Paper short abstract:

The case study of the Latgales suburb of Rīga is an example of social coexistence and dealing with the controversial cultural experiences in multifaceted religious suburb's landscape. Social, religious, and linguistic diversity stimulate the dynamic attitude towards “hosts” and “housing seekers”.

Paper long abstract:

The concept of home is helpful to understand a social dimension of the religious everyday practices. The case study of the Latgales suburb of Rīga (historical “Moskauer Vorstadt”) demonstrates interaction between the different religious communities (Russian Orthodox, Old Believers, Catholics, Lutherans, adepts of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Judaists) that have common historical roots and traumas. The multifaceted religious landscape of this suburb includes not only sacred building, but also shared housing areas, still determinated the specific of social milieu here.

On the one hand, the Moskauer Vorstadt preserved the historical buildings (wooden architecture, rather modest Art nouveau, Soviet and contemporary architecture) and street layout, on the other hand, the social, ethnic, and religious composition of inhabitants is changed during the last 50 years. Nevertheless the “historical” locals were capable to maintain the especial genius loci, as well as to engage the “newcomers” in the everyday practices.

The Moskauer Vorstadt has a problematical reputation: as for the tourists a highly exciting exploring place, and as a criminally unsure place. We can observe the excellent examples of social coexistence and dealing with the controversial sociocultural experiences. Based on the different narratives (published memories, as well as oral life stories) and observations during the last decade, some social practices could be pointed out, regarding the shared living space in the suburb. Social, religious, and linguistic diversity in this case stimulate more dynamic (sometimes also more emphatic) attitude towards the “hosts” and “housing seekers”.