Crimean Tatars emerged as a distinct ethnic group at the close of the 13th century, following the Mongal invasion of Crimea in 1239. More than two hundred years passed before the Crimean Khanate was officially founded. By that time, Islam was firmly established in the the southern areas of modern Ukraine, especially among the Crimean Tatars.
Strategically situated on the Black Sea, Crimean power increased until 1783, when a series of wars between Russia and Turkey resulted in Crimea's absorption into Russia. The Russian government pursued the Muslim population, and more than 100,000 Tatars were compelled to leave their country. Then, in 1944, Stalin's Soviet regime deported the entire Crimean Tatar population to Central Asia and Siberia, accusing them of cooperation with Germany. It wasn't until 1989 that repatriation to their homeland began.
Today, Crimean Tatars are a minority group in Ukraine, and continue to face discrimination. The mass deportation of 1944 immobilized their culture; nearly one half of their population died en route, and those who survived were forced to grow up among foreigners, far from home, often uneducated.
Until 1989, the Soviet Union refused to recognize the Crimean Tatars as a distinct ethnic group. Since the commencement of their repatriation, the Crimean Tatar National Movement Organization has documented an ethnic population of 550,000. So far the Tatars have been allocated eight areas for settlement in their homeland. Before the deportations, these areas were populated by 15% of the Crimean Tatars; now they must contain 63.6% of the people.
Their dress and language make it difficult to distinguish Crimean Tatars from Russians or Ukrainians. Many of their traditions are falling away, especially among the younger generation.
Islam remains the dominant religion of Crimean Tatars. The majority are nominal Muslims, though the number of those practicing Islam has increased since Ukraine's independence in 1991. Only 0.01 percent of the Tatar population is Christian.
Although granted some degree of self-determination, the Crimean Tatars who have returned still face problems.
Ask the Lord to call full-time Christian workers who are willing to go to Crimea and share Christ with the Tatars. Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Crimean Tatar Christians.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts toward Christians, so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up a strong church among Crimean Tatars.
Pray that Crimean Tatars will come to know Jesus as God's Son and Savior of the world.
Pray for the distribution of the recently completed Crimean Tatar Bible.
Scripture Prayers for the Tatar, Crimean in Ukraine.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-03-21 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2015-03-05 |
People Name General | Tatar, Crimean |
People Name in Country | Tatar, Crimean |
Natural Name | Crimean Tatar |
Pronunciation |
cry-MEE-un tah-TAR
|
Alternate Names | Crimean Turk; Crimean Turkish; Krymchak; Nogai; Nogay Tatar; Tartar; Tatar |
Population this Country | 245,000 |
Population all Countries | 827,000 |
Total Countries | 10 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 5 |
People ID | 11434 |
ROP3 Code | 102312 |
Country | Ukraine | ||
Region | Europe, Eastern and Eurasia | ||
Continent | Europe | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Krym, autonomous republic. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Ukraine |
Region | Europe, Eastern and Eurasia |
Continent | Europe |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Krym, autonomous republic.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.10 %) |
0.12 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
99.88 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Crimean Tatar | |||
Language Code | crh Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Crimean Tatar |
Language Code | crh Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Tatar: Western Tatar | |
People Groups | Speaking Crimean Tatar |
Primary Language: Crimean Tatar
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1659-2011) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1666-2011) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2016) |
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 |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Crimean Tatar | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video | Faith Comes by Hearing |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Crimean Tatar | YouVersion Bibles |
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: Crimean Tatar | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | IBT, Russia - resources | Institute for Bible Translation - Russia |
Photo Source | Adam Jones - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |