Are Ossetians Muslims or Christians? Religion of Ossetians

One of the peoples living in the North Caucasus is called Ossetians. It has rich and unique traditions. For many years scientists are interested in the question: "Are Ossetians Muslims or Christians?" To give an answer to it, it is necessary to get acquainted with the history of religious development of this ethnos.

Ossetians in ancient times

For a long time ethnicity of Ossetians bore different names. For example, they called themselves "Iron Adam", and the country in which they lived - "Iriston". The Georgians called them "oats", and the country, respectively, "Ovseti".

From the first millennium AD people lived in the North Caucasus, in the Alanian kingdom. Over time, the Ossetians were heavily pressed by the Mongols and Tamerlan's troops, after which their way of life changed very much. Under the influence of Georgia, they began to change their lives, and with it, and confessional identity. People quite difficult to live under new conditions and had to settle in the harsh mountains.

People who observed the life of Ossetians from the outside, were very sympathetic to them, because their country was closed and inaccessible to the outside world because of the mountains covered with ice and snow, and also because of the presence of rocks and fleeting rivers. Because of the environment, the fertility of Ossetia is low: except for cereals such as oats, wheat and barley, virtually nothing will be born there.

Ossetians, whose religion since ancient times was considered a Christian, today only are considered such because of the observance of the Great Lent, the veneration of icons, the faith of priests and churches. They have nothing else to do with Christianity. Previously, the Ossets revered many gods of natural elements and looked for parallels between the Christian pantheon and the saints in Islam. Very often they also sacrificed sacrifices to Christian saints, such as Nikolai the Sinner, George the Victorious, Archangel Michael and others.

The emergence of Christianity in Ossetia

How did Ossetians become Christians? This religion came to them from Georgia in the XI-XIII centuries - this is official data, but not many people know that the people got acquainted with this faith much earlier. And she entered into their lives gradually.

Even in the IV century, the South Ossetians adopted Christianity from western Georgia. But because of the weakening of faith after Lasik's departure for the Persians, the religious teaching did not spread further. Again, Christianity manifested itself during the campaign of Justinian to Ossetia and Kabarda. It happened already in the VI century. With the activities of Justinian as a missionary, churches began to be built, and bishops came from Greece. It is for this period that Ossetians are accustomed to the elements of the Christian cult and to rituals. But already in the VII century the campaigns of conquerors-Arabs began, which again stopped the development of Christianity.

For many centuries the religious life in Ossetia remained unstable. There were also Ossetian Christians, and those who adhered to the Islamic faith. Both branches became native for them.

Study of the faith of Ossetians

For many years this people (Ossetians) adhered to both Christianity and Islam. Despite the differences of faiths, the rites were held together. In addition, they were interconnected with ancient beliefs. Today, North Ossetia has communities of 16 denominations. Researchers constantly monitor the inhabitants of the country and their religion, their attention is drawn to the form and degree of influence of faith on the people.

Systematically study the beliefs of the Ossetian steel after the annexation of Ossetia to Russia. It was representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church who began to observe how the Ossetians, whose faith was unstable, live, and what traditions are preferred. And the first studies began during the missionary activity in the territory of this mountainous country.

Specificity of the faith of Ossetians

Thanks to the traditional system of religion for many centuries, the people's opinion developed, which was radically different from monotheistic beliefs. Their faith is open and capable of accepting completely new ideas and views of other faiths. Specificity of the Ossetian religion is a tolerant attitude of this people to both Christianity and Islam. These are the Ossetians. Muslims or Christians around - for them it does not matter. Despite the faith that family and friends take, these people treat them equally, because at different times, Christianity and Islam were present in the life of the people.

The manifestation of Christianity in Ossetia

The origins of the appearance of Islam on the territory of Alanya have not been studied as well as the coming of Christianity. There are some differences among scientists. The history of Ossetians says that the faith of the sons of Allah began to spread on these lands in the 7th century, and other sources claim that Islam became "its own" among Ossetians only in the XVIII century. However it may be, it is only known reliably that the breakthrough occurred just after Ossetia joined Russia. Religious forms were sharply transformed and adapted to new rules. The Orthodox Church began to restore Christianity among the Ossetians, although it was not easy for missionaries to achieve the desired result.

The Ossetians treated baptism as an act necessary to join the Russian people, and were not at all interested in Christian dogmas and, naturally, did not adhere to rituals. It took several decades for the Ossetians to learn the faith of Christ and join the church life. The creation of Christian schools, where the national education was taking place, was very helpful in this.

Christianity and Islam began to develop in parallel after the accession of Ossetia to Russia. In some parts of the country, Islam was spreading, to a greater extent it concerns the western and eastern regions. There, people accepted it as the only religion.

The influence of Russia on the religion of Ossetians

Already at the first Civil War, the Orthodox Russian Church was declared a bulwark of counterrevolution. Subsequently, there were repressions directed against the clergy. They stretched out for several decades, the churches and temples began to be destroyed. The Vladikavkaz diocese already was defeated in the first 20 years of Soviet power. Ossetians, Christians or Muslims, did not have a single faith. And already in 32-37 the second wave of repression took place, then both Christianity and the Muslim faith suffered. It was in these years in Ossetia, there were massive rout and closure of churches. For example, in Vladikavkaz, out of 30 cathedrals, only two survived, which still operate today.

In the 30s, mosques that were in the territory of North Ossetia were destroyed. The best clergymen of different nationalities were persecuted.

Religious organizations began to exist in Soviet times very uneasily, but the Orthodox faith remained traditional and numerous for the indigenous Ossetians. Only by the nineties did Islam begin to revive in Ossetia, communities began to register, mosques were restored. Until today, the effects of past attacks and raids are felt. Priests do not have professional special training, literature, necessary for worship, is practically nonexistent. This affects the work of Muslim communities. There have been attempts to invite young people who have received education in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but they have had bad consequences, as along with them in the Caucasus began to emerge unfamiliar and unacceptable to the people of the teachings of salafiyya.

Modern Ossetia

In the modern world, because of the transformation of religion, its new forms began to appear, which are very far from traditions. The culture of Ossetians is also undergoing changes. Under the guise of restoring the national Ossetian religion, there are attempts to create new trends that can become an alternative to Islam and Christianity. They are defined as non-pagan. Three such communities have already been registered in the Republic of Ossetia. They are trying to create a republican organization.

Today, Ossetia has become a small state with a territory of almost 4000 square meters. Km and a small population. After the August war with Georgia, the Ossetians began to live in safety. Georgians left them, but at the same time the people became very vulnerable. The borders of South Ossetia and Georgia are under strict control of the Russian authorities. Russia specifically created the Border Management of South Ossetia. After the war with Georgia, the country is slowly recovering, and its capital, Tskhinval, was recently started to be truly reconstructed.

Pentecostals and communities of Ossetia

The situation with religion is quite unique. Only the Tskhinvali synagogue survived after the atheism of the Soviet era, and it continues to the present day, however, it was converted to a Jewish cultural center. Today Jews began to leave Ossetia and return to Israel, so the synagogue began to work for Ossetian Pentecostals. But now only part of the building that was behind is acting, as the Jews worshiped in the front. There are six other Pentecostal communities throughout Ossetia.

Many representatives of the Ossetian intelligentsia accepted their faith, and divine services are conducted for convenience both in Russian and in local languages. Although Pentecostals are not officially registered today, they are absolutely free to develop and are engaged in their own business. This current took a firm position in the social structure of the unified church of Christians with the faith of the Gospel.

Ossetians today

A considerable part of Ossetians is still true to traditional beliefs. Different villages of the republic have their sanctuaries and chapels. To date, Ossetia is being restored and reconstructed. Because of the unsatisfactory socio-political situation, many citizens left the country, and those who stayed, live on a small salary. It is very hard for people to build or buy the necessary food, as the Russian customs services continue to work in the same way as before the war with Georgia. The culture of the Ossetians is not developing fast enough, so far they have no opportunity to get a good education and achieve something in life. And this is despite the fact that Ossetia is rich in non-ferrous metals, they have remarkable wood, the textile industry is reviving. The state can begin to develop and become one of the most modern, but this will require a lot of effort and a new government.

Religion of Ossetians today

The history of the people is quite complicated, so is the question with religion. Who are the Ossetians - Muslims or Christians? To say it is very difficult. North Ossetia remained closed to research, and little is known about it. Experts estimated that approximately 20% of the population in the north are the faithful sons of Allah. Mostly this religion began to rise after the collapse of the USSR, many young people of North Ossetia began to practice Islam mainly in the form of Wahhabism. Some people think that the clergy want to keep the religious activity of Muslims under control, and that it itself is tightly controlled by the FSB, albeit behind the scenes.

Religion and nationality

South Ossetia has become a haven for various peoples - Ossetians and Georgians, Russians and Armenians, as well as Jews. The indigenous people left the country in large numbers because of the conflict of the 90s and began to reside on the territory of Russia. This is mostly North Ossetia-Alania. The Georgians, in turn, massively left for home. The Orthodox faith, despite all the vicissitudes, began to prevail among the Ossetians.

Relationship between culture and religion

The culture of Ossetians is constantly evolving, but the people are trying to adhere to the old traditions and teach it the new rising generations. For Ossetians it does not matter at all what kind of worship they have with their relatives and neighbors. The main thing is a good attitude towards each other and mutual understanding, and God is one for all. Thus, it does not matter who exactly the Ossetians are - Muslims or Christians. For the spiritual and intellectual development in the republic museums and theaters, libraries and educational institutions are open. The state is constantly working on raising the economy and other spheres.