American professor converted to Islam Then a priest, Now a Mevlevi

American Catholic priest Prof. Dr. Craig Victor Fenter, who was influenced by Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi and his teachings, converted to Islam and took the name “Ismail” and became a Mevlevi dervish and started teaching Mesnevi to people from 7 continents. 

Fenter, who was born in the USA in 1955 and went to a Catholic school and served for 10 years after becoming a priest, met Mevlana’s 22nd generation granddaughter, Esin Çelebi Bayru, in 2004. Fenter, who came to Konya in 2005 upon Bayru’s invitation and watched the Şeb-i Arus ceremonies, was very impressed by the semah ritual, the spiritual atmosphere in the ceremonies and the stories, and chose Islam in 2006. Fenter, who settled in Konya in 2021 to be closer to Mevlana and to better experience Mevlevi rules, took lessons from “Mevlevi scholar” Nadir Karnıbüyük.

Reads the teachings of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi 

Fenter, a Mevlevi dervish, decided to spread the teachings of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, who changed his life, to a wider audience and to touch people’s lives. Fenter gives online Masnavi lessons to 40 students with different beliefs from dozens of countries such as Canada, China, Australia and Mexico. İsmail Fenter stated that “he loves Turkey, Konya and Rumi very much. He has been serving for the International Mevlana Foundation for two and a half years. He met people who came to the foundation from all over the world and worked as their translator. He started giving English Masnavi lessons one and a half years ago. People reach me via email, YouTube videos and messages and request to learn Mesnevi.”

Fenter also said that “I started teaching on Zoom by making a new English translation from the copy of Mesnevi in Konya. People from many countries such as China, Pakistan, Argentina, Egypt, Russia, Mexico, England, Ireland, Iran, Australia, Canada, USA and Turkey participate. Our classes start at 06.30 every Friday morning. I currently have 40 active students. It’s a beautiful thing. There are very interesting people as Christians, Muslims and Jews.”