Glossary of Religious Terms

Local dialect versions of the terms as used in the Rhodopes are listed first.

Abdest (Turkish: abdest, Arabic: wudu or tawaddu) – ablution, ritual purification performed by Muslims before prayer, symbolizing a return to the primordial purity of Paradise.

Agnets – see Amnos.

Ayat/ayats (Turkish: sing. ayet, pl.ayetler , Arabic: sing. ayah, pl. ay) – literally “miraculous signs”, verses of the Qur’an.

Akathist (Greek: akathistos) – 1) liturgical hymn dedicated to a Christian saint or saints, sung standing, 2) a church service during which akathists are sung.

Aksham (Turkish: akam, Arabic: al-maghrib) – the time from sunset until the moment when the horizon is no longer visible; one of the five Muslim prayer times; Muslims in the Western Rhodopes believe this time to be particularly unsafe to people since jinn come out at this time.

Alehis salyam/aley selyam (Arabic: ‘alayhi al-salam) – literally “Peace be upon him”; a religious formula used when talking about a prophet mentioned in the Qur’an.

Amaliyka/amale (Bulgarian: amulet) – see muska.

Amnos – 1) the middle, cube-shaped portion of the prosfora bearing the letters “IC XC NIKA” (Jesus Christ Victorious) cut out of the prosfora when the sacrificial gifts are being prepared during the liturgy, 2) also, iconographic depiction of Baby Jesus lying on the diskos.

Archimandrite – head of a male Orthodox Christian monastery (igumen).

Arfe (Turkish: Arefe or Arife, Arabic: ‘Arafah) – the ninth day of the pilgrimage month believed to be the day of the absolution of sins. Muslims in Bulgaria use this term as an equivalent of the Orthodox All Souls’ Day, however Arfe is celebrated not only during the Hajj but also two days before the Ramadan. Perhaps significantly in this context, there is a symbolic similarity between the name and the Arabic word alA‘raf (literally, “raised edges”), meaning a kind of Purgatory in Islam. Muslims in the Rhodopes believe that they can help the souls in Purgatory by sharing food (mektsi, sweets) with neighbours on that day.

Ashure (Turkish: Aure, Arabic: ‘Ashura) – a holiday celebrated on the 10th day of the Muslim month of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Shi‘ah Muslims celebrate it as a commemoration of the martyrdom of al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali in Karbala. In the Sunni tradition, the holiday is celebrated in the post-Ottoman territories in memory of the saving of Nuh’s Ark, which landed on Mount Ararat on that day. The remaining food supplies on the Ark (dried fruit, grain, nuts) were used to prepare a pudding. Muslims prepare a similar pudding (also called ashure) on that day and share it with neighbours to ensure health. This practice was popularized by the Bektashi order.

Azreti/hazreti (Turkish: hazreti) – honourable, blessed.

Baba (Turkish: baba, Arabic: baba) – literally “father”, 1) figuratively – an older, respected person, 2) head of a dervish monastery.

Basmala – the abbreviation of Muslim prayer formula: bi-smi Allahi al-Rahmani al-Rahim, “In the name of God the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”. The opening utterance used in every Qur’anic surah (except the ninth) and every text written by a pious Muslim. The formula should be spoken before performing any work. In the Rhodopes, dzhindzhiya hodzhas also use this phrase for apotropaic purposes.

Bektashi Order – an Islamic Sufi order, very popular in the Ottoman Empire, established in the 13th century by a semi-legendary figure named Haji Baktash Veli of Khorasan in north-eastern Iran, considered the patron saint of the janissary corps. Bektashites did not observe Shari‘ah law and adapted elements of pagan and Christian belief in their cult, provoking accusations of heresy from Sunni Muslims. The Bektashis did not pray in mosques, drank alcohol and had an egalitarian attitute toward women. They played an important role in spreading Islam in Albania, southeastern Bulgaria and Macedonia. The order was banned by the Sultan in 1826, and again in 1925 by Atatürk. In the 1950s the order was revived in Turkey and (in the 1990s) in Albania.

Bida (Turkish: bid’at, Arabic: bid‘ah) – introducing innovations or new elements to Islam.

Chasoslov (Horologion) – liturgical book with the fixed portions of the daily cycle of prayers.

Dervishes (Persian darvish, Turkish: dervi, Arabic: darwish) – literally “those who walk from door to door”, mendicant Muslim monks; members of a Sufi Order, who have taken a sheikh or baba, head of a Muslim monastery or teke (Turkish: teke, Arabic: takiyah). Many Christian converts to Islam were dervishes. Dervishes belonged to different orders (Turkish: tarikat, Arabic: tariqah) such as the Mevlevi Order, the Bektashi Order, or the Malamiyya.

Devshirme (Turkish: devirme) – literally “gathering”. A system of compulsory conscription whereby Christian boys were pressed into service in the Janissary corps. In the Balkans the practice goes back to the 14th century (it was established by Sultan Orhan) and continued until the early 18th century. The Janissary corps was disbanded in 1826.

Diskos (Greek) – a paten, a gold or silver liturgical implement shaped like a small flat plate or disc on which the prosfora is placed.

Dyunya (Turkish: dünya, Arabic: dunya) – depending on the context, this world or “that” (the invisible other world).

Dzhanabu (Turkish: Cenabı) – a title of Allah: Great, Venerable, Mighty.

Dzhehendem, dzhendem (Turkish: cehennem, Arabic: jahannam) – hell.

Dzhehennet (Turkish: cennet, Arabic: jannah) – paradise, heaven.

Dzhindzhiya – an exorcist who frees people from the malign influence of jinn.

Evliya (Turkish: evliya, Arabic: sing. wali, pl. awliya) – a Muslim saint.

Farz (Turkish: farz, Arabic: fard) – religious duties imposed by Allah, the keeping of which brings rewards, and dereliction gets punished.

Gergiovden – St. George’s Day celebrated on the 6^th of May; the lamb sacrificed on Gergiovden (kurban) is the most important religious sacrifice of the year.

Giaour (local Musli variant: kyaur/kyafir, Turkish: gâvur, Arabic: kafir) – an infidel.

Hadis (Turkish: hadis, Arabic: hadith) – a story or narrative about an event from the life of the Prophet Muhammad; also, Muhammad’s utterances on a given subject transmitted by an authoritative figure; hadiths provided the basis for the Sunnah; after the Qur’an, they are the second most important source of Islamic law.

Hadzh (Turkish: Hac, Arabic: Hajj) – a pilgrimage to Mecca; one of the five duties of every Muslim believer, a Hajj should be made at least once in the lifetime of every healthy Muslim who can afford to make the pilgrimage.

Hadzhiya (Turkish: hacı, Arabic: hajji) – a Muslim pilgrim travelling to Mecca. In Bulgaria, the term also means an Orthodox Christian who has made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Haram (Turkish: haram, Arabic: haram) – that which is forbidden and punished, a religious transgression, sin.

Hidzhab (Arabic: hijab) – a kerchief covering the hair and the neck.

Hodzha (Turkish: hoca) – in the Ottoman Empire, an honorary title applied to representatives of the ‘ulama, especially teachers. Nowadays the term denotes: 1) an Islamic teacher nominated by a mufti, or 2) colloquially, any Muslim notable for his great religious learning. Some hodzhas may perform the role of imams.

Imam (Turkish: imam, Arabic: imam) – literally “leader, one who proceeds, master”. The leader of the Friday prayers in the mosque responsible for preaching sermons and performing Muslim rituals. Unlike Christian priests, imams are not seen as intermediaries between God and people.

Jinn (local Muslim variant: sing. dzhin, pl. dzhins, Turkish: sing. cin, pl. cinler, Arabic: sing. jinni, pl. jinn) – in Islam, these are believed to be supernatural creatures. Although jinn share certain qualities with humans (they eat, procreate and are endowed with free will), they are distinct from either humans or angels.

Kalimavka (dial.kilimyavka) – a tall, black hat worn by Orthodox priests.

Kitab (Turkish: kitap, Arabic: kitab) – book, the Qur’an.

Kurban (Turkish: kurban, Arabic: qurban) – 1) blood sacrifice, 2) sacrificial animal, 3) a meal made of a sacrificial animal.

Kurban Bayram (Turkish: Kurban Bayramı, Arabic: ‘Id al-Adha) – the most important Muslim holiday coinciding with the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. On that holiday, pilgrims and all Muslim believers sacrifice lambs and share their meat during special meals.

Melekye(to), melekyeta (Turkish: melek, Arabic: malak) – angel, angels.

Mazhab (Turkish: mezhep, Arabic: madhhab) – a school of Islamic law.

Maslosvet – blessing of the myrrhon (oil) used in the sacrament of confirmation (miropomazaniye) or Extreme Unction. The blessing is performed on Maundy Thursday by patriarchs or metropolitan bishops.

Mirab (Turkish: mihrap, Arabic: mihrab) – a niche in the wall of a mosque indicating the direction of prayer.

Millet – an Ottoman administrative system whereby the population was divided based on its religion, abandoned in independent Bulgaria late in the 19th century and early 20th century; non-Muslim religious communities enjoyed legal and religious autonomy in the Ottoman Empire.

Miro (Greek: myron) – “scented oil” made of 57 aromatic ingredients using a base of olive oil, white wine, incense and essential oils.

Mirosvane/miropomazaniye – the anointing with the holy oil; in the Orthodox Church it follows directly baptism.

Muska (Turkish: muska) – an amulet prepared by hodzha, shaped like a little book with extracts from the Qur’an (or even a microscopic copy of the Qur’an its entirety), usually worn around one’s neck in a special pouch; also known as an amale/amaliyka in the Rhodopes.

Mufti (Turkish: müftü, Arabic: mufti) – had of the Muslim community, an expert in Islamic law.

Muezzin (Turkish: müezzin, Arabic: mu’adhdhin) – a person who calls people to pray in a mosque.

Namaz (Turkish: namaz, Arabic: salat) – obligatory prayers performed by Sunnis five times a day. The prayer involves a series of precisely defined gestures called rekya/ raka.

Nafs (nefsa) (Turkish: nefs, nefis, Arabic: nafs) – soul.

Nana – in Rhodope dialect a female Muslim healer.

Panihida – an Orthodox memorial service held daily from the day of death until the day of the funeral, and repeated on days with symbolic significance (3rd, 9th, 40th) and on the deceased person’s anniversary of death, name day and birthday.

Peygamber (Turkish: peygamber) – a prophet named in the Bible or the Qur’an.

Plashchanitsa (Greek:epitafion) – a symbolic shroud bearing the image of Christ laid in the Tomb or the Lamentation upon the Grave. On Good Friday it is placed for adoration on a table in the middle of the church.

Prosphora/Prosphoron – from Greek: “gift”, “sacrifice”, leavened Eucharistic bread baked of wheat flour with water and yeast, shaped like a small round bun made of two disks-shaped pieces baked together symbolizing the divine and human natures of Christ. The middle portion is referred to as the Amnos (lamb).

Raya (Turkish: reaya, Arabic: ra‘iyah) – literally “the herd”: non-Muslim taxpayers in the Ottoman Empire.

Rekye (Turkish: rükû, rekât, Arabic: rak‘ah) – special form of prostration in Muslim prayer involving touching the ground with one’s forehead, performed on a special prayer rug.

Ramazan, Ramadan (Turkish: Ramazan, Arabic: Ramadan) – the ninth month of the Muslim calendar in which fasting is prescribed for all able adults between sunrise and sunset. Eating, drinking, smoking or sexual intercourse are forbidden during the period of fasting. Fasting during this month is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Ramazan Bayram (Turkish: Ramazan Bayramı, Arabic: ‘Id al-Fitr) – Muslims fast during the day in the month leading up to Ramadan Bayram, a holiday celebrated over 3-4 days with festive foods such as banitsa, kachamak or baklava, and visits to family members.

Rasul (Turkish: resul, Arabic: rasul) – an emissary of Allah sent to proclaim monotheism.

Razpeti petk (Bulgarian) – literally “Crucified Friday”, Good Friday.

Sadaka (Turkish: sadaka, Arabic: sadaqah) – voluntary alms given to paupers, orphans or disabled persons.

Salam alaykum (Arabic: al-salamu ‘alaykum) – religious greeting, literally “Peace be with you”.

Samodiva (samovila) – rusalka, a harmful supernatural being.

Sevap (Turkish: sewap, Arabic: sawab) – a good deed.

Sevapliya, sevapliyka – a person performing good deeds.

Sirat (Arabic: Al-Sirat) – a bridge suspended over the pits of hell.

Syunnet (Turkish: sünnet) – 1) circumcision (Arabic: khitan), 2) Sunnah.

Sunna (Arabic: Sunnah) – tradition and religious duties imposed by the Prophet Muhammad; stories about Muhammad’s life and utterances (hadiths), the second most important source of Islamic law after the Qur’an.

Sbor – a solemn congregation to celebrate a religious holiday, also a secular location, such as concert.

Shahada (Turkish: ahadet, Arabic: shahadah) – the Islamic creed, the declaration that “there is no god but God, Muhammad is his prophet”.

Shirk (Turkish: irk, Arabic: shirk) – idolatry, the most serious sin in Islam.

Teke/tekye (Turkish: tekke, Arabic: takiyya) – a monastery belonging to the Sufi order of the dervishes, headed by a baba.

Trebnik (Book of Needs) – a liturgical book containing the order of services and the accompanying prayers and blessings for different occasions.

Trisagion – a hymn to the Holy Trinity (“Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us”).

Tyurbe (Turkish: türbe, Arabic: turbah) – a mausoleum of a Sufi saint, believed to be a place where prayers are more likely to be heard.

Umma (Arabic: Ummah) – the Islamic community.

vakf (Turkish: vakıf, Arabic: waqf) – in the Muslim tradition, a pious bequest for charitable or religious purposes; an inalienable religious endowment of land, buldings or money made under Islamic law.

Vladika– an Orthodox metropolitan bishop.

Vechernya– a daily Orthodox Christian service held in the evening including a meditation on the history of salvation, from the creation of the world until the second coming of Christ.

Vodosvet – a blessing of water.

Yordanovden – The Day of the Jordan celebrated as the Epiphany in the Orthodox Churches. In Bulgaria the holiday is celebrated on 6 January.

Zadushnitsa– In the Orthodox Church, All Souls’ Day is held on the Saturday before the Meat Lent Sunday (mesopustna), the Saturday before Pentecost, the Saturday before the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel; the Muslim Small and Great Arfe is held two days before the Bayrams (one day before according to Christians).

Zagovezni– celebrations roughly equivalent to Shrove Tuesday. The celebrations of Mesni Zagovezni (Meat Lent, from the third week of Lent) and Sirni Zagovezni mark the time in which believers first abstain from meat, and then also from dairy products and eggs as well. The respondent is trying to emphasize the important moments during Lent.

Zakat (local Muslim variant: zekyat/zakat, Turkish: zekât, Arabic: zakat) – obligatory alms, the duty of every Muslim; a tax to support poor people. One of the pillars of Islam. Equal to at least 1/40 of one’s cash income.