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Specifi c Formation and Ways of Monotheism among the Peoples in South Russia
The article examines the traditional religious diversity within some ethnic societies in the Lower Volga region
and the Northern Caucasus. They formed several ethno-confessional groups: such as military community of Adyghs–
Kabardins, Tats speaking West – Iranian dialects, as well as Russians of specifi c beliefs. It results in a unique
combinations of Great Middle East Monotheism, combining Judaism, Christianity and Islam on the basis of initial
“paganism”. These ethnic groups identify each other in the terms of “we–they” or “ours – alien – transitory” and coexist
in general peace and quiet because of their common history and similar dogma.
But the ethno-confessional factor might cause any protest and heretical movements. Moreover, it could be used
in their favor by the rulers of neighbouring hostile powers. So Shahs of Persia, e.g., had an extreme hatred towards
Persian speaking Christians, the so-called Armenian Tats or “Keghetsiréns” (Armenian “speakers of rural language”).
After Russia’s Caspian Campaign this group en masse left Northern Azerbaijan for Kizlyar or for Saint Cross, a
settlement, founded specially for them in South Russia (modern Boudyonnovsk, made famous because of terrorists attack).
Their descendants in Azerbaijan were forced to move to Armenia or to Russia’s Stavropol Region in the late 1980s.
Such monotheistic groups are characterized by dualism which is both troublesome and benefi cial. Thus Crimean
Karaims, Joughours from Nalchik and some Russian Subbotnics managed to avoid the fate of Holocaust being Jews by
faith but not by origin.
Further research will consider other multiconfessional peoples of the above region: Kalmyks, Ossetians, Vaynakhs
and others.
and the Northern Caucasus. They formed several ethno-confessional groups: such as military community of Adyghs–
Kabardins, Tats speaking West – Iranian dialects, as well as Russians of specifi c beliefs. It results in a unique
combinations of Great Middle East Monotheism, combining Judaism, Christianity and Islam on the basis of initial
“paganism”. These ethnic groups identify each other in the terms of “we–they” or “ours – alien – transitory” and coexist
in general peace and quiet because of their common history and similar dogma.
But the ethno-confessional factor might cause any protest and heretical movements. Moreover, it could be used
in their favor by the rulers of neighbouring hostile powers. So Shahs of Persia, e.g., had an extreme hatred towards
Persian speaking Christians, the so-called Armenian Tats or “Keghetsiréns” (Armenian “speakers of rural language”).
After Russia’s Caspian Campaign this group en masse left Northern Azerbaijan for Kizlyar or for Saint Cross, a
settlement, founded specially for them in South Russia (modern Boudyonnovsk, made famous because of terrorists attack).
Their descendants in Azerbaijan were forced to move to Armenia or to Russia’s Stavropol Region in the late 1980s.
Such monotheistic groups are characterized by dualism which is both troublesome and benefi cial. Thus Crimean
Karaims, Joughours from Nalchik and some Russian Subbotnics managed to avoid the fate of Holocaust being Jews by
faith but not by origin.
Further research will consider other multiconfessional peoples of the above region: Kalmyks, Ossetians, Vaynakhs
and others.
ethnos, ethnic group, subethnos, minority, religion, confession, monotheism, system and structure, migration, contact, confl ict, difference, intercultural interference, region, South of Russia, marginality, “we-they” and “our – alien – transitory”, self-conscience and identifi cation, customs, rites and traditions