Research Profile

James Alexander Kapalo

Biography

I have an MA in Central and Eastern European Studies from the School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies and a PhD from the Department of the Study of Religions at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Over the past 20 years, I have conducted long term ethnographic fieldwork and archival research in Romania, Hungary and Moldova. Within the Department of the Study of Religions at UCC, I teach a range of courses on Christianities in the modern world, as well as courses on material religion and theory and method in the Study of Religions. From 2016-2021, I was Principal Investigator of the European Research Council Project Creative Agency and Religious Minorities: Hidden Galleries in the Secret Police Archives in Central and Eastern Europe (Hidden Galleries).

Research Interests

My research has primarily focused on the history and experience of religious and ethnic minorities in Central and Eastern Europe and is informed by the diverse fields of anthropology, history, folklore and  transitional justice. Starting with my MA Dissertation on Moldavian Csángó identity and my PhD (Brill 2011), an ethnographic study of folk religion and identity amongst the Gagauz, Turkish-speaking Christians in Moldova, my research has explored the impact of modernity and the state on local identities and vernacular belief systems of marginalised communities. My work increasingly explores the critical role of gender in the dynamics of religious change in the twentieth century and the creative agency of religious communities that have experienced state-sponsored repression and terror. My second monograph explores the history and experience of state repression of a new religious movement, Inochentism, that emerged in Moldova and Romania in the twentieth century (Routledge 2019). I am currently working on a third monograph that explores the transmission of religion during communism through material and vernacular religious lenses. From September 2016 to 2021 I was Principal Investigator of the European Research Council Project Creative Agency and Religious Minorities: Hidden Galleries in the Secret Police Archives in Central and Eastern Europe (ERC project no. 677355), a four year project that explored the visual and material presence of religious minorities in the secret police archives in Hungary, Romania and the Republic of Moldova. This project partnered with minority religious communities in participatory research that resulted in open access digital collections and museum and virtual reality exhibitions. My most recent publications explore the importance of visual sources and material cultural methodologies for the study of religions under communism as well as the ethical and interpretational challenges posed by secret police archival sources.
I maintain other active research interests including Orthodox Christianity in Ireland (I am a founding member of the Orthodoxy in Migration Research Network, charm and folk healing practices, eco-cosmologies, and minority and indigenous studies. 
I am managing editor of the Journal of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions (JISASR) since 2014 (http://jisasr.org/). In May 2015 I was elected President of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions (ISASR). I am a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association for the History of Religions and also sit on the Committee of the Society for Romanian Studies. 
In 2013 I co-founded and am co-director, together with Dr. Lidia Guzy, of MEWSC (Marginalised and Endangered Worldviews Study Centre) at UCC. The centre is a postdisciplinary forum for scholars working on endangered worldviews and marginalised communities (http://mewsc.wordpress.com/

Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body
Start DateEnd DateAward
Creative Agencies and Religious Minorities 'hidden galleries' in the secret police archives in the 20th CenturyHorizon 202001-SEP-1631-MAR-21€979,356.00
Miscellaneous01-JUN-2230-SEP-24€64,073.00
History Declassified: The KGB and the Religious Underground in Soviet Ukraine [HIDE]Irish Research Council01-MAR-2228-FEB-26€551,300.00
Governement of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship 2017; Tatiana Vagramenko; "Religious Minorities in Ukraine form the Soviet Underground to Euromaidan..."; GOPID/2017/764; James KapaloIrish Research Council02-NOV-1701-NOV-19€91,770.00
HEACOVID1901-DEC-2031-MAR-21€9,332.00
Religionising Fieldwork, Fieldworking ReligionArt & Humanities Research Council03-NOV-0804-NOV-08€5,000.00
Minority Religions in Romania's Secret Police ArchiveRoyal Irish Academy01-FEB-1420-MAR-14€2,250.00
Strategivc Research Fund 2013 ; the launch of MEWSC.Miscellaneous20-SEP-1331-DEC-14€3,500.00

Publications

Books

 YearPublication
(2019)Inochentism and Orthodox Christianity: Religious Dissent in the Russian and Romanian Borderlands.
James A. Kapalo (2019) Inochentism and Orthodox Christianity: Religious Dissent in the Russian and Romanian Borderlands. London: Rutledge. [Details]
(2011)Text, Context and Perfromance: Gagauz Folk Religion in Discourse and Practice.
James Kapalo; (2011) Text, Context and Perfromance: Gagauz Folk Religion in Discourse and Practice. Leiden: Brill.   [Details]

Edited Books

 YearPublication
(2021)The Secret Police and the Religious Underground
James A Kapaló and Kinga Povedák (Ed.). (2021) The Secret Police and the Religious Underground London and New York: Routledge.   [Details]
(2020)Material Religion in Secret Police Archives
James A Kapaló and Tatiana Vagramenko (Ed.). (2020) Material Religion in Secret Police Archives Berlin: Lit Verlag.   [Details]
(2017)Marginalised and Endangered Worldviews: Comparative Studies on Contemporary Eurasia, India and South America
James Kapalo and Lidia Guzy (Ed.). (2017) Marginalised and Endangered Worldviews: Comparative Studies on Contemporary Eurasia, India and South America Berlin: LIT Verlag. [Details]
(2011)The Power of Words
James Kapalo, Éva Pócs, William Ryan (eds.) (Ed.). (2011) The Power of Words The Power of Words. Budapest: Central European University Press. [Details]

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2023)'Eschatology and Peasant Visions in Moldovan Folk Religion'
James A. Kapaló (2023) 'Eschatology and Peasant Visions in Moldovan Folk Religion' In: Margaret H. Beissinger (eds). Oxford Handbook of Slavic and East European Folklore. Oxford: Oxford University Press.   [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'Visual Media and the Reconfiguration of Divinity in Moldovan Radical Religion'
Kapaló, James A. (2022) 'Visual Media and the Reconfiguration of Divinity in Moldovan Radical Religion' In: Bowman, Marion; Valk, Ülo (eds). Contesting Authorities: Vernacular Challenges, Strategies and Counterpower. Sheffield: Equinox Publishing. [Full Text] [Details]
(2021)'Introduction: Reframing the Underground'
James A. Kapaló and Kinga Povedák (2021) 'Introduction: Reframing the Underground' In: The Secret Police and the Religious Underground in Communist and Postcommunist Eastern Europe. London and New York: Routledge.   [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Women and Orthodox Dissent: The Case of the Archangelist Underground Movement in Soviet Moldavia'
Kapaló, James A. (2021) 'Women and Orthodox Dissent: The Case of the Archangelist Underground Movement in Soviet Moldavia' In: Merdjanova, Ina (eds). Women and Religiosity in Orthodox Christianity. USA: Fordham University Press.   [Full Text] [Details]
(2021)'Feasting and Fasting: The Evidential Character of Material Religion in Secret Police Archives'
Kapaló, James A. (2021) 'Feasting and Fasting: The Evidential Character of Material Religion in Secret Police Archives' In: Kapaló, James A.; Povedák, Kinga (eds). The Secret Police and the Religious Underground in Communist and Post-Communist Eastern Europe. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. [Full Text] [Details]
(2018)'Domestic Religion in Soviet and Post-Soviet Moldova'
James A. Kapalo (2018) 'Domestic Religion in Soviet and Post-Soviet Moldova' In: Prof. Dr. Annette Schnabel, AkadR'in Dr. Melanie Reddig, Prof. Dr. Heidemarie Winkel (eds). Religion im Kontext/Religion in Context: Handbuch für Wissenschaft und Studium. Baden-Baden: Nomos. [Full Text] [Details]
(2013)'“Liminal” Orthodoxies: Radical dissent and popular religion on the margins of Orthodoxy'
James A. Kapalo (2013) '“Liminal” Orthodoxies: Radical dissent and popular religion on the margins of Orthodoxy' In: Transforming a Church: Eastern Christianity in Post-Imperial Societies. Budapest: CEU Press. [Details]
(2014)'Narratíva and kozmológia az inochentizmus ikonográfiai hagyományában'
James A. Kapalo (2014) 'Narratíva and kozmológia az inochentizmus ikonográfiai hagyományában' In: Barna, Gábor & Povedák, Kinga (eds). Lelkiségek és Lelkiségi Mozgalmak Magyarórszáon és Kelet-Közep-Európában/Spirituality and Spiritual Movements in Hungary and Eastern Central Europe. Szeged: SZTE BTK Néprajzi és Kulturális Antropológiai Tanszék. [Details]
(2014)'Mediating Orthodoxy: Convert Agency and Discursive Autochthonism in Ireland'
James A Kapalo (2014) 'Mediating Orthodoxy: Convert Agency and Discursive Autochthonism in Ireland' In: Orthodox Identities in Contemporary Western Europe - Migration, Settlement and Innovation. Farnham: Ashgate. [Details]
(2010)''The Politics of Scriptural Translation: The 'Canonisation' of the Gagauz Language in Southern Bessarabia''
Kapalo, JA; (2010) ''The Politics of Scriptural Translation: The 'Canonisation' of the Gagauz Language in Southern Bessarabia'' In: Re-contextualizing East Central European History: Nation, Culture, and Minority Groups. London: Legenda. [Full Text] [Details]
(2007)'İisus Hristos yapmış bir büük pınar. Epic Healing Charms amongst the Gagauz of Moldova'
J Kapalo; (2007) 'İisus Hristos yapmış bir büük pınar. Epic Healing Charms amongst the Gagauz of Moldova' In: Bulgari i Gagauzi Zaedno Prez Godinite. Velico Târnovo: Faber. [Details]
(2006)'`Molitva i zaklinaniya v religioznom folklore gagauzov' (in Russian)'
J Kapalo; (2006) '`Molitva i zaklinaniya v religioznom folklore gagauzov' (in Russian)' In: Istoria i Kultura Gagauzov. Komrat-Kishinev: Pontus. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2022)'Certifiably Orthodox: Reversion to Orthodoxy and the Challenge of Existential Eschatology in 1930s and 1940s Bessarabia'
James A. Kapaló (2022) 'Certifiably Orthodox: Reversion to Orthodoxy and the Challenge of Existential Eschatology in 1930s and 1940s Bessarabia'. Ab Imperio, 2022 (2):201-231   [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Introduction: Visual Ethics after Communism'
David Crowley, James A. Kapalo and Gabriela Nicolescu (2021) 'Introduction: Visual Ethics after Communism'. Martor: The Museum of the Romanian Peasant Anthropology Review, 2021 (26):7-22   [Full Text] [Details]
(2020)'Performing Clandestinity: The Religious Underground, the Secret Police and the Media in Communist Eastern Europe'
Kapaló, James A. (2020) 'Performing Clandestinity: The Religious Underground, the Secret Police and the Media in Communist Eastern Europe'. Journal Of The British Association For The Study Of Religion (Jbasr), 22 :16-43   [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2019)'The Appearance of Saints: Photographic Evidence and Religious Minorities in the Secret Police Archives in Eastern Europe'
James A. Kapalo (2019) 'The Appearance of Saints: Photographic Evidence and Religious Minorities in the Secret Police Archives in Eastern Europe'. Material Religion, 15 [Full Text] [Details]
(2017)'Liminal Orthodoxies on the Margins of Empire: Twentieth-Century Home-Grown Religious Movements in the Republic of Moldova'
Kapalό, James A. (2017) 'Liminal Orthodoxies on the Margins of Empire: Twentieth-Century Home-Grown Religious Movements in the Republic of Moldova'. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, 23 :33-51 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2017)'Introduction'
James Kapalo and Jenny Butler (2017) 'Introduction'. Incantatio, 2017 (6):7-8   [Details]
(2014)'She read me a prayer and I read it back to her: Gagauz Women, Miraculous Literacy and the Reading of Charms'
James A Kapalo (2014) 'She read me a prayer and I read it back to her: Gagauz Women, Miraculous Literacy and the Reading of Charms'. Religion and gender, 4 (1):3-20   [Details]
(2014)'Editorial'
James Kapalo and Yafa Shanneik (2014) 'Editorial'. Journal of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions, 1 (1):3-4   [Details]
(2013)'Folk Religion in Discourse and Practice'
James A Kapalo (2013) 'Folk Religion in Discourse and Practice'. Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, [Details]
(2011)'Religionizing Fieldwork, Fieldworking Religion, Special Edition of the Journal Fieldwork in Religion'
Kapalo, JA; Travagnin, S; (2011) 'Religionizing Fieldwork, Fieldworking Religion, Special Edition of the Journal Fieldwork in Religion'. Fieldwork in Religion, 5 (2)   [Details]
(2011)'Genre and Authority in the Genesis of Charm and Prayer'
J A Kapalo; (2011) 'Genre and Authority in the Genesis of Charm and Prayer'. Incantatio, 1 (1) [Details]
(2007)''The Career of Father Mihail Çakir: The Cyril and Methodius of the Gagauz''
J Kapalo; (2007) ''The Career of Father Mihail Çakir: The Cyril and Methodius of the Gagauz''. Solanus, [Details]

Other Journals

 YearPublication
(2011)'Gagauz 'Orthodoxism' in Interwar Romania: Mihail Cakir and the Gagauz National Movement'
J. A. Kapalo (2011) 'Gagauz 'Orthodoxism' in Interwar Romania: Mihail Cakir and the Gagauz National Movement' Romanian Academy Historical Yearbook, :103-120. [Details]

Book Reviews

 YearPublication
(2021)Maria Alina Asavei. 2020. Art, Religion and Resistance in (Post-)Communist Romania: Nostalgia for Paradise Lost. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 309 p.
James A Kapaló (2021) Maria Alina Asavei. 2020. Art, Religion and Resistance in (Post-)Communist Romania: Nostalgia for Paradise Lost. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 309 p. Book Reviews   [Details]
(2012)Religion and Language in Post-Soviet Russia by Brian P. Bennett in Religious Studies Review 38: 4.
James Kapalo (2012) Religion and Language in Post-Soviet Russia by Brian P. Bennett in Religious Studies Review 38: 4. Book Reviews [Details]
(2011)Ireland's New Religious Movements, edited by O. Cosgrove, L. Cox, C. Kuhling and P. Mulholland in Irish Journal of Sociology.
James Kapalo (2011) Ireland's New Religious Movements, edited by O. Cosgrove, L. Cox, C. Kuhling and P. Mulholland in Irish Journal of Sociology. Book Reviews [Details]

Encyclopedia Entries

 YearPublication
(2022)Mystics, Mysticism/Christianity/D. New Christian Churches and Movements.
James Kapalo (2022) Mystics, Mysticism/Christianity/D. New Christian Churches and Movements. Berlin/Boston:DEGruyter. Encyclopedia Entries.   [DOI] [Details]

Exhibition

 YearPublication
(2020)Through the Lens of the Secret Police: Images of the Religious Underground in Eastern Europe.
James A Kapaló and Gabriela Nicolescu (2020) Through the Lens of the Secret Police: Images of the Religious Underground in Eastern Europe. Boole Library, UCC: Exhibitions   [Details]
(2020)Faith - Trust - Secrecy: Religion Through the Lens of the Secret Police.
James A. Kapaló and Gabriela Nicolescu (2020) Faith - Trust - Secrecy: Religion Through the Lens of the Secret Police. Budapest: Exhibitions   [Details]
(2019)Hidden Galleries: Clandestine Religion in the Secret Police Archives.
James A Kapaló and Gabriela Nicolescu (2019) Hidden Galleries: Clandestine Religion in the Secret Police Archives. Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Exhibitions   [Details]

Workshops

 YearPublication
(2020)Hidden Galleries Film Screening and Discussion, Blinken Open Society Archives Gallery, Budapest.
James A. Kapaló and Kinga Povedák (2020) Hidden Galleries Film Screening and Discussion, Blinken Open Society Archives Gallery, Budapest. Blinken Open Society Archives Gallery: Workshops [Details]

Professional Activities

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2023Lapedatu Fellowship New Europe College, Bucharest
2016Honorary International Member of the Hungarian Ethnological Society Magyar Néprajzi Társaság (Hungarian Ethnological Society)
2014Royal Irish Academy Mobility Grant Royal Irish Academy
2013UCC Strategic Research Fund UCC
2011CACSSS Research Publication Fund CACSSS
2010ISS21 Small Grant - ISS 21.
2009ENGAGING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN RESEARCH AWARD NAIRTL
2008Religionising Fieldwork, Fieldworking Religion - Postdoctoral Research Training Workshop AHRC
2005Spalding Trust Comparative Religion Award Spalding Trust
2005University of London Additional Fieldwork Award University of London

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
International Association for the History of Religion (IAHR) Executive Committee Member30-AUG-20 / 27-AUG-25
Irish Association for Russian, Central and East European Studies member/
Society for Romanian Studies President01-JAN-23 / 31-DEC-25
International Society for Folk Narrative Research - Committee for Charms, Charmers and Charming Committee member/
Society for Romanian Studies Board member19-APR-18 / 31-DEC-23
Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions President11-MAY-15 / 05-SEP-18
Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions Publications Officer05-JUN-12 / 10-MAY-15
International Study of Religion in East and Central Europe Association member01-OCT-12 / 16-OCT-13

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(2023)Voices heard and unheard: Authority, Truth and Silence in Historical Perspective,
James A. Kapaló (2023) Caves, Rockets and Icons: Regimes of Evidence and the Materiality of Events in the History of Religions. [Keynote Speaker], Voices heard and unheard: Authority, Truth and Silence in Historical Perspective, Central European University, Vienna , 17-APR-23 - 19-APR-23. [Details]
(2023)Religions and Technologies - European Association for the Study of Religions,
James A. Kapaló (2023) Religion and Photographic Technologies. [Chair Sessions at Symposia], Religions and Technologies - European Association for the Study of Religions, Vilnius, Lithuania , 04-SEP-23 - 08-SEP-23. [Details]
(2023)Religions and Technologies - European Association for the Study of Religions,
James A. Kapaló (2023) Photo-icons and the Production of Angelic Identity. [Oral Presentation], Religions and Technologies - European Association for the Study of Religions, Vilnius, Lithuania , 04-SEP-23 - 08-SEP-23. [Details]
(2023)Transgressing Boundaries: The History and Memory of the Religious Underground in Romania, Moldova and Beyond,
James A. Kapaló (2023) Interdisciplinary workshop. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Transgressing Boundaries: The History and Memory of the Religious Underground in Romania, Moldova and Beyond, New Europe College, Bucharest , 04-DEC-23 - 04-DEC-23. [Details]
(2023)Contemporary and Historical Perspectives on Apocalyptic and Millennialist Worldviews,
James Kapalo (2023) Michael and the Apocalypse on Twentieth Century Moldova. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Contemporary and Historical Perspectives on Apocalyptic and Millennialist Worldviews, University of Szeged, Hungary , 27-APR-23 - 27-APR-23. [Details]
(2023)Kurrens Néprajz Seminar Series,
James Kapalo (2023) Encountering Materialities: Ethnography and the construction of Historical Knowledge of Lived Religion. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Kurrens Néprajz Seminar Series, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary , 25-APR-23 - 25-APR-23. [Details]
(2022)Centre for Religious Studies Seminar Series,
James A. Kapaló (2022) Reframing the Underground: Material Religion and Secret Police Archives. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Centre for Religious Studies Seminar Series, Central European University, Vienna , 18-NOV-22 - 18-NOV-22. [Details]
(2022)Religions and States of Freedom,
James A. Kapaló and Jenny Butler (2022) Annual Conference of the European Association for the Study of Religions. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Religions and States of Freedom, University College Cork , 27-JUN-22 - 01-JUL-22. [Details]
(2022)Guest Lecture at the Faculty of Political Sciences University of Belgrade,
James A. Kapaló (2022) Hidden Galleries: From Archives to Communities. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Guest Lecture at the Faculty of Political Sciences University of Belgrade, University of Belgrade, Serbia , 25-OCT-22 - 25-OCT-22. [Details]
(2022)Round Table on the Future of Balkan Studies at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts,
James A. Kapaló (2022) Boundaries and Boundary Work in the Balkans. [Invited Oral Presentation], Round Table on the Future of Balkan Studies at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Belgrade , 24-OCT-22 - 24-OCT-22. [Details]
(2022)Folklore and Cultural Anthropology Seminar Series,
James A. Kapaló (2022) History, Ethnography and the Material Turn in the Study of Religions: From Archives to Communities. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Folklore and Cultural Anthropology Seminar Series, University of Pécs, Hungary , 20-OCT-22 - 20-OCT-22. [Details]
(2021)Methodologies of Working in Cold War Archives: Facts, Values and Archival Ecologies,
James A. Kapaló (2021) A Feast for the Senses: Secret Police Archives as Sources for the Study of Lived Religion during Communism. [Oral Presentation], Methodologies of Working in Cold War Archives: Facts, Values and Archival Ecologies, Blinken Open Society Archives, Budapest , 14-OCT-21 - 16-OCT-21. [Details]
(2021)Materiality of Religion in Central and Eastern Europe,
James A. Kapaló (2021) Materiality and the Formation of the Underground: Secret Police Archives and the “Really Real” in the Study of Religion under Communism. [Keynote Speaker], Materiality of Religion in Central and Eastern Europe, University of Szeged, Hungary , 24-SEP-21 - 25-SEP-21. [Details]
(2021)Resilient Religion: European Association for the Study of Religions,
James A. Kapalo (2021) Resilience or Resistance: Repressive Regimes and the Blurring of Boundaries Between the Political and Religious. [Chair Sessions at Symposia], Resilient Religion: European Association for the Study of Religions, Pisa, Italy , 30-AUG-21 - 03-SEP-21. [Details]
(2021)British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference,
James A. Kapaló (2021) The Seductiveness of the Vernacular. [Oral Presentation], British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, Edinburgh, UK , 06-SEP-21 - 07-SEP-21. [Details]
(2021)The Secret Police and Study of Religions: Archives, Communities and Contested Memories in Central and Eastern Europe,
James A. Kapaló (2021) Closing Conference of the Hidden Galleries ERC Project. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], The Secret Police and Study of Religions: Archives, Communities and Contested Memories in Central and Eastern Europe, University College Cork , 18-MAR-21 - 19-MAR-21. [Details]
(2021)The Materiality of Religion in Central and Eastern Europe,
James A. Kapaló (2021) Materiality and the Formation of the Underground: Secret Police Archives and the Really Real in the Study of Religions under Communism. [Keynote Speaker], The Materiality of Religion in Central and Eastern Europe, University of Szeged, Hungary , 24-SEP-21 - 25-SEP-21. [Details]
(2019)Politics, Philosophy and Religion Seminar,
James A. Kapalo (2019) Envisioning the Underground: Secret Police Archives and the Study of Religions in Central and Eastern Europe. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Politics, Philosophy and Religion Seminar, Lancaster University , 06-MAR-19 - 06-MAR-19. [Details]
(2019)“Religion – Continuations and Disruptions”,
James A. Kapalo (2019) The Hidden Galleries Digital Database: A new resource for researching the religious underground. [Oral Presentation], “Religion – Continuations and Disruptions”, University of Tartu, Estonia , 27-JUN-19. [Details]
(2019)The Stuff of Religion: Senses, Matter and Technology in the Study of Religions,
James A. Kapalo (2019) The Visual Ethics of Competing Truths: Images of the Religious Underground in the Secret Police Archives. [Oral Presentation], The Stuff of Religion: Senses, Matter and Technology in the Study of Religions, Trinity College Dublin , 11-OCT-19. [Details]
(2019)“Religion – Continuations and Disruptions”,
James A. Kapalo (2019) Convener of two panels on Religion and Secret Police Archives. [Other], “Religion – Continuations and Disruptions”, University of Tartu, Estonia , 25-JUN-19 - 29-JUN-19. [Details]
(2019)Keynote Lecture at the British Association for the Study of Religion Visualising Cultures: Media, Religion and Technology,
James A. Kapalo (2019) Performing Clandestinity: The Religious Underground, the Secret Police and the Media in Eastern Europe. [Keynote Speaker], Keynote Lecture at the British Association for the Study of Religion Visualising Cultures: Media, Religion and Technology, Leeds Trinity University, 2nd-4th September 2019 , 02-SEP-19 - 04-SEP-19. [Details]
(2018)Looking Forward Through the Past - Conference of the Society for Romanian Studies,
James A. Kapalo (2018) Incense and Alcohol: Inochentist Subterranean Communities in Interwar Romania. [Oral Presentation], Looking Forward Through the Past - Conference of the Society for Romanian Studies, Bucharest , 26-JUN-18 - 29-JUN-18. [Details]
(2018)BASEES Annual Conference,
James A. Kapalo (2018) Incense and Alcohol: Subterranean Inochentist Communities in Interwar Romania. [Oral Presentation], BASEES Annual Conference, Cambridge , 13-APR-18 - 15-APR-18. [Details]
(2018)Borders and Boundaries: Religion on the Periphery,
James A. Kapalo (2018) ‘Liminal’ Orthodoxies on the Margins of Empire: Twentieth Century ‘home-grown’ religious movements in the Republic of Moldova. [Oral Presentation], Borders and Boundaries: Religion on the Periphery, Belfast , 03-SEP-18 - 05-SEP-18. [Details]
(2018)Unblocking Religion: Studying Religion in Todays Central and Eastern Europe: ISORECEA Conference,
James A. Kapalo (2018) Sacred Materialities: Religion in the Secret Police Archives in Central and Eastern Europe. [Oral Presentation], Unblocking Religion: Studying Religion in Todays Central and Eastern Europe: ISORECEA Conference, Szeged, Hungary , 24-MAY-18 - 26-MAY-18. [Details]
(2017)EASR Conference,
James Kapalo (2017) A Grant-Holder Perspective on the European Research Council Grant Scheme and the Opportunity it Presents for the Study of Religions. [Invited Oral Presentation], EASR Conference, Leuven , 18-SEP-17 - 22-SEP-17. [Details]
(2017)Theology in the Public Square Lecture Series,
James Kapalo (2017) Religious Repression and Its Consequences in Eastern Europe. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Theology in the Public Square Lecture Series, Waterford Institute of Technology , 23-NOV-17 - 23-NOV-17. [Details]
(2017)Photographic Incrimination, Religious Justification: Visual evidence of religious criminality in the Secret Police Archives in 20th Century Moldova,
James Kapalo (2017) Guest Lecture. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Photographic Incrimination, Religious Justification: Visual evidence of religious criminality in the Secret Police Archives in 20th Century Moldova, Edinburgh University , 01-MAR-17 - 01-MAR-17. [Details]
(2017)Materialising Religion in the Secret Police Archive: Methodological, Ethical and Legal approaches to the Study of Religions in Secret Police Archives,
James Kapalo and Kinga Povedak (2017) International Workshop of Hidden Galleries ERC Project. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Materialising Religion in the Secret Police Archive: Methodological, Ethical and Legal approaches to the Study of Religions in Secret Police Archives, The Historical Archives of the Hungarian State Security, Budapest , 11-SEP-17 - 11-SEP-17. [Details]
(2017)EASR Conference,
James Kapalo (2017) Photographic evidence of religious criminality in the Secret Police Archives in 20th Century Moldova. [Oral Presentation], EASR Conference, Leuven , 18-SEP-17 - 22-SEP-17. [Details]
(2017)Past and Present: CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES,
James Kapalo (2017) Materialising Religion in the Secret Police Archives: Some methodological challenges and opportunities. [Oral Presentation], Past and Present: CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES, Hungarian Academy of Scinces - Budapest , 05-MAY-17 - 07-MAY-17. [Details]
(2017)Religion, Myth and Migration,
James Kapalo, Jenny Butler and Chris Heinhold (2017) Sixth Annual Conference of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Religion, Myth and Migration, Waterford Institute of Technology , 16-JUN-17 - 16-JUN-17. [Details]
(2016)Hidden Galleries: Materialising Religion in the Secret Police Archives in 20th Century Romania and Moldova,
James Kapalo (2016) Guest Lecture. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Hidden Galleries: Materialising Religion in the Secret Police Archives in 20th Century Romania and Moldova, Central European University, Budapest , 08-DEC-16 - 08-DEC-16. [Details]
(2016)European Association for the Study of Religions,
J. Kapalo (2016) From Spiritual Revival to Heretical Sect: The Transformation of Inochentism in 20th Century Moldova. [Oral Presentation], European Association for the Study of Religions, Helsinki , 28-JUN-16 - 01-JUL-16. [Details]
(2015)Guest Lecture,
James Kapalo (2015) Hidden Galleries: Secret Police Archives and Material Religion. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Guest Lecture, University of Chester , 18-NOV-15 - 18-NOV-15. [Details]
(2016)Public Religion and Ambient Faith in the Black Sea Region,
J. Kapalo (2016) Women’s Agency and Domestic Vernacular Religion in 20th century Gagauziya. [Oral Presentation], Public Religion and Ambient Faith in the Black Sea Region, Kiev , 29-SEP-16 - 01-OCT-16. [Details]
(2015)Memories and Identities in Central and Eastern Europe,
James Kapaló (2015) And the Archangel Michael looked just like me!: Visual Media and the Re-Presentation of Divinity in Moldovan Radical Religion. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Memories and Identities in Central and Eastern Europe, Trinity College Dublin , 07-MAY-15 - 10-MAY-15. [Details]
(2015)Charms, Charmers and Charming,
James Kapaló (2015) Charming without Borders: Gagauz charmers as religious, ethnic and linguistic ‘boundary-workers’. [Oral Presentation], Charms, Charmers and Charming, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Pécs, Hungary , 15-MAY-15 - 17-MAY-15. [Details]
(2015)The Study of Religions in Ireland: People, Places, Projects,
James Kapaló (2015) The Marginalised and Endangered Worldviews Study Centre. [Oral Presentation], The Study of Religions in Ireland: People, Places, Projects, Trinity College Dublin , 11-MAY-15 - 11-MAY-15. [Details]
(2014)Eurasian Alterities: Comparative perspectives on Indigenous and Minority Worldviews,
J. Kapalo (2014) Gagauz Women, Miraculous Literacy and the Dreaming of Charms. [Invited Lectures (Workshops)], Eurasian Alterities: Comparative perspectives on Indigenous and Minority Worldviews, University College Cork , 13-NOV-14 - 13-NOV-14. [Details]
(2014)Eurasian Alterities:Comparative perspectives on Indigenous and Minority Worldviews,
J. Kapalo (2014) 1 Day international workshop. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Eurasian Alterities:Comparative perspectives on Indigenous and Minority Worldviews, University College Cork , 13-NOV-14 - 13-NOV-14. [Details]
(2014)European Sociology Association - Sociology of Religion Research Network,
J. A Kapalo (2014) Religion in the Public Domain. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], European Sociology Association - Sociology of Religion Research Network, Belfast , 03-SEP-14 - 05-SEP-14. [Details]
(2014)Atelierul Plural,
James Kapalo (2014) Rezistență simbolică și „liminalitate”: discursul și practica inochentistă. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Atelierul Plural, Chisinau, Moldova , 20-JUN-14 - 20-JUN-14. [Details]
(2014)SIEF Working Group on Ethnology of Religion: Making Sense of Religion - Performance, Art and Experience,
James A Kapalo (2014) Transgressive Iconographies: Imperial and the Divine ‘Presence’ in Inochentite Cosmology. [Oral Presentation], SIEF Working Group on Ethnology of Religion: Making Sense of Religion - Performance, Art and Experience, Lisbon , 22-MAY-14 - 23-MAY-14. [Details]
(2013)EASR - Religion, Migration, Mutation,
James A. Kapalo (2013) Folk Religion in Discourse and Practice. [Oral Presentation], EASR - Religion, Migration, Mutation, Liverpool Hope University , 03-SEP-13 - 09-SEP-13. [Details]
(2013)ISFNR - Folk Narrative in the Modern World: Unity and Diversity,
James A. Kapalo (2013) “She read me a prayer and I read it back to her.” Miraculous Literacy, the Mother of God and the “Reading” of Charms amongst the Gagauz. [Oral Presentation], ISFNR - Folk Narrative in the Modern World: Unity and Diversity, Vilnius , 25-JUN-13 - 30-JUN-13. [Details]
(2013)Agents or Objects? Rethinking some chapters of the History of the Black Sea Region,
James A. Kapalo (2013) Agency and Liminality: Popular Religious Movements in 21st Century Moldova. [Invited Oral Presentation], Agents or Objects? Rethinking some chapters of the History of the Black Sea Region, New Europe College, Bucharest , 21-JUN-13 - 22-JUN-13. [Details]
(2013)ISFNR - Folk Narrative in the Modern World: Unity and Diversity,
James A. Kapalo and Haralampos Passalis (2013) A Comparative Study of Greek and Gagauz Healing Rituals against Fright. [Oral Presentation], ISFNR - Folk Narrative in the Modern World: Unity and Diversity, Vilnius , 25-JUN-13 - 30-JUN-13. [Details]
(2013)EASR - Religion, Migration and Mutation,
James A. Kapalo and Marion Bowman (2013) co-convenor of roundtable workshop. [Other], EASR - Religion, Migration and Mutation, Liverpool Hope University , 03-SEP-13 - 06-SEP-13. [Details]
(2013)EASR - Religion, Migration, Mutation,
James A. Kapalo and Annika Hvithamar (2013) Co-covenor of two panels on Orthodoxy in Migration. [Other], EASR - Religion, Migration, Mutation, Liverpool Hope University , 03-SEP-13 - 06-SEP-13. [Details]
(2013)EASR - Religion Migration Mutation,
James A. Kapalo (2013) Mediating Orthodoxy: Convert Agency and Migrant Orthodox Churches in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], EASR - Religion Migration Mutation, Liverpool Hope University , 03-SEP-13 - 06-SEP-13. [Details]
(2013)Indigenous Aesthetics and Marginalised Knowledge Systems Workshop,
Dr. James Kapalo and Dr. Lidia Guzy (2013) The Launch event for the Marginalised and Endangered Worldviews Study Centre. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Indigenous Aesthetics and Marginalised Knowledge Systems Workshop, University College Cork , 30-SEP-13 - 01-OCT-13. [Details]
(2012)Europeanization and Globalization: Romanians in their Region and the World, Society for Romanian Studies International Congress,
James A. Kapalo (2012) Religious Power and Resistance in Contemporary Moldova. [Oral Presentation], Europeanization and Globalization: Romanians in their Region and the World, Society for Romanian Studies International Congress, Sibiu, Romania , 02-JUL-12 - 04-JUL-12. [Details]
(2012)Ends and Beginnings - European Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference,
James Kapalo (2012) Inochentism in the Soviet Union: The Memory of Repression and Resistance in a Moldovan Village. [Oral Presentation], Ends and Beginnings - European Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, Sodertorn University, Stockholm , 23-AUG-12 - 26-AUG-12. [Details]
(2012)Ends and Beginnings - European Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference,
James Kapalo (2012) The end and the beginning of Irish Folk Prayer. [Oral Presentation], Ends and Beginnings - European Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, Sodertorn University, Stockholm , 23-AUG-12 - 26-AUG-12. [Details]
(2012)Spirituality and Spiritual Movements in Hungary and Eastern Central Europe,
James Kapalo (2012) Narrative and Cosmology in the Iconographic Tradition of Inochentism. [Oral Presentation], Spirituality and Spiritual Movements in Hungary and Eastern Central Europe, Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, University of Szeged , 10-OCT-12 - 12-OCT-12. [Details]
(2012)Orthodoxy in Migration,
James Kapalo (2012) One day international workshop exploring Orthodox Christianity in Western Europe including guest speakers from Switzerland, Turkey and Denmark. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Orthodoxy in Migration, University College Cork , 19-NOV-12 - 19-NOV-12. [Details]
(2012)New Perspectives: Religions and Ireland: Annual Conference of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions,
James Kapalo (2012) New Perspectives: Religions and Ireland. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], New Perspectives: Religions and Ireland: Annual Conference of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions, University College Cork , 25-MAY-12 - 26-AUG-12. [Details]
(2012)Toward Mutual Ground: Religious Pluralism in Educational Practice in Irish Schools,
James A. Kapalo and Oliver Scharbrodt (2012) A Vision for Religious Pluralism in Ireland: A Study of Religions Perspective. [Oral Presentation], Toward Mutual Ground: Religious Pluralism in Educational Practice in Irish Schools, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick , 23-MAR-12 - 23-MAR-12. [Details]
(2012)Religion and Power Relations in Central and Eastern Europe, The International Study of Religion in Eastern and Central Europe Association (ISORECEA) Conference,
James A Kapalo (2012) Corrective Critique and Religious Power: The Inochentite Movement in Contemporary Moldova. [Oral Presentation], Religion and Power Relations in Central and Eastern Europe, The International Study of Religion in Eastern and Central Europe Association (ISORECEA) Conference, Iasi, Romania , 19-APR-12 - 21-APR-12. [Details]
(2012)Orthodoxy in Migration,
James Kapalo (2012) Conceptualizing Orthodox Space in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Orthodoxy in Migration, University College Cork , 19-NOV-12 - 19-NOV-12. [Details]
(2011)European Association for the Study of Religions,
Dr J. A. Kapalo (2011) Between Orthodoxy and Heresy: The Innochentite Movement One Hundred Years On. [Oral Presentation], European Association for the Study of Religions, Budapest , 18-SEP-11 - 21-SEP-11. [Details]
(2010)Charms, Charmers and Charming,
J A Kapalo; (2010) Authority, Narrative and Performance in Charm and Prayer. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Charms, Charmers and Charming, Bucharest , 24-JUN-10 - 25-JUN-10. [Details]
(2010)International Association for the History of Religion XXth World Congress,
J A Kapalo; (2010) Literacy, Language and Lay Agency: Accessing the Divine Word in Gagauz Orthodoxy. [Oral Presentation], International Association for the History of Religion XXth World Congress, Toronto , 15-AUG-10 - 21-AUG-10. [Details]
(2010)Pentecostal Identities: African Migrant Churches and Communities in Ireland,
J. A Kapalo (2010) Hosted by the Migrant Churches Research Network supported by the Study of Religions Department, UCC and Institute for Social Sciences in the 21st Century. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Pentecostal Identities: African Migrant Churches and Communities in Ireland, University College Cork , 04-MAY-10 - 04-MAY-10. [Details]
(2009)American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies National Convention,
J A Kapalo; (2009) Canonization of the Turkish Tongue: Mihail Cakir, Clerical Agency and the Gagauz National Movement. [Oral Presentation], American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies National Convention, Boston, USA , 12-NOV-09 - 15-NOV-09. [Details]
(2009)Narratives Across Space and Time: Transmissions and Adaptations - 15th Congress of the International Society for Folk Narrative Research,
J A Kapalo; (2009) Relations with Divine Agents in Gagauz Healing Charms. [Oral Presentation], Narratives Across Space and Time: Transmissions and Adaptations - 15th Congress of the International Society for Folk Narrative Research, Athens , 21-JUN-09 - 27-JUN-09. [Details]
(2008)Greater Romania¿s National Projects: Ideological Dilemmas, Ethnic Classification, and Political Instrumentalisation of Ethnic Identities,
J A Kapalo; (2008) Clerical Agency and Development of Gagauz National Consciousness in Greater Romania. [Oral Presentation], Greater Romania¿s National Projects: Ideological Dilemmas, Ethnic Classification, and Political Instrumentalisation of Ethnic Identities, Oxford Brookes University , 10-APR-08 - 12-APR-08. [Details]
(2008)Endangered Cultures: International Conference of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences,
J A Kapalo; (2008) Language, Liturgy and Nation: The Gagauz Language in the Orthodox Church. [Oral Presentation], Endangered Cultures: International Conference of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Bacău, Romania , 08-MAY-08 - 10-MAY-08. [Details]
(2008)Religionizing Fieldwork, Fieldworking Religion,
Dr. James Kapalo (2008) PhD Training Workshop. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Religionizing Fieldwork, Fieldworking Religion, School of Oriental and African Studies , 03-NOV-08 - 04-NOV-08. [Details]

Licensing

 TitleInventorLicensee
Hidden Galleries Exhibition James A. KapalóMuzeul Ororilor Comunismului în România – MOCR

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
College Executive Management Committee Temporary Member2021 / 2021
Research and Innovation Committee member2014 / 2023
Academic Development Committee member2012 / 2014
University Academic Council member2014 / 2016

Languages

 LanguageReadingWritingSpeaking
Hungarian FluentFluentFluent
Romanian FluentFunctionalFunctional
Turkish FunctionalBasicFunctional

Journal Activities

 JournalRoleTo / From
Numen: International Review For The History Of Religions Member of Editorial Board03-AUG-20 - 30-AUG-25
Incantatio Member of Editorial Board01-JUN-16 -
Journal Of The Irish Society For The Academic Study Of Religions Editorship30-SEP-12 -
Temenos Referee-
Culture And Religion Referee-
Religion And Society In Central And Eastern Europe Referee17-SEP-13 -
Religion And Gender Referee-
Problems Of Post-Communism Referee-

Other Activities

 Description

I am registered and serve as an Expert Evaluator for Horizon Europe - Horizon Europe Widening Calls

Expert Evaluator - Austrian Science Fund

Project Reviewer for HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area)

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

My undergraduate teaching focuses on contemporary expressions of Christianity (RG2302 Christianities in a Global Age; RG2305 Authority and Community in Contemporary Christianity) and theory and method in the study of religions (RG2306 Texts, Theories and Approaches; RG2312 Material Religion). 

I contribute to the MA Anthropology with classes on the anthropology of Christianity and anthropology and photography (AY6013), ethnographic practice and writing (AY6015) as well as co-convening (with Dr Lidia Guzy) the postgraduate module RG6061 Indigenous Worldviews and Minority Religions.
 
In 2011, I was one of UCC's nominations for the NAIRTL Excellence in Teaching Awards and in 2021 I my was recognised with a National Forum/USI Teaching Hero Award.

I am currently External Examiner for 
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Religious Studies Degree programmes at the University of Edinburgh.

Current Postgraduate Students

 StudentDegree Type
O'Sullivan Zita Doctoral Degree

Contact details

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Study of Religions Department

Staidéar Reiligiún

Room 2.22, O'Rahilly Building, University College Cork, College Road, Cork, T12 ND89

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