Young Peruvians Converted to Orthodoxy
Autodidaxy and the Resignification of Tradition in Lima
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18800/anthropologica.202601.005Keywords:
Orthodox Church, Religious Conversion, Youth, Masculinity, Latin AmericaAbstract
This article examines the trajectories of young Peruvian men who have converted to the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, affiliated with the Patriarchate of Antioch, in Lima, aiming to understand how they construct their religious identity in an urban, non-ethnic context. An ethnographic approach was adopted, based on in-depth interviews, participant observation, and analysis of digital materials. The findings show that, in the absence of an inherited Orthodox tradition, these young men develop a highly personalized yet normatively rigorous spirituality. Through doctrinal autodidaxy, digital appropriation of religious content, and ritual discipline, they resignify both religious tradition and masculinity, drawing inspiration from models of sanctity and redefining their place in the community. The study concludes that conversion is not a singular event, but rather a prolonged process of discernment, symbolic reorganization, and search for authenticity. This research offers new perspectives on debates about religion, youth, and tradition in Latin America, demonstrating how Orthodoxy adapts and is transformed in the urban margins of Peru.
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