Orthodox and Muslim Peoples in the Balkans
Article summary proposed by the Contacts review with LLM assistance
This article by Asterios Argyriou, professor at the University of Strasbourg, offers a historical and theological study of relations between Orthodox and Muslim peoples in the Balkans, from the birth of Islam to contemporary conflicts. Drawing on extensive documentation, the author distinguishes three major periods of encounter between Islam and Orthodoxy: the Arab-Muslim conquests, the Turkish presence in Asia Minor, and then Ottoman domination in the Balkans. The study shows that, despite a structural legal and religious divide between Christian rayas and Muslim subjects, a common Balkan civilization gradually took shape. The article then analyzes the processes of Islamization, the role of the Orthodox Church as a factor of cohesion, and the emergence of nationalisms. It concludes that the spiritual desert left by communist regimes calls for a shared responsibility among Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Muslims to build lasting peace in the region.
This article has not been translated yet — it is available in its French version here.
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