Religion Culture of Azerbaijan

1 religion

1.1 islam
1.2 christianity
1.3 judaism
1.4 zoroastrianism

religion

around 93 percent of azerbaijan s population nominally muslim, while 5 percent of population adheres russian orthodox church. among muslim majority, religious observance relatively low , muslim identity tends based more on culture , ethnicity rather religion. muslim population approximately 70 percent shi , 30 percent sunni; differences traditionally have not been defined sharply.

there sizeable expatriate christian , muslim communities in capital city of baku; authorities permit these groups worship freely.

islam

after collapse of soviet union religious organizations fell depression , split pieces while religious organization of transcaucasia, muslims headed akhund allanshukur pashazade elected sheykhulislam in 1980 intensified operation , tried spread influence entire caucasus under name of caucasus muslims department. measures implement these attempts undertaken @ tenth session of caucasus muslims held in baku in 1998. opening of cmd representations in georgia , dagestan 1 of significant steps in field.

christianity

side view of church of kish.

orthodoxy represented in azerbaijan russian , georgian orthodox churches. russian orthodox churches grouped in eparchy of baku , caspian region.

the roman catholic church in azerbaijan part of worldwide roman catholic church, under spiritual leadership of pope in rome. 1 of least catholic countries in world in terms of number of adherents 400 faithful out of total population of on 7 million. half of congregation consists of foreigners work diplomats or work oil companies.

judaism

there 3 separate communities of jews (mountain jews, ashkenazi jews, , georgian jews) in azerbaijan, total 16,000 combined. of them, 11,000 mountain jews, concentrations of 6,000 in baku , 4,000 in guba, 4,300 ashkenazi jews, of whom live in baku , sumgayit, , 700 georgian jews.

zoroastrianism

atashgah, zoroastrian temple in azerbaijan.

the history of zoroastrianism in azerbaijan goes first millennium bc. other territories of persian empire, azerbaijan remained predominantly zoroastrian state until arab invasion in 7th century ad. name azerbaijan means land of eternal fire in middle persian, name said have direct link zoroastrianism.

today religion, culture, , traditions of zoroastrianism remains highly respected in azerbaijan, , novruz continues main holiday in country. zoroastrianism has left deep mark in history of azerbaijan. traces of religion still visible in atashgah, ramana, khinalyg, , yanar dag.