Sacred Practices of the Christian Orthodox and the Muslims in the Mixed Shrines in the Devoll Region (South-East Albania)

Abstract

The article portrays the mixed sacred practices of the Christians and the Muslims in the Devoll region in southeastern Albania: in the Satrivaç Orthodox sanctuary in the village Hoçisht (Satrivaç or Shatrivaç) and the Bektashi sanctuary in the village Kuç (Inonisht). Based on the materials of the field work in Devoll in July 2019 and July 2021, the authors consider how sacred practices in the space of sanctuaries are distinguished by representatives of different (ethno)confessional groups of pilgrims (Orthodox and Muslim, Albanian, Macedonian, and Roma), as well as how practices of different genesis (Orthodox, Islamic, vernacular) are associated with the idea of a common sacred place (vakëf) regardless of its nominal confessional affiliation on the level of language and rituals. Considering the same audience of visitors and pilgrims in Satrivaç and Inonisht, the authors focus on the parallelism of sacred practices, elements of the infrastructure of the sanctuaries, and related terminology. Nevertheless, against the background of convergent vernacular practices and tolerant acceptance of religious differences, collective identities based on religious affi liation remain relevant boundaries in the communication of various Balkan communities.