Adyghe in Russia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

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Introduction / History

There are two main groups of Circassians: West, or Lower Circassian, who speak Adyghe; and the East, or Upper Circassian, who speak Kabardian. Their original homeland was an area in the northwestern Caucasus Mountains, extending out onto the Russian steppes. It was bounded on the west by the Black Sea, on the northwest by the Crimea, on the north by Ukraine, and on the east by Chechnya and Dagestan. The Adyghe of Russia represent a relatively small amount of a once large group of people. Having lived in the Caucasus area for thousands of years, they had contact with the many peoples who passed the steppes to the north. During that time, the Adyghe knew almost constant warfare with these neighbors. By the mid-1860s, roughly 90% of the Adyghe population had been either killed or forced to flee. Today, they live not only in their own homeland, but also in Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq and other countries.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Adyghe in Russia are largely a rural people. Their traditional economy is based on herding and farming, supplemented by growing fruit. They also raise chickens, cows, sheep, goats, pigs and especially horses. They grow a variety of grains, and in the highlands, they also hunt. They eat bread, milk, cheese, broth, fruit, vegetable dishes and occasionally a meat dish with a spicy nut sauce.
Traditionally, Adyghe houses were spaced far apart along a river, generally in the higher country. The dwelling, called a wuna, was a long rectangular house with a porch extending along its front. It was made of twigs coated with mud and had a thatch roof. There were several rooms, including at least one for the women. The house usually had a large tree planted in front of its door to symbolize the growth and strength of the family. A vegetable garden and several other houses (for sons and their families), as well as buildings for livestock and food storage were located behind the main house. The entire compound was enclosed in a stockade. Today, in the lowland villages where most of the people live, standardized brick homes with garden plots have replaced traditional patterns.
Many Adyghe now live in the cities of Maikop, Armavir, Krasnodar, Cherkassk, Stavrapol, Nalchik, and Mozdok. These centers have Adyghe institutes and schools, and some Adyghe have moved there to be near their work. Outside of the cities, the extended family is the most common unit, sometimes containing as many as four or five generations.
Members of a tlapq (clan) are descended from the same male ancestors and share a common name. Marriages are based on love or mutual interest and occur when the couple is in their early thirties. The wife has authority over many of the household matters, but the husband has the final say in disputes. A man was traditionally never without his dagger, and few things were more important to him than his weapons. This reflected the prevalence of the "blood feud." Adyghe folklore has served as a basis for modern literature and poetry. In recent years, the areas in which Adyghe live were elevated in status to republics and are allowed to fly the old Adyghe flag. An effort is now being made, through land grants and other incentives, for scattered Adyghe return to their homeland. In fact, a number have returned, and some even dream of the return of all Adyghes to the Caucasus.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Christianity was brought to the Adyghe between the sixth and twelfth centuries, but they have been Muslims for the past three or four hundred years. Nevertheless, many pagan relics and some forms of Eastern Orthodox Christianity still exist in their oral traditions and religious practices.


What Are Their Needs?

Although the New Testament and Bible portions have been translated into the Adyghe language of the Adyghe people, they continue to have an unworking knowledge of God's Word. Who will tell them?


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send long-term missionaries to the Adyghe of Russia.
Pray that God will use true Christians in Russia to reach out to the Adyghe people.
Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Adyghe who will boldly declare the gospel, establishing disciple among families, and planting strong local churches among them.
Pray for Christian media to be translated into Adyghe.
Ask Almighty God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.


Scripture Prayers for the Adyghe, West Circassian in Russia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  
Other PDF Profile

People Name General Adyghe
People Name in Country Adyghe, West Circassian
Natural Name Adyghe
Pronunciation AH-di-gay
Alternate Names Circassian; Circassian, West; Kjax; Lower Circassian; Shapsug
Population this Country 111,000
Population all Countries 686,000
Total Countries 11
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 10161
ROP3 Code 100079
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Adygeya Republic, Kransnodarskiy Kray, Karachayevo-Cherkesiya, and Stavropol’skiy Kray.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Adygeya Republic, Kransnodarskiy Kray, Karachayevo-Cherkesiya, and Stavropol’skiy Kray..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.07 %)
0.07 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.93 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Adyghe
Language Code ady   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Kabardian
Primary Language Adyghe
Language Code ady   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Kabardian
People Groups Speaking Adyghe

Primary Language:  Adyghe

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1977-2007)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1991-2019)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Adyghe Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Adyghe YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Proverbs in Adyghe Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: КъэбарышӀур Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: Пегъымбарэу Даниел (The Book of Daniel in Adyghe) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: Тхьэм и ГущыIэ - Adyghe Old Testament Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Adyghe sounds – a pronunciation guide NovmailApps
Mobile App Android Dictionary app: Адыгейский словарь (Adyghe Dictionary) NovmailApps
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Adyghe YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: КъэбарышӀур (New Testament in Adyghe) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Пегъымбарэу Даниел (Daniel in Adyghe) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Притчи на адыгейском языке (Proverbs in Adyghe) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Тхьэм и ГущыIэ (Adyghe Old Testament portions) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Book Reading App: Adyghe Sounds - A pronunciation guide Forum Linguistik in Eurasien e.V.
Mobile App iOS Dictionary App: Адыгейский словарь Forum Linguistik in Eurasien e.V.
Text / Printed Matter IBT, Russia - resources Institute for Bible Translation
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Withheld by request  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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