Janthopoyism
Sacred Travel: Yeralti Mosque
#holythrowback to earlier-2024 when I visited the Yeraltı Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.
In a land covered by tall mosques, it’s refreshing to find one that lies very low. How low? So low that it’s hidden below street level. The name Yeraltı even translates to the “Underground.”
The history of Turkey is such a rich blend of European meets the Middle East that it’s no surprise this mosque (as well as many others) started its life as a Byzantine structure. Originally, this spot was a fortress basement.
Back then, Istanbul was known as Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire. In 1453, the Ottoman Empire swooped through, and Islam conquered the land, turning this basement into an ammunition storage facility.
However, everything changed when they discovered the bodies of three holy martyrs inside here. These men are claimed to be Amr ibn al-As and Wahb ibn Husayra (two companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him) as well as Sufyan ibn ʽUyaynah (an Islamic religious scholar from Mecca). It’s important to note that these declarations have come under scrutiny.
Regardless, this finding was enough to convert the cellar into a mosque in 1753, and that was a cool idea. Literally cool. A great escape for those seeking to hide from the Turkish sun. Apparently you often find people napping here.
99.8% of Turkey are Muslims, but this is not fully accurate as pretty much every baby born is automatically registered to that faith. Furthermore, the country’s censuses do not even ask about religion. Still, scholars estimate that 90% of the population follows Sunni Islam.
In a land covered by tall mosques, it’s refreshing to find one that lies very low. How low? So low that it’s hidden below street level. The name Yeraltı even translates to the “Underground.”
The history of Turkey is such a rich blend of European meets the Middle East that it’s no surprise this mosque (as well as many others) started its life as a Byzantine structure. Originally, this spot was a fortress basement.
Back then, Istanbul was known as Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire. In 1453, the Ottoman Empire swooped through, and Islam conquered the land, turning this basement into an ammunition storage facility.
However, everything changed when they discovered the bodies of three holy martyrs inside here. These men are claimed to be Amr ibn al-As and Wahb ibn Husayra (two companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him) as well as Sufyan ibn ʽUyaynah (an Islamic religious scholar from Mecca). It’s important to note that these declarations have come under scrutiny.
Regardless, this finding was enough to convert the cellar into a mosque in 1753, and that was a cool idea. Literally cool. A great escape for those seeking to hide from the Turkish sun. Apparently you often find people napping here.
99.8% of Turkey are Muslims, but this is not fully accurate as pretty much every baby born is automatically registered to that faith. Furthermore, the country’s censuses do not even ask about religion. Still, scholars estimate that 90% of the population follows Sunni Islam.
Janthopoyism is a spiritual philosophy meets self-improvement program.
We view the Absolute collection of all Universal Energy to be the highest power. You are part of that power. You are an extension of divinity.
The ultimate purpose of this power is to evolve, and we each have a unique part to play in this progression. The details of your role are relayed to you every moment of your life via emotional notifications.
The tricky bit is that human beings have developed a communication barrier between themselves and this instruction.
This barrier is called "the brain".
But never fear! By utilising some very simple practices, you can open the flow of exchange, granting you access to the ether of infinite ideas, the infallible path of your guided destiny, and the recollection of your holiness.
Which is basically a wanky way of saying that your life is about to get a whole bunch better.
Join the movement before it becomes too mainstream.
We view the Absolute collection of all Universal Energy to be the highest power. You are part of that power. You are an extension of divinity.
The ultimate purpose of this power is to evolve, and we each have a unique part to play in this progression. The details of your role are relayed to you every moment of your life via emotional notifications.
The tricky bit is that human beings have developed a communication barrier between themselves and this instruction.
This barrier is called "the brain".
But never fear! By utilising some very simple practices, you can open the flow of exchange, granting you access to the ether of infinite ideas, the infallible path of your guided destiny, and the recollection of your holiness.
Which is basically a wanky way of saying that your life is about to get a whole bunch better.
Join the movement before it becomes too mainstream.
