Do you see those few broken gravestones behind the hazire wall? They are almost all that remains of the Sivasi Tekke Camii. This tekke carries a rich history. It stood near the Aspar Water Reservoir. Today, the Darüşşafaka lodgings occupy its former grounds.
Let’s journey back. Ayvansarâyî tells us Sheikh Muhyiddin Muhammed Efendi transformed a church into a mosque. He died in 1514. A small cistern from the Byzantine era existed on this land. A 1929 map shows the minaret base connected to the cistern’s west corner. This confirms the tekke’s location.
Now, imagine Sultan Bayezid II. During his Amasya years as a prince, he befriended Sheikh Muhyiddin Muhammed Yavsî Efendi. After ascending the throne, Bayezid invited Yavsî to Istanbul. He appointed him leader of the tekke. The Sultan bestowed upon him the title “Hünkâr Sheikh”. People called it Yavsî Baba Tekke after Sheikh Yavsî. He was the father of Ebüssuûd Efendi.
After Yavsî Baba’s death, several leaders followed. These included Serezli Muslihuddin Efendi and Nasrullah Efendi. Nasrullah died in 1566. These leaders strengthened their positions through marriages. They allied with the families of Ebüssuûd Efendi and Müeyyedzâdeler.
Then came a pivotal moment. Murad III invited Sheikh Abdülmecid Sivâsî from Sivas. Abdülmecid was a follower of Sheikh Şemseddin Sivâsî. Şemseddin founded the Şemsî branch of the Halveti order. Abdülmecid became the tekke’s leader. From that time on, people called it Sivâsî Tekke. They also used names like Sivâsî Efendi or Sheikh Sivâsî. These names came from the leader’s origins.
After Abdülmecid Sivâsî, his descendants led the tekke. These included Abdülbâki Efendi and Mehmed Efendi. Abdülbâki Efendi’s childless death marked a change. In the 19th century, leadership passed to Seyyid Abdülhâlik Efendi. He belonged to the Sünbüliyye branch of the Halvetiyye order. His descendants continued as leaders. Sheikh Hüseyin Efendi was the last name on Zâkir Şükrü’s list. He died in 1900.
Historical records show Mehmed Hâşim Çelebi as sheikh between 1832 and 1842. However, another record mentions Hafız Hüseyin Efendi as the Sivâsî Tekke sheikh in 1834. He attended the wedding of Sâliha Sultan, daughter of Mahmud II. Perhaps Hafız Hüseyin Efendi was acting on behalf of the younger Mehmed Hâşim Çelebi.
In 1840, a list described the tekke’s location as vacant land. Fire likely destroyed the tekke. Later, it was rebuilt. From the 1880s, tekke lists showed it as active again. We don’t know its architectural details. Today, only the hazire wall and broken gravestones remain of the Sivasi Tekke Camii. These remnants offer a silent testament to a vibrant past.