Christian Orthodox Migrants in Western Europe

Front matter

Routledge Studies in Religion

CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX MIGRANTS IN WESTERN EUROPE

SECULARIZATION AND MODERNITY THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GIFT PARADIGM

Contents

Acknowledgments vil Introduction 1 PART 1 The Context 17 1 The Point of Departure: The Orthodox Heartland 19

2 The Point of Arrival: Orthodoxy Spilling Out of Its Historical Territories 32

Part 2

Theoretical Considerations 59 4 Orthodoxy Meets Western Versions of the Secular 61 5 Orthodox Self-Definitions: The Gift Paradigm 72 PART 3

Gift Recompositions in the Case of Migration to a

Secular Context 105 6 The Vertical Axis: Perils, Recompositions and Permanencies 107

Index 193

Acknowledgments

Financially, the research on which this book is based was made possible by the Swiss National Research Foundation, who supported my project both during the NRP 58 (2007-2011) and during my PhD, with a Marie Heim-Vógtlin fellowship (2014-2017) for women in science.

Institutionally, my research activity on Orthodox migration has been generously hosted initially by Professor Francois Hainard at the Institut de Sociologie in Neuchátel, and, since many years, by Professor Francois Gauthier at the Chaire de Science des Religions at the University of Fribourg. As a PhD supervisor, Professor Francois Gauthier supported me with his trust in me, empathy and intellectually challenging comments, all wrapped in his contagious sense of humor.

Humanly speaking, writing this book was made possible by the love, patience and confidence with which my family has been surrounding me. It is with sincere gratitude that I turn to you, my warmhearted parents, my affectionate brother, my four wonderful children and my beloved husband.

Published with the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation.