Karachay in Russia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Other PDF Profile

Introduction / History

Over the past 600 years, the Karachai people have experienced life much like a grape placed in a wine press. Formerly part of the once mighty Alan Empire (nominally Christian), Turko-Mongol leader invader Timur defeated and forcibly converted the Karachai to Islam in the 14th century. Russian czarist imperialists conquered them in the 19th century, so the Karachai people are very familiar with distress brought about by defeat at the hands of invading nations.

During World War II, the Germans swallowed them up as they advanced through the Caucasus Mountains. Then Stalin's Soviets re-conquered them. Due to their "acceptance" of German rule, Stalin then deported the Karachai—numbering roughly 80,000 at the time—from their Caucasus homeland to remote parts of Soviet Central Asia between 1943-57. Despite 35 percent of their population dying during the forced relocation, many Karachai have returned to their homeland and have begun repopulating their home area in the Russian province of Karachai-Cherkessia.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Karachai of the Russian North Caucasus have preserved much of their heritage due to their Islamic cultural identity and their clan-organized communities, called Tukhum. Fiercely loyal within their Tukhum, Karachai have maintained strong family and cultural traditions best observed in weddings, funerals and over-the-top hospitality toward guests. Nevertheless, the Karachai's position on the global stage has not changed despite population growth and retaining cultural identifiers.

The Karachai culture, on the one hand, is devoted to 'duty '—but, on the other hand, is plagued by cycles of vengeance, corruption and male drunkenness. Their Islamic traditions represents a largely 'graceless' dynamic, with no clear understanding of forgiving grace and no indwelling Holy Spirit to revitalize.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Karachai practice Sunni Islam tainted with folk religion.


What Are Their Needs?

The Karachai need workers to share the gospel in the Karachai language and within the Karachai culture.
At present, less than 50 known Karachai followers of Jesus and only one evangelical church exist. The New Testament and Psalms in the Karachai language was completed in the 1990s. Even this is a better situation than what is faced by their highly unreached neighbors.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Karachai.
Pray for the New Testament and Psalms to be widely distributed.
Pray for workers and leaders to be raised up to disciple and lead the small group of believers and the one evangelical church.
Pray for the establishment of a viable, indigenous and reproducing Karachai church.


Scripture Prayers for the Karachay in Russia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  
Other PDF Profile

People Name General Karachay
People Name in Country Karachay
Pronunciation kare-uh-CHYE
Alternate Names Alan; Karachai
Population this Country 226,000
Population all Countries 250,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
People ID 12521
ROP3 Code 104628
ROP25 Code 303702
ROP25 Name Karachay
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Karachayevo-Cherkesiya and Kabardino-Balkariya Republic   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 Karachayevo-Cherkesiya and Kabardino-Balkariya Republic.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.02 %)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.98 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Karachay-Balkar (226,000 speakers)
Language Code krc   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Karachay
Dialect Code 11576   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Karachay-Balkar (226,000 speakers)
Language Code krc   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Karachay
Dialect Code 11576   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Karachay-Balkar
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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