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Reaching the Nations International Church Growth Almanac
Country reports on the LDS Church around the world from a landmark almanac. Includes detailed analysis of history, context, culture, needs, challenges and opportunities for church growth.
By David Stewart and Matt Martinich
Area: 2,724,900 square km. Occupying a vast area of Central Asia, Kazakhstan borders Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan and is the ninth largest country in the world. Kazakhstan experiences a continental climate characterized by cold winters, hot summers, and arid to semi-arid conditions. The vast majority of the landscape is flat steppe. High, rugged mountains stretch along much of the southeastern border. The Tian Shan Mountains along the Kyrgyz border reach heights of over 20,000 feet (7,000 meters), and the Altai Mountains are found in extreme eastern Kazakhstan. The Caspian Sea, the largest inland sea in the world, forms the southeastern boundary. Lake Balkhash, which has both fresh and salt water regions, sits in east central Kazakhstan and the salty Aral Sea, which occupies only 10% of its original size, straddles the Uzbek border. Important rivers include the Syr Darya, Ural, and Irtysh. Desert covers many areas on the southwest. Earthquakes and mudslides in the south are natural hazards. Environmental issues include radioactive and toxic contaminants in the soil from the Soviet era, the diversion of rivers for irrigation from the shrinking Aral Sea, chemical pesticides and salts from the Aral Sea driven in large dust storms, water pollution in the Caspian Sea, and inefficient agricultural practices such as the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides. Russia leases the city of Baikonur for its space program. Kazakhstan is administratively divided into fourteen provinces and four cities.
Kazakh: 63.1%
Russian: 23.7%
Uzbek: 2.9%
Ukrainian: 2.1%
Uyghur: 1.4%
Tatar: 1.3%
German: 1.1%
Other: 4.4%
Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tatars, and Uyghurs are Turkic ethnic groups, whereas Russians and Ukrainians are Slavic ethnic groups. Kazakhs populate all regions and constitute the majority of the population everywhere except in most areas of northern Kazakhstan. Russians are concentrated in northern Kazakhstan where they are the largest ethnic group as well as in patches stretching from Almaty to Russia along the Chinese border. Ukrainians live in pockets along the Russian border and northern Kazakhstan from the Zhayya (Ural) River to northeast Kazakhstan, whereas Germans live in pockets in northern Kazakhstan. Uzbeks live in the southernmost areas, and Uyghurs reside in areas between Almaty and China. Kazakhstan's population slightly contracted in size during the 1990s due to the emigration of Russians.
Population: 18,744,548 (July 2018)
Annual Growth Rate: 0.98% (2018)
Fertility Rate: 2.22 children born per woman (2018)
Life Expectancy: 66.2 male, 76.3 female (2018)
Languages: Kazakh (64.4%), Russian (12.6%), other or unspecified (23%). Additional minority languages with sizable numbers of speakers include Uzbek, Tatar, and Uyghur. Kazakh and Russian are the official languages. Russian is often used in business and communication between ethnicities. Russian is spoken as a first or second language by 95% of the population. Only Kazakh (12.1 million) and Russian (2.4 million) have over one million native speakers.
Literacy: 99.8% (2015)
Kazakhstan finds its roots in Turkic and Mongol tribes in the thirteenth century. A Kazakh national identity began to take shape over the following centuries as the Kazakh language became more distinguished. Warfare and conflict with neighboring nations and peoples occurred in the seventeenth century. In the eighteenth century, Russia gained control of Kazakhstan, which in 1936 became a Soviet Republic. During the 1930s, a massive famine resulted in large population decreases. Immigrants began arriving and settling regions of Kazakhstan, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s when the USSR sought to rapidly increase agricultural output through the "Virgin Lands" program. The program increased agricultural productivity somewhat but with drastic environmental consequences that continue today. Independence from the Soviet Union occurred in 1991 and resulted in many Russians leaving the country as Kazakh nationalism reemerged. Almaty was the original capital until Astana became the capital in 1998. Kazakhstan has enjoyed greater stability and economic prosperity than other former Soviet Republics in Central Asia since independence. Significant progress with modernizing the country and improving the quality of living occurred in the 2010s. Today, Kazakhstan stands as an important economic and political actor in the region. In 2018, Kazak President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced an official change in the Kazakh language script from the Cyrillic alphabet to the Latin alphabet.
Kazakhs are traditionally pastoralists and have relied heavily on their livestock for survival. Meat is widely consumed, and fermented mare's milk is a national beverage. Alcohol and tobacco cigarette consumption rates are higher than world averages. The Kazakh New Year is a major celebration. The government moved the capital from Almaty to Astana to facilitate greater cooperation between Kazakhs and Russians and to better administer the large country from a more centralized location.
GDP per capita: $26,300 (2017) [44% of U.S.]
Human Development Index: 0.800 (2017)
Corruption Index: 31 (2017)
Partially due to infrastructure developed by the Soviets, Kazakhstan has the most developed economy out of the former Soviet Republics in Central Asia. Wealth is evenly distributed. Abundant mineral deposits and oil reserves drive much of the strength and development of the economy. Oil pipelines have begun to flow over the past decade, carrying oil to surrounding nations with ocean access for worldwide distribution. China in particular has taken keen interest in Kazakhstan's oil potential. Large amounts of productive farmland form an integral part of the economy. Services account for 61.2% of the GDP. Industry produces 34.1% of the GDP. Primary agriculture products include grain, potatoes, vegetables, melons, and livestock, whereas primary industries include oil and mineral extraction. Most export commodities come from oil or mineral extraction. Primary trade partners include Russia, China, and Italy.
Kazakhstan experiences high levels of corruption that have persisted over the past two decades with only minor improvements in recent years. Law enforcement has been accused of corruption by demanding bribes for crossing borders. Bribery and corrupt practices have worsened in the oil industry as additional drilling and exploration has occurred. Corrupt practices are claimed to be most prevalent in administration.[1] Corruption is regarded as the primary constraint that impedes doing business in Kazakhstan.[2]
Muslim: 70.2%
Christian: 26.2%
Atheist: 2.8%
Unspecified: 0.6%
Denominations – Members – Congregations
Russian Orthodox – 3,340,000
Catholic – 380,000
Jehovah's Witnesses – 17,639 – 260
Seventh Day Adventists – 2,508 – 66
Latter-day Saints – 197 – 2
Nomadic lifestyles and a communist legacy have been responsible for low levels of religious conviction among Kazakhstanis. Many are culturally Muslim or Christian but do not view their identified faiths as important in everyday life. Religious demography differs greatly based upon location and ethnicity. Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Uyghurs, and Tatars are historically Muslim. Eastern Orthodox Christians typically include ethnic Russians, Ukrainians, and other Eastern Europeans. Most Catholics are ethnic minorities from Germany and Eastern Europe. The highest concentration of practicing Muslims is along the Uzbek border.[3] Protestants groups form 2% of the population and include many Germans and Koreans.
Persecution Index: 28th
The constitution protects religious freedom, but government legislation limits some aspects of this right. Some minority, nontraditional religious groups face government interference from worshipping, although most of these are not registered. Religious organizations must have at least fifty founding members in order to register a congregation in a locality. Once registration is obtained, a religious group may only operate within the locality where the congregation or community is registered. Regional registration requires a religious group to have at least two local organizations, each within different oblasts, and each locally registered group must have at least 250 members. National registration requires a religious group to have at least 300 members in each administrative division of the country, with 5,000 total members nationally. Formal registration of missionaries is required, including a submission of what materials will be used in proselytism. The government in recent years has become more focused on monitoring and controlling religious activities. Societal abuses of religious freedom are primarily directed toward Jehovah's Witnesses, although many are wary of nontraditional religious groups that proselyte.[4]
Urban: 57.4% (2018)
Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Karagandy, Aqtöbe, Taraz, Pavlodar, Ust'-Kamenogorsk, Semey, Kostanay, Gurjev, Kyzylorda, Ural'sk, Petropavlovsk, Aktau, Temirtay, Turkestan, Kokshetau, Taldykorgan, Ekibastuz, Rudnyy.
Cities listed in bold have no congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Two of the twenty-one cities with over 100,000 inhabitants has a Church congregation. Forty-six percent (46%) of the national population lives in the twenty-one largest cities.
The first Latter-day Saints in Kazakhstan lived in Almaty in the mid and late 1990s for business, and were instrumental in establishing a congregation in Almaty and introducing many native Kazakhs to the gospel. Prior to 1999, there were no native Kazakhstani members. The first baptism occurred in November 1999.[5] Kazakhstan was included in the Europe East Area in 2000. The Church received official recognition from the Kazakhstani government in December 2000.[6] The first branch was organized in July 2001 in Almaty. At the time no foreign missionaries served in Kazakhstan.[7] Elder Russell M. Nelson visited Kazakhstan in September 2003 and dedicated the country.[8] Foreign, proselytizing missionaries first arrived in 2004 but were restricted to Almaty. Jurisdiction for missionary work in Kazakhstan transferred from the Russia Novosibirsk Mission to the Russia Moscow Mission and then to the Russia Moscow West Mission. Kazakhstan was later reassigned to the Russia Novosibirsk Mission. Elder Paul Pieper represented the Church at a world religions conference held in Kazakhstan in the late 2000s. Missionaries were first assigned to Astana in March 2011.
A new law passed in 2011 required the Church to reregister with the government. During this process, the Church refrained from proselytism activity and the performance of convert baptisms until registration was obtained. By mid-2012, missionaries and local leaders were able to find 50 individuals who consented to submitting their names as part of the registration application for both Almaty and Astana. In Astana, many of those who submitted their names were not official members of the Church but instead were friends or investigators who supported the Church. Kazakhstan was assigned to the Central Eurasian Mission when the new mission was organized in 2015. In 2018, Kazakhstan was transferred back to the Russia Novosibirsk Mission.
LDS Membership: 197 (2017)
In early 2001, Almaty had 25 members. By the end of the year, there were 46 members nationwide. Membership increased to 80 in 2003, 102, in 2005, 125 in 2007, 216 in 2012, and 281 in 2014. However, membership decreased to 212 in 2016 and 197 in 2017. This sudden decrease in membership appeared primarily attributed to the organization of a mission branch to service areas of Kazakhstan outside of Almaty and Astana. Membership for this mission branch was transferred to Turkey where mission headquarters were located. Furthermore, several foreign members may have also moved out of the country during this time period. In 2018, nearly all members lived in Almaty.
In 2017, one in 94,176 was a Latter-day Saint.
Congregational Growth
Branches: 2 (2018)
The Astana Group became a branch in 2014. Both branches reported directly to the Russia Yekaterinburg Mission in late 2018.
Activity and Retention
Seventy attended a cultural night held shortly following the Church's recognition in 2001.[9] Forty-four attended the organization of the Almaty Branch in 2001.[10] Elder Nelson visited in September 2003 with ninety in attendance. Some members in attendance traveled up to thirteen hours from distant cities.[11] In early 2010, missionaries reported that approximately fifty members were active in Almaty, but some estimates place the number of active and semi-active members as high as eighty. The Church in Kazakhstan had one of the highest percentages of members enrolled in seminary or institute in the early 2010s (18%). Returned missionaries reported approximately fifty active members in Almaty and thirty active members in Astana in 2014.
Missionaries noted that only two or three converts joined the Church in Kazakhstan during an 18-month period in the mid-2010s. However, there were approximately eleven convert baptisms nationwide during the two-year period from 2016-2017. In 2018, there were approximately ten active members in the Astana Branch. Convert retention appears highest for formerly Muslim converts who join the Church per reports from recently returned missionaries.
Active membership nationwide is likely between sixty and seventy, or 30-35%.
Street contacting and the member referrals of interested friends and associates have represented the main finding methods for missionaries in Almaty. Missionaries in 2010 reported that many investigators were found through teaching English and piano lessons.
Languages with Latter-day Saint Scripture: Russian, German, Ukrainian, Korean.
All Latter-day Saint scriptures are available in Russian, German, Ukrainian, and Korean. Large amount of Church materials are translated in these languages. The Liahona magazine has twelve issues in Russian, German, Ukrainian, and Korean a year. Kazakh materials are in the Cyrillic script and limited to the Sacrament Prayers, a basic unit guidebook, the Articles of Faith, and hymns and children's songs.
Meetinghouses
The Almaty Branch meets in a small church-owned meetinghouse. The Astana Branch meets in a rented facility.
Humanitarian and Development Work
The Church in Kazakhstan has participated in 281 humanitarian and development projects since 1985. Many of these projects have occurred in hospitals and orphanages. In 2003, aid was distributed to those affected by the May 2003 earthquake.[12] In the late 2000s, the Church conducted neonatal resuscitation training and donated hospital equipment.
Opportunities, Challenges, and Prospects
The Church is legally registered with the city governments of Almaty and Astana, but is not registered in the fourteen provinces or the cities of Bayqongyr and Shymkent. Given changes to the law, there are no realistic prospects for the Church to expand into additional cities or the provinces as fifty founding members are required to obtain registration. Full-time missionaries may openly proselyte in Almaty and Astana once approval is granted to missionaries on an individual basis. Sometimes this approval can take weeks to obtain, limiting proselytism activities for newly arrived missionaries to Kazakhstan. Local members provide invaluable service and assistance in maintaining legal standards and obtaining required documents for missionaries, humanitarian projects, and church registration. Recent revisions in the Kazakh religious law interrupted proselyting activity in 2012 as the Church had to re-register congregations in Almaty and Astana.
Irreligiosity and secularism challenge church growth as most have little or no interest in learning about religion as a result of decades of communist rule. With few members and a tiny foreign missionary force, diligent and efficient missionary programs are required to gain converts. Suppressed religious freedom during the Soviet era provides opportunity for growth because many do not actively participate in their identified religions. Tolerance for non-Muslim religious groups appears higher among Muslims in Kazakhstan than in many other Central Asian nations due to the large Orthodox minority and the suppressed religious expression of Islam for much of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, many ethnic Kazakhs demonstrate strengthening ethno-religious ties to Islam, whereas many Russians maintain strong ethno-religious ties to Orthodox Christianity. As a result, missionaries often report low receptivity among the Kazakhstani population.
National Outreach
Mission outreach only occurs in the cities of Almaty and Astana, which together account for 16% of the national population. Eight-four percent (84%) of Kazakhstanis reside in provinces or cities with no Church outreach centers. Although the population currently reached by the Church remains small, abundant opportunities for missionary work and Church growth exist in Almaty and Astana as they are the most populous cities and major centers for business and industry in Central Asia. Most living in Almaty and Astana are unaware of the Church's presence and know little of the Church's beliefs, teachings, and practices. Large areas of Almaty remain unreached and provide an easily accessible, highly populated field for expanded outreach with the assistance of local members and missionaries. The establishment of additional congregations such as member groups or small branches may help better saturate Almaty with Church outreach and reduce travel times for members and those interested in learning more about the Church.
Visits by mission leaders occur regularly despite Kazakhstan's remoteness from current and previous mission headquarters in Russia and Turkey. This has been partly due to foreign missionaries serving in Russia leaving periodically to renew their visas. The low productivity of the mission in Russia has reduced missionary numbers, creating greater challenges in expanding proselytism with full-time missionaries in Kazakhstan as missionary resources become stretched.
Some members live in remote, large cities without congregations. These members may one day facilitate expanded mission outreach in those cities. Many missionaries and Church leaders agree that the Church's progress in Kazakhstan will be integral in developing outreach in other Central Asian nations without a current Church presence.
Member Activity and Convert Retention
Convert retention between 2003 and 2010 appears poor to modest as church attendance in Almaty only increased slightly over this period despite membership increasing from 80 to 140 nationwide. Similar problems with convert retention and member activity have appeared to occur in the 2010s. For example, Church attendance in Astana has significantly declined in the past several years to approximately ten at present. Recently returned missionaries report many local members are unwilling to find individuals and families for missionaries to teach due to fear of talking about the Church with friends and associates. Early efforts of expatriate members in sharing the gospel quickly developed a congregation and introduced many Kazakhs to the gospel; retention rates have dropped with the exodus of key expatriate families and the shift to missionary-based proselytism. The first native converts fellowshipped with one another and taught and baptized new converts without the assistance of full-time missionaries. The introduction of full-time missionaries appears to have reduced convert retention levels, in part due to periods of focus on monthly baptismal goals and reduced contact of investigators with local members before baptism. Frequent changes in which mission oversees missionary activity in Kazakhstan has appeared to further compound these problems. Although efforts to oversee all Turkic nations with a single mission from 2015-2018 presented good vision and effort by the Church to better administer this almost entirely unreached region of the world, distance from mission headquarters in Istanbul and few missionaries assigned to the Europe East Area appeared to play a role in the reassignment of Kazakhstan to a Russia-based mission. Cooperation in proselytism efforts between full-time members, older converts, and new members will be essential for high retention of new converts to ensure long-term church growth.
Ethnic Issues and Integration
The diversity in cultures in Kazakhstan creates challenges integrating various ethnic groups into the same congregation. The Soviet legacy has helped to mute some of these differences and allow for greater cooperation between ethnicities. Missionary efforts in Almaty are directed toward both Kazakhs and Russians, and the Almaty branch has successfully integrated members of various ethnicities. Other ethnic groups are largely unreached. Future proselytism efforts in northern Kazakhstan will need to meet needs of both Russians and Kazakhs simultaneously as both live in the same region in large numbers.
Language Issues
Foreign missionaries have not developed proficient language abilities in Kazakh for gospel teaching. This has resulted in some reliance on local members for teaching, providing greater opportunity for convert fellowshipping. A previous mission president sought to have all missionaries teach primarily in Kazakh in 2012.[13] However, these efforts have appeared to have since been abandoned, likely due to difficulties with missionaries transferring in and out of Kazakhstan and maintaining a Kazakh language program despite these missionary transfers. Missionary work is primarily conducted in Russian, which is widely spoken across Kazakhstan and learned by foreign missionaries in the Missionary Training Center and in the Russia Yekaterinburg Mission. Senior missionary couples rely on translators to accomplish much of their humanitarian work.
Additional translations of Church materials and Latter-day Saint scriptures into Kazakh are needed but appear unlikely at present. The Church has often waited many years or decades to begin translations of Latter-day Saint scriptures into languages spoken by few members even if these languages have millions of native speakers. Furthermore, the recent change announced by the Kazakhstani government to transition from the Cyrillic script to the Latin script may delay prospects for additional Church materials and scriptures translated into Kazakh. Minority Turkic groups speaking languages such as Uyghur and Uzbek will likely not have Church materials until greater membership growth occurs among them. Russian language appears to be highly functional for initial outreach for these groups because it is spoken by 95% of the population, although not all second-language speakers speak and read at a high level of proficiency.
Missionary Service
As of early 2010, about fifty full-time missionaries had served in Kazakhstan since Almaty opened to full-time missionary work. A missionary zone functions in Kazakhstan, and senior couple missionaries serve in Almaty and Astana. In October 2009, six elders and two sisters served in Almaty. Kazakhstani members have willingly served missions despite their small numbers. In mid-2008, four missionaries were serving from the Almaty Branch. In 2017, there were forty-two missionaries official registered with the government.[14] However, many, if not most, missionaries did not serve for the entire year of 2017 in Kazakhstan.
The first Melchizedek Priesthood ordinations occurred in early 2001.[15] A traveling Patriarch visited Kazakhstan in 2008 and gave eighteen Patriarchal blessings. Local members have led the Almaty Branch through most if not all of its history. The Almaty Branch president in 2012 was an ethnic Uighur.[16] In 2018, the Almaty Branch was led by a native member. The Astana Branch has never appeared to have a native branch president. Instead, the branch has been led by senior missionaries since its organization.
Kazakhstan is assigned to the Kyiv Ukraine Temple district. Temple trips occur infrequently due to the small size of membership, travel expenses, and long distances. The Church announced a temple in Russia in 2018 albeit the specific city where the temple will be constructed has yet to be determined. Kazakhstan will likely be assigned to the Russia temple once it is completed as long as the temple is not located further from Kazakhstan than Kyiv.
Comparative Growth
Kazakhstan is the only former Soviet Republic in Central Asia with an official Church presence. Most former Soviet Republics outside Central Asia have experienced greater membership and congregational growth than Kazakhstan. Russia and Ukraine each had over 10,000 members by 2006 and over 50 congregations. Growth in some other Muslim nations has been greater than Kazakhstan, such as Pakistan and some nations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. However membership growth in Pakistan, Indonesia, and many other Muslim-majority nations has come primarily from among Christians rather than Muslims, whereas in Kazakhstan success has been achieved among both groups. The Church operates openly in Kazakhstan but not in Pakistan due to threats of violence from extremist groups. Kazakhstan offers a relatively pluralistic and favorable environment for outreach among both Muslims and Christians, in contrast to most other Muslim-majority nations.
Of the six Turkic nations (Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan), Kazakhstan and Turkey are the only nations where the Church has gained a significant foothold with strong native membership albeit stalwart members likely number less than one hundred in either country. Notwithstanding Kazakhstan's key strategic and geopolitical location as the gateway to Central Asia, its status as the most religiously pluralistic and tolerant of the Central Asian nations, and relatively wide religious freedom, the Church's entry into Kazakhstan has been belated and anemic. No missionaries were sent to Kazakhstan throughout the initial years of religious freedom in the early 1990s when other denominations experienced rapid growth. The Church gained a foothold in Almaty around the turn of the century only fortuitously through the efforts of capable expatriate members, and not through any planning or effort of the institutional missionary program. When missionaries finally entered in the middle of the decade of the 2000s, receptivity had waned considerably from that experienced in the initial years, political conditions had become less favorable, and both Muslim and Orthodox groups had implemented counter-proselytism policies. Whereas Jehovah's Witnesses maintained 195 congregations and Adventists had 51 congregations across Kazakhstan in 2009, only a single Latter-day Saint congregation operated in the nation until missionaries entered Astana in early 2011. Although visa and registration requirements limited expansion of missionary efforts during the 2000s, the lack of utilization of favorable opportunities for church growth throughout the 1990s appears to reflect a lack of priority and resources assigned to the nation by mission planners and the focus of resources on Russia and better-known nations in Eastern Europe rather than any absence of opportunity.
Many Christian denominations have experienced membership decline over the 1990s through emigration. However, these groups have gained converts among the Kazakh and other historically Muslim peoples. Seventh Day Adventists have seen decreasing numbers of congregations and converts over the past decade. Jehovah's Witnesses have experienced continued expansion of national outreach but no measurable increase in the number of active members during most of the 2010s.
Historically high member involvement in missionary work, developed local leadership in Almaty, consistent allocation of mission resources to Almaty and Astana, and registration with the government in Almaty and Astana provide a positive outlook for the Church's continued operation in Kazakhstan. However, prospects for growth in the near future appear dim given no measurable increases in the number of active members in established branches. The severely limited number of members living outside of Almaty and Astana as well as membership requirements to register congregations in new areas will restrict missionary work outside of these two cities for the foreseeable future. Member involvement in missionary activity will be essential for the Church to reverse its recent trend of essentially stagnant membership growth while at the same time achieving acceptable rates of convert retention and member activity. Nevertheless, the assignment of inordinate numbers of full-time missionaries to a single branch may hamper and erode the self-sufficiency of the Church if missionaries undertake member and local leader responsibilities. The opening of additional congregations in Almaty may help revitalize growth in the city, especially if these congregations are started from scratch and empower local members to assume leadership and missionary activities.
[1] "Kazakhstan country profile," Business Anti-Corruption Portal, retrieved 24 April 2010. http://www.business-anti-corruption.com/en/country-profiles/europe-central-asia/kazakhstan/show-all/
[2] "Kazakhstan Country Report," Business Anti-Corruption Portal. Accessed 16 November 2018. https://www.business-anti-corruption.com/country-profiles/kazakhstan/
[3] "Kazakhstan," International Religious Freedom Report 2009, 26 October 2009. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127366.htm
[4] "Kazakhstan." International Religious Freedom Report 2017. Accessed 17 November 2018. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=281024#wrapper
[5] "Kazakhstan," Country Profiles, retrieved 23 April 2010. http://lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/kazakhstan
[6] "Kazakhstan recognizes Church," LDS Church News, 17 February 2001. http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/39339/Kazakhstan-recognizes-Church.html
[7] "First LDS branch created in Kazakhstan," LDS Church News, 11 August 2001. http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/40323/First-LDS-Branch-Created-in-Kazakhstan.html
[8] "Elder Nelson Dedicates Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic," Ensign, Nov. 2003, 124–25.
[10] "First LDS branch created in Kazakhstan," LDS Church News, 11 August 2001. http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/40323/First-LDS-Branch-Created-in-Kazakhstan.html
[11] "Elder Nelson visits Kazakhstan," LDS Church News, 13 September 2003. http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/44312/Elder-Nelson-visits-Kazakhstan.html
[12] "Kazakhstan," Country Profiles, retrieved 23 April 2010. http://lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/kazakhstan
[13] Martinich, Matthew. "Recent LDS Church Growth Developments in Kazakhstan," www.cumorah.com. 7 November 2012. https://cumorah.com/index.php?target=view_case_studies&story_id=313&cat_id=4
[14] "Kazakhstan." International Religious Freedom Report 2017. Accessed 17 November 2018. https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=281024#wrapper
[15] "Kazakhstan recognizes Church," LDS Church News, 17 February 2001. http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/39339/Kazakhstan-recognizes-Church.html
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Remains believed to be missing Avon mother found near Crown Point
Posted: Apr 9, 2019 / 01:35 PM UTC / Updated: Apr 10, 2019 / 12:42 PM UTC
CROWN POINT, Ind. (WISH) — Police have found remains believed to be a missing Avon mother.
The Crown Point Police Department believes remains belonging to 30-year-old Najah Ferrell have been found near I-65 and 109th Avenue in Crown Point.
A call came in late Monday night from a fisherman who pulled a severed foot out of the small pond. A tattoo is what led police to connect the remins to Najah Ferrell.
Police are now conducting a death investigation and suspect foul play was involved in Ferrell's death.
Ferrell hasn't been seen since about 3 a.m. March 15. She was last seen alive at her home.
On March 26, her vehicle was found near I-465 and Lafayette Road.
The Avon Police Department on Tuesday sent officers north to continue their investigation.
Avon police announced Tuesday night that they would hold a press conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday to discuss "an update regarding the trajectory of our investigation."
The apartment complex that Ferrell lived in is a pretty safe place, according to neighbors.
"It is very shocking that something like that can happening this area," said a neighbor. "It was pretty scary. It is around our neighborhood so that is kind of scary."
Ferrell's tragic death is making people re-evaluate their sense of security.
"I was really shocked, and nervous and scared," said neighbor Cynthia Dunlap.
David Rimer recently moved from Indianapolis to Ferrell's Avon neighborhood in hopes of finding a more calm and safe neighborhood.
"It happens everywhere. You realize that sooner or later," Rimer said.
Despite their shock, neighbors are hurting for the loss that Ferrell's family is suffering.
"I feel like we just need to be more cautious and I feel sad for the family that they have to go through this. It is really sad. I hear she had two boys so that is very sad," said one neighbor who didn't want to be identified by name.
Dunlap said she can't imagine the pain that Ferrell's family is going through: "My niece lives here with me, I would be nervous and very upset. I wouldn't know what to do if something like that would happen to her."
Following Tuesday's news, the Bethel Family Worship Center released the following statement:
"Bethel Family Worship Center is extending our prayers & support for the family of our beloved Najah Ferrell, during this difficult time. We are praying for the family's strength & comfort, as we respectfully allow them to process the information privately. Please join us in praying for the family & supporting where you can.
A fund has been set up for "Najah Ferrell Benevolence" through our giving portal here:
https://www.elexiogiving.com/mobi/?uid=beth24s222
You can also access it through our website a bfwc.net on our "Giving" page. (Please select the "Najah Ferrell Benevolence" fund)
In addition, a Go-Fund-Me account has been set up here: https://www.gofundme.com/NajahsBoys
The Avon Indiana Police Department will be holding a LIVE press conference at 1:00 PM (EST) today.
Russell & Beverly Hylton
Lead Pastors"
More Crime Watch 8 Stories
Free swimming, boxing classes, more set for youths
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) -- Free youth activities are set for Friday night and Saturday afternoon as part of the city's Safe Summer initiative, the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety said Thursday.
Here are the youth activities set as part of the summer violence-prevention effort:
MUGSHOTS: Indiana's Most Wanted Sex Offenders
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) -- CLICK HERE to see Indiana's Most Wanted Sex Offenders.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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中文 | Facebook
Media delegation visits Baotou companies
By Lu Wei Updated: 2019-06-24
A media delegation of journalists and reporters from Ordos, Bayannuur and Wuhai visit Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group based in Baotou, in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on June 18. Founded in 1954, Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group was one of 156 key construction projects during the first Five-Year Plan period (1953-1957), and the largest machinery manufacturer based in Inner Mongolia. The company has made significant progress over the years, and its market value currently stands at over 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion). The company has been working to boost its scientific and technological innovation, with 4.5 percent of its annual earnings used to fund research to ensure the smooth development of scientific research projects. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]
A journalist stands tall but small next to two giant mining trucks manufactured by NORINCO International Co during a media tour to Baotou, in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on June 18. NORINCO is affiliated with China North Industries Corporation. It is an important player in implementing the country's Belt and Road Initiative. Over the years, NORINCO International has been focusing on the international market, establishing its business network all over the world and it has fostered strong capabilities in international operations, investment and financing, global resource allocation and project management. [Photo/Baotou Evening News]
Inner Mongolia and the Belt and Road Initiative
Measures eye integrated development of Hohhot, Baotou and Ordos
Border trade in Inner Mongolia expands North China's opening-up
Baotou, China


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5000 BC-0 BC
1 AD- 1500 AD
New Nation
Reconstruction Industrialization
World Stage
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The United States Cavalry killed 153 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee in South Dakota. The massacre occurred on December 29th. Half of those killed were women and children. The massacre followed the killing of Sitting Bull (the warrior chief of the Sioux) weeks earlier, during an attempt to arrest him.
As western settlement expanded more and more Native American lands were seized by settlers. Partially in response to what seemed like a hopeless situation a new movement developed among the Native Americans surrounding an Indian prophet named Wovoka who founded a Ghost Dance religion that believed the coming of an Indian messiah that would restore all of Indian lands. More and more Indians started participating in the Ghost Dance and settlers and settlers were concerned that this could be a prelude to an Indian attack. In response United States officials decided to take Indian chiefs into custody. At the Standing Rock Agency the Indian police went to arrest arrest Sitting Bull. Crowds gathered to support Sitting Bull and a fight developed, by the time it was over Sitting Bull and eight of his supporters were dead as were six Indian policemen.
Tensions were now very high, and Indians agents tried to get as many Indian chiefs as possible to return to the agency's which were at the center of the Indian reservations. On December 29, 1890 a detachment of the 7th cavalry led by Major Samuel Whitside met Spotted Elk of the Miniconjou Lakota nation and 350 of his followers who were headed back to the Pine Ridge Reservation. The cavalry escorted the Indians westward to Wounded Knee where they made camp. Soon the rest of the 7th cavalry arrived. There were 350 Lakota in the encampment including 230 men and 120 women and children. In the morning the trooper requested that the Indians give up their weapons. Most did without a problem, but one of the Indians was deaf and did not understand what he was begin asked to do. To this day what happened next is not clear, but a firing broke out and in a few moments a full fledge fire fight broke out. The Lakotas has surrounded the encampment and had placed four rapid-fire Hotchkiss-designed M1875 mountain guns. It was hardly a fight with minutes out of the original 350 an estimated 300 were killed or wounded, including Spotted Elk. The army suffered 25 dead and 50 wounded. It was the last major fight with Native American
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Heraklej tudi Herakles (grško  Ἡρακλῆς: Hēraklēs, latinsko Hercules) je bil najslavnejši grški junak. Bil je eden mnogih nezakonskih otrok vladarja Zevsa. Njegova mati je bila zemljanka Alkmena. Že kot otrok se je razlikoval od svojih vrstnikov, kajti bil je  zelo močan. Dečku je prerokoval slavni slepi prerok Tejrezias. Napovedal mu je, da bo v življenju napravil mnogo junaških del in postal nesmrten.
Heraklej je imel sorodnika kralja Evristeja.

'Heraklej (grško Ἡpακλῆς, Hêraklễs) je bil v grški mitologiji polbog, sin vrhovnega boga Zevsa in smrtnice Alkmene, rejniški sin Amfitriona in pravnuk/polbrat Perzeja. V rimski mitologiji se je imenoval Herkul.

Etimologija
Heraklejevo ime je nastalo iz dveh grških besed Ἥpα + κλέος (Hera" in kleos" = Herina slava). To je ime je dobil, da bi zmanjšali Herin bes.

Kult
Stari Grki so praznovali festival herakleja, ko so se spominjali njegove smrti, drugi dan meseca po atiškem koledarju (konec julija ali v začetku avgusta). Za egiptovski Heraklejev tempelj v oazi Baharija verjamejo, da sega do 21 pred našim štetjem. Ponovna ocena Ptolemajevih opisov na otoku Malta poskuša povezati mesto Ras-ir-Raheb s Heraklejevim templjem , vendar argumenti niso prepričljivi.

Mitologija

Rojstvo in otroštvo

Hera je bila Heraklejeva mačeha in njegov sovražnica. Zevs je oplodil smrtnico Alkmeno v podobi njenega moža Amfitriona. Iste noči se je vrnil tudi njen mož in prav tako spal z njo. Alkmena je zanosila z dvema fantkoma. Hera je prisilila Zevsa, da priseže, da bo deček, ki se rodi te noči članu Perzejeve hiše, veliki kralj. Ko je bila Alkmena noseča s Heraklejem, je Hera poskušala preprečiti porod tako, da je Alkmeni zavezala nogi v vozel in s tem upočasnila porod. Potem pa pospešila Evristejevo rojstvo. Hero je prevarala Galantida, Alkmenina služkinja, ko je rekla, da je Alkmena že rodila. Hera je Galantido spremenila v malo podlasico. Alkmena je potem rodila polboga Herakleja in smrtnika Ifikla. Herakleja je imenovala Alkid, a je bil preimenovan v Heraklej ali Herakles, v prevodu "Herina slava", da bi se ublažila Herina jeza.

Ko je bil otrok, je Hera poslala dve kači, da bi ga ubili, ko je ležal v zibelki. Kači je zadavil, vsako z eno roko. Njegova dojilja ga je našla, ko se igral z njima, kot da sta igrački.

Legenda pripoveduje, da je Zevs prevaral Hero, da je dojila Herakleja. Otrok je potegnil tako močno, da si ga je boginja s krikom odtrgala od prsi in mleko se je polilo po nebu in ustvarilo Mlečno cesto.

Mladost

Ko je z liro ubil svojega učitelja glasbe Linosa, je moral do 18. leta čuvati govedo na Kitajronu s svojim očimom Amfitrionom. Tam sta ga obiskali dve nimfi: Naslada in Krepost. Ponudili sta mu udobno in razkošno življenje ali težko, a slavno življenje. Heraklej je izbral Krepost. Enega od izzivov mu je postavil kralj Tespij, ki je hotel, da ubije kitajronskega leva. Za nagrado mu je kralj ponudil, da oplodi njegovih 50 hčera. Menda je to Heraklej storil v eni noči.

Potem se je poročil z Megaro, hčerjo tebanskega kralja Kreonta. Hera mu je omračila um in ubil je njo in svoja otroka, ker je mislil, da so divje zveri. Ko je doumel, kaj je storil, je odšel v delfsko preročišče. Hera je imela prerokinjo pod nadzorom in odredila je, da mora 12 let služiti svojemu sorodniku, argoškemu kralju Evristeju, ter opraviti katero koli nalogo, ki mu jo da. Pogoj, da pride na Olimp (in postane nesmrten), je bil opraviti 12 del (dodekathlos), ki mu jih je naročil kralj Evristej.

Dvanajst del
Apolodor Atenski (grško Ἀπολλόδωρος ὁ Ἀθηναῖος; okoli 180 do po 120 pr. n. št.), Asklepijadov sin, grški učenjak in matematik, je zapisal dela v naslednjem vrstnem redu:

1. Nemejski lev

Moral je ubiti nemejskega leva in kralju Evristeju kot dokaz prinesti njegovo kožo. Koža tega leva je bila tako debela, da je nobeno orožje ni moglo predreti, ubila ga je lahko samo človeška roka. Heraklej je poskušal z lokom in puščico ter gorjačo in bronastim mečem, a mu ni uspelo. Odvrgel je vse svoje orožje in se boril z levom na tleh. Končno ga je zadavil in zadušil.

Ko ga je ubil, se je Heraklej ure in ure mučil, da bi ga odrl. Bil je jezen, ker je mislil, da mu ne bo uspelo izpolniti naloge. A prišla je Atena, preoblečena v starko, in mu povedala, da je najboljše orodje za odiranje levje kože levji kremplji.

Izpolnil je nalogo in nosil neprebojno kožo kot svoj oklep. Ko ga je kralj Evristej videl prekritega s kožo, se je od strahu skril v veliko bronasto posodo. Vse nove naloge mu je dajal po glasniku.

2. Lernajska Hidra

Heraklej je prišel do močvirja Lernajskega jezera, kjer je živela Hidra. Usta in nos si je prekril s tkanino, da bi se zaščitil pred strupenimi hlapi, in ustrelil plameneče puščice v njen brlog, da bi jo zvabil ven. Potem se je spoprijel z njo. Vsakič ko ji je odsekal eno glavo, sta zrasli dve novi. Apolodor piše, da je Heraklej ugotovil, da je tako ne bo mogel premagati in je poklical svojega nečaka Jolaja na pomoč. Spomnil se je (morda pod vplivom Atene), da morata osmodita štrclje z ognjem, ko odseka glavo. To sta storila in končno ubila Hidro. Eno njeno nesmrtno glavo je postavil pod velik kamen na sveti poti med jezerom in Elejo, namočil puščice v Hidrino strupeno kri in tako končal nalogo.

Druga različica zgodbe pravi, da je, potem ko je odsekal vsako glavo, pomočil meč v Hidrino kri in uporabil njen strup, da glave niso ponovno zrasle.
Hera je trdila, da naloga ne velja, ker mu je pomagal nečak.

3. Erimantski merjasec

Erimantski merjasec je ogrožal kmetovalce na gori Erimant zaradi uničevanja posevkov in goveda. Heraklej tudi ni smel ubiti svojega plena. Kentaver Hiron mu je rekel, naj ga zvabi v globok sneg. Res ga je splašil, zmedel in pognal v sneg, ga zvezal in odnesel do Evristeja. Kralj se je tako ustrašil, da se je skril v velik sod in rekel Herakleju, naj ga reši te zveri. Heraklej ga je poslušal.

4. Kerinejska košuta

Evristej je bil jezen, ker je Heraklej ušel smrti pri prejšnjih nalogah in je dalj časa razmišljal o naslednji nalogi. Četrta naloga je bila ujeti kerinejsko košuto, ki je bila posvečena Artemidi. Evristej je upal, da se bo boginja razjezila.

Kerinejska košuta je imela bronasta kopita, zlate rogove in je bila hitrejša od puščice. Heraklej jo je moral pokazati Evristeju nepoškodovano, zato jo je lovil leto dni po vsej Grčiji, Trakiji in Istri. Ko jo je utrudil, se je odločil vzeti eno puščico in jo ustreliti v nogo med mišico in kost brez kapljice prelite krvi. Zvezal jo je in odnesel Evristeju. Srečal je Artemido in njenega brata Apolona in ji razložil, da je to naloga in prosil, da mu oprosti, češ da bo košuto takoj vrnil. Artemida mu je oprostila in Heraklej je košuto odnesel Evristeju.

Evristej je hotel, da košuta postane del kraljevega zverinjaka. Heraklej je vedel, da mora košuto vrniti, zato je rekel, da mu jo da, če jo bo sam vzel. Kralj je krenil ponjo, a jo je Heraklej spustil. Ker je bila hitrejša od puščice, je pobegnila k svoji gospodarici Artemidi. Heraklej je rekel, da ni bil dovolj hiter in tako mu je uspelo dokončati tudi to nalogo.

5. Avgijev hlev
Evristej se je spomnil te naloge, ker so prejšnje samo vzbujale občudovanje Herakleja pri ljudeh, s to pa bi ga ponižal. Elidski kralj Avgij je bil Helijev sin, zato je bila njegova čreda blagoslovljena: imel je 300 črnih bikov, 200 plodnih bikov in 12 srebrnobelih bikov, ki so branili čredo. Njegove staje že dolgo niso bile očiščene. Heraklej je moral vse izprazniti in očistiti v enem dnevu. Najprej je razbil dva zidova in potem preusmeril reki Alfej in Penej proti stajam. V nekaj urah je bilo delo opravljeno. Avgij ni hotel dati dogovorjene desetine živine, zato ga je Heraklej ubil, njegovo kraljestvo pa prepustil njegovemu sinu Fileju.

Grški pesnik Pindar trdi, da je tam Heraklej ustanovil olimpijske igre.

6. Stimfalske ptice

Šesta Heraklejeva naloga je bila uničenje ljudožerskih ptic, ki so se razmnožile na obalah jezera Stimfal. Bile so posvečene Aresu in so se hranile z ljudmi, imele so bronaste kljune, kremplje in ostra kovinska peresa, s katerimi so napadale žrtve. Glede na to, da je bilo mračno, sta Atena in Hefajst pomagala Herakleju tako, da sta mu dala bronasto ropotuljo, s katero je ptice splašil in jih nagnal v let. Potem jih je s puščicami postrelil.
V drugi inačici zgodbe jih je streljal s katapultom. Ptice, ki so preživele, se nikoli več  niso vrnile v Grčijo.

7. Kretski bik

Na Kreti je bil bik, ki ga Minos ni hotel žrtvovati Pozejdonu. Ta bik je odpeljal Evropo, z njim je Pazifaa spočela Minotavra. Čeprav je Minos ponudil Herakleju pomoč, jo je ljubeznivo odklonil in se odločil, da bo nalogo opravil golorok. Bik je bruhal ogenj, zato se je boj zavlekel. Na koncu ga je premagal, bika ujel in ga odnesel v Mikene. Ko ga je Evristej videl, ga je hotel posvetiti Heri, a ga je odbila, ker je bik izražal Heraklejevo moč.

To žival je pozneje na Maratonskem polju ubil Tezej.

8. Diomedove kobile

V pokrajini Trakiji je imel nori kralj Diomed štiri kobile: Podargo, Lampono, Ksanto in Deno, ki jih je hranil s človeškim mesom. Heraklej jih je moral ukrasti. To je naredil z veliko lahkoto. Nahranil jih je z Diomedom zaradi njegove zlobe in okrutnosti. Po drugi inačici je prišel s svojim ljubimcem Abderom, ki je čuval kobile, medtem ko se je Heraklej boril z Diomedom. Kobile so Abdera pojedle, zato jim Heraklej dal  še Diomeda, da se je maščeval.

Potem ko so se najedle, so kobile postale mirnejše in jih je odpeljal v Mikene, da kralj Evristej odloči o njihovi usodi. Evristej je odločil, da jih odpeljejo na Olimp in žrtvujejo Zevsu, a jih je Zevs zavrnil in poslal volkove, leve in medvede, ki so jih pokončali.

Druga inačica zgodbe govori o tem, da jih je Heraklej pustil svobodno begati po Argosu, saj so postale trajno mirne.

9. Pas kraljice Amazonk

Heraklej je moral Evristejevi hčeri prinesti pas Hipolite, kraljice bojevnic Amazonk, ki ji je pas podaril njen oče Ares. Amazonke so onesposabljale fante in moške, da so morali zanje opravljati hišna opravila. Uporabljale so bronasto orožje in prve osnovale konjeniške rodove. Hera je nahujskala Amazonke proti Herakleju, zato jih je bil prisiljen pobiti in vzeti kraljevski pas. Heraklej je posilil Hipolito in jo zatem dal za ženo Tezeju.

V drugi inačici zgodbe se je Hipolita zaljubila v Herakleja in mu sama dala svoj pas.

10. Gerionova čreda

Heraklejeva deseta naloga je bila polastiti se znamenite Gerionove črede iz Eritije, ki je slovela po svoji lepoti in jo je čuval dvoglavi pes Ortos, a je ni smel odkupiti ali prositi kogar koli za pomoč. Gerion, sin Hrizaorja in Kaliroe, hčerke Titana Okeana, je bil velikan s tremi glavami in tremi telesi, vedno oborožen do zob.

Na poti do Eritije je Heraklej prehodil libijsko puščavo in ker je bil jezen zaradi vročine, je ustrelil puščico na Helija, boga Sonca. Helij ga je prosil, naj preneha, a je Heraklej zahteval velik zlat pladenj, ki bi ga uporabil za plovbo po morju. Tako je prišel do Eritije. Spopadel se je z dvoglavim psom Ortom, ki ga je ubil s svojo gorjačo. Evritij, ki je čuval čredo, je prišel Ortu na pomoč, a ga je Heraklej ubil. Ko je Gerion slišal trušč, je prišel oborožen s tremi ščiti, tremi kopji in tremi čeladami. Na koncu ga je Heraklej ubil s puščico, ki jo je namočil v strupeno kri lernajske Hidre.

Heraklej je nato odpeljal živino Evristeju. Da bi mu otežila nalogo, je Hera poslala na živino obada, ki bi naj jo vznemirjal in dražil. Prav tako je poslala poplavo, da Heraklej ni mogel čez reko z živino. Dvignil je dva velika stebra, znižal nivo vode in preprečil prihod morskih pošasti.  Stebra (dve gori) naj bi bila pri morski ožini Gibraltar in ju danes imenujejo Heraklejeva stebra. Potem je odpeljal živino Evristeju, ki jo je posvetil Heri.

11. Zlata jabolka Hesperid

Ko je v osmih letih in enem mesecu končal 10 nalog, je Heraklej prišel do Evristeja in zahteval nagrado. Evristej ni priznal druge in pete naloge, zato je moral Heraklej opraviti še dve. Naslednja naloga je bila zahtevna. Moral je prinesti zlata jabolka Hesperid, a tega ni naredil sam.

Nerej, morsko božanstvo, sin Ponta in Gaje, oče Nereid, mu je svetoval, naj prosi Atlanta, velikana, ki drži nebesni svod,  da nabere ta jabolka. Ta bi naredil vse, da bi se malo odpočil od svojega težkega dela, a se je bal Ladona, bitja s sto glavami, ki je čuval jabolka. Heraklej ga je ustrelil z velike razdalje in velikan je nabral plodove (verjetno je bil v sorodstvu s Hesperido, mogoče njen oče). Zdaj se ni želel vrniti k staremu opravilu, zato ga je moral Heraklej  prelisičiti: prosil ga je, naj pridrži svod, dokler ne podloži blazine na glavo. Nasedel je in Heraklej se je z jabolki napotil proti Evristeju. Na poti je osnoval Tebe – mesto s sto vrati. Evristej se je bal jabolk, zato jih je Heraklej dal Ateni, ki jih je nato vrnila.

12. Kerber

Zadnja in najtežja naloga je bila pripeljati iz podzemlja psa Kerberja. Heraklej je moral oditi do vrat Hada in tam obračunati s troglavim psom, ki je imel rep kače, iz njegove sline, ki mu je padala iz gobca na tla, je zrasla strupena rastlina akonita. Ko je bil v podzemlju, je Heraklej osvobodil Tezeja, ki je bil tam zaprt, ker je poskušal ugrabiti Hadovo Perzefono.

Heraklej je odšel do Hada in Perzefone in vprašal, ali sme vzeti Kerberja. Bogova sta se strinjala pod pogojem, da ga ne poškoduje. Nekateri pravijo, da je Perzefona pristala zato, ker je bil Heraklej njen brat. Heraklej je psa ujel, ga držal okoli vratu in ga zvlekel na svetlo. Ko je prišel iz teme, je Kerber začel besno lajati in stokati. Evristej se je ustrašil, ko ga je ugledal, zato ga je Heraklej hitro vrnil v Had.

Druge mitične zgodbe
Ko je dokončal naloge, se je Heraklej pridružil Argonavtom pri iskanju zlatega runa. Rešili so junakinje, osvojili Trojo in pomagali bogovom v vojni proti Gigantom. Zaljubil se je v princeso Jolo iz Ehalije. Kralj in njegovi sinovi so s prezirom gledali na Heraklejeve podvige,  razen Jolinega brata Ifita, ki je postal Heraklejev najboljši prijatelj. Evrit je ponudil roko svoje hčere tistemu, ki ga premaga v strelskem tekmovanju. Ker Evrit ni izpolnil obljube, ga je Heraklej ubil, pa tudi njegove sinove, razen Ifrita, Jolo pa ugrabil. Hera je še enkrat razbesnela Herakleja, tako da je Ifita vrgel z obzidja.
Heraklej se je moral odkupiti in očistiti s služenjem lidijski kraljici Omfali. Moral je opravljati ženska opravila in nositi ženske obleke, ona pa je nosila njegovo levjo kožo in gorjačo. Čez čas ga je osvobodila in se z njim poročila.

Hilas
Heraklej je moral Argonavte zapustiti, preden so prispeli v Kolhido.

Med pohodom skozi puščavo je Heraklej ubil driopskega kralja Teodamanta v spopadu zaradi ukradene živine. Po smrti kralja je vzljubil njegovega lepega sina Hilasa in ga vzel s seboj na pohod. Kot Argonavt je Heraklej sodeloval le na delu potovanja. V Miziji so Hilasa ugrabile vodne nimfe, ko so ga poslali po vodo. Obupani Heraklej ga je dolgo iskal, vendar se je Hilas zaljubil v nimfe in nikoli več ga ni videl. Iz tega je nastal običaj, da so Mizijci vsako leto obredno hodili naokrog po gozdovih in iskali Hilasa. Hilasovo usodo opeva Teokrit v svoji 13. idili.

Reševanje Prometeja

Heziodova Teogonija in Ajshilov Vklenjeni Prometej  pišeta, da je Heraklej ustrelil in ubil orla, ki je mučil Prometeja (kar je bila Zevsova kazen za krajo ognja bogov, ki ga je izročil smrtnikom) in ga rešil iz kavkaške stene. Heraklej je osvobodil Titana verig in njegovih muk. Prometej je nato napovedoval nadaljnja Heraklejeva dejanja.

Heraklejevo ozvezdje

Na poti nazaj iz Iberije v Mikene, ko se je polastil Gerionove živine, ki je bila njegova deseta naloga, je Heraklej prišel v Ligurijo v severozahodni Italiji, kjer se je bojeval z dvema velikanoma, Albionom in Bergionom ali Derkinos, sinovi Pozejdona. Nasprotniki so bili močni; Heraklej je v bil težkem položaju, zato je prosil svojega očeta Zevsa za pomoč. Pod okriljem Zevsa je Heraklej zmagal. Heraklej je klečal, ko je molil k očetu Zevsu, kar je dalo ime Engonasin (grško Εγγόνασιν, ki izvira iz "εν γόνασιν") in pomeni "na kolenih" ozvezdju, znanem kot Heraklejevo ozvezdje. Zgodbo je med drugim opisal Dionizij iz Halikarnasa (60 pr. n. št.–po 7 pr. n. št.), grški govornik in zgodovinar, ki je deloval v Rimu med Avgustovim vladanjem.

Heraklejevo plenjenje Troje
Pred Homerjevo trojansko vojno je bil Heraklej v Troji in jo oplenil. Prej je Pozejdon poslal morsko pošast nad Trojo. Zgodba nakazuje več odstopanj v Iliadi (7.451–453, 20.145–148, 21.442–457) in je na voljo v Apolodorovi Biblioteki (2.5.9). Ta pohod je postal tema vzhodnega pedimenta Afajinega templja. Laomedon je načrtoval žrtvovati svojo hčer Heziono Pozejdonu v upanju, da ga bo zadušila. Heraklej je na srečo prispel (skupaj s Telamonom in Ojklom) in se dogovoril, da bodo ubili pošast, če bo Laomedon dal konje, ki jih je dobil od Zevsa kot nadomestilo za Zevsovo ugrabitev Ganimeda. Laomedon je obljubil. Heraklej je pošast ubil, vendar je Laomedon prelomil obljubo. Zato je na poznejšem pohodu Heraklej s svojimi privrženci napadel Trojo in jo oplenil. Pobili so vse Laomedonove sinove, ki jih je tam skril Podark, ki je bil preimenovan v Priam. Svoje življenje si je rešil tako, da je dal Herakleju Hezionino zlato tančico. Telamon je vzel Heziono kot vojno nagrado, se z njo poročil in imel sina Tevkra.

Druge pustolovščine
Heraklej je premagal Bebrike (vladal jim je kralj Migdon) in dal njihovo zemljo princu Likusu iz Mizije, sinu Daskila.
 Ubil je roparja Termerja.
 Heraklej je obiskal Evandra z Antorjem, ki je nato ostal v Italiji.
 Heraklej je ubil kralja Amintorja iz Dolopije, ker mu ni dovolil v njegovo kraljestvo. Ubil je tudi kralja Emationa Arabskega.
 Heraklej je ubil Litierza, neuradnega Midasovega sina, ko ga je premagal v tekmovanju žetve.
 Heraklej ubil Periklimena pri Pilosu.
 Heraklej je tekmoval z Leprejem in ga na koncu ubil.
 Heraklej je ustanovil mesto Tarentum (sodobni Taranto v Italiji).
 Heraklej se je naučil glasbe od Linosa, vendar ga je ubil, ko je popravljal njegove napake. Naučil se je rokoborbe od Avtolika. Slavnega boksarja Eriksa iz Sicilije je ubil na tekmi.
 Heraklej je bil Argonavt. Ubil je Alastorja in njegove brate.
 Ko je Hipokon strmoglavil svojega brata Tindareja kot kralja Šparte, je Heraklej vrnil pravega vladarja ter ubil Hipokona in njegove sinove.
 Heraklej ubije Kikna, Aresovega sina. Pohod proti Kiknu, v katerem Iolaj spremlja Herakleja, je tema kratkega epa, pripisanega Heziodu. Heraklejev ščit.
 Heraklej je ubil giganta Alkioneja in Porfiriona.
 Heraklej je ubil velikana Anteja, ki je bil nesmrten, če se je dotikal zemlje, tako da ga je dvignil in ga držal v zraku, medtem ko ga je zadavil.
 Heraklej je sprožil vojno z Avgijem, ko mu je zanikal obljubljeno nagrado za čiščenje njegovih hlevov. Avgij je ostal neporažen zaradi spretnosti njegovih dveh generalov, Molionidov, in po Heraklejevi bolezni je bila njegova vojska hudo pretepena. Iz zasede je nato ubil Molionida in nadaljeval pohod v Elido ter ubil Avgija in njegove sinove.
 Heraklej se pojavi tudi v Aristofanovih Žabah, v katerih Dioniz išče junaka, ki bi našel pot do podzemlja. Heraklej se je zelo zabaval zaradi Dionizovega videza in v šali ponujal več načinov za samomor, preden je končno povedal, kako priti do tja.
 Heraklej se je pojavil kot prednik junaka Skitija v Herodotovem besedilu. Medtem ko je Heraklej spal v puščavi, je polženska, polkača ukradla njegove konje. Heraklej je našel to bitje, ampak ona ni hotela vrniti konj, dokler ni imel spolnih odnosov z njo. Nato je peljal nazaj svoje konje, toda preden jo je zapustil, ji je dal pas in lok. Dal ji je navodila, kdo od njunih otrok naj bi našel nov narod v Skitiji.

Heraklejeve ljubezni
Heraklej je imel moške in ženske ljubimce. Njegovo potomstvo se imenuje Heraklidi (Herakleidai) in nastopajo v številnih mitih. Ti miti naj bi temeljili na zgodovinskih dogodkih, ko so Dorci prodirali na Peloponez konec 2. tisočletja pr. n. št.

Žene

Heraklej se je štirikrat poročil. Prvič z Megaro, ki jo je skupaj z otroki ubil v napadu besnila, ki ga je povzročila Hera. Naslednja žena je bila Omfala, lidijska kraljica, pri kateri je bil najprej suženj.

Tretja žena je bila Dejanejra, za katero se je boril z rečnim bogom Ahelojem. Po poroki sta potovala in bi morala čez neko reko, ko je kentaver po imenu Nes ponudil pomoč, a poskušal posiliti Dejanejro. Heraklej ga je ubil s puščico, potopljeno v Hidrino kri. Umirajoč je kentaver naročil Dejanejri, naj zbere njegovo kri in seme ter s tem premaže moževo obleko, če želi Herakleju preprečiti zveze z drugimi ženskami. Vedel je, da je njegova kri prišla v stik s Hidrino in da bo to ubilo Herakleja.

Dejanejra je bila ljubosumna na Jolo in je pomočila srajco v to mešanico. Heraklejev sluga je prinesel srajco in tkanina je začela razjedati njegovo  meso. Prosil je, da ga dajo na grmado, da bodo prekinili muke. Filoktet je zažgal grmado, Heraklej pa mu je dal svoj lok in puščice. Po njegovi smrti so ga bogovi naredili nesmrtnega.

Druga inačica mita govori, da je grmada zažgala človeško v njem in da je ostalo samo božansko. Odšel je na Olimp in se poročil s Hebo.

Moški

Jolal je bil Heraklejev ljubimec, ki mu je tudi pomagal pri eni od nalog. Bil je njegov nečak, pomočnik in ljubimec. Bila sta zgled in mladi pari so se zaklinjali na Jolajevo ime. Heraklej je pozneje Jolaju dal svojo ženo Megaro, ki je ni mogel več prenašati, kar naj bi bilo tudi simbol Jolajeve odraslosti.

Plutarh v svojem delu Erotikos piše, da jih je bilo toliko, da se ne da prešteti. Nekateri Heraklejevi ljubimci:
Abder (Ἄβδηρος)
Admet (Ἄδμητος)
Filoktet (Φιλοκτήτης)
Hilas (Ύλας)
Ifit (Ίφιτος)
Jolaj (Ίόλαος)
Nestor (Νέστωρ)

Glej tudi
 Herkul

Sklici

Literatura
 Sofokles: Trahinke, tragedija
 Evripid: Heraklova blaznost, tragedija
 Osvajanje Ehalije, ep

Zunanje povezave

 Heraklej v grški mitologiji
 Heraklejevo življenje

Grška mitologija
Ljudje v grški mitologiji
Mitološke osebe, po katerih so poimenovali asteroid

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Eating a "rainbow" of fruits and vegetables helps to ensure that you are getting the spectrum of nutrients and antioxidants that support vibrant health. Prep tips: If you're not vegetarian, you might like to add shredded cooked chicken or pork; it's also excellent with cooked lentils or toasted cashews. Keep a jar of the dressing on hand in the refrigerator for impromptu salads of just about anything.
In a jar, combine miso and apple juice or mirin; mash and whisk with fork until miso is dissolved (tiny chunks will remain). Add oils and vinegar; whisk or shake until emulsified.
Add about half of the dressing to salad; toss until evenly mixed. Serve.