|
| |
ONLINE ONLY: Proselytes of a New Nation: Muslim Conversions to Orthodox Christianity in Modern Greece, 1821-1862
Live Stream Here: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
Date: THURSDAY 11 August 2022 @ 7pm Melbourne | 12pm Athens | 5am New York
Presenter: Assistant Prof Stefanos Katsikas
Language of Presentation: English
Entry: FREE
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Synopsis
The seminar will answer questions such as: Why did many Muslims convert to Orthodox Christianity in Modern Greece? What did conversion mean to the converts? What were their economic, social and professional profiles? And how did conversion affect the converts' relationships with Muslim relatives in Greece and the Ottoman Empire?
Because the Ottoman legal system could keep Muslims who had converted to other religions from inheriting family property, the presentation examines the ways in which conversion complicated family relations and often led to legal disputes.
The presentation argues that religious conversion in the era of nationalism was far more consequential for the convert, their family, and their social relations. Converts received not only community attention, but also national. Depending upon the religious affiliation and nationality of an individual, they regarded neophytes as either "traitors" or "heroes." Against this sociopolitical backdrop, conversion more drastically affected the social fabric of communities than in the pre-modern era, and more often led to violence and conflict.
NOTE: This seminar is a re-scheduling of the original 16 June date that had to be cancelled.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Bio
Stefanos Katsikas is Associate Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies and Assistant Instructional Professor at the University of Chicago. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Sciences from the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) at the University College London (UCL).
His research lies in the field of modern and contemporary history of Southeastern Europe, especially in diplomatic history, the study of democratization, regional security, inter-ethnic, inter-religious and minority-state relations.
He is the author of Proselytes of a New Nation: Muslim Conversions to Orthodox Christianity in Modern Greece (2022), Islam and Nationalism in Modern Greece, 1821-1940 (2021), which you can find on Amazon (click here) and Booktopia (click here).
He has also written Negotiating Diplomacy in the New Europe: Foreign Policy in Post-Communist Bulgaria (2011), which received a Scouloudi publication award from the Institute of Historical Research, University of London.
Katsikas is also the editor of Bulgaria and Europe: Shifting Identities (2010); and co-editor of State-Nationalism in the Ottoman Empire, Greece and Turkey: Orthodox and Muslims (1830-1945) (2012).
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Sponsors
We thank Peter Patisteas on behalf of AHEPA for the kind donation that makes seminars like this possible.
During the course of the year considerable expenses are incurred in staging the seminars. In order to mitigate these costs individuals or organisations are invited to donate against a lecture of their choice. You too can donate for one or more seminars and (optionally) let your name or brand be known as a patron of culture to our members, visitors and followers, as well as the broader artistic and cultural community of Melbourne. Please email: info@greekcommunity.com.au or call 03 9662 2722. We thank the following corporate sponsors:
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Greek Community of Melbourne is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Non-Profits Commission ABN 14004258360
|
|
|
|
|
|
