IV.3ã. Church: Place of workship/site of social cohesion

In the period of Ottoman rule the Church as an institution, but also as a location, takes on a dual role. Attendance at church and religious life play a part in social interaction and the way in which the Romioi come to identify with one another, helping them to maintain their cultural integrity. On the other hand the church, in addition to being a place of worship and faith, becomes a place of social cohesion. That is where the community gathers, where the faithful socialize on various occasions such as marriages or christenings and hold discussions over economic and political matters. Within the bounds of the church and the parish the Romioi build a common identity.