One of the peoples living in the North Caucasus is called Ossetians. It has a rich and unique tradition. For many years, scientists are interested in the question: "Ossetians - Muslims or Christians?" To give an answer to it, you need to get acquainted with the history of the development of religiosity of this ethnic group.
Ossetians in antiquity
Since ancient times, the Ossetian nationality bore various names. For example, they called themselves “Iron Adam,” and the country in which they lived was “Iriston.” The Georgians called them “ovsi”, and the country, respectively, “Ovseti”.
Since the first millennium of our era, people have lived in the North Caucasus, in the Alanian kingdom. Over time, the Ossetians were strongly pressed by the Mongols and Tamerlane’s troops, after which their way of life was very modified. Having come under the influence of Georgia, they began to change their lives, and with it their denominational affiliation. It became quite difficult for the people to live under new conditions and had to settle down in harsh mountains.
People who watched the life of Ossetians from the outside, sympathized with them very much, because their country was closed and inaccessible to the outside world because of mountains shrouded in ice and snow, and also because of the presence of rocks and transient rivers. Due to the environment, the fertility of Ossetia is low: in addition to cereals, such as oats, wheat and barley, in fact, nothing will be born there.
Ossetians, whose religion has been considered Christian since ancient times, today are only considered as such due to the observance of Lent, veneration of icons, faith in priests and churches. They have nothing to do with Christianity in anything else. Ossetians used to venerate many gods of natural 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, the Archangel Michael and others.
The emergence of Christianity in Ossetia
How did Ossetians become Christians? This religion came to them from Georgia in the XI-XIII centuries - according to official figures, but not many people know that the people met this faith much earlier. And she gradually entered their life.
As far back as 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, the religious teaching did not begin to spread further. Again, Christianity made itself known during Justian's campaign in Ossetia and Kabarda. It happened already in the VI century. Under Justinian’s activities as a missionary, churches began to be built, and bishops came from Greece. It is during this period that the acclimatization of Ossetians to the elements of the Christian cult and rites falls. But already in the 7th century, campaigns of the Arab conquerors began, which again suspended the development of Christianity.
For many centuries, religious life in Ossetia remained unstable. There were Ossetian Christians, and those who adhered to the Islamic faith. Both branches became native to them.
Ossetian Faith Study
For many years this people (Ossetians) adhered to both Christianity and Islam. Despite the differences of faiths, the rites were held jointly. In addition, they were interconnected with ancient beliefs. Today, North Ossetia has communities of 16 faiths. 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.
They began to systematically study the beliefs of Ossetians after the accession of Ossetia to Russia. It was the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church who began to observe how Ossetians, whose faith was unstable, live, and which traditions are preferred. And the first studies began during missionary work in the territory of this mountainous country.
The specificity of the Ossetian faith
Thanks to the traditional system of religion, for many centuries there has been a popular opinion that radically differed from monotheistic beliefs. Their faith is open and capable of accepting completely new ideas and the views of other faiths. The specificity of the Ossetian religion is the tolerant attitude of this people towards both Christianity and Islam. These are they - Ossetians. Muslims or Christians around - for them it does not matter. Despite the faith that relatives and friends accept, these people treat them the same way, since at different times in the life of the people both Christianity and Islam were present.
The manifestation of Christianity in Ossetia
The origins of Islam in the territory of Alanya could not be studied as well as the advent of Christianity. There are some discrepancies among scientists. The history of the Ossetians suggests that the faith of the sons of Allah began to spread on these lands in the 7th century, while other sources claim that Islam became “among” the Ossetians only in the 18th century. Whatever it was, it is only reliably known that the turning point occurred precisely after the accession of Ossetia to Russia. Religious forms dramatically transformed and adapted to the new rules. The Orthodox Church began to restore Christianity among Ossetians, although it was not easy for missionaries to achieve the desired result.
Ossetians regarded baptism as an act necessary for joining the Russian people, and were absolutely not interested in Christian dogmas and, of course, 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, where public education took place, helped quite a lot in this.
Christianity and Islam began to develop in parallel after the accession 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.
The influence of Russia on the religion of Ossetians
Already during the first Civil War, the Orthodox Russian Church was declared the stronghold of the counter-revolution. Subsequently, repression against the clergy took place. They stretched for several decades, churches and temples began to be destroyed. The Vladikavkaz diocese was already defeated in the first 20 years of Soviet power. Ossetians, Christians or Muslims, did not have a single faith. And already in 32-37, the second wave of repression passed, then Christianity and the Muslim faith suffered. It was during these years in Ossetia that mass destruction and closure of churches were observed. For example, in Vladikavkaz, out of 30 cathedrals, only two survived, which operate today.
In the 30s, mosques that were on the territory of North Ossetia were destroyed. The best clergymen of various nationalities were persecuted.
Religious organizations in Soviet times began to exist very difficult, but the Orthodox faith remained traditional and numerous for the native Ossetians. Only in the 90s Islam began to revive in Ossetia, communities began to register, mosques were restored. Until today, the effects of past attacks and raids are felt. Priests 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 an unfamiliar and inexplicable teaching of the Salafi people.
Modern Ossetia
In the modern world, due to the transformation of religion, its new forms have begun 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 an area of almost 4,000 square meters. km and a small population. After the August war with Georgia, Ossetians began to live in safety. 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 Administration for South Ossetia. After the war with Georgia, the country is recovering very slowly, and its capital Tskhinval has just recently begun to be truly reconstructed.
Pentecostals and communities of Ossetia
The situation with religion is quite peculiar. Only the Tskhinvali synagogue survived after the atheism of the Soviet era, and is valid to this day, however, it has been 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 that is located behind is operating, since the front hall was used for the worship of Jews. There are six other Pentecostal communities throughout Ossetia.
Many representatives of the Ossetian intelligentsia accepted their faith, and services for convenience are conducted both in Russian and in local languages. Although Pentecostals are not officially registered to date, they are free to develop and go about their business. This movement took a strong position in the social structure of the united church of Christians with 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 shrines 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 engage in construction or to purchase the necessary food products, since the customs services of Russia continue to work according to the same scheme as before the war with Georgia. The 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 despite the fact that Ossetia is rich in non-ferrous metals, they have wonderful wood, the textile industry is reviving. The state may 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 rather complicated; the same is the case with religion. Who are Ossetians - Muslims or Christians? It is very difficult to say. North Ossetia has remained closed to research, and not much is known about it. Experts estimate 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 practice Islam mainly in the form of Wahhabism. Some people think that the clergy wants to control the religious activities of Muslims, and that it itself is 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 in large numbers left the country due to the conflict of the 90s and began to live in Russia. This is mainly North Ossetia-Alania. Georgians, in turn, massively left for their homeland. The Orthodox faith, despite all the vicissitudes, began to prevail among the Ossetians.
The relationship of culture and religion
The culture of Ossetians is constantly evolving, however, people are trying to adhere to ancient traditions and are teaching new growing generations to this. For residents of Ossetia it is absolutely unimportant what religion their relatives and neighbors have. The main thing is a good relationship and mutual understanding, and God is one for all. Thus, it does not matter who the Ossetians are Muslims or Christians. Museums and theaters, libraries and educational institutions are open for spiritual and mental development in the republic. The state is constantly working to boost the economy and other areas.