In Armenia and Georgia, the Eastern Orthodox beliefs survived while the rest of the Caucasus largely turned to the muslim religion. Today a remnant of the Caucasian Albanians, the Udins, are making efforts to return to their Christian traditions. Also, most of the Ossetians professed Christianity that came from the Byzantine Empire and Georgia during the sixth and seventh centuries, but in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries Islam penetrated Ossetia. Still, many Ossetians are Orthodox Christians today. The “Mountain Jews,” the Tat people, contine to practice their religion to some extent.

“Circassians” is a term sometimes used to designate one ethnic subgroup made up of three different peoples who are believed to have inhabited the Northwest Caucasus at least since the 7th century BC. These three peoples populate their own areas within this region. According to Soviet designations, the Adygei Autonomous Oblast (later The Republic of Adygea (map) in the Russian Federation) lies within the Krasnodar Krai with the city of Krasnodar as its capital.

The Circassians were nominal Christians from the 5th century AD till the 18th century, some tribes even longer. Language and folklore bear witness to this Christian heritage.  Some 3000 Kabardians in the Mozdok area remain Orthodox Christians to this day.

The Karachai-Cherkess Republic within the Russian Federation with its capital city of Cherkessk is the home of the Cherkess. The third people group, the Kabardians (together with the Balkars), inhabit the Kabardino-Balkaria Autonomous Republic within the Russian Federation. The city of Nalchik is the major administrative center of this Republic.

Researchers have found that the culture and lifestyles of the various North Caucasus people groups are quite similar. Yet, in one respect the Circassians (including the Adygei) appear to be less motivated by religion in terms of their governance principles than are the Chechens and the peoples of Daghestan. In other words, islam is, in general, not a strong identity determiner among the Circassians.

Christian influences appeared early in the Caucasus. The Armenian Church, for example, claims its roots from the ministry of the disciples of Jesus, Bartholomew and Thaddeus. First century missionary activity among the Caucasian Albanians in southern Dagestan and northern Azerbaijan brought a foothold for the Gospel. Similarly, Georgian tradition holds that the Apostle Andrew (and also Matthias) evangelized in Georgia.

Armenian and Georgian missionaries then planted the Gospel in other parts of the Caucasus. Notably through Georgian efforts Christianity took hold in Chechnya around AD 1000. Numerous monuments and traditions pointing to this can still be found.

Scripture distribution -- The Adygeis received the New Testament in their language the first time in 1994. A revision of that text is soon ready to be reprinted. Here is information from the Adyge church regarding the distribution of the Adygei New Testament that will soon be printed.

The Adygei living in the republic number about 125,000. About 50 people are members of the Adygei church in Adygeisk, about 10 people live in the city of Maikop, and some 30 believers are spread out over the republic. They belong to various churches, such as Baptist churches, unregistered Baptists, and Charismatics.

The distribution of Christian literature, CDs, and DVDs is mainly done by the pastor and his co-workers of the church in Adygeisk. Other members of this church will also participate.  A 52-year-old paralyzed Adygei believer constantly travels throughout the republic witnessing and distributing a large amount of Christian materials among the Adygeis and Kabardians.

A new approach to Scripture distribution is also underway, where the workers plan to find e-mail addresses through the internet and offer New Testaments and other Christian materials to all who respond.

At this time, only a few hundred copies are still left of the first printing of the Adygei NT. The Adygei workers are therefore in great need of help in this endeavor to print the revised New Testament.

We invite you to pray, and participate as the Lord enables you.

For information on how to donate, click here. To donate now, please click here,