Boundary-making, belonging, and continuity: The rewriting of Coptic Orthodox communities in Europe

This dissertation investigates the formation and development of Coptic Orthodox communities in Europe, with a specific focus on the Netherlands and Italy between the 1970s and early 2020s. The study challenges simplified notions of 'diasporic community formation' by analyzing how these communities are actively constructed through textual practices, communal narratives, and the strategic use of languages, rather than being seen as static or pre-existing entities. Central to this analysis is the role of church-produced texts, such as ritual or history books, educational materials, and online texts, in maintaining and reshaping group boundaries, fostering a sense of 'we-ness,' and navigating the challenges posed by migration.

Through a combination of ethnography-like methods and textual analysis, this research examines how European Coptic Orthodox communities negotiate continuity and adaptation, particularly exploring the involvement of church leaders and the mobilization of second- and third-generation Copts in securing the future of these communities.

By focusing on the nuanced processes of belonging and boundary-making, this dissertation offers new insights into the complexities of communal life among Coptic Orthodox churches in Europe, moving beyond traditional notions of 'identity' to address deeper layers of commonality, connectedness, and groupness.