Avars call themselves Ma'arulal (by translation—"free mountaineers, who inhabit the highest lands"). The Ma'arulal speak their own distinct Avar language. Avar people of Dagestan represent the largest linguistic group of Dagestan, and historically the most powerful. Honor/shame represents a high code, deeply ingrained in the Avar cultural psyche. It may play out in blood or through ostracism of the offending party. This truth prevails throughout all 34 of the Dagestani people groups but is perhaps most pronounced in the Avar due to their powerful, leading role in the culture of Dagestan.
Indeed, Imam Shamil, arguably the most famous Dagestani in history, was Avar. Imam Shamil was a powerful Muslim religious leader in the 1st half of the 19th Century who led the political and military resistance to Russian conquerors from 1834-1859. Shamil accomplished one daring exploit after another to baffle Russian military battalions of Tsarist Russia. Defense of Dagestani and Avar honor was the leading theme of these dozens of battles. The Russians finally subdued the Avar people (and all of Dagestan) in 1864, but the code of honor among the Avar has never diminished. In Post-Soviet Dagestan, the Avar (and secondarily the Dargin) carry the primary political power in the internal province [Republic] of Dagestan in southern Russia.
The Avar carry many amazing ancient cultural strengths, capped by their intense sense of honor. One strength not found in Avar culture is grace. The absence of grace—i.e. forgiveness, tolerance, mercy, the Fruit of the Spirit—has left the Avar (and all of Dagestan) vulnerable to intense cycles of violence on many levels. Present-day Dagestan is beset by increasing cycles of violence between Muslim power factions—squelching trade, tourism, and economic well-being. Hope of grace is springing up among the Avar. There are now more than 50 Avar believers. The New Testament has been completed in the Avar language.
The Dagestani Avar predominantly practice Islam mixed with their traditional religious practices.
The Dagestani need workers to share the gospel in their Avar language and to help disciple the new believers.
Thank God for the new believers among the Avar—Pray for their number to increase and for them to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Pray for workers to go to the Avars in each Avar town and village.
Pray for Avar Bible and other resources to be distributed among the Avars.
Pray for the establishment of a viable, indigenous and reproducing Avar church.
Scripture Prayers for the Avar, Dagestani in Russia.
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2019/11/21
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2010/03/07
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Other PDF Profile |
Global Prayer Digest: 2007-02-09 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2009-03-31 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2010-03-07 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2014-03-06 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2019-11-21 |
People Name General | Avar |
People Name in Country | Avar, Dagestani |
Natural Name | Dagestani Avar |
Pronunciation |
dah-gah-STAH-nee AH-var
|
Alternate Names | Batlux; Dagestani; Daghestani; Maarulal |
Population this Country | 1,012,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,133,000 |
Total Countries | 7 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 20 |
People ID | 10495 |
ROP3 Code | 100633 |
Country | Russia | ||
Region | Europe, Eastern and Eurasia | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Dagestan Republic: Terek and Sulak river areas; some in Chechnya 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 | Dagestan Republic: Terek and Sulak river areas; some in Chechnya Republic.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.01 %) |
0.01 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
99.99 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Avar |
Language Code | ava Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Avar |
Language Code | ava Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Avar |
Primary Language: Avar
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1979-2007) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2008) |
Bible-Complete | No |
Bible-NT Audio | 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 | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Avar | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Four Spiritual Laws | Campus Crusade for Christ |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Avar | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Download audio Bible app as APK file | Faith Comes by Hearing |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Avar | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | IBT, Russia - resources | Institute for Bible Translation - Russia |
Photo Source | Frontier Ventures |
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. |