A Mevlevi in America: Süleyman Hayati Loras

Süleyman Loras, of Konya, is a name frequently cited in discussions on "Mevlevism in America," within English-language resources. These accounts depict Loras as the living torchbearer of the Mevlevi tradition, who preserved the tradition in America through his travels in the 1970s. Conversely, Turkish sources scarcely mention Loras, with only recent research on "Sufism in the West" beginning to acknowledge him, albeit sparingly. It is also noteworthy that Loras, known as a humble cook in Konya, rose to prominence among the dervishes trained in the dervish lodges and the scholars, ultimately becoming a leading figure of Mevlevism in America following the lodges' closure. The significant difference between English and Turkish sources, and the factors that contributed to Loras's rise to prominence, reveal the necessity of a detailed study on Loras's life. This study aims to reveal Loras's life, his travels and activities in America, as well as Loras's understanding of Mevlevism and some of the qualities that made him influential among Western students. In addition to being the first detailed study on Loras in Turkish, this study is important in terms of revealing the aspects of Loras's life both in Konya and in America. To reconstruct Loras's narrative, Initially, Loras's audio, written, and visual documents were collected, systematically categorized by chronology, and subsequently examined. To fill in the gaps, secondary sources were engaged. Furthermore, conversations with Loras's disciples and family members provided clarity on certain aspects and addressed inquiries not covered in the documents. The study concludes that the results of the study are as follows: After the shutdown of dervish lodges Loras stood out for his services to the Mevlevi path in Konya and, with his services to the Mevlevi path in Konya and, because of these services, was honored with the title of "dede". Recognizing the intense interest in Mevlevi order in the West, Loras played a significant role in bringing Mevlevi culture to America through his travels. The effectiveness of Loras' travels is attributed to the period of spiritual search America was undergoing and the qualities that Loras possessed. However, some of Loras' methods sparked intense debates regarding the appropriate representation of the Mevlevi path, eventually leading to the emergence of a distinct American Mevlevi tradition.