Типологично сходство между културните традиции на ахиите от Анадола и на хетеродоксните мюсюлмани в България (бекташи и къзълбаши/алевии)
Typological Similarity of the Cultural Traditions of the Ahii from Anatolia and the Heterodox Muslims in Bulgaria (Bektashi and Kazalbashi/Alevii)

Summary/Abstract: The article opens with a brief historical review on the Ahi and their patron Ahi Evren (Evran) of the Ottoman Turks from Anatolia. In the second part the question “Were there Ahii in the Bulgarian lands?” has been discussed. It has been emphasized in this connection that there are no data of existing Ahian community in the Bulgarian lands, but the evidence show that since the end of 15th and mainly during the 16th century the Ahian community had already its representatives in the lands of Bulgaria. According to the evidence of V.A. Gordlevsky and Fr. Teshner there were Ahii representatives also during the first half of 19th century when sheikhs from the zavije of Ahi Evren have left Karshehir to visit Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and have been invited there to accept new members of the Ahian organization. In the third and main part of the study massive examples are being given evidencing of the typological similarity between the cultural traditions of the Ahii from Anatolia and the Bektashi and Kazalbashi (Alevii) in Bulgaria. Parallels are pointed to, connected to the worship of Ali ibn Talib and Salman al-Farisi. Similarities are pointed out between the ritual traditions of the Kazalbashi and the Bektashi in Bulgaria and the legends of some written records of the Shiite Islam and particularly of Ahiism in Anatolia. Similarities in clothes and attributes are studies. Parallels in miracle workings of prominent representatives of Ahiism and Baktashiism have been recorded. The general conclusion is made that the cultural traditions of Ahii from Anatolia and Bektashi and Kazalbashi (Alevii) in Bulgaria possess typological elements that are similar. The main prerequisite of this is the Shiite foundation on which Ahiism, Bektashism and Kazalbashiism (Alevism) have been formed.

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