Orthodoxy and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania and Bulgaria: Political Turmoil, Informal Networks, and Religious Scepticism

Lucian N. Leustean

doi:10.55337/37/XGIH2720

Orthodoxy and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania and Bulgaria: Political Turmoil, Informal Networks, and Religious Scepticism

Lucian N. Leustean

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Abstract

Romania and Bulgaria stood out in the European Union as the countries with
the lowest COVID vaccination rates. The article argues that Orthodox churches
have played an influential role regarding the ways in which the population
adhered (or failed to adhere) to national health measures. In Romania, the
Church was divided between official and informal networks of social and
political power which led to an increase in the far-right movement. In Bulgaria,
the Church was closely associated with the government’s stance towards
supporting health measures and, in the long term, political protests became
associated with anti-vaccination program.

Original language	English
Article number	2
Pages (from-to)	15-29
Number of pages	14
Journal	Euxeinos - Governance and Culture in the Black Sea Region
Volume	14
Issue number	37
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.55337/37/XGIH2720
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

This article is protected by copyright. The published version can also be found at: Leustean, Lucian N. 2024. “Orthodoxy and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania and Bulgaria: Political Turmoil, Informal Networks, and Religious Scepticism.” Euxeinos 14 (37): 15–29. doi.org/10.55337/37/XGIH2720

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.55337/37/XGIH2720Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Euxeinos_Issue_37_3_Orthodoxy and the COVID-19 Pandemic
This article is protected by copyright. The published version can also be found at: Leustean, Lucian N. 2024. “Orthodoxy and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania and Bulgaria: Political Turmoil, Informal Networks, and Religious Scepticism.” Euxeinos 14 (37): 15–29. doi.org/10.55337/37/XGIH2720
Final published version, 1.13 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Cite this

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Orthodoxy and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania and Bulgaria: Political Turmoil, Informal Networks, and Religious Scepticism

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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