Culture of Abkhazia
Encyclopedia
Abkhazia
( Apsny, Apkhazeti or Abkhazeti, Abkhazia) is a de facto
independent, partially recognised country lying on the eastern coast of the Black Sea
, its southern border. It is bordered by Russia
to the north, and Georgia
to the east recognised
by Russia, Nicaragua
, Venezuela
, and the de facto independent republics of South Ossetia
and Transnistria
, in which context it is referred to as the Republic of Abkhazia with Sukhumi
as its capital.
and Sunni Muslims. Most of the ethnic Armenians
living in Abkhazia belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church
. However, most of the people who declare themselves Christian or Muslim do not attend religious services. There is also a very small number of Jews
, Jehovah's Witnesses
and the followers of new religions
. The Jehovah's Witnesses organization has officially been banned since 1995, though the decree is not currently enforced.
According to the constitutions of Georgia, Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and de facto Republic of Abkhazia the adherents of all religions (as well as atheists) have equal rights before the law.
Abkhazia is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox world
as a canonical territory
of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which has been unable to operate in the region since the War in Abkhazia. Currently, the religious affairs of local Orthodox Christian community is run by the self-imposed "Eparchy of Abkhazia" under significant influence of the Russian Orthodox Church
.
during Soviet
times. The main club of the republic, Dinamo Sukhumi
, played mostly in the lower leagues of Soviet football. However, Abkhazia produced several football talents who played in the top Georgian
team FC Dinamo Tbilisi
and in other Soviet teams. Natives of Abkhazia Vitaly Daraselia
, Nikita (Mkrtych) Simonian, Avtandil Gogoberidze
, Niyazbey Dzyapshipa, Giorgi Gavasheli, Temuri Ketsbaia
and Akhrik Tsveiba
were among the most prominent footballers of the Soviet Union.
The majority of Abkhazia's population have Russian citizenship so Abkhazian sportsmen participate in international competitions as Russian citizens. They had their biggest successes in boxing (2005 European Champion David Arshba; 2006 Russian Championship prize-winner Aslan Akhba) and freestyle wrestling (2006 American Airlines Freestyle Wrestling Tournament winner Denis Tsargush]).
"Sukhum" basketball club plays in the Southern Division of the First League (fourth tier of the Russian basketball system).
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
( Apsny, Apkhazeti or Abkhazeti, Abkhazia) is a de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
independent, partially recognised country lying on the eastern coast of the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, its southern border. It is bordered by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to the north, and Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
to the east recognised
International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are two breakaway republics in the Caucasus with disputed status over whether they are a part of Georgia or sovereign states. The Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia were recognised following the 2008 South Ossetia War between Russia and Georgia, by six...
by Russia, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and the de facto independent republics of South Ossetia
South Ossetia
South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
and Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
, in which context it is referred to as the Republic of Abkhazia with Sukhumi
Sukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
as its capital.
Religion
The population (including all ethnic groups) of Abkhazia are majority Orthodox ChristiansEastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
and Sunni Muslims. Most of the ethnic Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
living in Abkhazia belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
. However, most of the people who declare themselves Christian or Muslim do not attend religious services. There is also a very small number of Jews
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
and the followers of new religions
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
. The Jehovah's Witnesses organization has officially been banned since 1995, though the decree is not currently enforced.
According to the constitutions of Georgia, Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and de facto Republic of Abkhazia the adherents of all religions (as well as atheists) have equal rights before the law.
Abkhazia is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox world
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
as a canonical territory
Canonical territory
A canonical territory is a geographical area seen as belonging to a particular patriarchate or autocephalous Church as its own. The concept is found both in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Roman Catholic Church, and is mentioned extensively in the Code of Canons of the Eastern...
of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which has been unable to operate in the region since the War in Abkhazia. Currently, the religious affairs of local Orthodox Christian community is run by the self-imposed "Eparchy of Abkhazia" under significant influence of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
.
Education
Children in Abkhazia begin their education at the age of 6, and graduate at 17. Abkhazia currently has 1 university.Sport
Football was the most popular sport in AbkhaziaAbkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
during Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
times. The main club of the republic, Dinamo Sukhumi
FC Dinamo Sokhumi
FC Dinamo Sokhumi was a Soviet football club based in Sukhumi, Soviet Union.-History:Dinamo Sokhumi was played Soviet Second League. After the formation of Umaglesi Liga in 1990, as most of the Georgian club joined, likes Dinamo Tbilisi. In contrast, Dinamo Sokhumi remained in Soviet League system...
, played mostly in the lower leagues of Soviet football. However, Abkhazia produced several football talents who played in the top Georgian
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
team FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi is a Georgian football team, based in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.Dinamo Tbilisi was one of the most prominent clubs in Soviet football and a major contender in the Soviet Top League almost immediately after it was established in 1936...
and in other Soviet teams. Natives of Abkhazia Vitaly Daraselia
Vitaly Daraselia
Vitaly Kuhinović Daraselia was a Georgian football player.Born to a Georgian father and Abkhaz mother, Daraselia played for FC Dinamo Tbilisi and Soviet Union national team...
, Nikita (Mkrtych) Simonian, Avtandil Gogoberidze
Avtandil Gogoberidze
Avtandil Nikolayevich Gogoberidze was a Georgian Soviet football player. He was a Grigory Fedotov club member...
, Niyazbey Dzyapshipa, Giorgi Gavasheli, Temuri Ketsbaia
Temuri Ketsbaia
Temuri "Temur" Ketsbaia is a Georgian football manager and former player. As a player he represented the Georgian national team and played for Dinamo Tbilisi, Anorthosis Famagusta, AEK, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Dundee.Ketsbaia is often regarded as having played a major role...
and Akhrik Tsveiba
Akhrik Tsveiba
Akhrik Sokratovich Tsveiba is a retired Soviet association footballer.-Career:...
were among the most prominent footballers of the Soviet Union.
The majority of Abkhazia's population have Russian citizenship so Abkhazian sportsmen participate in international competitions as Russian citizens. They had their biggest successes in boxing (2005 European Champion David Arshba; 2006 Russian Championship prize-winner Aslan Akhba) and freestyle wrestling (2006 American Airlines Freestyle Wrestling Tournament winner Denis Tsargush]).
"Sukhum" basketball club plays in the Southern Division of the First League (fourth tier of the Russian basketball system).