Riikka Patrikainen

Riikka Patrikainen is currently working on her doctoral dissertation in the Social and Cultural Encounters (SCE) doctoral school in the University of Eastern Finland. She gained her master’s degree in theology at the University of Joensuu in 2006, majoring in Orthodox Church music.

Patrikainen has been working as an Orthodox Church musician for over fifteen years. In her dissertation Patrikainen studies the meanings of ritual crying and singing as part of the funeral rituals that follow Orthodox traditions. At the core of her research question are also her experiences working as a singer. Employing a comparative approach, the research data is composed of Border Karelian (nowadays part of Russia) and northern Greek lamenting traditions as well as Orthodox funeral traditions in Finland. The dissertation is interdisciplinary, combining theology, cultural and folklore studies.

In Kyynelkanavat -project Patrikainen works as one of three researchers. Her collaborative partner is Ilomantsi-based lamenting pioneer Liisa Matveinen. Together, the pair is aiming to untangle how the lamenter’s own world view is reflected in the laments that they produce.