Budalı Hoca Tekke in Ilıca: "One of, if not the, oldest dervish lodges in the Balkans"

According to Heath Lowry's research, the tekke named after Budalı Hoca was built during the reign of Sultan Murad I (1361-1389) as a reward for Budalı Hoca's service in the army. This suggests that the Budalı Hoca Tekke is one of the oldest dervish lodges in the Balkans, possibly even the oldest.

The village where Budalı Hoca Tekke is situated comprises three small neighborhoods known as First, Second, and Third Ilıca, spread along the walls of a valley. The tekke is located just before a neighborhood known as Banyolar Mahallesi, with only the tomb (grave) of Budalı Hoca preserved today.

Budalı Hoca was rewarded by Sultan Murad I with this area as a waqf for his achievements while serving in the Sogil Soyka region of Bulgaria. According to Lowry, this further indicates that the tekke is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, dervish lodges in the Balkans. However, Lowry has criticized the recent reconstruction of the tekke as "horrendous," arguing that it was not a restoration but an inappropriate intervention that damaged the historical fabric of this 14th-century structure. This reconstruction was funded by Saudi Arabia, which is considered a historic crime.

Visitors to Budalı Hoca Tekke today can see both sides of the steep path from the tomb to the hot springs filled with cloth pieces left by women visitors. These pieces of cloth, associated with the dervish's sanctity, are believed by women to have the power to fulfill their wishes. According to Hasluck, women believe that they are binding their illnesses to the sacred branches with these cloths.

Budalı Hoca Tekke represents the continuity of Muslim presence in the Balkans and a tradition dating back to the initial period of Ottoman entry into the region. This historic tekke holds a significant place not only in the spiritual life of the area but also in its cultural heritage. Heath Lowry emphasizes that Budalı Hoca Tekke should be regarded as one of the oldest, possibly the oldest, dervish lodges in the Balkans. Therefore, it is crucial to preserve the tekke and pass on its historical fabric to future generations.

Photos: Lowry, Heath W. (2009). In the Footsteps of the Ottomans: A Search for Sacred Spaces & Architectural Monuments in Northern Greece. Istanbul: Bahçeşehir University Press.