Orthodox Choreographies

 

Orthodox Choreographies

Boundaries, Borders and Materiality in Jerusalem's Old City

 

By Georgios S. Tsourous

 

The book offers a comprehensive anthropological study of lived Christianity in Jerusalem’s Old City, with a special focus on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Church of the Anastasis.

Based on in-depth ethnographic fieldwork, the study explores the experiences of the Rum Orthodox community, examining their internal dynamics and relationships with other Christian groups.

 
Within the Church of the Anastasis, complex interplays emerge, as fragile legal agreements intermingle with ethnic and theological considerations, resulting in a complex reality of shared spaces and coexistence.

 
A materialist lens is employed to study these dynamics, suggesting that the material aspects of religious practices play a crucial role in shaping borders and influencing perceptions of similarities and differences across them.

 
Outside the Church's confines, in the Old City of Jerusalem, lay Christians, especially the local Palestinian Orthodox, engage in 'border-crossing practices', which often deviate from the Orthodox Church's approved practice.

 
These practices reflect the flexible strategies local Christians adopt in their everyday lives in Israel, challenging established norms and boundaries.

By capturing these dynamics, the book provides valuable insights into shared sacred spaces and offers a significant contribution to debates in the anthropology of Christianity and its material culture.

 
Dr. Georgios Tsourous is a social anthropologist and a Visiting Fellow at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, UK. Supported by the British Academy, his research delves into the complex socio-cultural relationships amongst the various Christian communities in Jerusalem.

 
He recently co-authored a research report for the International Community of the Holy Sepulchre (ICOHS), highlighting the invaluable contributions of the Christians to the Holy Land's economic, social, and civic landscapes, emphasizing the importance of maintaining this enduring tradition for the wellbeing of all local communities.

 
Beyond his core research, Dr. Tsourous also explores the dynamics of Christian-Muslim interaction and the effects of pilgrimage within shared sacred spaces.