[The ritual challenge-Corona and the Holy Spoon]

Area of Science:

• Religious Studies
• Sociology of Religion
• Cultural Anthropology

Context:

• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing tensions and created new crises within religious communities globally.
• Disputes extended beyond theological definitions to the practical, ritualistic dimensions of religious practice.
• The Christian Orthodox Churches experienced significant internal conflict related to specific ritual practices during the pandemic.

Purpose:

• To analyze the conflicts arising within religious fields during the corona pandemic, focusing on the ritual dimension.
• To examine the specific case of the 'Holy Spoon' within the Christian Orthodox Churches as a focal point of conflict.
• To understand how these ritual disputes reflect broader issues of religious identity and the negotiation of transcendent reality.

Summary:

• The corona pandemic triggered intense disputes within religious spheres, notably concerning the ritualistic use of the 'Holy Spoon' in Orthodox Churches.
• This ritual artifact, believed to offer salvation yet capable of causing harm, became central to a conflict over Orthodox identity and its 'energetic' understanding of transcendence.
• The 'Holy Spoon' controversy illustrates how religious practices are contested in the 'field of power' (Bourdieu) to assert and defend group identity during crises.

Impact:

• Highlights the vulnerability of religious rituals and their interpretations during global crises like pandemics.
• Demonstrates the role of ritual artifacts in shaping and contesting religious identity and perceptions of reality.
• Provides insights into the dynamics of power and negotiation within religious institutions under external pressure.