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TheoTerra: Theopolitics and Canonical Territory in Moldova

Objective

TheoTerra investigates the theopolitics of Orthodox Christianity in Moldova, a country situated at the frontline of the contest between European integration and Russian influence. In this context, religious institutions do not act solely as spiritual authorities; they actively mediate political allegiance, social cohesion, and civil resilience. While scholarship has often overlooked religion as a driver of regional politics, in Moldova the Orthodox Church operates as a significant political actor, shaping state policies and everyday social practices.

The project adopts a multi-scalar approach that combines historical research, ethnographic fieldwork, and comparative analysis to examine the interactions between canonical claims, parish-level practices, and transnational Orthodox networks. The first objective maps and analyzes competing Orthodox jurisdictions, including the Metropolitanate of Bessarabia and the Metropolitanate of Chișinău and All Moldova, tracing historical developments under Tsarist, Soviet, and post-Soviet regimes. The second objective explores parish-level responses, including clergy defections and lay affiliations, with attention to gender, generation, and socio-economic context, highlighting how local actors mediate broader theopolitical dynamics. The third objective situates Moldova’s ecclesiastical disputes in a broader post-Soviet and Eastern European comparative framework, including Ukraine and Georgia, to assess intersections with state sovereignty and regional geopolitics.

TheoTerra combines archival research, interviews, participant observation, and digital media analysis. Findings will be disseminated through academic outputs (primarily a monograph) and multimodal outputs in partnership with Moldovan cultural institutions and independent media. By linking historical trajectories, local practices, and regional geopolitics, the TheoTerra investigates the theopolitics of canonical territory in Moldova’s Orthodox Churches.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF

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Coordinator

CEU GMBH
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 230 184,72
Address
QUELLENSTRASSE 51
1100 WIEN
Austria

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Region
Ostösterreich Wien Wien
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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