The Making of the St. Jovan Vladimir Cults : Shaping Church and Nation in South-East Europe

The cult of St. Jovan Vladimir, historical ruler of Duklja in the early eleventh century, is one of the oldest Slavic saint''s cults in Southeastern Europe. Over time, the cult developed into a number of distinctive offshoots, and played a significant role in church- and nation-building in the region. St. Jovan Vladimir has become a symbol of nationalism in several of the region''s modern states, but also a source of transnational cooperation between Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim religious communities. This study show the crossroads of national and religious movements in the many cults, sites and litterature.

This book is the first of its kind to assess the origins and evolution of the many cults, and their literature and sacred sites, from the death of St. Jovan Vladimir to the current revival across Southeastern Europe. It offers important new insights into the historic building blocks of nationalism and contemporary religion, and will appeal to all those interested in the religious and cultural history of the region.