Demir baba teke

Demir baba teke

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Demir baba teke (The tomb of the iron father, in Turkish) was built in the mid-16th century over an earlier building. The current structure is a domed heptagonal building with a forechamber. The domed ceilings are decorated with geometric motifs and inscriptions. The central chamber contains also depictions of the bifurcated Zulfikar sword.

The grave of Alevi saint Demir baba, in the centre of the main chamber is always covered with gifts. According to the legend, the saint lived in the Bulgar mountain in Asia Minor.

The Teke is surrounded by a fence of beautiful carved stones, depicting a teke, a mosque, rosettes, sun and moon signs, David's star, etc. pointing to commonalities between the Alevi, Christian, and pagan traditions. During the Ottoman period the keepers of the Teke were often Christian. Folk traditions in the region of of Demir baba teke have preserved many older practices, such as laying on the stone altar in order to acquire the strength of the rock, tieing pieces of fabric, etc.

From 1927 Demir baba teke is one of the first protected heritage monuments in Bulgaria.