article

Greek urban migrants and their rural patron saint

Ethnic studies • 1 (3) • Published In 1977 • Pages: 14-23

By: Kenna, Margaret E..

Abstract

The primary theme of this study is rural-urban migrant relations. Kenna notes that one of the problems faced by rural migrants in an urban setting is that of creating an identity or set of identities which are strategically crucial in various urban and rural contexts. In this paper the author discusses a particular example of the use of a relationship, based on Orthodox religious belief and characterized by acts of religious ritual, between the migrant and his place of origin. The example used here is the cult of the patron saint which serves as a symbolic resource uniting both residents and migrants of different and conflicting interests by offering possibilities for identification which both express and over-ride these interests. This document also notes that religious vows and prayers to saints particularly at a time of crisis may also function to reintroduce people to the cult and redefine them as migrants from rural origins (p. 21).

HRAF PubDate

2003

Region

Europe

Sub Region

Southeastern Europe

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 2002

Field Date

1966-1967, 1970s

Coverage Date

1966-1970s

Coverage Place

Island of Nisos (a pseudonym), Greece

Notes

M. Kenna

Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-23)

LCSH

Greece