Avars call themselves "free mountaineers who inhabit the highest lands." The large majority of the Avar people live in the Dagestan Republic of Russia. They are a Northeastern Caucasian, Muslim people who make up the biggest ethnic group in Dagestan.
An honor/shame code is deeply ingrained in Avar cultural psyche. This is true throughout all 34 of the Dagestani people groups, but perhaps most pronounced in the Avar. Imam Shamil, arguably the most famous Dagestani in history, was Avar. He led the defense against the Russians of Dagestan and the Avar people. Honor was the leading theme of these dozens of battles. The Avar people (and all of Dagestan) were finally subdued by the Russian Empire in 1864. The code of honor among the Avar has never diminished. In Post-Soviet Dagestan, the Avar (and secondarily the Dargin) carry the primary political power in the Republic of Dagestan in southern Russia.
A small population of Avar left Dagestan and settled in northern Georgia. The New Testament and the JESUS Film are available in the Avar language. Avar adults in Georgia also speak Russian and Georgian.
Avar people in Georgia are usually livestock and crop farmers. They sell the meat and dairy products from their cattle and goats. They feel that the best pastureland is reserved for the Georgians. Forests and pasture lands are become privatized, which leaves Avar people with less to work with. They also have gardens for their own food needs. They grow cucumbers, beans, corn, tomatoes and eggplant. The water is not drinkable unless they dig wells. Their roads are seldom paved which limits their ability to transport and sell meat and dairy goods.
The Avars learn Georgian, the local language. They have large families, and all the children must learn in Georgian rather than Avar or Russian.
Avars do not marry Georgians mainly because of the religious differences. However, they seldom marry people from other Sunni Muslim ethnic groups.
The Avar people in Georgia practice Sunni Islam. Sunnis believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
One strength not found in Avar culture is grace, forgiveness, tolerance and mercy has left the Avar (and all Dagestanis peoples) vulnerable to intense cycles of violence on many levels. Only the peace and forgiveness of Christ can stop the constant feuding between the Avar clans and other peoples of the Caucasus area.
Ask the Lord to send loving workers to the Avar of Georgia.
Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Avar that will be satisfied by none other than the only Savior, Jesus Christ.
Pray for a movement to Christ among Avar to spread far and wide.
For the light of Christ to shine upon the Avar people of Georgia.
Scripture Prayers for the Avar in Georgia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avars_(Caucasus)
https://www.worldhistory.org/Avars/
https://gfsis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Eng-Avars-ENG.pdf
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