03.10.2008 — Municipality of Kars — October 3, 2008 — Updated 10 July 2025.
  1. Spiritual Christian Photo Exhibit
  2. Spiritual Christian Friendship Association

'Malakanlar' fotoğraf sergisi açıldı

Bilgi İşlem

"Malakan" photo exhibit opens

by Bilgi İşlem
Kars'ta düzenlenen 4. Kafkas Kültürleri Festivali kapsamında 'Unutulan Barış Kültürü, Malakanlar' fotoğraf sergisi açıldı. A photograph exhibit titled: "Malakans, The Forgotten Culture of Peace" is included at the opening of the fourth annual Caucasus Cultural Festival organized by the city of Kars.
[See exhibit displayed in Istanbul.]
Click to ENLARGE Click to ENLARGE Click to ENLARGE
Araştırmacı yazar Vedat Akçayöz ve Yıldırım Öztürkkan tarafından düzenlenen fotoğraf sergisi, Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Paşa Sergi Sarayı'nda açıldı. The photo exhibit was arranged by researcher, author Vedat Akçayöz (Ukchuyez)* [above photo right, his grandmother is Malakan ] and Yelderem Eztürkkan* [left] at the Palace of the Victorious General Ahmet Muhtar Pasha.*
[* See Turkish Alphabet for transliteration.
See his Turkish website: Vedat.Akcayoz.net has been offline since 2015, but partially saves at the  Internet Archive]
Serginin konusu hakkında veren araştırmacı yazar Akçayöz, "Bu fotoğraf sergisi 1871- 1921 tarihleri arasında Kars'ta yaşayan Rus asıllı malakanların kültürlerini anlatmaktadır. Resimler bu yörede ve Rusya'da yaşayan malakanların bire bir fotoğraflarıdır. Malakanların yaşam tarzlarını ve kültürlerini yansıtacak yarım saatlik bir belgesel hazırladık. Bu belgesel Altın Kaz Film Festivali'nde gösterime girecek. Amacımız burada ve Rusya'da bulunan malakan ve Türk gençlerini birbirine tanımaktır" dedi.
The researcher, author Akçayöz (pronounced: Uk-chu-yez) said about the layout:
"This photo exhibit describes the culture of the Spiritual Christians locally known as  Malakans who lived around Kars from 1871 to 1921 when it [this territory] was Russia. These photos show Malakans in this area, and those in Russia who are from here. We prepared a half-hour documentary film that reflects life style and culture of Malakans. This documentary will be shown at the Golden Goose Film Festival [International Golden Goose Competition, during the 14th annual Festival of European Films on Wheels* in Kars, 7-13 November 2008]. Our purpose with all this, the photo exhibit and the documentary film, is for Malakan youth that live in Russia and in Turkey to can get acquainted with each other."
Fotoğraf sergisi festival süresinde açık kalacak.

 The photo exhibit will be open throughout the festival, all are invited to see it [Oct.-Nov. 2008]. [See exhibit displayed in Istanbul.]

* A short film, "The Guest", about Spiritual Christians opened at the film festival in 2007, last year; and in 2008 "The Fading Color of Kars: Spiritual Christians", a documentary film, won an award.

Big thanks to Suat Boyar (Stepan M. Agapov) for sending this news the day it happened.

Kars Beledieisi, 03.10.2008
Kars Postasir, 04.10.2008
Hüryurt, 04.10.2008
Serhat Gündem, 9 Ekim 2008
 Related news:
Municipality of Kars News, October 3, 2008
Kars Post newspaper, Oct. 4, 2008
Free Country newspaper, Oct. 4, 2008
Border Agenda, October 9, 2008
Kafkas Kültürler  Festivali' Nin Programı
Kars — 03 Ekim 2008 Cuma
Genel Program
Sergilerin Açılış Törenleri
09.30-09.45 “Unutulan Barış Kültürü: Malakanlar” Vedat Akçayöz ve Yıldırım Öztürkkan Fotoğraf Sergisi (G.A.M.P ) 		Caucasus Cultural Festival Program
Kars — 3 October 2008 Friday
General Program
Ceremony Exhibits
9:30 am to 9:45 am — "Spiritual Christians: The Forgotten Culture of Peace" a photo exhibit by Vedat Akçayöz (Ukchuyez) and Yelderem Eztürkkan.

Malakan Friendship Association


From: "Ihsan Karayazı" <ikarayazi@gmail.com>
Subject: Qars Malakans
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008

From: Vedat AKÇAYÖZ <vedat@akcayoz.net>
Subject: Malakan Friendship Association
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008
Dear Molokane.org

I am glad to inform you that the "Spiritual Christian Malakan Friendship Association" has been established in Kars by Vedat Akçayöz (Ukchuyez) whose grandmother is of Prygun origin. Mr. Akçayöz recently visited Stavrapol province, Russia, and contacted Molokane, Pryguny and Dukh-i-zhizniki who migrated from Kars region. When he returned to Kars, Mr. Akçayöz opened a photo exhibition about Spiritual Christians from Kars in Stavropol, shown during the annual Kars festival, 3-5 Oct 2008. The exhibition will also be shown in Istanbul soon. [72 of these photos on the Akcayoz website show dates April 3-13, 2008, at locations in the town of Levokumskoe and small settlement (khutor) Kamenka. Photos of the exhibit in Istanbul were posted by Gokmen on his photo gallery, November 3, 2008.]

We kindly request you to announce this news on your website and please support us in networking.
Waiting for your assistance. Regards.

[See: Kars Welcomes Spiritual Christian Heritage Explorers, 2009 September 27]
Ihsan KARAYAZI
Municipality of Kars
Project Coordinator
36100, KARS

Tel:+ 90 474 2232152
Fax:+ 90 474 2232155
Mobile:+90 536 7606525
www.kars.bel.tr
 Vedat AKÇAYÖZ
vedat@akcayoz.net
http://Vedat.Akcayoz.net
Spiritual Christians from Russia in Turkey
Spiritual Christians from Russia Around the World