Introduction / History

Udmurts are a people who speak the Udmurt language. Udmurt is part of the Urlic language. The word Udmurt means "meadow people." Russians and Tartars also refer to them as the Otyaskaya, Otyaks, Votyaks, and Ar. The people are possibly descendants of the Finns. Udmurts are mentioned in Arab history as early as 921. Udmurts settled around the valley of the Cheptsa River. The Udmurts became subject to the Mongols in 1237. Later in history, some Urdmurt groups mixed with the Tartars and together they led several rebellions against Russia. During Stalin's great purge many Urmurt intellectuals were murdered. In 1990 Urmurtia became a republic of Russia. Today, because of Russian migration, Udmurts consist of only 28% of the population. Two-thirds of the Udmurt population resides in the republic. Most Udmurts live in Udmurtia, a federal subject of Russia. The republic is located in the Eastern portion of the Eastern European Plain of Russia. It is between the Kama and Vyatka Rivers. The Udmurt capital is Izhevsk. They also live in other surrounding countries such as Belarus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Dorvyzhy is an Udmurt epic that is a mix of myth and history. It describes the god of the heavens, the earth god (Kyldysin), and the weather god (Kuaz). Village life and religion revolved around the seasons. Villages and later homes had a household sanctuary.

Muslims began to infiltrate the culture but for the most part the Udmurts held to their traditions. In the 14th and 15th centuries Christianity came to Udmurt. It began under forced conversions by Ivan the Terrible. From 1819-1823 the four gospels were translated into Udmurt.

As Russians began to come into Urmartia so did the Orthodox faith. In Turkmenistan they are mainly Orthodox today with a small number of Evangelicals.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Udmurt society has a high level of alcoholism, depression, and suicide. Individuals and families need healing and the message of Christ.

What Are Their Needs?

For the strongholds of paganism, alcohol abuse, and depression to be broken in individual lives, families, and in society as a whole.

For Udmurt believers to be strengthened and bring the hope of Christ to their families and friends.

For church

Prayer Items

Rachel Routt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udmurtia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udmurt_people
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorvyzhy
http://www.everyculture.com/Russia-Eurasia-China/Udmurt-Religion-and-Expressive-Culture.html
http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/rss/25-2_177.pdf
http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?LanguageID=1709&StoryID=549

Scripture Prayers for the Udmurt in Turkmenistan.