Case in Chiesa. Pratiche, discorsi e spazi dell’integrazione fra i migranti ortodossi in Italia

Orthodox Christianity, together with Islam, is reported as one of the main 'foreign religions' in Italy. A mapping of the Orthodox communities in Emilia-Romagna revealed 70 realities, 45 of which are stable churches. The research used ethnographic research tools and qualitative-quantitative analysis to offer a broad overview of the micro and macro history of the Orthodox communities in Italy. The aim is to provide verified data for future research and tools to build new forms of awareness and collaboration with institutions. The research also revealed that the different definitions of integration that emerged from the interviews enter into dialogue with the different models and practices of local Orthodox communities and their jurisdictions. The paper therefore proposes a focus on the object as subject and a shift from the theoretical framework through which the integration debate is predominantly conducted today.