Greek in Uzbekistan
Photo Source:
Anonymous
|
| People Name: | Greek |
| Country: | Uzbekistan |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 5,700 |
| World Population: | 10,375,900 |
| Primary Language: | Greek |
| Primary Religion: | Christianity |
| Christian Adherents: | 91.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.40 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | Greek |
| Affinity Bloc: | Eurasian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
|
Introduction / History
Greeks are the descendants of the migrants from the Balkan Peninsula who came to Russia partly in the eighteenth century but mostly in the nineteenth century. This migration was the result of the political situation in the Balkans and the Russian-Turkish wars, leading to considerable movement of the population. The Christian population, oppressed and mercilessly robbed by the government of the Ottoman empire, saw in Russia their liberator from the centuries-old Turkish oppression. They left their homes and followed the Russian army in masses.
In the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774, the Greek rebels from Greece fought on the Russian side, and after the war, a considerable part of them settled in Crimea. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Greek settlements had lost their military importance. The Greeks who lived in the steppe districts in the Crimea and on the coast used the Tatar language (they were called Greeks-Tatars). The other part, which lived in the mountain regions, preserved their own language, which was a dialect of the modern Greek language. This group was called "Greeks-Hellens."
There is a Greek diaspora in many countries, including Uzbekistan, where most live in Tashkent. Most of these have Greek communists as their ancestors, who came there in the 1940s. Their numbers have dwindled through the decades.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The Greek Cultural Association of Tashkent is trying to promote Greek culture by teaching the Greek language, cultural dances and music. A couple of ethnic Greeks have made it as professional athletes in Uzbekistan.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Their religion is Christian Orthodoxy. They are religious but lack understanding of the gospel and why they need a close relationship with the living God.
What Are Their Needs?
Greeks lean heavily on the Greek Orthodox Church for spiritual guidance. They sometimes forget to look to Jesus Christ, the only savior.
Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord to raise up and thrust out Greek disciples who will make more disciples in Uzbekistan.
Pray for Uzbekistan’s Greek community to hunger for spiritual meat and find it in Jesus Christ.