Terzibaba Külliyesi

Terzibaba Külliyesi is a complex of buildings constructed to honor the memory of Terzi Baba (Muhammed Vehbi), the Nakşibendî-Hâlidî sheikh and spiritual leader of Erzincan, and to provide religious and social services. Located directly opposite the Terzibaba Cemetery and Tomb, the külliye functions both as a place of worship and as a comprehensive center for education and social services.

Exterior View of Terzibaba Külliyesi (ERZİNCAN MUNICIPALITY)

History and Construction Process

Construction of the külliye began in 2019. The project was implemented under the leadership of the Terzibaba Cemetery and Tombs Preservation and Development Association, with support from benefactors and public institutions. Notably, the Chairman of the Ottoman States Organization Council of Elders, Binali Yıldırım, and his family including his son Erkan Yıldırım, made significant material and spiritual contributions toward the completion of the project.

By 2024, construction had reached 85 percent completion. Following landscape improvements and final touches, the külliye was officially opened with a ceremony on 29 August 2025.^【1】

View of Terzibaba Külliyesi During Construction (AA)

Architectural Features and Capacity

Terzibaba Külliyesi is built on a total site area of 7,800 square meters.^【2】The building’s physical characteristics are as follows:

Ground Floor Area: 2,000 square meters.

Total Covered Area: 4,000 square meters.

Architectural Style: Designed as a functional structure that harmonizes with the traditional urban fabric through the use of cut stone and landscape integration, while incorporating modern facilities.

Units Within the Külliye

Designed as a multi-functional service center, the külliye includes the following units:

Mosque and Prayer Rooms: The main center for worship services.

Terzibaba Külliyesi (AA)

Diyanet Specialized Center (Hafiz Academy): A high-standard educational unit capable of providing residential training for 18 hafizes.

Social Facilities: A soup kitchen serving 500 people, a four-star comfort guesthouse accommodating 30 guests, a library, an archive, and multi-purpose halls.

Funeral Services Area: Includes a ghusl room, morgue, and condolence houses, enabling all funeral procedures to be managed under one roof.

Other Areas: A cafeteria, children’s play areas, and a large parking lot.

Social and Spiritual Significance

The külliye aims to preserve the legacy of Terzi Baba, a 19th-century Sufi mystic whose profession was tailoring, and his principle of "humility and sincerity" as expressed in his saying ("By God, I do not say 'God for the world'"). Since its opening, it has been operational as an extension of the Erzincan Religious Specialized Center, becoming a significant center of learning for the region. Additionally, it hosts weekly social solidarity activities such as soup distribution to the public every Friday.