Orthodox Christian Evangelism in the United States and Brazil: An Inter-American Approach in Evaluating the Evangelizing Mission of Orthodox Christian Publishing Companies

Abstract

The Orthodox Church is an institution with deep roots in nationalism and collective identity. It is the patriotic faith of the majority of Eastern European nations, where many regard following the nationally dominant faith of Orthodox Christianity as an important aspect of belonging in the homeland. Despite its eastern foundation, Orthodox Christian evangelism has been on the rise in the Western Hemisphere since the 1980s, most notably in the United States and Brazil. The role that converts have played in fostering a unique American and Brazilian Orthodox society, however, has received little attention from scholars. This thesis will seek to address this gap in the literature by discussing how the publishing efforts of Orthodox Christian converts in the United States and Brazil have been instrumental in creating an Orthodox Christian society that is native to the Western Hemisphere. I argue that this literary production links the United States and Brazil in an Inter-American dialogue through their dichotomous relationship to the East and has led to the formation of a collective American Orthodox identity.