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Crossing Surfaces in Search of the Holy: Landscape and Liminality in Contemporary Christian Pilgrimage

Author

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  • Avril Maddrell

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, England)

  • Veronica della Dora

    (School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol BS8 1SS, England)

Abstract

This paper examines the role of surfaces in pilgrimage practices and experiences in two denominational and cultural contexts and landscape settings for Christian pilgrimage: a week of Ecumenical pilgrimage walks in the Isle of Man and Orthodox pilgrimage to the monasteries of Meteora in Greece. Surfaces are examined as dynamic textured platforms for journeying and stages for the performance of ritual; as part of visual aesthetic and multisensory embodied experiences; as hermeneutical texts; as perceived liminal thresholds through which the divine might be experienced; and as tangible material fragments encapsulating and facilitating the ‘taking home’ of the pilgrim experience. Surfaces are found to be significant for pilgrims in a variety of shared ways, but also ways which are inflected by different theological and cultural contexts. Through its analysis of faith adherents and practices, this study offers (i) a spiritually informed perspective on both perceptions and experiences of surfaces, and (ii) understanding of faith-inflected mobilities and ‘more-than-representational’ meanings and practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Avril Maddrell & Veronica della Dora, 2013. "Crossing Surfaces in Search of the Holy: Landscape and Liminality in Contemporary Christian Pilgrimage," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(5), pages 1105-1126, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:45:y:2013:i:5:p:1105-1126
    DOI: 10.1068/a45148
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rachel Colls & Maria Fannin, 2013. "Placental Surfaces and the Geographies of Bodily Interiors," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(5), pages 1087-1104, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tomalin, Emma & Sadgrove, Joanna & Summers, Roxana, 2019. "Health, faith and therapeutic landscapes: Places of worship as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) public health settings in the United Kingdom," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 57-65.
    2. Isla Forsyth & Hayden Lorimer & Peter Merriman & James Robinson, 2013. "Guest Editorial," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(5), pages 1013-1020, May.
    3. Bell, Sarah L. & Foley, Ronan & Houghton, Frank & Maddrell, Avril & Williams, Allison M., 2018. "From therapeutic landscapes to healthy spaces, places and practices: A scoping review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 123-130.

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