Gagauz in Bulgaria


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Gagauzi Turks were once called "Turkic speaking Bulgars." Their ancestors were among the many peoples who spoke a Turkic language. Ethnically they are most like the Crimean Tatars and Nogais. Unlike other Turkic peoples, the Gagauzi Turks are Orthodox Christians, not Sunni Muslims.

Though they are most likely to be found in Moldova, they also live in a number of other countries including Romania, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Only two of these were not part of the USSR.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Gagauzi Turks have been dominated by the Russians for much of their history, especially during the days of the USSR. They began to have a sense of nationalism in the 1980s when the USSR began to unravel.

Their staple food is grain, which they make into breads and unleavened flat cakes, much like crepes. Their national dish is a pie stuffed with cheese and sour cream. Another favorite dish is a pie made with pumpkin and sweet milk. Kurban is a bulghur wheat porridge with ram’s meat. They like peppery meat sauces with onions or porridge.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gagauzi are Eastern Orthodox Christians. They are least reached in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Turkey.


What Are Their Needs?

The Gagauzi Turks need to look to Jesus Christ for all their needs. He is all they need, and he will never abandon them.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Gagauzi Turks to find their way to the cross and the empty grave.

Pray for Eastern Orthodox Churches to put Jesus first, far above traditions and rituals.

Pray for Gagauzi Turkish disciples to make more disciples, especially among related Muslim peoples.


Scripture Prayers for the Gagauz in Bulgaria.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagauz_people

https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/the-gagauz-christian-turks-between-two-worlds-57426

https://minorityrights.org/minorities/gagauz/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Gagauz
People Name in Country Gagauz
Alternate Names Gagauzi Balkan Turk; Maritime Gaguz; Turkish
Population this Country Unknown
Population all Countries 169,000
Total Countries 9
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 11798
ROP3 Code 103132
ROP25 Code 302494
ROP25 Name Gagauz / Gagauzi Turk
Country Bulgaria
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Dobrich province: Krusheri and Dobrich municipalities; Silistra province: Kaybardzha and Atafar municipalities; Varna province: Aksakovo municipality.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Bulgaria
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Dobrich province: Krusheri and Dobrich municipalities; Silistra province: Kaybardzha and Atafar municipalities; Varna province: Aksakovo municipality..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 7.00 %)
90.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
10.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Gagauz
Language Code gag   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Maritime Gagauz
Dialect Code 9982   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Gagauz
Language Code gag   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Maritime Gagauz
Dialect Code 9982   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Gagauz
Photo Source Maria Karanfil 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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