Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy attended the opening of the exhibition “Road and Memory: Written Memory of the Pilgrimage” organized by the Presidency of the Turkish Manuscripts Institution at the Rami Library and made important statements. Minister Ersoy emphasized that the Hajj pilgrimage has not only been a journey of faith throughout history, but also a great bridge of civilization where knowledge, culture, art and memory are passed down through generations.
“The Exhibition Reveals Spiritual and Historical Depth”
Minister Ersoy stated that the exhibition traces the cultural memory formed throughout history through written documents and said, “This exhibition, meticulously prepared by the Presidency of the Turkish Manuscripts Institution, is a unique work that reveals spiritual and historical depth.” He said that many rare works in the exhibition, from address books to surre registers, from prayer magazines to miniature city depictions, remind us of the memory and narrative power of civilization. He drew attention to the fact that pilgrimage routes are cultural networks where science and art are transferred between different geographies.
“A Significant Part of the Works Were Unearthed for the First Time”
Ersoy, who stated that the manuscripts recorded on the routes extending from Üsküdar to Anatolia, from Damascus to Medina, from Mecca to Taif are the most vivid witnesses of the understanding of science, culture and art of the past that have survived to the present day, stated that the Mushafs, destination lists, surre registers and depictions of sacred places in the exhibition draw attention not only with their scientific value but also with their refined examples of the understanding of art and aesthetics. He emphasized that the miniature depictions of sacred places such as the Kaaba and Ravza-i Mutahhara in particular are a rare heritage where the sacred meets the aesthetic. He stated that a significant portion of the exhibited works are being brought to light for the first time and that visitors are presented with not only the traces of a journey but also a living heritage documenting how the memory of science, art and faith has been carried through the centuries.
Institutional Developments and Digital Access Good News
Minister Ersoy, who reminded that the Turkish Manuscripts Institution celebrated its 15th anniversary in his speech, said that the institution was established with the vision of President Erdoğan and has become the largest manuscript institution in the world today. He stated that the institution has taken on a leading role not only in preservation but also in cataloging, restoration and digitization processes. He reported that approximately 12 thousand works in the Koyunoğlu Collection taken over from the Konya Metropolitan Municipality and over 5 thousand works taken from the General Directorate of Foundations have been brought to the institution and that work is ongoing regarding the transfer of the manuscripts from the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Istanbul Archaeology Museum and Mevlana Museum. Ersoy, who provided information about the Manuscripts Department Presidency established on the Night of Power with the signature of President Erdoğan, noted that this new structure will make the Mushaf history studies more systematic both in Türkiye and the Islamic world. He conveyed that the 15st International Manuscripts Symposium to be held soon will provide an opportunity to present Türkiye's accumulation in this field to the world. Stating that the cataloging and digitization of manuscripts has been completed, Ersoy gave the good news that the works in the collections of the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum and the Istanbul Archaeology Museum will be made available for digital access on yek.gov.tr as of June XNUMX.
Emphasis on Cultural Continuity
Minister Ersoy, who concluded his speech with an emphasis on cultural continuity, said, “Culture is a memory, civilization is the continuity of a memory. Manuscripts are the living witnesses of this memory. Protecting this valuable heritage, passing it on to future generations and ensuring our cultural continuity is our greatest responsibility. On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude to all our experts, restorers and institution employees who contributed to the preparation of the exhibition.”
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül and Turkish Manuscripts Institution President Dr. Coşkun Yılmaz also touched upon the importance of the exhibition in their speeches. Following the program, Minister Ersoy and the guests toured the exhibition and received information about the works.
