Abkhaz in Georgia

Introduction / History

The beautiful Abkhaz people in Abkhazia (a disputed territory which declared independence from the Republic of Georgia). They live along the Black Sea. They call themselves Apsua. The Abkhaz are one of the Circassian Tribes. As a nation, they have strong affinity with the Abaza, the Adyghe, the Kabardian and the Cherkess. They highly value hospitality. A guest is given the same respect as a father or grandfather and is seated at a place of honor at the table. The arrival of a guest is accompanied by a ritual feast. Over wine, hosts and guests go through rounds of toasts, honoring each other and getting to know each other better. Providing hospitality in this way is a source of family pride. Click the additional .pdf profile for more details!

Since 1997, there is an international social network of Caucasus Region Partnering (NCRP) of Christ-honoring ministries, functioning to assist the Body of Christ working together to represent Jesus honorably among all the Caucasus people groups. The motto of this network is “honorable relationships at the speed of trust”. There are dozens of ministries from Russian congregations who are active with short-term ministry & long-term service within Abkhazia.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Abkhaz who live in villages and small towns are skilled in cattle raising, farming, beekeeping and managing vineyards. Wine is a major export for Abkhazia.
With respect to men and women in their adult relationships: most Abkhaz women are given into marriage in their early twenties, but men often wait until their thirties or even forties. Marriage is forbidden with all possible relatives; individuals are not allowed to marry anyone with the same surname as any of their grandparents. In the past, it was a cultural tradition for a young man and his friends to kidnap a young woman and take her to his house, where the marriage ceremony was performed. Whether or not the bride was abducted, her family does not attend the wedding. She is required to stand silent and secluded while her husband's family feasts and celebrates.

What Are Their Beliefs?

In the 6th Century, most of Abkhazia became nominally Christian; then in the 16th Century due to the Ottoman Turk takeover and pressure from the Muslim Adyghe to the north, the region became largely Muslim. An Abkhaz historian says it like this, "We're 80% Christian, 20% Muslim, and 100% pagan." Evangelical Christians in Abkhazia are less than 1%.
Of the Abkhaz inside of Russia, there are less than 20 Evangelical believers. Furthermore, in Abkhazia itself, the Orthodox Church has multiple factions: the predominant Abkhazian Orthodox Church, as well as Armenian Orthodox, Georgian Orthodox and Russian Orthodox.
A fresh reading of the New Testament, coupled with a fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit (Acts 3:19), is deeply needed for the Abkhaz people.

What Are Their Needs?

The Abkhaz people need spiritual hunger. As it stands, they are willing to settle for spiritual counterfeits rather than drink from the water of life.

Prayer Points

Pray for a re-emergence of the simple transforming gospel among the Abkhaz people - to know what they are redeemed from and what they are redeemed for - to bring God Glory.
Pray for open-hearted Abkhaz to be graced with the power of the Holy Spirit, and through them for the fruit of the Spirit to begin to flourish in a society wracked by conflict and clan power struggles.
Pray that many Abkhaz will be inspired by the example of Acts 8, where robust pagan worship was superseded by the power of Jesus' gospel, accompanied “by signs and wonders following.
Pray for ongoing progress for the Abkhaz Bible Translation Team. Thank God that after 10 years, the New Testament is almost finished! Work is advancing on 8 Old Testament books!

Text Source:   Joshua Project