South Ossetia, a partially-recognized de facto state in the Caucasus and officially part of Georgia, is primarily Eastern Orthodox Christian. A significant minority are adherents of the Ossetian traditional religion, Uatsdin, which is polytheistic and has origins in ancient Scythian religion. Syncretism between Christianity and traditional belief is common.
Christianity in South Ossetia was first introduced through Byzantine influence over the Alans, although the population continued to practice traditional religion, reverting fully to paganism by the late Middle Ages. Russian and Georgian missionaries evangelized in the region in the 18th and 19th centuries, but religion was repressed during the Soviet period. An Ossetian nationalist religious revival was initiated in the 1990s, and the Orthodox Church in South Ossetia declared its independence from the Georgian Orthodox Church. The South Ossetian Orthodox Church aligns with the Old Calendarist movement; it is considered schismatic from the mainstream Orthodox Church.
Uatsdin, also practiced in North Ossetia, is a prominent minority faith in South Ossetia. It reflects the Iranian origins of the Ossetians, as well as later Christian influence. As the Ossetians were never fully converted to Christianity, Ossetian traditional religion has remained visible in South Ossetian society.
The capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, historically had a large Jewish population, outnumbering the Georgians and Ossetians at some points. The community declined throughout the Soviet period, and by the 1990s, the vast majority of the Jews in South Ossetia had emigrated, mainly to Russia and Israel.
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Christianity, Ossetian traditional religion has remained visible inSouth Ossetian society. The capital of SouthOssetia, Tskhinvali, historically had a...
SouthOssetia (/ɒˈsɛtiə/ o-SET-ee-ə, less common: /ɒˈsiːʃə/ o-SEE-shə), officially the Republic of SouthOssetia or the State of Alania, is a partially...
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