Contemporary Polytheisms in Europe: Reflections on the Possibilities and Limitations of a Comparative Approach

All welcome to the workshop 

Contemporary Polytheisms in Europe: Reflection on the Possibilities and Limitations of a Comparative Approach.

The workshop takes place on Friday, March 20, 2026, in a hy­brid for­mat with live pres­ence at the Swedish In­sti­tute at Athens, Mit­seon 9, and on­line via Zoom.

Organised by the École française d’Athènes and the Swedish Institute at Athens, with the support of the Programme ReligiS and of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities.

Programme

09:00–09:30 | Welcome

09.30–10.00 | Greetings
Jenny Wallensten Swedish Institute at Athens & Gilles de Rapper École française d’Athènes

10.00–10.30 | Introduction
Néphélie Skarlatos École pratique des hautes études/PSL - École française d’Athènes 

10.30–11.00 | Rasa Pranskevičiūtė-Amoson Vilnius University, Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies
Ancient Baltic Faith Community “Romuva”: (Comparative) Insights from the Research Field

11.00–11.30 | Coffee Break

11.30–12.00 | Giuseppe Maïello University of Finance and Administration, Prague
Contemporary Polytheism in the Czech Republic: Historical Roots, Social Dynamics, and Future Perspectives

12.00–12.30 | Stamatis Zochios Hellenic Folklore Research Centre/Academy of Athens, École pratique des hautes études/PSL
Constructing the Myth: The (Re)Creation of the Past among Slavic Neo-Polytheists

12.30–14.00 | Lunch Break

14.00–14.30 | Kerem Görkem Arslan Université de Strasbourg - Institut français d’études anatoliennes
New Religiosities at the Margins of Dominant Religions: Methodological Reflections on the Study of Contemporary Pagan Movements in a Transnational Context (Turkey– Europe)

14.30–15.00 | Galia Valtchinova Université de Toulouse, CETOBaC (UMR 8032, CNRS/ EHESS/Collège de France)
Claiming “Thracian Religion”: Re/inventions of Ancient Polytheism in Postsocialist Bulgaria (from Historiographical Constructions to Field Performances)

15.00–15.30 | Evgenia Fotiou Department of Sociology/University of Crete, Rethymno
Contesting Narratives of the Past and Forging Alliances for the Future: Religious Revitalization in Greece

15.30–16.00 | Coffee Break

16.00 | Conclusive Round Table

Warmly welcome!

Attached file: Programme

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