Pilgrimage and Its Infrastructure in Post-communist Transylvania

The atheistic nature of communism has been dwelt on excessively, to the point where it has become a trite commonplace. In reality, especially after the communist takeover of power, there was a certain competition in matters of faith, which could provide a much more convincing explanation of the entailing religious persecutions. In the countries of Eastern Europe, the post-1989 period has witnessed a return to pre-communist traditions and a re-synchronization with the West, including through a religious revival. Transylvania, by virtue of its history and traditions, also has a decidedly multicultural and multiconfessional character. In this area, there is an entire history of pilgrimages undertaken to this day, nuanced for each denomination (Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, etc.), yet also marked by mutual influences, a certain degree of emulation and even consequences such as changes in ownership over various places of worship. The post-comunist period has brought about a typically postmodern dimension of pilgrimages: cultural tourism and the ineffable touch of ecumenical syncretism.