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Staff Profile

Dr George Tsourous

Visiting Fellow

Background

I am a social anthropologist and Visiting Fellow at the School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape at Newcastle University. My research focuses on the material dimensions of social interaction, particularly the formation of conceptual boundaries and physical borders within communities and institutions. With a longstanding interest in the material culture of religion—specifically within Christianity and Islam—and inter-Christian relations, my ethnographic work explores shared sacred spaces, religious heritage sites, monastic communities, and secure institutions across the UK, Israel/Palestine, Egypt, and Greece.


Education & Qualifications

PhD in Anthropology, University of Kent

MA in Social Anthropology, SOAS, University of London

BA in Social Anthropology, Panteion University

BSc in Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (ongoing)

Research

My doctoral research project, funded by the British Academy, investigated the sociocultural relationships between different Christian communities in Jerusalem, with a focus on the Greek (Rum) Orthodox community. Through ethnographic work in Jerusalem’s Old City, I explored the relationships forged between resident clergy and local Christians within the context of everyday life in a major shrine of Christianity, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. My forthcoming book, based on this research, examines lived Christianity in Jerusalem in depth.


My research interests encompass Christian-Muslim relations and the impact of pilgrimage, particularly in shared sacred spaces in Israel/Palestine and Egypt. I regularly share my expertise through various platforms, including podcasts and research reports. Recently, I co-authored "Defeating Minority Exclusion and Unlocking Potential" with Prof. Francis Davies of Oxford, which highlights the role of Christian communities in the Middle East post-Covid. I collaborate on international projects with institutions promoting interfaith dialogue, such as Religion for Peace UK. My future research explores the impacts of pilgrimage on shared sacred spaces, focusing on Christian-Muslim and Christian-Jewish relations, communal identities, and ecumenical relations in Christianity.

Teaching

At Newcastle University, I have guided postgraduate students in the preparation of their final presentations, offering both academic and practical insights to refine their work and presentation skills. Additionally, I have been invited as a guest lecturer at universities and institutes overseas on topics including the anthropology of religion, religious coexistence (primarily between Christianity and Islam), the role of materiality in religion, identity politics and religious minorities in the Middle East, and Global Christianity.


Beyond postgraduate mentoring, my teaching extends to functional skills, creative writing, publishing, and principles of business in adult further education. My experience includes working in unique contexts such as the prison environment, where I engaged with learners from diverse backgrounds and with varying educational needs. Teaching in this context required a tailored approach to pedagogy, fostering an environment of trust and encouraging personal and academic growth.

Publications