Intercultural Dialogue Platform (IDP) and Catholic communities in Turkey organized a symposium entitled “Being a Pilgrim and Visiting Holy Places” in Istanbul on September 23rd and 24th.

“How Muslims and Christians perform their own pilgrimage, the symbolic meaning and theological background of pilgrimage” were among the subjects discussed in this year’s annual symposium.

The symposium was held in Saint Etienne Church, located in Istanbul’s Yesilköy town.

Academicians made presentations on “Pilgrimage to God in Theological Understanding, The Pilgrim’s Relationship with the Environment and the Nature, Hosting a Pilgrim” in the symposium, as well as activists shared their experience with the audience about “A Christian Experience in a Muslim Sanctuary, A Muslim Experience in a Christian Sanctuary”.

“We Are Like Water-Marbling”
In his opening speech Secretary-General of KADIP, Dr. Ahmet Muharrem Atlig suggested saying “water-marbling” instead of “mosaic” when defining the cultural and religious harmony in Turkey. He said, “We are not like a mosaic. In a mosaic, we see all the colors are boxed in a cube. Whereas, we are like a water-marbling. Our colors, intermingling with each other’s colors, compose a bigger picture. Only when we probe deep into the details we can see the fact that no color is truly mingled with each other and we can see that each protects its own color”.

At the end of his speech, Atlig pointed out to the importance of pilgrimage worship in both religions Islam and Christianity.

“Important Issues are Discussed in the Symposium”

Vatican Representative for Turkey’s Catholic Church, Monsignor Louis Pelatre said he was very glad that the symposium gathered different religious members in the same hall.

Life is a Pilgrimage according to Christians, A Brand New Start to Muslims

At the symposium, for Christians, it is stated that life is a pilgrimage which is performed to reach  God’s will and it takes a lifetime. However, according to Muslims the pilgrimage is performed in a certain location within the framework of “it is only possible to go to the presence of God by trying to be an angel”. Also it is stated that referring to a Hadith, sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PUH), the pilgrimage cleans the sins committed before it is performed and that after the pilgrimage there are permanent improvements and changes on pilgrim’s life.