Introduction / History

The ancestors of today's Azerbaijanis (AKA, Azeris) had their first contact with Russians when they came to Russia as diplomats and merchants in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The Russian Empire conquered Dagestan in the early 19th century, adding local Azerbaijanis to the population of Russia. They went on to conquer Azerbaijan in the early nineteenth century and made it one of the "Soviet Socialist Republics" in the early days of the USSR.
In the mid twentieth century, Azeris began to stray from their Muslim-dominant region into various Russian urban centers. This accelerated after the demise of the USSR in 1991 when they spread out looking for jobs.
Though there are Azeris in many parts of Russia today, they live mainly in Dagestan and the city of Moscow.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Azeris are among the many Muslim people groups from the Caucasus Mountain region that have migrated to Russian urban centers for work. They work for low wages, and they are not well accepted by the Russian majority, many of whom view them as a threat to the job market. There are Azerbaijani language newspapers in Russia.

The homeland of the Azerbaijani (also known as the Azeris) has been the target of numerous invasions throughout history.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Because of the Azeri's historical ties with Iran, Shia Islam is dominant. The Azeris are primarily of the Ithna Ashari (Twelver's) tradition of Shia Islam, which emphasizes the importance of 12 divinely ordained leaders, one of whom will appear with Christ in the end times. There are also some Sunni Muslims among them. Until the twentieth century, most Azeris identified more with Islam than with their nationality. These beliefs were modified, especially under the atheistic rule of the USSR.

What Are Their Needs?

The Azeris need the chance to make Christ the center of their lives so they can live life to the full (Jn. 10:10).

Prayer Items

Pray for dedicated Russian believers to go to the Azeris with the gospel.
Pray for spiritual discernment and hunger among these Shia Muslims.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Azeri family heads in Russia so they will be willing to listen with open hearts and minds.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among Azeris in the 2020s.

Scripture Prayers for the Azerbaijani in Russia.