Shrine of Khidr
{{Short description|Shrine in Hatay Province, Turkey}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Shrine of Khidr
| religious_affiliation = Alawism
| image = 300px
}}
File:Khidr-Heiligum Samandag.jpg
The Shrine of Khidr is a structure located in the Samandağ district of Hatay, which is especially considered sacred by the Alawites. It is believed by Alawites to be the spot where Khidr and Moses met.{{cite web |access-date=26 June 2024 |date=16 February 2023 |language=tr |title=Hatay'daki 'Hızır Türbesi' depremden etkilenmedi |url=https://www.sozcu.com.tr/meclis-te-dikkat-ceken-anlar-chp-li-vekilden-20-5-metrelik-liste-p59454 |work=Sözcü}}{{cite web |access-date=25 June 2024 |title=Hz. Hızır Türbesi |url=http://www.samandag.gov.tr/kurumlar/samandag.gov.tr/%C4%B0%C3%A7erikler/turizm/hzhizir.pdf |work=Samandağ Kaymakamlığı}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-02 |title=Hz. Khidr: A Mystical Figure and His Shrine in Samandağ - Anatolian Secrets |url=https://anatoliansecrets.com/hz-khidr-a-mystical-figure-and-his-shrine-in-samandag/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |language=en-US}}
Alawite holidays
The shrine is visited by many people from the surrounding areas and neighboring provinces during most of the religious festivals celebrated by the Alawites. One example of this is the Hıdrellez Festival, celebrated every year on the night connecting May 5 to May 6 according to the Gregorian calendar. During these visits, fires are lit and wishes are made.{{cite web |access-date=26 June 2024 |language=tr |title=Hz. Hızır Türbesi ziyaretçi akınına uğradı İhlas Haber Ajansı |url=https://www.iha.com.tr/hatay-haberleri/-3676056 |work=IHA}}
Surah Al-Kahf
The inscription at the entrance and inside the shrine states that the aforementioned meeting is described in the Quran, in the section between verses 60 and 82 of Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave).{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8fEoSyRgRk |title=Hz Hızır Türbesi |date=2019-07-27 |last=Samandag Kaymakamlığı |access-date=2024-12-28 |via=YouTube}}