Trofimova, K. P. Peculiarities of Gypsy Religious Culture In Terms of the Balkans� Religious Pluralism

Abstract: Religious pluralism has been historically developed in the cultural environment of the Balkans and includes traditions of numerous ethnic groups, in particular, ethno-cultural groups of gypsies living in different parts of the region. Peculiarities of co-existence of diverse cultures and interactions between ethnic groups provide the content of religious traditions in this region. The author of the article describes forms of inter-cultural interactions that are typical for different gypsy communities and define the qualitative diversity of their religious traditions. This includes the main process of acculturation as well as assimilation and religious mimicry as its private models. The author also analyzes specific features of beliefs and practices developed in local religious traditions of gypsies such as: syncreticity and combinability and verbal or �folk� nature of culture. It is noted that the current local traditions have an inter-cultural position in the religious system of the Balkan region and represent structures open for influence and transformation. Such special feature of gypsy religious culture defines the vector of its development based on socio-cultural environment and religious processes typical for South-Eastern Europe.

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