One of the peoples living in the North Caucasus is called the Ossetians. It has rich and unique traditions. For many years, scientists have been interested in the question: "Are Ossetians Muslims or Christians?" To answer it, you need to get acquainted with the history of the development of the religiosity of this ethnic group.
Ossetians in antiquity
Ossetians have had different names since ancient times. For example, they called themselves "iron adam", and the country in which they lived - "Iriston". Georgians called them "ovsi", and the country, respectively, "Ovseti".
From the first millennium of our era, the people lived in the North Caucasus, in the Alanian kingdom. Over time, the Ossetians were strongly pressed by the Mongols and the troops of Tamerlane, after which their way of life changed greatly. Having fallen under the influence of Georgia, they began to change their lives, and with it their confessional affiliation. It became quite difficult for the people to live under the new conditions and had to settle down in the harsh mountains.
People who watched the life of Ossetians from the outside sympathized with them, because their country was closed and inaccessibleto the outside world because of the mountains shrouded in ice and snow, and also because of the presence of rocks and fast-flowing rivers. Due to the environment, the fertility of Ossetia is low: apart from cereals such as oats, wheat and barley, virtually nothing will be born there.
Ossetians, whose religion has been considered Christian since ancient times, today are only considered as such because of the observance of Great Lent, veneration of icons, faith in priests and churches. They have nothing else to do with Christianity. Previously, Ossetians revered many gods of the elements and looked for parallels between the Christian pantheon and saints in Islam. Very often they made sacrifices to Christian saints, such as Nicholas the Pleasant, George the Victorious, Archangel Michael and others.
The emergence of Christianity in Ossetia
How did Ossetians become Christians? This religion came to them from Georgia in the 11th-13th centuries - this is according to official data, but not many people know that the people got acquainted with this faith much earlier. And she entered their lives gradually.
Even in the 4th century, South Ossetians adopted Christianity from western Georgia. But due to the weakening of faith after the departure of Lazik to the Persians, religious teachings did not spread further. Again Christianity declared itself during Justian's campaign against Ossetia and Kabarda. It happened already in the VI century. During the activity of Justinian as a missionary, churches began to be built, and bishops came from Greece. It was during this period that Ossetians were accustomed to the elements of the Christian cult and rituals. But already in the 7th century, the campaigns of the conquering Arabs began, which againsuspended the development of Christianity.
For many centuries religious life in Ossetia remained unstable. There were also Christian Ossetians and those who adhered to the Islamic faith. Both branches became native to them.
Research on the faith of Ossetians
For many years this people (Ossetians) adhered to both Christianity and Islam. Despite the differences in confessions, the rites were held together. In addition, they were interconnected with ancient beliefs. Today North Ossetia has communities of 16 confessions. Researchers constantly monitor the inhabitants of the country and their religion, their attention is drawn to the form and degree of influence of faith on the people.
The beliefs of Ossetians began to be systematically studied after the annexation of Ossetia to Russia. It was representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church who began to observe how Ossetians, whose faith was unstable, live, and what traditions they prefer. And the first studies began during missionary work in this mountainous country.
The specifics of the Ossetian faith
Thanks to the traditional system of religion, for many centuries the opinion of the people was formed, which was radically different from monotheistic beliefs. Their faith is open and capable of accepting completely new ideas and perspectives from other faiths. The specificity of the Ossetian religion is the tolerant attitude of this people towards both Christianity and Islam. These are the Ossetians. Muslims or Christians around - it doesn't matter to them. Despite the faith that relatives and friends take, these people treat themequally, because at different times both Christianity and Islam were present in the life of the people.
The manifestation of Christianity in Ossetia
The origins of the emergence of Islam in the territory of Alanya could not be studied as well as the arrival of Christianity. There are some differences among scientists. The history of the Ossetians says that the faith of the sons of Allah began to spread in these lands in the 7th century, while other sources claim that Islam became "one's own" among the Ossetians only in the 18th century. Whatever it was, but it is only known for certain that the turning point occurred precisely after the annexation of Ossetia to Russia. Religious forms were dramatically transformed and adapted to the new rules. The Orthodox Church began to restore Christianity among the Ossetians, although it was not easy for the missionaries to achieve the desired result.
Ossetians treated baptism as an act necessary to join the Russian people, and were absolutely not interested in Christian dogmas and, naturally, did not adhere to rituals. It took several decades for the Ossetians to know the faith of Christ and join the church life. The creation of Christian schools helped a lot in this, where public education took place.
Christianity and Islam began to develop in parallel after the annexation of Ossetia to Russia. Islam spread in some parts of the country, to a greater extent this applies to the western and eastern regions. There people accepted it as the only religion.
Russia's influence on the religion of Ossetians
Already during the first Civil War, the Orthodox Russian Churchdeclared a stronghold of the counter-revolution. Subsequently, there were repressions directed against the clergy. They stretched out for several decades, churches and temples began to be destroyed. The Vladikavkaz diocese was already destroyed in the first 20 years of Soviet power. Ossetians, Christians or Muslims, did not have a single faith. And already in 1932-37 there was a second wave of repressions, then both Christianity and the Muslim faith suffered. It was during these years that mass destruction and closing of churches was observed in Ossetia. For example, in Vladikavkaz, out of 30 cathedrals, only two have survived, which are still operating today.
In the 1930s, the mosques that were located on the territory of North Ossetia were destroyed. The best clerics of various nationalities were persecuted.
It was very difficult for religious organizations to exist in Soviet times, but the Orthodox faith remained traditional and numerous for indigenous Ossetians. Only by the 90s Islam began to revive in Ossetia, communities began to register, mosques were restored. To this day, the consequences of past attacks and raids are felt. The clergy do not have professional special training, there is practically no literature necessary for worship. This affects the work of Muslim communities. There were attempts to invite young people who were educated in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but they led to bad consequences, because with them in the Caucasus began to appear unfamiliar and alien to the people of the teachings of Salafi.
Modern Ossetia
In the modern world, due to the transformation of religion, its new forms began to appear, which are very far from traditions. Ossetian culture is also undergoing changes. Under the guise of restoring the national Ossetian religion, there are attempts to create new movements that can become an alternative to Islam and Christianity. They are defined as non-pagan. Three such communities have already been registered in the Republic of Ossetia. They are trying to create a Republican organization.
Today, Ossetia has become a small state with a territory of almost 4000 square meters. km and small population. After the August war with Georgia, Ossetians began to live in safety. The Georgians left them, but at the same time the people became very vulnerable. The borders of South Ossetia and Georgia are under the strict control of the Russian authorities. Russia has specially created the Border Guard for South Ossetia. After the war with Georgia, the country is recovering very slowly, and its capital, Tskhinval, has recently begun to be truly reconstructed.
Pentecostals and communities of Ossetia
The situation with religion is rather peculiar. Only the Tskhinvali synagogue survived after the atheism of the Soviet era, and is still operating today, however, it was converted into a Jewish cultural center. Nowadays, Jews began to leave Ossetia en masse and return to Israel, so the synagogue began to work for Ossetian Pentecostals. But now only the part of the building, which was located at the back, is active, since Jews held services in the front. There are six more communities throughout OssetiaPentecostals.
Many representatives of the Ossetian intelligentsia accepted their faith, and for convenience, divine services are conducted both in Russian and in the local languages. Although Pentecostals are not officially registered today, they are absolutely free to develop and go about their business. This trend has taken a strong position in the social structure of the united church of Christians with the evangelical faith.
Ossetians today
A considerable part of Ossetians to this day is true to traditional beliefs. Different villages of the republic have their own sanctuaries and chapels. Today, Ossetia is being restored and reconstructed. Due to the unsatisfactory socio-political situation, many citizens left the country, and those who remained live on a small salary. It is very difficult for people to build or buy the necessary food, since the Russian customs services continue to work according to the same scheme as before the war with Georgia. Ossetian culture is not developing fast enough, so far they have no opportunity to get a good education and achieve something in life. And this is despite the fact that Ossetia is rich in non-ferrous metals, they have wonderful wood, the textile industry is reviving. The state can begin to develop and become one of the most modern, but this will require a lot of effort and a new government.
Ossetian religion today
The history of the people is quite complex, the same is the case with religion. Who are the Ossetians - Muslims or Christians? say verydifficult. North Ossetia has remained closed to research, and not much is known about it. Experts have calculated that approximately 20% of the population in the north are faithful sons of Allah. Basically, this religion began to rise after the collapse of the USSR, many young people of North Ossetia began to profess Islam, mainly in the form of Wahhabism. Some people think that the clergy want to control the religious activities of Muslims, and that they themselves are tightly controlled by the FSB, albeit behind the scenes.
Religion and nationality
South Ossetia has become a haven for different peoples - Ossetians and Georgians, Russians and Armenians, as well as Jews. Indigenous people left the country in large numbers due to the conflict of the 90s and began to live in Russia. Basically it is North Ossetia-Alania. Georgians, in turn, left en masse for their homeland. The Orthodox faith, despite all the vicissitudes, began to prevail among the Ossetians.
Relationship between culture and religion
The culture of Ossetians is constantly evolving, but the people are trying to adhere to old traditions and teach this to new rising generations. For the inhabitants of Ossetia, it is absolutely unimportant what religion their relatives and neighbors have. The main thing is a good attitude towards each other and mutual understanding, and God is one for all. Thus, it does not matter who the Ossetians are - Muslims or Christians. For spiritual and mental development, museums and theaters, libraries and educational institutions are open in the republic. The state is constantly working on raising the economy and other areas.
