PTT (Turkish Post) 800th Birth Anniversary of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi

POSTA VE TELEGRAF TESKILATI (PTT - TURKISH POST) in 2007 issued a series of First Day Cover stamps to commemorate the 800th Birth Anniversary of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the great Sufi master, humanist and poet.

Considering the compatibility of Mevlana's message with the goals and mission of the Organization, UNESCO, upon the proposal of Turkey, Afghanistan and Egypt, decided to participate in the celebrations to be held in 2007 on the 800th anniversary of Mevlana's birth.

Additionally, the Mevlevi Sema ritual was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005. The Sema Ritual was an original and symbolic expression of Mevlana's teaching. Altogether, Mevlana wrote five important works in verse and prose.

It is assumed that Mevlana was born on 30 September 1207 CE, in the city of Belh, which is located in today's Afghanistan. When Mevlana was 21 years old after migrating from Belh, he settled in Konya during the Seljuk Empire and spent the rest of his life here. Mevlana died in Konya on 17 December 1273 CE.