A “Moors’ Lovefeast” and Masked Enslavement in the Eighteenth-Century Moravian Church

A 'Moors’ Lovefeast' event at the Moravian Church settlement of Herrnhaag in 1742 revealed how enslavement was masked by prestige and missionary success. The gathering included individuals from the West Indies, North America, Africa, and other regions, some of whom were or had been enslaved. Analysis of contemporary sources demonstrates that practices of enslavement influenced Moravians' representations of missionary achievements and their unique spiritual and eschatological vision. This study sheds light on the complex interplay between slavery, identity, and religious practice in 18th-century Europe.

Köstlbauer, J. (2023). A “Moors’ Lovefeast” and Masked Enslavement in the Eighteenth-Century Moravian Church. Journal of Global Slavery, 8(2-3), 178–206. https://doi.org/10.1163/2405836x-00802010