Khristianstvo na blizhnem Vostoke

5-7

Authors: Konstantin A. Bargan

Religious and ethnic identification of modern and future generations of the gagauz people

20-30

Authors: Vyacheslav P. Stepanov

The name of Peter Emelyanovich Zaderatsky is known in the scientific literature. A priest, a monarchist, he did a lot of Slavic studies and the history of the fatherland. The early death of this man interrupted the possible continuation of his research, which, among other things, affected the coverage of the cultural heritage of the Transdanubian settlers. P.E. Zaderatsky can be called one of the first authors who focused on the Turkic-speaking settlers from Bulgaria — the Gagauz, whom he, according to the tradition of that time, calls "Bulgarians". Nevertheless, the work of the researcher "Bolgars, settlers of the Novorossiysk Territory and Bessarabia" (1845) continues to retain scientific interest. Actually, this article focuses on its analysis.

46-62

Authors: Elizaveta N. Kvilinkova

This article reveals the significance of religious identity in the ethno-cultural code of the Gagauz. It is noted that due to belonging to Christianity, the Gagauz have retained themselves as an ethnic group in the Balkans. It is emphasized that for the ethno-cultural code of the Gagauz two identities are of fundamental importance: linguistic (Turkic-speaking) and religious (Orthodox). An integral part of the Gagauz religious identity is the coexistence of terms referring to two different religious systems — Christian and Muslim. Based on the analysis of the cultural genesis of the Gagauz, the author concludes that there are various historical and cultural layers in the cultural and genetic code of the Gagauz. Due to the instability of its existence, as a result of the unionist aspirations of Moldova, Gagauzia focused on the guarantor countries — Russia and Turkey. This raises the question of choosing a cultural and civilizational identity for the Gagauz. The significance of religious identity for the Gagauz and the relevance of religious topics is explained by the fact that this issue is connected not only with their past and present, but also with the future of the people. In conclusion, it is concluded that the fate of the Gagauz people depends to a large extent on which identity will be a priority in the future (religious or linguistic).

70-97

Authors: Diana E. Nikoglo, Natalia G. Golant

The article deals with the ideas of the Gagauz about their religious affiliation. The sources in this case were press materials, scientific publications and writings of amateur history buffs. The materials of the regional presstestify that in the period from 1988 to 1994, the coverage of religious topics, in comparison with the topic of the native language, was rather weak. This is due to the inertia of atheistic propaganda, as well as the fact that the language occupies a leading position among the identification characteristics of the Gagauz community. Journalists gave more preference to materials about language for the reason that it was more vulnerable to modern challenges than religion, and could disappear. Ethnic myths about religious affiliation, created by both professional historians and history buffs, are united by the desire of their authors to make the history of the people ancient and at the same time show that the adoption of Christianity by the Gagauz took place in time immemorial — at least one millennium ago. In addition, among the representatives of the creative elite (mainly writers) there is a desire to “register” the Gagauz in the Turkic world. At the same time, one of the authors believes that the Ottomans saved the Gagauz from being absorbed by the Bulgarians and Greeks. Another author, being, in fact, an adherent of neo-paganism, claims that Christianity destroyed the "national holidays of the Gagauz", including Wolf holidays, Pipiruda, Raspus and others.