Shrine phenomenon in and around province of Hatay (Antioch)

In this study the sites of shrines and pilgrimages within the Province of Hatay (Antioch) were studied. The study is composed of three parts. In the first part it is focused on the purpose and significance of the thesis and the concept of visit phenomenon and the sacred. In addition, it is given information on the key concepts in the thesis (sheikh, grandfather, father, etc.). It is studied on where the name of Hatay and Antakya came from. A briefing is given about the geographical and geopolitical location and demographic formation of Hatay. In the second part it is given information about the shrines and the sites of pilgrimages, their physical conditions and rituels. In this part the visit sites are studied in two parts as local and general sites. Under the titels of ' General Sites' the sites which receive visitors from other places are studied. And under the titels of ' Locals' the sites which are known by the locals in the neighbourhood were studied. In addition, the local sites were studied under the titles of Sheikh, Father and Grandfather, Prophet, Martyr, The Ahl al-Bayt, Threes-Sevens-Forties, Nines, Virgin-Woman, Sleeping Sevens, Daniel, Sem Safa visits. Further more, the visits of trees, water, mountain, rock, cave, bridges are classified under the different titles. The sites of visits belonged to the Chritians in Hatay are excluded. In the third part we focused on the cults formed around the visits in the Provnce of Hatay. Those cults were studied under the titles of the cults of ancestors, trees, water, stone-rock, mountain, home-cave, sacrifice. This thesis was completed with the certain summary parts made up through the results got around the visits in the Province of Hatay.