Russian in China


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Most Russians in China are the descendants of troops who fled Russia in 1917 after their defeat in the civil war. They have been granted status as an official minority group in China. Today the majority of Russians are a mixed Russian-Chinese. The few white Russians remaining in China are members of a religious cult who instruct their members not to intermarry with other races.

The city of Harbin in Heilongjiang Province was home to 200,000 Russians after the 1917 Russian Revolution. It was known as the "Moscow of Manchuria." Most of these Russians either migrated back to the Soviet Union or became refugees to Western nations. In the 1950s Russia and China enjoyed good relations. Russian became the favored foreign language in Chinese schools. Border disputes and ideological differences in the 1960s, however, made the Chinese think less highly of the Russians.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today many Russians living in the border regions are engaged in trade. Their ability to speak both Russian and Chinese is a marked advantage for them. Their products primarily include clothing, vodka, and cigarettes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Russians in China either adhere to Christianity or are atheists. Writers seem to differ regarding the extent of Christianity among the Russians in China. One source states, "The overwhelming majority belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church. In the absence of a church in the locality, they usually hold religious services at home. Thus in the ... corner of every house there is inevitably an icon of the Virgin Mary or of Jesus Christ."

In addition to the Eastern Orthodox believers, there are also Baptist and Mennonite Russians in China. Although most sources say the majority of Russians in China are Christians, another source lists only 300 Russian believers, fellowshipping in two official churches. The Russian Bible is not available in China.


What Are Their Needs?

Christianity is much more than a national religious identity or system of morality. Russians need to experience a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Russians will need to see real faith demonstrated in the lives of Jesus’ followers no matter where they live.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Russians will realize that they need to do more than go to the church and will give their lives completely to Jesus Christ.

Pray for a spiritual revival in the lives of Russian Orthodox priests and bishops leading them to teach Christ, not traditions.

Pray that Russians will read and understand their Bibles.

Pray for disciple making movements to begin among Russians all over the world.


Scripture Prayers for the Russian in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Russian
People Name in Country Russian
Alternate Names Eluosi; Olossu; Russ
Population this Country 23,000
Population all Countries 136,151,000
Total Countries 70
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14598
ROP3 Code 108452
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country In 1953 Russians living in China numbered 22,656. This tally dropped when most decided to leave China because of the fanatical implementation of Communist policies. By the 1964 census, the Russian population in China had fallen to a mere 1,326. Today their numbers are on the increase again, with 13,504 occupying communities in three provinces along the China-Russia border. Most live in northern Xinjiang, while smaller numbers of Russians are located in Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang. This figure does not include the hundreds of young women from Russia reportedly working as prostitutes in cities like Beijing and Guangzhou. In addition, approximately 150 million Russians are located throughout the world, including all of the Republics of the former Soviet Union.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country In 1953 Russians living in China numbered 22,656. This tally dropped when most decided to leave China because of the fanatical implementation of Communist policies. By the 1964 census, the Russian population in China had fallen to a mere 1,326. Today their numbers are on the increase again, with 13,504 occupying communities in three provinces along the China-Russia border. Most live in northern Xinjiang, while smaller numbers of Russians are located in Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang. This figure does not include the hundreds of young women from Russia reportedly working as prostitutes in cities like Beijing and Guangzhou. In addition, approximately 150 million Russians are located throughout the world, including all of the Republics of the former Soviet Union..   Source:  Operation China, 2000

No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.


Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.50 %)
55.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
45.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Russian
Language Code rus   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Russian
Language Code rus   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Russian

Primary Language:  Russian

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1815-1993)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-1991)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1875-2023)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Russian Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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 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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General General Ministry Resources General / Other
General Open-licensed Bible stories on mobile app Distant Shores
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Central Asia) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: CARS (uses Allah) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: CARS for Tajikistan General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gospel of John (Russian for Central Asia) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Holy Scriptures (CARS) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Russian YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Selections from the Holy Scriptures (Allah) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Библия для детей - Russian Children's Bible Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: РСП Библия Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: Святая Библия, Новый русский перевод (New Russian Translation) Biblica
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
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Russian YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Библия для детей - (Childrens Bible in Russian) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Библия Онлайн General / Other
Mobile App iOS Bible app: РСП Библия Bible League
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Cartoon Gospel tract General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Russian Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source AV Photographer - Pixabay 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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