14. Settlement and Community Life

Guilds, Schools, and Churches

In their new homelands, expatriates focused on establishing cohesive community structures. They organized with fellow Greeks into communities named after their places of settlement: “En Pesti Graikon te kai Vlachon Adelfotis” (Brotherhood of Greeks and Vlachs in Pest), “Neophyto Philogenis Adelfotis Graikon te kai Graikovlachon” (Brotherhood of Greeks and Vlachs in Novi Sad), and “En Vienni Graikon te kai Vlachon Koinotis” (Community of Greeks and Vlachs in Vienna). These communities formed guilds, built Orthodox churches, and established parishes, with solidarity especially evident in fulfilling religious duties. The church became a central institution, fostering bonds between Greek-speaking and Vlach-speaking members.

Education was another pillar of community organization. Teaching Greek was a priority, as it was both the lingua franca of the educated classes and a key language of commerce, alongside the languages of the host countries (German, Hungarian, Serbian). Meanwhile, Greco-Vlach languages remained alive in homes, informal gatherings, and casual professional interactions, preserving cultural ties to their heritage.

Discussions occasionally arose about incorporating the Greco-Vlach language (alternating with Greek) in church services to ensure better comprehension and deeper engagement among worshippers, reflecting the era’s rich multilingual landscape.

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Professional Careers

Citizenship choices—whether to retain Ottoman status or adopt Austro-Hungarian nationality—were often driven by economic interests, including trade opportunities, tax benefits, and rights to permanent residence. Merchants navigated these options strategically or adapted to state requirements.

Trade and business relied heavily on family and kinship networks, with broader connections enhancing access to the commercial and entrepreneurial worlds. The Greco-Vlachs engaged in a wide array of professions, excelling not only in intermediary and transit trade but also in technical fields such as soap-making, spinning, weaving, dyeing, tanning, shoemaking, goldsmithing, winemaking, and printing.

Those who pursued higher education often gravitated toward philosophy, pedagogy, and the sciences. The most prominent individuals achieved success in finance, becoming bankers and real estate investors. Many also integrated into socio-political circles within their host cities, emerging as influential figures in public life.

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Daily Customs and Connection to Homeland

Despite adapting to their new environments, the Greco-Vlachs maintained many traditional customs, with clothing serving as a visible marker of their distinct origins. Gradually, however, European fashion replaced Ottoman-style garments such as the anteri, potouri, zostra, and kalpaki with jackets, trousers, and hats. Women in the diaspora, particularly the wives and daughters of merchants, were known for owning some of the most opulent wardrobes.

They also remained connected to their homelands by sending remittances, not only as donations but also for constructing mansions. Some eventually returned to their native regions, while those who stayed often assimilated into local societies.

For over two centuries, the Greco-Vlachs of the northern Balkans and Central Europe were pivotal in shaping local urban elites. Their presence in the diverse, multiethnic, and multilingual environment of the Balkans and Europe symbolized a significant contribution to Greek Orthodox traditions and cultural heritage in the broader region.