Hemshin in Russia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Hemshin’s ancestors migrated many times from Turkey until settling in Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Others remain in Turkey. The belonged as a branch of the Hemshin people from Turkey’s Hamshen region, located along the northeastern coast of the Black Sea. Their Christian Armenian ancestors converted to Islam in the 1890s through 1920 to save themselves from death at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Researchers report that although the Hemshins are ethnic Armenians, many world citizens identify them as Muslim Turks due to their statelessness, language and Islamic religion. Religion and language are the primary differences between them and the more numerous Armenians. In Russia, many speak the Homshetsi dialect of Western Armenian, though some still use Turkish, while many have learned Russian too.

Those in Russia were re-settled during Soviet days for various reasons under Stalin’s policies. These migrations occurred due to political upheaval, economic pressures, or ethnic resettlement programs rather than a voluntary choice. Forced migrations have led them to feel unwelcome and stateless even to this day.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The traditional occupations include cultivating citrus, tea, and maize, raising livestock and fishing. Today, they still farm and hold modest jobs, sometimes in the cities where they mostly blend into the broader population. However, Hemshin migrants often do not know about the legal procedures required to leave the country, causing many to end up unregistered. Even those who do know face repeated blocking from local authorities. Without proper registration, undocumented migrants often allow for underpayment, no social guarantees and bad treatment by employers. Armenia has pushed for Russia to step in and help, but to no avail.

The Hemshin are known for their clever jokes, riddles, and stories. Although they maintain some distinct cultural traditions, such as their language and cuisine, Soviet influences softened their unique identity.


What Are Their Beliefs?

A great number of the Hemshin people in Russia follow the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, due to their Ottoman-influenced roots and which dominates the region. These people depend upon good works and obedience to the ways of Islam to pay the penalty for the


What Are Their Needs?

Full Bible resources exist in the Turkish and Armenian languages. Workers who appreciate their historical identity and traditions could become Christ’s ambassadors to the Hemshins.


Prayer Items

Pray for the Lord to call thousands of Hemshins to himself.
Pray that teachers will be sent to help them become firmly established in the truth of scripture and will help them learn to walk in the power of the Lord's Spirit.
Pray the Hemshin people will increasingly be drawn to Jesus (whom Muslims call Isa al-Masih), and that they will be prompted to seek the only true savior.
Pray for the Lord to visit them in dreams and visions.


Scripture Prayers for the Hemshin in Russia.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemshin_people
https://www.khatchadorianrita.com/post/the-hemshin-a-community-of-armenians-who-became-muslims
https://www.ponarseurasia.org/the-hemshin-homshetsi-or-hemshinli-armenian-speaking-muslim-people-of-the-b


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Hemshin
People Name in Country Hemshin
Pronunciation HEM-shin
Alternate Names Hamshen; Hamshenis; Hemshen; Hemşinli; Homsetsi; Homshetsi
Population this Country 2,100
Population all Countries 153,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 18997
ROP3 Code 115399
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Mostly in Krasnodar Krai, a part of the Southern Federal District. Concentrated in the Sochi area and Adygeya.   Source:  Wikipedia article
Country Russia
Region Europe, Eastern and Eurasia
Continent Asia
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Mostly in Krasnodar Krai, a part of the Southern Federal District. Concentrated in the Sochi area and Adygeya..   Source:  Wikipedia article

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
10.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
90.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Turkish (2,100 speakers)
Language Code tur   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Turkish (2,100 speakers)
Language Code tur   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Turkish

Primary Language:  Turkish

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1782-1985)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1819-1993)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2009)
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
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Turkish 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 Productions
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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links 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
Mobile App Android and iOS Bible App: Incil Gercek Medya
Mobile App Android Bible app: Biblica Türkçe Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: INCIL Bible League
Mobile App Android Bible app: İncilʼin Temel Türkçe Tercümesi (Basic Turkish) General / Other
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: Turkish YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Turkish Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter tools for gospel conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source CharlesFred - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.