Private Space and Public Performance: : Questioning the Notions of Sociability and Ownership in a Greek Religious Festival

In a travel account pertaining to Santorini, Ioannis : 95) refers to the great local festival of Saint Artemios, which, even if it takes place in a remote church, gathers large numbers of people. The reason for the popular religious fervour towards this saint seems to be his curative fame: he is said to heal men who suffer from sexual impotence. Papamanolis criticizes this superstition, which, according to him, neither justifies the title of patron saint of Santorini given to Saint Artemios, nor corresponds to the level of civilization of the island. One year later, another article (: 49–50) published in the Journal of Thira and Amorgos gives more elements about the same festival, which takes place in a church situated at the surroundings of a village of 300 inhabitants named Vourvoulos. The church is a private one and belongs to Konstantinos Bellonias1; every year, the festival, which is characterized as one of the more important of the island, attracts pilgrims from all the villages of Santorini. The shops are closed and nobody works this day, out of respect for the saint.

Cet article examine les rituels dévotionnels, ainsi que les manifestations ludiques et culturelles, qui ont lieu autour de l’église privée de saint Artemios (construite au 15ème siècle) à Santorin, et qui a récemment été transformée en un véritable complexe touristique. Cette église maintient son usage original en tant qu’important lieu de culte au niveau local, mais d’autres fonctions indépendantes et plus cosmopolites ont progressivement gagné en importance. L’article propose de considérer le développement touristique en tant qu’ensemble d’actions et de motivations que les acteurs sociaux justifient en mettant en cause la distinction nette entre modernité et tradition.