Religion in Circassia

The majority of ethnic Circassians today are Muslim while a minority retain Orthodox Christian or pagan beliefs.

Although the main belief was Monistic-Monotheistic, they prayed using water, fire, plants, forests, rocks, thunder and lightning.

[5] During the 8th century, some Circassian tribes converted to Judaism, as a result of good relations with the Khazar Khaganate and the settlement of approximately 20,000 Jews in Circassia.

Significant Christian and pagan presence remained among some tribes such as the Shapsugs and Natukhai with Islamization pressures implemented by those loyal to the Caucasus Imamate.

[13] Among Christians, Catholicism, originally introduced along the coasts by Venetian and Genoese traders, today constitutes just under 1% of Kabardins,[14] notably including those in Mozdok[15] and some of those Kursky district.

[16] Notable Circassian Christian figures include Teresa Sampsonia,[17]: 390 [18] Alexey Cherkassky,[19] Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky,[20] and Maria Temryukovna.

[22] Travelling Sufi preachers and the increasing threat of an invasion from Russia helped expedite the process of the Islamization of Circassia.

[26] According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people,[citation needed] 70.8% of the population of Kabardino-Balkaria adheres to Islam, 11.6% to the Russian Orthodox Church, 1.8% to Circassian paganism and other indigenous faiths, 3.8% are unaffiliated generic Christians.