Reconfiguring Marian Devotion: The Transformation of Marian Cult among Evangelical Roma Communities in Hungary

Abstract (English)

The veneration of the Virgin Mary is a foundational element of Roman Catholic religious culture, manifesting in distinct visual, emotional, and ritual expressions. Marian devotion serves not only as a religious practice but also as a defining element of Roma collective identity. However, in recent decades, various branches of evangelical missions have gained considerable traction among Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary. As a result, the number of Roma converts leaving Catholicism for Pentecostal charismatic congregations has been steadily increasing.
Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Hungarian Pentecostal charismatic Roma communities, this presentation examines emerging narratives surrounding the abandonment of Marian devotion. It explores perspectives articulated by community leaders and pastors, shifts in communal and family settings, and the creative expressions that arise from the tensions associated with this transformation.
By examining the Marian cult and the ’Pentecostal peripheralization of Mary’ (Zachar Podolinská 2021) within the evolving religious landscape of Roma communities, this paper explores the intersection of faith, identity, and social cohesion amid religious transformation and how grassroots Pentecostal movements reinterpret sacred traditions, reshaping devotional practices in response to broader societal shifts.