Gendered Aspects of Migration from Southeast Europe The research The project  

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Picture drawn by the Albanian schoolchild Apostolia Poretsi, 2005.

« I like the Evangelical Church because you’re directly in relation to God. I mean to God’s Word, not to God himself. You’re directly related to God’s Word. I mean that’s the good part. The fundamental part. That’s what I like about it. Because I want to get close to this [to God’s Word], not to the priest. Suppose I go and confess my problems to the priest. Will he solve them? It’s irrelevant, if you see what I mean. And that’s why I also don’t like, you know, the church here. I think it’s something you do without thinking about it, with eyes shut. At some point I needed, you know, to go somewhere just to unwind. And one day I went there [to the Evangelical church]. I listened to some different stuff there. I was given some pamphlets to read, I opened the Bible. I thought, Okay, I’ll go once to have a look. You know, to relax, to calm down. »

Besi (29, Albania )

« We’re Catholics. I remember one thing from my grandmother which I will never forget. Maybe it’s also because of the faith that I myself feel . Because at that time looking at images of Christ, of God, of the Virgin Mary was forbidden. And I remember my grandmother kept them under her clothes…And many times, when I was a little boy, she would say: "Look here, my boy, kiss this because it will take care of you for the rest of your life." That has stayed with me forever… »

Florin (37, Albania )

Faith

Reflections of the Other Being European Gendered journeys Religion and identity Faith Communist women Father figure National holidays Political biographies Myths and heroes Commuist nostalgia