The Role of Monasteries in Preserving Cultural Heritage in Central and Eastern Europe

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore and elucidate the pivotal role that monasteries in Central and Eastern Europe [1] have played in preserving cultural heritage in the twentieth century and up to the present day. These regions, characterized by a rich tapestry of diverse cultures, languages, and histories, have seen their monastic institutions serve as bastions of cultural preservation amidst socio-political upheavals. Thus, this Special Issue seeks to amass scholarly articles that examine the historical and contemporary contributions of monasteries to the cultural, educational, and social landscapes of Central and Eastern Europe.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a broad range of interdisciplinary studies that intersect sociology, history, anthropology, religious studies, cultural studies, heritage, tourism, digital humanities, and art history. By focusing on the multifaceted role of monasteries, this Issue aims to highlight the complexity and significance of these institutions beyond their religious functions, without excluding the religious dimension. Moreover, the geographical focus includes countries such as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and the Baltic States.

By “monasteries”, we not only understand them to be material buildings having a cultural role but we also recognize them as being communities (female and male communities—religious orders).

Cultural heritage, from a sociological standpoint, is a multifaceted concept that encompasses both tangible and intangible elements, such as built heritage, movable heritage, cultural landscape, oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, knowledge, and practices. It serves as a cornerstone for community identity, continuity, and cohesion, while also being subject to reinterpretation and contestation. By examining cultural heritage through sociological lenses, scholars gain insights into the ways in which cultural assets are preserved, valued, and utilized within societies. This holistic understanding is essential for developing inclusive and sustainable heritage practices that honor the diverse legacies of human communities.

Studies on the role of monasteries in preserving cultural heritage in Central and Eastern Europe are dispersed among different disciples (as mentioned above). For instance, Jewdokimow and Markowska (2013) aimed at scrutinizing the heritage of dissolved Benedictine monasteries in local collective memories in Poland, and Jewdokimow (2019) investigated the dissolved and operating Cistercians monasteries in Poland, highlighting their relevant presence, in many respects, for local communities. Mourato, Kontoleon, and Danchev (2002) focused on the topic of preserving cultural heritage in transition economies, referring to Bulgarian monasteries, while Alexopoulus (2013) concentrated on the Greek region. Thus, one of the aims of this volume it to design a space for collecting contributions from different disciplines that explore this topic without interdisciplinary synergy.

This Issue invites contributions that address the following key themes:

1. Historical Preservation: Articles that explore how monasteries have served as custodians of manuscripts, artifacts, and artworks, ensuring the survival of culture and history in the twentieth century and up to the present day.
2. Educational Contributions: Studies on the role of monastic schools and libraries in the dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of literacy and learning within their communities.
3. Architectural Heritage: Research on the architectural significance of monastic buildings and their role in the development of regional architectural styles and urban planning.
4. Linguistic and Literary Preservation: Analyses of how monasteries have preserved local languages and literature, including the transcription and translation of religious and secular texts.
5. Cultural Continuity and Identity: Discussions on how monasteries have contributed to the continuity of cultural traditions and the formation of regional and national identities, especially during periods of foreign domination or cultural suppression.
6. Social and Economic Roles: Examination of the broader social and economic impacts of monasteries, including their roles in local economies, social services, and as centers of community life.
7. Contemporary Relevance: Investigations into the current roles of monasteries in cultural preservation and their adaptation to modern challenges, including tourism, digitalization, and secularization.

[1] The term “Central and Eastern Europe” calls for further specification because—like every region name—it is the product of processes in which various boundaries overlap, such as geographical, historical, political, economic, ethnic, cultural, and religious ones (Bański 2008). This volume follows the definition coined by the geographer Jerzy Bański, who claims that “today, the concept of Central and Eastern Europe refers mainly to countries created as a result of the breakdown of the Soviet bloc. After the Second World War, this term referred also to all countries located between Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, and USSR, including Austria and GDR. […] Central and Eastern Europe thus includes Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), former Yugoslavia (Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina) as well as Romania, Bulgaria and Albania. Historically speaking, Central and Eastern includes also western parts of Belarus and Ukraine... Currently, they are rather treated as the western outskirts of Eastern Europe (Bański 2008, 131). Despite doubts about including Ukraine in Central and Eastern Europe, it was decided to include it in the analyses due to the significant development of Catholic consecrated life there.

Bański Jerzy. 2008. “Polska i Europa Środkowo-Wschodnia w koncepcjach podziału Europy.”

Prace Geograficzne, no. 218 (P. Eberhardt [ed.], Problematyka geopolityczna ziem polskich).

Warszawa: PAN Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania. 121-134. http://rcin.org.pl/Content/130/WA51_228_r2008-t218_Prac-Geogr.pdf.

Prof. Dr. Marcin Jewdokimow
Guest Editor

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• monasteries
• cultural heritage
• central and eastern europe
• historical preservation
• religious institutions
• educational contributions
• architectural heritage
• linguistic preservation
• cultural identity
• social history