Orthodox mission among the Adygs of the North-Western Caucasus: social and cultural conditions, difficulties, results (1864-1917)

The article reveals the difficulties encountered by the Orthodox missionaries in their quest to Christianize Adygs in the North-Western Caucasus in the period from the second half of the 19th century to the October 1917 coup. The author singled out thirteen factors complicating the mission, which, for the sake of convenience, were united into three groups. Much attention is paid to the analysis of official state and church documents, the implementation of the provisions of which made the missionary activity more difficult. It also shows the complexity of the spiritual life of Adygeyan society, which preserved elements of different religious concepts under the dominant influence of the Adyghe Khabze Code. All this made the Orthodox mission very difficult and slowed it down, so its results were rather modest. This experience today needs a detailed study in the aspect of increasing the effectiveness of interethnic and interreligious interaction, forecasting and leveling out its possible negative results.