Northern Kurd in Armenia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Kurds are the largest people group in the world without their own homeland. They are spread across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Armenia, and Georgia. This oil-rich area is known as Kurdistan by the Kurdish people. Kurds now living in Armenia originated in Turkey. Kurds immigrated to Armenia in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some of them are Yazidis (a sect of Islam) who were fleeing persecution from the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
Though the distinct Kurdish communities within the former Soviet Union are separated by religion, places of origin, and distance, many Kurds still dream of a united Kurdistan. They have maintained customs and traditional dress in many areas.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Armenia permits the Kurds to use their language of Kurmanji. Armenia has become a cultural center for Kurds. There are radio broadcasts in the Kurmanji dialect and there is a Kurdish publishing house.
The Kurds of Armenia generally enjoy a higher standard of living than their cousins in Turkey and Iran. Although they still farm and care for animals, many now live in cities. About half live in Armenia's capital city, Yerevan.
Kurds in the former Soviet Union are among the nation's most prosperous citizens. They work hard on their farms, as well as tending to their own herds and plots of land.
The prosperity of the Kurds in Armenia is evident in the quality of their homes. They have modern houses made of stone or brick, usually equipped with central heating and sometimes even a telephone. Their villages have broad, well-lit streets, linked to the cities by reasonably good roads. They have their own schools, schoolbooks, and a printing press, as well as many other things that are considered luxurious in Kurdistan. They face little or no discrimination in Armenia. Illiteracy disappeared among them in the 1930s.
The Kurds are noted for their elaborate and colorful national costumes. The men's attire consists of baggy, colored trousers and plain shirts with huge sleeves split at the wrist and tied at the elbow. Brilliantly colored vests and sashes are also part of their attire. Women wear brightly embroidered, heavy clothing.
The husband/father is the head of the Kurdish home. Traditionally, the mother stayed home to take care of children and do domestic chores. This is changing as more Kurdish women become educated and live in urban settings. Yazidi Kurds are strictly endogamous, marrying within their group. If a Yazidi marries someone outside their faith, they are expelled from the community.


What Are Their Beliefs?

 While most of the Kurds of Armenia are Shia Muslims, a significant number are Yazidis. Yazidis draw heavily on the ancient Persian religion of Zoroastrianism. Fire plays a part in their rituals. Zoroastrians believe that there is a universal struggle between darkness and light. Orthodox Muslims have long persecuted the Yazidis whom they view as heretics. Some Muslims and Yazidis show hostility to any Christian who attempts to share the good news about Jesus with them. The most important holiday for Kurds is Newroz, or the New Year's festival beginning on March 19-21. Kurds wear special clothing, dance, sing, have family meals and jump over bonfires.


What Are Their Needs?

 The Kurds of Armenia have followed Shia Islam and the Yazidi religion for many years. Although they are financially prosperous, spiritually they are poor. Although the New Testament and the JESUS Film are available in their language of northern Kurdish, there are still only a tiny number of known believers among them.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Armenia and share Christ with the Kurmanji speaking Kurds.
Pray that God will raise up Armenian followers of Christ who will give a clear Gospel witness to the Muslim and Yazidi Kurds.
Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the few known Kurdish believers, and use them to start a Disciple Making Movement in Armenia.
Ask the Lord to give mission agencies wise strategies for reaching the Kurdish population.


Scripture Prayers for the Kurd, Kurmanji in Armenia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kurd, Kurmanji
People Name in Country Kurd, Kurmanji
Natural Name Northern Kurd
Pronunciation kerd
Alternate Names Kermanji; Kurmanji; Turkish Kurd; Yazidi; Yezidi; Behdini
Population this Country 2,000
Population all Countries 14,705,000
Total Countries 33
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 12877
ROP3 Code 105458
ROP25 Code 304412
ROP25 Name Kurd
Country Armenia
Region Asia, Central
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Aragatsotn province: Talin town; Ararat Province: Artashat and Masis towns; Armavir province: Echmiadzin; Geghark’unik’ province: southeastern coast, Lake Sevan; Kotayk’ province: Abovian area; Shirak and Lorri provinces; other main towns and cities.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Armenia
Region Asia, Central
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Aragatsotn province: Talin town; Ararat Province: Artashat and Masis towns; Armavir province: Echmiadzin; Geghark’unik’ province: southeastern coast, Lake Sevan; Kotayk’ province: Abovian area; Shirak and Lorri provinces; other main towns and cities..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Kurd, Kurmanji in Armenia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Religion Subdivision: Sunni
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.50 %)
0.50 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
94.50 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
5.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kurdish, Northern (2,000 speakers)
Language Code kmr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kurdish, Northern (2,000 speakers)
Language Code kmr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kurdish, Northern

Primary Language:  Kurdish, Northern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1856-2016)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1872-2005)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2008)
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
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kurdish, Northern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kurdish, Northern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source manothegreek 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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