miracles such as multiplying fish, akin to the biblical account in Luke 5:4-11. Before his death, Saltuq instructed his followers to bury him in multiple graves, claiming he would be found in each one. This led to the legend that his body miraculously multiplied, resulting in at least seven, fourteen or even 72 graves containing his remains. Throughout their history, all these sites have been used by different groups at various times, and some are still shared today. They illustrate the intricate and changing interrelationships between Muslim and Christian rituals at sites considered sacred by both, providing evidence of a common set of beliefs and practices.

Perspectives