At the closing of the "Musica in Venere" concert series in Rome, a historic event conveying the teachings of Mevlana was held in cooperation between the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Italian Ministry of Culture.
The event was attended by Turkish Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı, Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality Uğur İbrahim Altay, Turkish Ambassador to Rome Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen, Director of the Colosseum and Roman Forum Archaeological Site Alfonsina Russo, Chairman of the Italian Chamber of Deputies' Culture Commission Federico Mollicone, and around 800 spectators.
In his opening speech, Deputy Minister Yazgı emphasized Mevlana's language of peace and his universal message to humanity, stating: "Mevlana demonstrated in every word and action that he came to the world not to divide, but to unite."
Referring to today's global conflicts and divisions, Yazgı said Mevlana's message serves as a guide: "In a world where wars and divisions are increasing, Mevlana's messages of 'humanity,' 'brotherhood,' and 'peace' should be a compass for us all."
Konya Mayor Altay noted that the city of Konya carries the spirit of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi in its very essence, saying Mevlana has united hearts for centuries with his belief that "It is not those who speak the same language, but those who share the same feeling who understand each other."
He concluded by saying: "The Sema ceremony we will witness today, which is on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is an expression of that call. I invite all of you to experience the Sema and to visit my city Konya, home to the 9,500-year-old Çatalhöyük Neolithic Site and its natural beauty."
Italian MP Mollicone called the event a truly special initiative, emphasizing that a whirling dervish ceremony, thousands of years old, was held at the Temple of Venus.
Mollicone said, "With tireless efforts in cultural diplomacy, we are promoting our magnificent cultural heritage."
