Mari, Low in Kazakhstan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Lowland-Eastern Mari people group speak a common Meadow-Eastern Mari language with its regional features, which differs from the Mountain Mari who speak the Mountain-Mari language. During the Soviet Era, large numbers of ethnically Russian people were moved into traditionally Mari lands, significantly changing the demographics of the region, and making the Mari a minority in many parts of their homeland. Mari people were generally disempowered by these changes. What's more, Communist policies – officially aimed at combating undue influence of nationalism in a multi-nation union. Among the Eastern Mari is a subgroup known as the Ural Mari – a group of Mari – who live in the southern part of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Their forefathers migrated to the Urals back in the 16th century, fleeing enforced Christianization. During the Soviet Era, when Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan were part of the Russian-dominated USSR, some Low Maris wound up in those countries. A small number remain there today.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Orthodox Christianity was adopted by the Mari in the 16th century after their territory was incorporated into the Russian Empire during the reign of Ivan IV "the Terrible". Adoption of Christianity was not universal, however, and many Mari today still practice Paganism in syncretic forms, or purer forms adhering to organized Neo-pagan Mari Traditional Religion organizations. Pagans constitute a significant minority of 25 to 40% of the Mari. Most Mari are members of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Meadow-Mari have also experienced Islamic influences.

Certainly, religion has lost most of its previous strength over the course of the twentieth century. Compared with the local Russians, however, the Maris have, to a somewhat greater degree, kept their traditional religious habits. The traditional shamanist-animist religion of the Maris included a host of divinities, ancestor spirits, and supernatural beings personified in celestial bodies, clouds, rivers, earth, trees, and forests. The supreme god, Jumo, represented all heavens and weather together. The core of the site of sacrificial ceremonies and prayer meetings was a fenced section of untouched forest grove; there were separate sacred groves depending on whether they were for the prayer of the whole community, the clan, or the kin group. All domestic animals except pigs and hens were suitable for sacrifice. The participants in the ceremony—sometimes thousands of people—were dressed in white.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Eastern Maris need spiritual hunger and a desire for a close relationship with Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Needs?

Pray that missionaries would feel called to move to Mari-El as a church planting team.

Pray that a church planting strategy for both the Low Mari and Eastern Mari would be developed.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in the Russian Ort


Prayer Items

Anonymous


Scripture Prayers for the Mari, Low in Kazakhstan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mari, Low
People Name in Country Mari, Low
Pronunciation mah-REE
Alternate Names Cheremis; Eastern Mari; Low Mari; Mari
Population this Country 8,200
Population all Countries 431,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 13118
ROP3 Code 105877
Country Kazakhstan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 38  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Kazakhstan
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 38  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
62.00 %
Ethnic Religions
18.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
20.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Mari, Meadow (8,200 speakers)
Language Code mhr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Mari, Meadow (8,200 speakers)
Language Code mhr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Mari, Meadow
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.