Habilitat, Elizaveta KVILINKOVA

This article examines the ritual «Kurban», which stands as one of the most significant ethnic and cultural markers of the traditional spiritual culture of the Gagauzians. It was a part of the religious and moral beliefs of the Gagauzians and was performed on the occasion of the calendar, family and vilage holidays. It is noted that the rite of the same name and content is known to many nations of the world in different historical epochs. Based on the field data, collected by the author, is examinated the purpose of its commission, the differences of form and content, types of animal used in sacrifices, etc. This article also examines the functional importance of ritual actions in the slaughter of a sacrificial animal, methods of preparing ritual meals, etc. In the course of the study the author has recorded more than 18 varieties of the Kurban ceremony at the Gagauzians. By comparison of the Gagauzian' Kurban with the same rite, common among the peoples of the Balkan region, as well as among the Turkic peoples author had identified the regional characteristics that are typical for the Gagauzians of Moldova and Bulgaria. The author concludes that at present the Gagauzians retained archaic way of committing Kurban, in which the animal is sacrificed («Kurban of blood»). Transformation of the ceremony, which took place under the influence of the Orthodox Church, is gifting a live animal. This method of sacrifice is "Kurban mercy" and it is a form of social assistance to the poorer villagers. In conclusion it is notified, that in the modern period Kurban ritual hasn't lost it functional significanceat the Gagauzians.

Key words: Kurban ritual, the Gagauzians of Moldova and Bulgaria, Traditional culture, the process of transformation