Tsvetana Alеkhina "Choosing religion you choose fate"

Asking for food and drink.В»

The meaning ofВ these simple words has aВ deep meaning. After all, if the Slavic people are considered the grandson ofВ the Sun and are under his special patronage, then an appeal toВ him with aВ request for drink and food can be interpreted as aВ request for spiritual food, without which no person on Earth canВ do.

The Slavs depicted the sun in the form of a rotifer. The meaning of the word kolovrat – kolo is a circle, the gate is a rotation. The sun is a circle that rotates. Initially, kolovrat had four rays, which meant four continents. Then there were six rays, which meant the patronage of God, whose name is Perun. The eight-ray rotifer means the light of the Sun, as well as the heavenly Fire.

Both men and women can wear Kolovrat as aВ talisman. Men should wear aВ charm so that the rays are located clockwise. This talisman protects against evil forces, gives self-confidence and gives masculinity.

Women should wear this amulet counterclockwise. Thanks toВ him, the fair sex found happiness and love. Every Slav knew that an expectant mother should wear such aВ talisman during pregnancy. This amulet gave aВ woman protection from evil forces, helped toВ give birth toВ aВ healthy child and facilitated childbirth.

What is a swastika? The swastika is the oldest sign. The first mention of the swastika appeared in the eighth millennium BC. The word «swastika» itself originated in India, such an ancient symbol itself did not appear in India. The word consists of two Sanskrit roots: su – «good, good» and asti – «is, be», that is, «welfare» or «well-being. Currently, the value of this symbol is still great. Various authors associate the swastika with flowing water, air, flame, fire, the female sex, the union of the two sexes, the moon, the cardinal directions, various gods, etc. The most common version is the sun in circular motion.

If we believe the data from the time ofВ 2В thousand BC, then the sun was represented inВ the form ofВ aВ bird. InВ the monuments ofВ India, the swastika symbolizes the sun, and inВ pre-Columbian America, the swastika was considered an emblem ofВ the Sun god. InВ the Bronze Age, the image ofВ aВ bird with aВ swastika on its chest, as well as aВ bird with aВ cross, was interpreted as aВ symbol ofВ the solar deity. The swastika was introduced inВ the VII century, inВ China as aВ hieroglyph for the Sun. The swastika was considered not only as aВ solar sign, but also as aВ symbol fertility ofВ the earth. The swastika was given importance as aВ symbol ofВ the four main forces, the natural elements, the four cardinal directions centered on the axis. This is confirmed inВ medieval Muslim manuscripts, and has been preserved toВ our time byВ American Indians. InВ Western occultism, it was given great importance toВ zodiac rotations, the alchemical idea ofВ the transformation ofВ elements.

Swastika or Hitler’s star? The German swastika appeared in the early 20s of the last century. Unlike Slavic, it has the opposite meaning. According to one version, the German swastika carries the purity of Aryan blood. Hitler was firmly convinced that this symbol was dedicated to the victory of the Aryans over all other races.

Hitler himself claimed that he had put a symbol of the superiority of the Aryan race in the swastika, he himself wrote about this in a book called «My Struggle». In 1923, a congress was held, where Hitler managed to convince his colleagues that the black swastika on a white-red background was a symbol of the struggle against Jews and communists. The swastika was used paramilitary organizations long before the appearance of the Nazis in the political arena of Germany, as a symbol of nationalism. The soldiers of G. Erhardt’s detachment mainly wore this badge. The swastika became a prohibited sign; the distribution of the swastika was considered a criminal offense. This is indicated in paragraph 86a of the German Criminal Code. This happened in 1946, after the end of the Second World War.

The most significant difference between the Slavic swastika and the German one is the direction ofВ its rotation. For the Fascists, it goes clockwise, and for the Slavs, it goes against it. InВ fact, these are not all the differences. The Aryan swastika differs from the Slavic one inВ the thickness ofВ the lines and the background. The number ofВ ends ofВ the Slavic cross can be four or eight.

InВ Russia, Rosskomnadzor abolished the punishment for distributing swastikas on April 15, 2015.

In Slavic culture, the swastika denotes movement by the sun, and the other – against it. Movement on the sun means happiness, against it – misfortune. It is also interesting that the swastika that we used to see was a favorite symbol of Empress Catherine. She painted him wherever she lived.

The left-sided swastika is a counterclockwise rotation sign of purification, restoration. It also has the property of destruction – to build something light; you need to destroy the old and dark. Worshippers of this sign could wear their amulet with left-hand movements, this sign was called the «Heavenly Cross» and was a symbol of tribal unity and gave protection to the heavenly forces. The left—sided swastika was considered a sign of the autumn sun – collective.

The right-hand swastika rotates clockwise and denotes the beginning of all things – birth, development – it is a symbol of the power of the sun and the prosperity of the family, creative energy. This sign was also called Novorodnik or the Solar Cross. The sun sign and the swastika are equal in this case. It was believed that he gives the greatest power to the priests. Prophetic Oleg knew Ancient Wisdom, Ancient Vedas and wore this ancient sign on his shield. From these beliefs came the theories proving the ancient Slavic origin of the swastika.

Slavic amulets. The hope of protection from evil spirits was placed on the amulets – to protect them from evil, to take them away from their home, children and household. The swastika as a talisman is a sign that means the rotation of the Solar circle. At all times, the Slavs tried to protect themselves and their loved ones from evil, problems, slander, diseases and mental anxiety with the help of amulets. If we touch on history, the ancient Slavs worshiped the cult of the Sun, so Slavic amulets have always been with solar signs, the main task of which is to protect the person wearing them.

CHAPTERВ 3

Who are the Slavs, and where did this word come from. There are several meanings of this word. One of them is from the word praise. The Slavs glorified the sun, the gods. These people who glorify the world of Truth, perhaps is why they call us Orthodox. Christians have appropriated this word for themselves, and call themselves correctly glorifying their God. Perhaps that is why Christians call themselves Slavs. The next meaning of this word is glorious, glorious people. The compatibility of the suffix -yane is consonant with the names of the landscape (glade, drevlyane, kyane, buzhane). Perhaps this version has led many linguists to one of the understandings about the origin of the Slavs. In this case, it is possible that this is the name of one Slavic tribe, which later spread to all peoples (specific tribal ethnonyms for words – Slovaks, Slovenes, Slovenes, Ilmen Slovenes). There is a theory that it comes from the Slovutich River – the poetic name of the Dnieper; Sluya, Polish. The names of the rivers SawaAwa, SɫAwica, Serbian Slavnica. These words go back to the Indo-European root *leleu- meaning «to wash», «to purify». Everything also points to the Lithuanian village of Šlavėnai on the Šlavė River as the exact parallel name of «slovene», formed at the same time from the hydronym.

One of the versions says that the Slavs, Slovene, are people who speak «in words», that is, in our language, in their own language. For comparison, we can take a foreign-speaking tribe – the «dumb» ones. Of similar origin, the self-name of the Albanians is shqiptarët («speaking clearly»). In addition, the wordзыzyk («language») was used in the meaning of «people». The very essence of the meaning of «word», i.e. Slavs are people who have the gift of words, in comparison with other foreign-speaking peoples. According to the theory, this version was common among many peoples, – friend or foe. The author B.A. Rybakov interprets that the Slavs were related to the tribes of the Veneds are «sla» + «vienna», that is, the ambassadors of the Veneds. If we believe the historical data, then the first archaeological Slavic culture is the subclavian culture of the 5th – 2nd centuries BC. The area of distribution of this culture is southern Poland, the north of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the southeast of Germany and the Carpathian region. This place is associated with the separation of the Slavic language from the Balto-Slavic language community. The Slavs bordered on the north with the Balts and Germans. On the east with the Iranian-speaking tribes of the Scythians and Sarmatians, on the south with the Illyrians and Thracians, on the west with the Celts.

According to another version, the self-name «Slavs» goes back to glory – these are «glorious», «famous people». These were the people in question, about whom the rumor speaks, about whom there is fame.

An equally popular theory tells that the В«SlavsВ» originated from the name ofВ the first community ofВ the people, which gave this word spread toВ other territories inВ the process ofВ emigration, especially during the Great Migration.

The Slavs migrated to Europe during the Great Migration of Peoples – this is an Indo-European people who were part of some ancient «Germanic-Slavic» community. The community of Slavs, having separated from the Germans, because, having found themselves on the border with wild Eastern peoples, lagged behind in their development, the flourishing Roman civilization became inaccessible to them at that time. This event served as a decline in the development of the community. Archaeology confirms the existence of strong cross-cultural ties between the Germans and the Slavs, and in general, the theory more than deserves respect if you remove the Aryan roots of the Slavs from it.

The first Slavic settlers on the territory ofВ modern Ukraine and Russia were Drevlyans (inhabitants ofВ forests) and Polyans (inhabitants ofВ fields). It is known from the chronicles that at that time each family lived separately.

Little is known about the history of the origin of the Slavs, it is unanimously believed that they existed from 4—5 centuries. From unreliable information, it is known that before Europe, the Slavs lived in Egypt and Ethiopia, India and Palestine, Atlantis and the Arctic. Somewhere in the 1st millennium AD, the Slavs were divided into three groups: eastern, western and southern.

The Eastern Slavs adopted Orthodoxy. Eastern tribes are Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. The Slavic Eastern branch included numerous tribes. The list ofВ names ofВ the tribes ofВ Ancient Russia includes: Vyatichi, Bujan (Volynyan), Drevlian, Dregovich, Duleb, Krivichi, Polochan, Polyana, Radimichi, Slovenes, Tivertsev, Ulich, Croats, Bodrichi, Vislyan, Zlichan, Luzhichan, Lyutich, Pomoryan. After the adoption ofВ Christianity, the Slavs did not willingly say goodbye toВ the gods. The adoption ofВ Christianity was voluntary. Pagans were not burned at the stake; villages were not cut out, as the Crusader Catholics did with the Western Slavs and Lithuanians. Christianity and paganism existed peacefully and for quite aВ long time.

The Western Slavs are Pomorians, Obodrichs, Vagras, Polabs, Smolinians, Glinians, Lyutichs, Velets, Ratari, Drevans, Ruyans, Luzhichans, Czechs, Slovaks, Koshubians, Slovenes, Moravians, and Poles. Military actions on the part ofВ the Germans forced them toВ leave their lands and retreat toВ the east.

The Southern Slavs adopted Christianity before anyone else because they lived close toВ Byzantium. The South Slavs included Slovenes, Croats, Serbs, Zahlumlans, and Bulgarians. These Slavic peoples settled the lands after predatory raids; they had toВ experience the strong influence ofВ the Byzantine Empire. Later, some ofВ them mixed with the Turkic-speaking Bulgarians, they gave rise toВ the Bulgarian kingdom, the predecessor ofВ modern Bulgaria.

What the Slavs had inВ common was the similarity ofВ the language and the cohesion ofВ the association. The basis ofВ the language was precisely the Gothic ethnosubtract. Linguistically, these are Lusatians, Poles, Litvins-Belarusians, Czechs, Slovaks, Macedonians, Croats, Slovenes, Bosnians, Montenegrins, Serbs, Bulgarians, Rusyns-Ukrainians and Russified Finno-Ugrians. Slavic languages belong toВ the Indo-European language family.

Slavic tribes began to develop new territories in the 6th-8th centuries. The tribes diverged in three main directions: the southern – the Balkan Peninsula, the western – between the Oder and the Elbe, to the east and northeast of Europe. Many Slavic tribes inhabited the eastern part of Russia. The Eastern Slavs remained on this land and gradually became the main inhabitants of the territory. In Russia, the ancient Slavic tribes were engaged in agriculture, beekeeping, fishing, and were also hunters and shepherds. The Slavs withstood the attacks of the Huns from Central Asia in the 3rd and 4th centuries, as well as the invasions of the Goths from Germany and Sweden. By about 600, the Slavs had become the dominant ethnic group on the Eastern European Plain. By the 7th century, they had established villages along all the major rivers of what is now eastern Russia. In the early middle Ages, the Slavs lived between the Viking kingdoms in Scandinavia, the Holy Roman Empire in Germany, the Byzantines in Turkey and the Mongol and Turkish tribes in Central Asia. The most common version is that the roots of the Slavs go to the lands adjacent to the Danube, and then scattered across Central, Southern and Eastern Europe. In general, scientists agree with the beginning of the penetration of Indo-European tribes close in lifestyle, rituals and language into the center of Europe in the 3rd millennium BC.

The Slavs, as an already established ethnic group, originally appeared in the area of the Laba River (Elbe), their language was mixed with Baltic and Gothic, which gave a peculiarity to their communication. Some Russian historians believe that the Slavs themselves are a mixture of Goths and Balts from the territory of Belarus (that is, Belarusians Gutov-Gepids) and, possibly, Poland. The formation of the Slavs took place in this campaign, in which Iranian-speaking Alans or Sarmatians took part, also possibly a composite group. It is believed that the real Slavs in origin and genetic terms are the Slavs who settled the territories of the present northern Germany (Obodrites, Rusyns, etc.), the Czech Republic and Southern Poland (Lyakhs). The rest of the group are not Slavs, they are considered «Slavs» only because they adopted the language from the Slavs who captured them. Close in location in genetics and anthropology to the Slavs are the Western Balts, Belarusians and Mazurs. Not all other Slavs are Slavs, there is nothing in common between them except the language, Russians, who, being Finno-Ugrians and Turks, are not even Indo-Europeans. Slavic princes and similar Sarmatian Bulgarians who came to us from the Volga are not the «Slavic Slavs». The only language as close as possible to Slavic is Bulgarian (the rest are synthetic). This shows that the Bulgarians have not completed the transition to the Slavic language. This is confirmed in the Novgorod expedition of academician Valentin Yanin in the Novgorod letters: in the analytical Slavic language, the local Sami, whom did the Rurik’s Obodrites colonize. Only after 250 years, the Sami Obodrites began to be called «Slovenes» and the language of the birch bark letters of the Sami was recognized as synthetic Slavic, this is written in the «Tale of Bygone Years». The Slavs have always been a warlike nation, it was the main ethnic force of the Varangians, mainly Polabians, Czechs and Lyakhs. The Slavs of Polabia invented the institute of chivalry. Thanks to their military and knightly art, they managed to subdue vast territories of Central and Eastern Europe, thanks to this, the locals mastered the Slavic language.

The Slavs were the most sought-after commodity in the slave trade as they were the most numerous people in Europe. There was a time when Slavs – slaves supplied to Constantinople were numerous. The most correct version lies in the correct and balanced analysis of the name of our people, resorting to which it can be understood that the Slavs are a community united by one common religion: paganism, who glorified their gods with words that could not only pronounce, but also write! The Slavs brought glory to their gods, and glorifying them, glorifying their deeds, they united into a single Slavic civilization, a cultural link of pan-European culture.

Being the largest nation inВ all ofВ Europe, scientists still cannot determine the exact origin ofВ the Slavic people. Some suggest that their origin began from the Aryans and Germans. Some put forward aВ version about the ancient Celtic origin ofВ the Slavs. Today, the culture ofВ the Slavs unites many countries and peoples, the Slavic people occupy aВ huge territory inВ terms ofВ their number. Now, the Slavs are an Indo-European people who, despite the difference inВ mentality, nationality and versatility, actively participates inВ the development ofВ history.

The Holy Book of the Slavs is the book of Veles. The Book of Veles is an ancient Slavic monument that has survived to the present day. It is a symbol of the Old Slavic script of the 9th century AD. This book tablet is one of the official proofs that paganism existed in Russia. Slavic magi carved this book on wooden tablets. The old dilapidated tablets describe the history of Ancient Russia from 650 BC to a quarter of the 9th century. The book of Veles itself was simply called a book, because in the chronicle it there is its name – a book. Perhaps the god Veles was mentioned or simply revered at that time. And the book was called the book of Veles.

The book of Veles has the second name of Ploshchechkin’s hut. Pagans especially revere this book as the main material proof of the existence of their religion. The first publication of the text took place in 1950 in the city of San Francisco. The text was published thanks to two Russian emigrants Yu. P. Mirolyubov and Al. Kurom (A. A. Kurenkov). The falsification of this book appeared in the 19th century, in order to primitively imitate the Proto-Slavic language. Yu. P. Mirolyubov himself is considered a forger of the book, and the whole story of the appearance of Veles’ book belongs to him. According to him, the text was copied from wooden tablets lost during the war. These tablets may contain information about the ancient Slavic history from about the 7th century BC to the 9th century AD, as well as legends and prayers. Following his story, the location of the wooden planks occurred in 1919 during the retreat from Moscow. They were found by a Colonel of the Volunteer Army, by the artist Fyodor Arturovich Izenbek, in one «plundered princely estate of the Zadonskys, or Donskys». The location occurred on the floor in the looted library. All the plates were approximately the same size – 38 × 22 cm, half a centimeter thick and had a hole for fastening with a belt. The tablets were scratched with incomprehensible writing; the text was scratched with an awl or burned, and then covered with varnish or oil.

Mirolyubov learns about the tablets when Izenbeck settled in Brussels in 1925, and studies them. The tablets disappear without a trace after Isenbeck’s death in August 1941. The tablets were stolen from Izenbeck’s apartment in Brussels. A.I. Asov states the version that M. Yu stole the tablets. Sheftel for the purpose of their research. M. Yu. Sheftel was an employee of Prof. Ekka. During the German occupation in Ahnenerbe, a department was headed at the University of Brussels. According to relatives, the only thing known about the fate of Sheftel is that during the war he was captured in a French camp while escaping from German persecution. After the war, the tablets were sold to the Mormons. Unfortunately, there is no documentary evidence that anyone other than Mirolyubov saw the «Izenbek tablets».

Russian Russian Writings, aВ report on pre-Cyrillic writing, was read inВ the city ofВ San Francisco at the Russian Center. This event took place on August 10, 1952, with aВ report made byВ Al. Kur, inВ which it was claimed that the Russians had their own writing even before the arrival ofВ Cyril and Methodius. InВ the same year, Kur addressed readers with aВ request toВ clarify the fate ofВ the ancient tablets from the Isenbeck library. Kur addressed readers with the help ofВ the pages ofВ the magazine В«FirebirdВ», the printing organ ofВ the Russian Center inВ San Francisco.В Yu.В P.В Mirolyubov responded toВ this request inВ September 1953. The correspondence ofВ Kur and Yu. P.В Mirolyubov is partially published byВ A. Asov.

The first publication about the В«Veles BookВ» not the full version appeared inВ the USSR inВ 1960. The full version appeared inВ Russia inВ 1990В byВ O. V.В Tvorogov and is guided byВ the typewritten text ofВ Mirolyubov.В Yu.В P.В Mirolyubov is an author on Slavic folklore, artistic works and amateur compositions.

CHAPTERВ 4

The Baptism ofВ Russia

The period of Russia’s history before the adoption of Christianity did not fit into any «standard» pattern – it was not similar to the primitive communal system, nor to the slave owning, nor to the feudal. Rather it looked like a socialist. In the period before the baptism of Rus, the Russ undoubtedly had their own state and at the same time, there was no class society, in particular feudal. And the disadvantage was that the «classical» Soviet ideology claimed that the feudal class created the state as an instrument of its political domination and suppression of the peasants.

The Old Russian Slavs, they did not accumulate wealth, they did not leave an inheritance, they did not have the meaning ofВ life toВ make capital, and this was contemptuously censured. And what was valuable? Russians have never sworn byВ their family, children. And what did they swear by? For example, inВ the treaty with the Greeks ofВ 907, it is clear that the Russ swore byВ В«their weapons, and Perun, their God, and Hair, cattle god.В» Prince Svyatoslav swore byВ Perun and Volos inВ the treaty ofВ 971В with Byzantium. The Slavs considered their connection with God, with the Pantheon ofВ Gods, their honor, conscience and freedom toВ be the most valuable. The Rus despised gold, and one ofВ the treaties with Byzantium and Prince Svyatoslav proves this. If the oath is broken, В«let us be golden, like this gold.В»

The baptism of Rus was of great importance in Russian history. Pagan beliefs were replaced by a nationwide unified religion. The adoption of Christianity from Byzantium predetermined the future path of Russia’s development as the largest stronghold of Orthodoxy.

The princely power grew, and with it, the need toВ strengthen the state grew. Disagreement inВ polytheism did not give unity and weakened the state ofВ Ancient Russia. Despite the assertion ofВ the common Slavic pantheon ofВ gods, the union ofВ tribes was steadily disintegrating. Vladimir Svyatoslavovich understood that aВ stronger religion was needed, capable ofВ uniting people.

Before the adoption ofВ baptism, paganism flourished inВ Russia, it was aВ completely religious system. Christianity cannot be called aВ completely new form ofВ spiritual life. Prince Vladimir understood that it would be extremely difficult toВ introduce aВ completely new and unusual religion into Russia. After all, even before the advent ofВ Christianity inВ Russia, there was aВ cult ofВ the god ofВ the Genus, who was aВ heavenly god, ruled the clouds, breathed life into all living things. InВ fact, the baptism ofВ Russia gave aВ sharp impetus toВ the people from the transition ofВ one religion toВ another, from polytheism ofВ polytheism, toВ monotheism, that is, monotheism.

HistorianВ S.В F.В Platonov believes that the main reasons for the baptism ofВ Russia were economic. It was difficult for the state toВ subjugate many Slavic communities, Russia was baptized inВ order toВ strengthen the role ofВ the state and subjugate aВ completely cohesive people. One ofВ the reasons is trade, Christian peoples did not want toВ communicate and trade with pagans, Russia risked remaining isolated. With acceptance Russia became on aВ par with other European states, Europeans began toВ conduct aВ dialogue with them and no longer looked at them as Russian barbarians. Because Christianity inВ Russia was Orthodox and came from Byzantium, Russia, felt isolated, because Catholicism prevailed inВ Western Europe at that time. The prince did not know that after the baptism, Kievan Rus would remain the only Orthodox state, and Greek Byzantium would soon fall.

With the adoption ofВ Christianity, the prince stopped supporting pagan cultures, and they began toВ be destroyed everywhere. Religious buildings, idols and temples, which were especially revered byВ pagans, were destroyed. Pagan holidays and rituals were strongly condemned byВ the clergy.

The Prince himself, being a pagan, was inclined to the Byzantine faith. In 980, Grand Duke Vladimir I Svyatoslavich tried to unite paganism and make polytheism in Russia. Throughout Russia, from the eastern slopes of the Carpathians to the Oka and Volga, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, which included East Slavic, Finno-Ugric and Turkic tribes. The chronicle testifies that Prince Vladimir was devoted to pagan gods. He had serious intentions by creating the Slavic pantheon of gods is in Kiev, he sends his uncle Dobrynya to Novgorod, and he «put an idol over the Volkhov River, and I’ll give him the people of the city like God.» The chronicle reports: «And the beginning of the principality of Volodimer in Kiev is one, and put the idols on the hill outside the courtyard of the terem»: Perun (Finno-Ugric Perkun), Horsa (god of the Turkic tribes), Dazhbog, Stribog (Slavic gods), Simargla, Mokosh (goddess of the Mokosh tribe). The idol that Dobrynya set up in Novgorod was the idol of the Finnish Perkun, the inhabitants of Novgorod gave more reverence to the Slavic god Veles.

Christianity in Russia was spread long before the official baptism of Russia under Vladimir I Svyatoslavich in 988. This is evidenced by numerous data. Let us start with Byzantium. Russia besieged Constantinople three times – in 866, 907 and 941. Pre-planned robber raids were repeatedly carried out on Russia, and a peace treaty was subsequently concluded. Russia and Byzantium had well-established trade and state relations. Initially, only pagans participated in the signing of the treaty in 912 from the Russian side, Christians already occupy the first place in the signing of the treaty in 945. The number of Christians has increased markedly in a short period. The first baptism took place in Constantinople in 955; Princess Olga received it. It was a magnificent and solemn event, both Russian and Byzantine sources tell about it. People from the closest princely entourage became Christians.

Every religion, including the chaotic paganism of Russia, has, in addition to all kinds of cults and idols moral foundations. These moral foundations, whatever they may be, organize people’s life. Old Russian paganism permeated all layers of the society of Ancient Russia that had begun to feudalize. From the records of the chronicles, it is clear that Russia already possessed the ideal of military behavior. This ideal is clearly seen in the stories of the Initial Chronicle about Prince Svyatoslav.

How was Christianity accepted in Russia? Many European countries have adopted Christianity by force. The baptism of Russia was not without an onslaught, the majority were baptized quite peacefully. Baptism – personal and national – was a prerequisite for the contract of Prince Vladimir with Basil II, which was concluded in 987.

The contract read as follows:

Vasily II was ready toВ resume relations with the Russian-Byzantine side. But the military-political side had toВ accept the following conditions. ToВ settle relations with neighboring lands, toВ eliminate conflicts inВ everything and, above all, inВ matters ofВ faith. The new agreement was toВ seal forever-friendly ties between two Christian sovereigns and two Christian peoples. Having agreed toВ these conditions, Vladimir had toВ personally be baptized according toВ the Greek rite. It was also necessary toВ convert toВ Christianity as soon as possible his entourage ofВ В«boyarsВ», В«noblesВ», and В«all the people ofВ the Russian landВ».

Prince Vladimir was baptized himself, baptized his children, and then the whole house received holy baptism. InВ the future, near and distant relatives adopted Christianity. At the same time, the princely squad was baptized. With the adoption ofВ baptism, the prince dissolved involuntary souls, male and female. The main part ofВ the contract concluded with Basileus Basil II was successfully fulfilled. The last condition was the baptism ofВ the Kievans, and then Vladimir became the sovereign ofВ the Christian people.

Vladimir wanted toВ convince the townspeople ofВ the insignificance ofВ his old faith, and that they voluntarily accepted the upcoming religion. ToВ do this, he gave the order toВ destroy the very sanctuary ofВ Perun, which was being built aВ few years earlier В«on aВ hill outside the courtyard ofВ the teremny.В» This was done toВ convince the Slavs ofВ the Christian faith. The prince also gave an order toВ the servants, and the statue ofВ Perun was thrown toВ the ground, tied toВ the tail ofВ aВ horse, it was dragged from the В«mountainВ» toВ the bank ofВ the Dnieper. The statue was beaten with iron sticks; this was done inВ order toВ exorcise the demon. Perun was thrown into the water, the servants escorted him toВ the Dnieper rapids, and the idol sailed further downstream. Thus, Russia said goodbye toВ pagan idols.

At that time, the abuse ofВ the defeated gods was accepted. InВ the city ofВ Arkona there was the most revered sanctuary ofВ Svyatovit, inВ 1168В when the Danes took the city. The Danish king Valdemar IВ ordered В«toВ pull out this ancient idol ofВ Svyatovit, especially revered byВ the Slavic people, aВ rope was thrown around the neck ofВ the idol and it was dragged inВ front ofВ the Slavs, then broken into pieces and thrown into the fireВ» (the message ofВ the German chronicler Helmold).

Residents ofВ the city ofВ Kiev had toВ be prepared for the sacrament ofВ baptism. InВ order for people toВ know the faith ofВ Christ, Christian priests walked around the city and brought the word ofВ God toВ people. Not many people agreed toВ the position ofВ preachers, several local clergy and В«priests ofВ KorsunВ» who came with Vladimir. The prince faced aВ difficult task, toВ prepare local citizens inВ aВ short period. It had toВ be done before the summer. With the consent ofВ the Patriarch ofВ Constantinople, Vladimir brought several priests from Bulgaria toВ Kiev toВ help with baptism, as indicated inВ the Joachim Chronicle, he had aВ difficult task. Such aВ mass ofВ people could be baptized only inВ the summer inВ the waters ofВ the Dnieper. At that time, the temples were not adapted for the rite ofВ the sacrament ofВ baptism.

The baptism took place inВ the Dnieper River; the river replaced the church font. There were many people who wanted toВ convert toВ Christianity, men and women ofВ different ages. The priests divided the people into several groups, they went into the water inВ turn, the first group went into the water up toВ the neck, the second up toВ the chest, and all the others were inВ shallow water. After the prayers were said, the priests gave each baptized group Christian names; the name was common, one for all, male for men and female for women. After being baptized, people continue toВ live with the name given at birth. Those who did not want toВ accept the sacrament ofВ baptism were expelled from the city byВ the decree adopted above toВ the В«deserts and forestsВ». For the society ofВ that time, which existed inВ conditions ofВ constant military danger, disagreements and oppositions were unacceptable.

How Novgorod was baptized. Novgorod was not prepared for aВ new religion, it took time and patience toВ prepare it, at first everything went peacefully. Metropolitan Michael the Greek arrived inВ the city toВ prepare the townspeople, it was inВ 990. Upon his arrival, the first Christian Church ofВ the Transfiguration was founded. Novgorodians reacted coldly toВ the new religion, and after the departure ofВ the metropolitan and bishops, most continued toВ honor their gods and honor their ancestors. InВ 992, aВ second attempt was made toВ baptize Novgorod. The monarchy applied its power, an army was sent toВ the city, together with Bishop Joachim Korsunyanin, led byВ the uncle ofВ the Grand Duke Dobrynya and Tysyatsky Putyat.

The Novgorodians received the news that an army was coming to them to destroy their shrines. Having gathered the veche, the residents decided not to betray their gods, and to strengthen their city. The bridge was dismantled; stone-throwing guns were exposed on the shore. The Kievans did not dare to attack first, and captured several instigators of the resistance by deception. From this turn of events, the Novgorodians were enraged. The priest Bogumil, nicknamed the Nightingale, called on his people to defend the faith of their ancestors. The people did not want to weaken their position and there was a riot in the city. The rebels robbed the houses of the first Novgorod Christians, and the Church of the Transfiguration was ruined. About five thousand citizens joined the battle with Putyata’s army. Dobryna had no choice but to resort to extreme measures. Novgorod was set on fire. This event took place at night; he crossed to the Sofia side and set fire to houses on the shore. It was a terrible disaster for the wooden city. Most residents asked for peace, some rushed to extinguish their homes.

The Novgorodians were offended; they went toВ be baptized forcibly, with great resentment. People were driven into the water inВ droves. Men were baptized above, and women below the Volkhov bridge. Novgorodians did not want toВ be baptized. And even on the day ofВ the great sacrament, they tried toВ deceive themselves byВ saying that they had already been baptized. Therefore, crosses were put on the neck ofВ all those who were baptized. So inВ Russia there was aВ tradition ofВ body crosses.

The neighbors laughed at this event for aВ long time, recalling toВ the Novgorodians В«how Putyata baptized them with fire and Dobrynya with aВ sword.В» The rude imposition ofВ faith has been imprinted inВ the memory ofВ the Slavs for aВ long time. Over the years, Christianity has managed toВ win their souls. Baptism gave rise toВ the so-called double faith, aВ bizarre interweaving ofВ pagan and Christian traditions. Memories ofВ paganism live toВ this day inВ the folk festivals ofВ Maslenitsa, Ivan Kupala and many other rituals.

After the baptism ofВ Russia, paganism dominated the country for aВ long time, there were few pagan communities left, and they existed inВ some cities, and peacefully got along with Christian ones. At one end ofВ the city, there was an Orthodox church, at the other there was aВ temple ofВ aВ pagan god. After decades, the temples disappeared. Pagan magi and after baptism ruled the masses, especially inВ the villages. Many pagans for another hundred years after baptism worshipped idols and engaged inВ sacrifices. Christianity finally came toВ Russia inВ the 13th and 14th centuries, when there was aВ need toВ unite society inВ the face ofВ the Golden Horde.

With the adoption ofВ the Christian religion, elements ofВ Byzantine culture began toВ penetrate into Russia, and this contributed toВ the more intensive development ofВ art inВ Russia. The widespread dissemination ofВ Cyrillic-based writing has become extremely important. The first monuments ofВ written culture appeared, which have survived toВ the present day and can tell aВ lot aboutВ it.

I often hear that millions of people died during the baptism of Russia. What millions could Christians destroy on the territory of Russia? At that time, 35 thousand people lived in Kiev in the 12th century, 25—30 thousand in Novgorod. In ancient Russia, the average population in the city was about 1,000 people, according to scientists. These were giant cities, by medieval standards! What millions of Russians? In the era of Peter 1, the population of the whole country was 7—10 million people. There is no doubt that all these weighty arguments are quite adequate scientific data. Of course, there were conflicts between citizens and the state, the imposition of a new religion, however, as in any other country. We also note that there are still many teachings against paganism, starting from I. Zlatoust and ending with today’s speeches by Deacon Kuraev. It would be silly to talk about large-scale military operations, there is another fact – archeology does not confirm the forced baptism of Russia – it is impossible to hide millions of dead. During the archaeological excavations of ancient Russian cities, no such finds were revealed; these finds would have come in very handy in Soviet times to fight the Church.

Neo-pagans consider the weakening of Russia and the emergence of some kind of dependence on the Byzantine Empire to be a consequence of the «bloody» baptism. The roots of the prehistory of the baptism of Rus grow from a military campaign against a Greek settlement and Vladimir’s further ultimatum to the whole of Byzantium: «I have already taken your glorious city; I heard that you have a maiden sister; if you don’t give her up for me, then I will do the same to your capital as to this city.» Thus, Prince Vladimir managed to get the emperor’s daughter Anna to marry. The German emperor and the French king sought the hand of the beautiful princess. The baptism of Rus did not stop the Russian-Byzantine wars. From that moment on, European rulers began to seek kinship with Russian princes. Yaroslav the Wise married his daughters to the kings of France, Hungary and Norway, and his son married the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomakh. Russian lands continued to grow geographically. Does this indicate a «weakening»?

CHAPTERВ 5

At the baptism of Russia, it is mentioned that Prince Vladimir dissolved his harem. Was there polygamy in Russia? A family for a pagan Slav is a whole world. His peace and procreation, well-being in the family and much more, is above the public. In those days, during the war, the last men in the family were the last to be sent into battle. There also used to be a custom that obliged the brother of a deceased husband to marry his widow. This custom was widespread in Russia until the 16th century. This custom has its roots in ancient times; the elder brother was fully responsible for the children and the spouse of the deceased. There were simply no single families, this is nonsense. At that time, there were no single mothers, orphanages, etc… The most terrible punishment for a Slav is expulsion from the family; it was considered the heaviest punishment, which was practically equivalent to the death penalty.

During the pagan period, domostroy reigned inВ families, children obeyed their parents implicitly. The main factor inВ the upbringing ofВ children is the love ofВ children for their parents, complete obedience inВ childhood and youth, as well as inВ pagan families there is such aВ moment В«and taking care ofВ them inВ old age.В»

The main function inВ the pagan family was procreation. If there was no childbearing inВ the family, then this family was considered incomplete. It is necessary and important toВ emphasize that aВ pagan family is aВ large family. The state has always respected large families, and inВ the 20th century, Stolypin relied on large families.

In ancient Russia, the family did not have the right to terminate the marriage. In the pagan era, marriages were concluded in words, rituals were performed, and there was an understanding that marriage with one wife is «forever» and extends beyond the grave. But since the main factor in the family was childbirth, and if the wife could not give birth to her husband’s child, then the husband had the right to take another wife. Most often, there was no divorce as such; just the husband took another wife.

Polygamy inВ Russia was present inВ all Slavic tribes, from which the Russian ethnos was subsequently formed. InВ pagan times, polygamy existed among Western, southern, and eastern Slavs. Before the adoption ofВ Christianity, many princes had several wives. The Polish Prince Mieszko had seven wives, the Czech Prince Slavnik had many wives, the Pomeranian prince had several wives, as well as twenty-four concubines. Among the Old Russian nobility, inВ addition toВ polygamy, concubinage also flourished. From our Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich had aВ whole harem. He had 300В concubines inВ two ancient Russian cities ofВ Belgorod and Vyshgorod, as well as another 200В inВ the village ofВ Berestov. The prince brought concubines from military campaigns; the concubine became aВ prisoner, and served as entertainment toВ the prince and his retinue, as well as concubines were the subject ofВ trade.

After receiving baptism, Prince Vladimir immediately dissolved his harem and abandoned his usual life; he turned toВ his wife Rogneda with these words: В«IВ have been baptized now. IВ have accepted the faith and the Christian law, now IВ should have one wife, which IВ took inВ Christianity, but you choose one ofВ my nobles for yourself, and IВ will marry you toВ him.В» The adoption ofВ Christianity inВ 988В significantly affected the life ofВ the Old Russian nobility.

On the subject of concubinage, there is one very heartbreaking story, which is known from the chronicle. Prince Yaroslav Osmomysl of Galicia (reigned 1157—1187) was so attached to his concubine Anastasia that he decided to marry her. To do this, he needed to get rid of his legal spouse, the daughter of Yuri Dolgoruky. The prince planned to send his lawful wife to a monastery. Having learned about this, the boyars did not allow him to do this, they sided with the princess, raised an uprising, and burned Anastasia alive. The prince sent Anastasia’s son to prison. The prince was sworn to live with his lawful wife.

Who are the Slavic gods? Gods are a rather late invention of the human mind. The most ancient people did not believe in gods, it is difficult to believe in what you do not see. Almost nothing is known about the religion of the ancient Slavs, the first sources about Slavic culture appear in the 6th century. This is fragmentary information in written sources; they appeared after reaching the borders of the Byzantine Empire. The Slavic religion was formed for quite a long period, it was a process of intertwining the ancient Slavs from the Indo-European community with the mythology and religion of neighboring peoples of the II—I millennium BC. Therefore, naturally, there is a significant Indo-European layer in the Slavic religion. It is assumed that this period includes images of the god of thunderstorms and fighting squads (Perun), the god of cattle and the other world (Veles), the image of the faceless deity Yarilo, and the deity of the Sky-Father (Stribog). In addition, Indo-European gods include such images as the Mother of Cheese-the Earth, the associated goddess of weaving and spinning (Mokosh), the solar deity (Dazhbog), and many others. In the first half of the 1st millennium BC, the mythology and religion of the Slavs were significantly influenced by the Celts and the steppe Iranian-speaking population of the Scythians, Sarmatians and Alans.

The main features ofВ Slavic paganism as aВ worldview are the belief inВ the animateness ofВ nature (animatism and animism), the cult ofВ ancestors and supernatural forces that are constantly present. And take part throughout the life ofВ each person, the developed lower mythology, the belief inВ the possibility ofВ influencing the state ofВ things inВ the world byВ means ofВ primitive magic.

Slavic polytheism (belief inВ nature) is not the religion ofВ one closed community. This is the religion ofВ small communities connected byВ aВ single origin, language and elements ofВ culture, and nothing more. This religion is deeply rooted inВ the history ofВ the development ofВ Slavic communities. The pagan Slavs worshipped the elements, believed inВ the kinship ofВ people with various animals, offered sacrifices toВ the deities inhabiting everything around. Each Slavic tribe had its own gods, For example, the rites ofВ the northern Baltic and Novgorod Slavs were very different from those ofВ Kiev and the Danube. The Slavs never had aВ single idea ofВ the gods, since the Slavic tribes inВ pre-Christian times did not have aВ single state, so they were not united inВ beliefs. Some gods are similar toВ each other, but have nothing inВ common with each other.

As with most peoples ofВ the world, inВ the paganism ofВ the ancient Slavs there was an idea ofВ aВ single god. That is, it was aВ god above all the numerous gods. Who could directly influence all the processes taking place inВ the universe?

Rod is the main deity in the Slavic Pantheon. The Creator of everything, the primordial spirit, the Primordial God, the Prabog. The genus is also called the Supreme God or the Most High and Belbog, the White God, Sventovit. Sventovit translates as the Knight of Light. Dark – Dark Knight, or Chernoboga, the opposite of Belbog. The genus is the ancestor; all other gods obey him, because they are descended from this primordial deity, the closer they stand to their ancestor, the stronger their power.

The Eastern Slavs actually had two supreme gods. Most Slavs – especially revered Yar or Yarilo (in some tribes: Khoros). Horse is a borrowed god from Iranian mythology. So the Slavs called the sun, which was considered a living supernatural being, giving people warmth and light. Tribal nobility, engaged in military campaigns, defended their tribal lands from enemy attacks, this was their main occupation. They worshipped the thunder god Perun more. The god Perun was especially revered by vigilantes and warriors.

Svarog is one ofВ the highest gods ofВ the Slavic-pagan pantheon. This is aВ particularly revered god, the creator ofВ Heaven and Earth. It is believed that Svarog endowed people with blacksmithing and taught them toВ forge metal products. Any forge itself is aВ temple ofВ Svarog, and the anvil and hammer are symbols ofВ Svarog. It is also known that the Slavs revered fire as aВ natural element, whose father was Svarog and affectionately called Svarozhich. Svarog is also considered the patron saint ofВ warriors and weapons.

The patron god of cattle, Volos or Veles, was very revered. It was believed that this god patronizes the reproduction and damage of livestock, good offspring of meat and fat, the size of milk yield. Also, this god is considered the guardian of the forest, patronizes hunters and warriors. The god Veles, he has many personifications – the god of wisdom, the patron of the magi, can guide on the path of spiritual self-knowledge in the world of Reality, as a god-magician, the leader of magicians, the patron of the animal world, he is also addressed as the god of prosperity. The god Veles accompanies souls between the gates of the otherworld, helps to cross between the worlds of the doers, the lord of the underworld.

OfВ the female deities, Mokosh or Makosh is known. The goddess ofВ fate, prosperity, family happiness. Makosh is one ofВ the goddesses ofВ childbirth. She is revered as the goddess ofВ the harvest. Her sign is present inВ the ornaments ofВ clothing, inВ spring with her hands raised up, inВ autumn with her hands lowered down. Makosh is one ofВ the revered goddesses ofВ the Slavic pantheon. She is revered as the goddess ofВ needlework. He really dislikes the lazy, and those who depart from traditions. Her name is also Mati Spinning, her main occupation is spinning. He sits high inВ the heavenly palace and spins the threads ofВ fate together with aВ share and aВ short time. If there was aВ difficulty on your way, or something went wrong, then Makosh tied aВ knot on your way. Makosh is especially revered byВ women, she is asked toВ create aВ marriage, the birth ofВ healthy children.

There is also aВ particularly revered goddess Lada. The goddess Lada is one ofВ the most important goddesses inВ the pagan pantheon. She is the daughter ofВ aВ Genus (sometimes considered the female hypostasis ofВ aВ Genus) and aВ Duck. The duck is the mother ofВ all mythological birds, and Lada is very often depicted as aВ white swan. She is also the mother ofВ Zhiva, Leli, Lelya and Morana. Morana (Madder, Morena, Mara, Morzhana, and Black Mother) is the goddess ofВ winter, death, queen ofВ the night, aВ mighty and formidable deity ofВ the Slavs. Whole books have been written about Slavic gods. The Slavic pantheon ofВ gods has more than aВ hundred deities.

In addition to the gods who personified the elements and phenomena, the Slavs revered the spirits – owners of specific natural objects and patrons of a particular house. So, in each house, according to the ideas of the Slavs, there was a house spirit. He was often personified with a schur (ancestor), believing that this was the spirit of the long-dead founder of the family. The brownie was considered a domestic deity; the whole life in the house in which he lives depended on him: the very integrity of the house, the health and family well-being of the owners, wealth, property, and pets. The owners of the house always tried to appease the brownie and left him some food for the night. Moving to another place, the Slavs took their brownie with them with the help of a special ceremony.

There is also a fairy-tale character who came to us from the world of ancient Russia – this is Baba Yaga. Now, she is considered an evil witch, and she exists only in fairy tales. Where did it come from? Let us try to figure out who Baba Yaga is. In fact, there is no precise and unambiguous opinion. According to some sources, she is considered the patron of the forest and animals, a kind ancient Greek goddess who guards the underground entrance to the kingdom Far Away (the afterlife). But there is another version that the word «yaga» took its origin from the word «yogi», and Baba Yaga herself is from India. Maybe that is why she is considered a hermit living in the forest, away from people and settlements. This is how hermit yogis used to live. This woman practiced yoga and treated people with herbs. According to other sources, she got this name because she was a very quarrelsome, angry and quarrelsome woman; in Russia, such people were often called Yagishnoyu.

Some researchers believe that Baba Yaga may have emigrated to us from the Northern part of the planet. In ancient times, in order to protect themselves, the inhabitants of the North built their dwellings on poles; this was done so that wild animals could not penetrate into the dwelling of reindeer herders. Thanks to this, at a height, the snow did not completely cover the house, and it was possible to get out of the snow blockage. These buildings in their shape resemble Baba Yaga’s dwelling – a hut on chicken legs. One version says that Baba Yaga was named after the plant «yagel». Once she lived in an area where yagel – deer moss grows, it has long been called «yag». Everyone saw that Baba Yaga wore a sleeveless fur coat, and there is a possibility that her name came from a simple phrase – baba in a yaga (a fur coat without sleeves). In addition, there is a belief that Baba Yaga had Asian roots and, accordingly, had an Asian name. Perhaps the expression came from there: «Fu-fu, it smells like Russian spirit.» The fact is that each race has its own body odor, and most often people can smell from a distance belonging to a person from another race.

After the advent ofВ Christianity inВ Russia, Baba Yaga became aВ negative fairy-tale character. Yet, inВ fairy tales, there is some truth: aВ hut on chicken legs covered with moss, aВ sleeveless vest, etc. The pantheon ofВ Slavic Gods is immense, and it is impossible toВ name all the names, since each name is aВ great deed inВ the vastness ofВ the universe.

Slavic witches can also be attributed toВ this topic. Who are Slavic witches? The word Vedas means knowledge. ToВ know means toВ know. AВ woman who has certain knowledge. Unlike Christian statements that claim, that aВ Witch is an evil woman flying on aВ broom and serving the devil, inВ fact, aВ Witch from Old Slavonic is aВ Knowing Mother.

In the pre-Christian period, women with the status of witches were highly respected members of society. This honorary title in Vedic culture was given to a woman who raised virtuous offspring. The Slavs were Orthodox -they glorified (as they say now – pagans). With the advent of Judeo-Christianity, negative information about witches spread to Russia.

Who are Vesta, the Bride, the Witch, the Sorceress and the Witch?

Our ancestors had an institute of female priesthood; all girls were trained before marriage and potentially had such abilities. Slavs revered the goddess of spring Vesta. She was respectfully greeted on the day of the vernal equinox – she brings spring to the Earth, good news and nature wakes up with her arrival. All this symbolizes the awakening of the Earth after a long winter sleep.

According toВ the ancestral traditions ofВ the Slavs, Vesta is aВ girl who is trained inВ all the wisdom ofВ marriage (knowing), aВ knowledgeable, caring mother inВ the future, and aВ good host, aВ faithful, wise and loving wife. Only after the girl acquired such knowledge did she have aВ chance toВ become aВ wife. Everyone knows that harmony inВ the family, comfort and atmosphere almost completely depends on the woman. Vesta cannot have aВ bad husband, because she is wise. Most likely, the ancient Slavs did not even know what aВ divorceВ was.

The «bride» is not a wine girl who takes care of herself for her husband. The bride is the girl who has not yet received the news of the upcoming wedding. Only after the wedding, the girl became a Vesta, knowing that the girl’s mother should prepare her for marriage. Vesta should be prepared to give her husband (family) healthy offspring.

As soon as Vesta gave birth toВ her first child, she became aВ Knowing Mother or, for short, aВ Witch.

The witch could teach and cure. But there came aВ time when many knowledge was banned, and those who preached them were expelled. They interfered with those inВ power. Illiterate people are easier toВ manage. The word Witch has become aВ curse.