Religion in Abkhazia
Many inhabitants of
There exists a very small number of adherents to Judaism and Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as non-believers.[4] The Jehovah's Witnesses organization has officially been banned since 1995, though the decree is not currently enforced.[5] According to the constitutions of both Abkhazia and Georgia, the adherents of all religions have equal rights before the law.[6][7]
Abkhaz native religion
The Abkhaz native religion has undergone a revival in recent decades.[3] As of 2003 8% of the population of Abkhazia (thus a higher percentage among ethnic Abkhazians) declares to be "pagan". It is worthwhile to note that the equivalent of the term "pagan" in Abkhazian (as well as Russian) language, язычник yazychnik, means "ethnic" rather than "country dweller" like its Western counterpart. One scholar has asserted that the Abkhazian traditional religion has become so well established and intertwined with the government to be almost the state religion of the country.[8]
In the Abkhaz native religion, Antsua (also spelled Antzva) is the supreme God and the creator of life. The native religion is animistic, there are deities that represents thunder and the weather like Afy, others that represent the forests, wild animals, and hunting like Ayerg and Azhvepshaa.[2] The religion has a host of different Gods that cater for each aspect of the world. Abkhaz gods have "Apaimbari" meaning angels and observers that function as representatives of the Gods on earth. They keep track of everything that is done amongst the people, while reporting everything back to the Gods.[9]
The followers of this religion have 7 holy temples among which 6 have been restored “Dydrypsh-nykha,” “Lashkendar-nykha,” “Ldzaa-nykha,” “Lykh-nykha” and “Ulyr-nykha.” The sixth sanctuary “Inal-Kuba” is located in a mountain valley of Pskhu, which is now populated by Russians. However, the name of the 7th temple is still disputed.[9]
Abrahamic religions
Christianity
According to the 2003 census, 60% of respondents identified themselves as Christian[4] and according to the 2011 census, 75% identified themselves as Christian.[10] The two main churches active in Abkhazia are the Abkhazian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church. There are approximately 140 church buildings in Abkhazia, most of which date from the first millennium.[11]
The Abkhazian Orthodox Church operates outside the official
The
May 15, 2011 at the National Assembly of the Church in the city of New Athos (Anakopiya), proclaimed the establishment of a new church organization - the Holy Metropolis of Abkhazia.[18]
The Catholic Church in Abkhazia is the third largest Christian denomination and mostly consists of mainly Armenians, Poles, and expatriates living in Abkhazia. The Holy See does not have diplomatic relations with Abkhazia, but has enjoyed two high level visits from the apostolic nuncio.
History of Christianity in Abkhazia
The earliest accounts of the introduction of Christianity into the present-day Abkhazia date from the 1st century AD,
During the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia, the Georgian Orthodox church effectively lost control of Abkhazian church affairs as ethnically Georgian priests had to flee Abkhazia and the Abkhaz Priest Vissarion Aplaa became acting head of the Sukhumi-Abkhazian eparchy. In the following years, recently consecrated clerics from the neighbouring Russian Maykop Eparchy arrived in Abkhazia, who eventually came into conflict with Vissarion. Through the mediation of Russian church officials, the two sides managed to reach a power-sharing agreement at Maikop in 2005, but this did not hold.[17]
In April 2008, the last Georgian Orthodox priest remaining in the predominantly Georgian-populated
On 15 September 2009, the Sukhumi-Abkhazian Eparchy led by Vissarion declared that it no longer considered itself part of the Georgian Orthodox Church, that it was re-establishing the Catholicate of Abkhazia, and that it would henceforth be known as the Abkhazian Orthodox Church.[15]
Representatives of the Holy Metropolis of Abkhazia, a new church organization in Abkhazia, are quite successful dialogue with the
Islam
According to the 2003 census, 16% of respondents identified themselves as Muslim[4] and according to the 2011 census 10% of respondents identified themselves as Muslim.[25] There are two mosques in Abkhazia, one in Gudauta and one in Sukhumi.[26]
History of Islam in Abkhazia
Thousands of Abkhaz, known as
In 2009, Muslims in Abkhazia for the first time received an invitation from the King of Saudi Arabia to go on the Hajj to Mecca.[26]
On 19 December 2011, the Spiritual Board of the Muslims in Abkhazia held its fourth congress, after the death of its Chairman First Mufti of Abkhazia Adlia Gablia. Salikh Kvaratskhelia was elected the new Chairman, Roman Jugelia and Timur Dzyba Deputy Chairmen.[31]
Recent murders
Daur Mutsba, a member of the local Muslim community, and his wife Karin Nersesyan were shot dead on 2 July 2007 by an unknown gunman in the yard of the house they rented in the centre of Sukhumi. Mutsba was originally from Adzyubzha, Ochamchira District.[32][33] Another murder took place on 17 August 2007 at around 13:00, when
It was announced in June 2012 that, as part of the investigation of the February 2012 assassination attempt on President Alexander Ankvab, police had also reopened the case of the attempted assassination of the Imam of the Sukhumi Mosque Salikh Kvaratskhelia in July 2010.[39] It was not established whether there was a connection to the killing in Gagra on 17 July 2010, of Emil Chakmach-ogly a member of the Spiritual Board of the Muslims of Abkhazia and a member of the Public Chamber of Abkhazia, he had previously been a Deputy of the People's Chamber of Abkhazia. Chakmach-ogly was shot in the courtyard of his home around 2:00, after returning from his shop.[40][41]
Judaism
As of 2012, the Jewish population in Abkhazia is estimated at about 150 and is mostly elderly.[42]
See also
References
- ^ "UNPO: Abkhazia". unpo.org. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
- ^ a b "Abkhazians - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage". www.everyculture.com. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- ^ a b George Enteen, ABKHAZIA versus GEORGIA: Implications for U.S. Policy toward Russia
- ^ a b c http://www.portal-credo.ru/site/print.php?act=fresh&id=188 Александр Крылов. ЕДИНАЯ ВЕРА АБХАЗСКИХ "ХРИСТИАН" И "МУСУЛЬМАН". Особенности религиозного сознания в современной Абхазии.
- ^ Department of State. Retrieved on May 24, 2007.
- ^ "Конституция Республики Абхазия". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-05-24. Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia, art. 12 (in Russian)
- ^ Крылов А. Б. Секрет абхазской веротерпимости. НГ-религия от 17 марта 2004.
- ^ Agababyan, Arusyak. "What Do We Believe?" Rebirth of "Traditional Religion" in Post-War Abkhazia. Государство, религия, церковь в России и за рубежом, № 2 (34) / 2016.
- ^ a b "Discover Abkhazia". Discover Abkhazia. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- ^ https://unpo.org/members/7854
- ^ Kuchuberia, Anzhela (17 November 2009). Абхазская православная церковь обратилась к духовенству Грузии с братским посланием (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ^ Witness through troubled times : a history of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, 1811 to the present, Abashidze, Zaza.
- ^ A long walk to church: a contemporary history of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd ed, Davis, Nathaniel
- ^ Autocephalous Orthodox Churches centered at Constantinople
- ^ a b Сухумо-Абхазская епархия переименована в Абхазскую Православную церковь с Сухумским и Пицундским патриархатами (in Russian). Администрация Президента Республики Абхазия. 2009-09-16. Archived from the original on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ The Georgian Times on the Web: Comprehensive news site, daily international, national and local news coverage , breaking news updates, sports, reviews Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Вновь обострился конфликт внутри православной общины Абхазии. Blagovest.info May 15, 2006. Retrieved on June 26, 2007 (in Russian)
- ^ "The Official Website of the Holy Metropolis of Abkhazia ::". Archived from the original on 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
- ^ http://www.patriarchate.ge/istoria/1e.htm HISTORY OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF GEORGIA Archived 28 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/syriac_misc.htm EXTRACTS FROM THE SYRIAC MS. NO. 14528 IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. WRITTEN A.D. 501. Names of Bishops
- ^ Abkhazia: Only Georgian Orthodox priest expelled.. Forum 18 News service, April 23, 2008.
- ^ ABKHAZIA: "Of course" authorities won't defend Georgian monks and nuns. Forum 18. September 4, 2008.
- ^ Abkhazia expels clergymen to Georgia for refusing to recognize local church - official. Interfax. 6 April 2009
- ^ "Caucasian Knot | Ecumenical Patriarchate to consider status of Abkhazian Orthodox Church at Synod's sitting". Archived from the original on 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
- ^ https://unpo.org/members/7854
- ^ a b Kuchuberia, Anzhela (2009-11-16). Группа мусульман Абхазии совершит хадж в Мекку (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
- ^ "Archived copy" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
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- ^ Abkhazia's Diaspora: Dreaming of Home
- ^ Circassians in Turkey rally for their rights
- ^ "Салих (Станислав) Кварацхелия избран председателем Духовного управления мусульман Абхазии". Apsnypress. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ "Выпуск №250". Apsnypress. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ^ a b Kuchuberia, Anzhela (27 August 2007). "ДУМ Абхазии обеспокоено отношением властей к исламу". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ Sergeyev, Nikolai (18 August 2007). "Абхазию избавили от героя войны с Грузией". Kommersant. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ Kuchuberia, Anzhela (17 August 2007). "В Абхазии расстреляли имама Хамзата Гицбу". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ Kuchuberia, Anzhela (21 August 2007). "ДУМ Абхазии требует найти и наказать убийц имама Хамзата Гицба". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ ДУХОВНОЕ УПРАВЛЕНИЕ МУСУЛЬМАН АБХАЗИИ ОБЕСПОКОЕНО СИТУАЦИЕЙ, СЛОЖИВШЕЙСЯ ВОКРУГ МУСУЛЬМАНСКОЙ ОБЩИНЫ РЕСПУБЛИКИ. Apsnypress. August 27, 2007.
- ^ "В Гудауте в результате обстрела мечети один представитель Духовного управления мусульман Абхазии погиб, двое ранено". Apsnypress. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ "Судом продлен срок содержания под стражей до 6 месяцев обвиняемых Анзора Бутба, Алхаса Хутаба, Рамзи Хашига и Муртаза Сакания". Apsnypress. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ "Убит представитель Духовного управления мусульман Республики Абхазия Эмик Чакмач-оглы". Apsnypress. 17 July 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ "В Гагре состоялось расширенное совещание межведомственной следственно-оперативной группы по факту убийства Эмика Чакмач-оглы". Apsnypress. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ^ Edwards, Maxim (September 30, 2012). "Jewish Life Slowly Dying in Abkhazia". The Forward. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
External links
- (in Abkhaz, English, and Russian) Official site of the Abkhazian eparchy
- Matsuzato, Kimitaka: "Canonization, Obedience, and Defiance: Strategies for Survival of the Orthodox Communities in Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia" in the Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 20