The Kabardians exist as the largest surviving 'tribe' of the northwestern Caucasus' Circassian language family. (The Adyghe are the other surviving Circassian major people group in the Caucasus.) In an earlier era, the Kabardians practiced an eclectic blend of pagan/Christian/Islamic religious practices, venerating sacred trees, mountains, horses, fire, and a pantheon of gods. They venerate a "Tree of Life," its seven sets of branches woven to form a skyward arrow, as a monument to the victims of the century-long Russo-Circassian wars that ended in 1864. The Kabardian's ability to survive is unbelievable, considering the Circassians' epic devastation and the tragic expulsion/emigration/destruction of ninety percent of their population from their homelands in Russia. So now, every Kabardian wedding, where a "Tree of Life" is venerated by the groom and bride, represents future hope for a people who came so dangerously close to ethnic extermination.
For all their past plights, Kabardians embody remarkable aspects of human beauty and strength. If a people's proverbs reveal their cultural values, attentive hospitality certainly ranks high. One can find a hundred folk sayings on the sacred duties of host-guest relationships in Kabardian "khabze," that is, their traditional norms of behavior or customary protocol. For example, "A guest is a messenger from God." Or "The guest of a Kabardian is as safe as if protected by a fortress."
The Kabardians honor their elders and those with recognized status. They train their youth to serve and defer to elders.
Yet this precious people possess darkened hearts like all human beings. They practice a culture of blood revenge that is equal to hospitality as a cultural value. Once characterized by folk Islam, their youth's growing attraction to radical Islam plagues the Kabardians.
Equal to hospitality as a cultural value is the code of blood revenge.
Kabardians practice folk Islam which includes traditional beliefs and values.
The Kabardian need workers to share the gospel in the Kabardian language and culture.
Pray that against this backdrop, the 75-100 scattered Kabardian believers can shine as lights. Pray for love, boldness, unity and vision.
Pray for the circulation of translated Scriptures, Audio Bibles, audio recordings and the JESUS Film into Kabardian cultural circles.
Pray that spiritual barriers that have kept the gospel from advancing would be broken down.
Pray for a reproducing, culturally relevant Kabardian church – that Jesus can be seen as 'fully dressed in Kabardian clothes.'
Scripture Prayers for the Kabardian, East Circassian in Russia.
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2010/03/20
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Other PDF Profile |
Global Prayer Digest: 2009-03-26 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2010-03-20 |
People Name General | Kabardian |
People Name in Country | Kabardian, East Circassian |
Natural Name | Kabardian |
Pronunciation |
kuh-BAR-dee-un
|
Alternate Names | East Circassian; Kabado-Cherkes; Upper Circassian |
Population this Country | 523,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,982,000 |
Total Countries | 8 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 10 |
People ID | 11675 |
ROP3 Code | 102815 |
Country | Russia | ||
Region | Europe, Eastern and Eurasia | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | Kabardino-Balkariya Republic, Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya, and Stavropol’skiy Kray. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Country | Russia |
Region | Europe, Eastern and Eurasia |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Kabardino-Balkariya Republic, Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya, and Stavropol’skiy Kray.. Source: Ethnologue 2016 |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.02 %) |
0.02 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
99.98 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | Kabardian (523,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kbd Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Kabardian (523,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kbd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Kabardian |
Primary Language: Kabardian
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1991) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1993-2007) |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Kabardian | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels | Bible Media Group/LUMO |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
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: Kabardian | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Kabardian | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | IBT, Russia - resources | Institute for Bible Translation - Russia |
Photo Source | Dan Zelazo - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |