CEU student Nikola Pantić successfully defended his thesis, receiving the distinction of magna cum laude, at Central European University's Department of History on Friday, 15 October 2021. Due to Covid-19 virus measures introduced by CEU, the defense took place as a hybrid event, both live and on Zoom.
His thesis entitled Networks of the Holy: Religion and Magic in eighteenth century Ottoman Province of Damascus examines thaumaturgic beliefs and practices among the Muslims in eighteenth-century Ottoman Syria. Focusing on baraka – often interpreted by religious authorities as Allah’s grace – it studies the Ottoman network of the holy, comprised of hallowed individuals, places, and natural objects. This network of grace, fundamental for early modern Ottoman Sunnism, reveals a significant overlap between the Sufis and ʿulamāʾ with state appointments in early modern Province of Damascus, allowing for sociological definitions of Muslim priestly sodalities. Analyses of these groups illuminate a more appropriate scholarly approach to studying Sufism in the Ottoman Empire, the notion of popular religion, as well as of the relationship between religion and magic. These themes bear a high comparative potential with the historical developments of religion in other regions of the world, offering contributions to comparative religious studies. Details of the defense can be found at the following link: https://events.ceu.edu/2021-10-15/doctoral-defense-nikola-pantic.
Following this academic year's commencement ceremony, Nikola will be CEU's second Advanced Certificate in Religious Studies student graduating at the doctoral level, although he was the very first student to be registered with the new PhD program in 2015. Nikola also participated in CEU's Religious Studies program as an MA student from the History Department in academic year 2013/14.
Congratulations, Nikola! The Center for Religious Studies is very proud of your achievements!