Pagans - who is this? Gods of the Gentiles. The Gentiles believed in what?

In the world there were always different religions and beliefs. Which, by the way, did not completely disappear anywhere, even if they became irrelevant. In this article I want to talk about pagans: their rites, faith and various interesting nuances.

the main thing

First of all, we note that paganism is a very ancient religion that existed among the Slavs before the adoption of Christianity. It is safe to say that this is a whole universal system of views, which fully gave an overall picture of the world to the inhabitants of those times. Our ancestors had their own pantheon of gods, which was hierarchical. And the people themselves were confident in the close connection of the inhabitants of the parallel world with the ordinary. The pagans believed that spirits always and in all controlled them, so that not only the spiritual, but also the material part of life was subordinated to them.

A bit of history

At the end of the first millennium AD, at the time when Christianity was accepted in Russia, everything related to paganism was suppressed and eradicated. Burned pagan temples, let the water of ancient idols. We tried to completely get rid of these beliefs. However, we can say with certainty that this was very bad. After all, to this day elements of rituals of pagans have been preserved in the Orthodox faith, creating an amazing symbiosis of Byzantine culture and paganism. It must also be said that the first memories of these beliefs appeared in medieval manuscripts, when the papal curia actively attracted people to Catholicism. Under this action, the pagans also fell (who knows this). Records in the diaries of Catholics were mostly condemning. As for the Russian chroniclers, they did not want to talk about paganism at that time, placing emphasis on the fact that it practically does not exist.

About the concept

Understanding the concept of "pagans" (who it is, what are the features of their faith and perception of the world), you need to find out what it means. If you understand the etymology, you need to say that the root here is the word "language". However, it also meant "people, a tribe." We can conclude that the very concept can be translated as "people's faith" or "belief of the tribe." The Slavic term "paganism" can also be interpreted as a "fortress of bonds."

About faith

So, pagans: who are they, what did they believe in? It is worth saying that the very system of their beliefs was almost ideal and completely inseparable from nature. She was honored, she was worshiped and presented generous gifts. The center of the universe for the Slavs was Mother Nature. It was understood as a living organism that not only thinks, but has a soul. Her strengths and elements were deified and spiritualized. However, this is not surprising, because it is nature that is so natural, that there is no problem with special wisdom. Moreover, the pagans (who, in principle, we considered) considered themselves to be children of nature and did not represent their life without it, for the Vedic system of knowledge and beliefs assumed close interaction and coexistence in harmony with the surrounding world. What was the faith of our ancestors? The Slavs had three main cults: the Sun, Mother Earth and the worship of the elements.

Cult of the Earth

The pagans believed that the Earth is the mother of all. It explains everything quite simply, because it is, according to the ancient Slavs, is the center of fertility: the Earth gives life not only to plants, but to all animals. Why she was called Mother - it is also not difficult to explain. Our ancestors believed that it was their land that gave birth, it gives them strength, it is only to bend over to it. Let's notice, that many existing rituals have come to us since those times. Let us recall, for example, the need to take a handful of our land for a foreign land or to bow down to young parents at a wedding.

Sun worship

The sun in the beliefs of the ancient Slavs appears as a symbol of all-conquering good. It is also necessary to say that the pagans were often called sun worshipers. People at that time lived on the solar calendar, paying special attention to the dates of the winter and summer solstice. It was at this time and celebrated important holidays, such as, for example, the Day of Ivan Kupala (end of June). Interesting will be the fact that the people of those times revered the sign of the swastika, which was called the solar colovor. However, this symbolism did not bear any negative at that time, but it represented the victory of good over evil, light and purity. This sign of wisdom was also an amulet, endowed with a purifying power. He was always put on clothes and weapons, household items.

Veneration of the elements

With great respect the pagan Slavs treated such elements as air, water and fire. The last two were considered purifying, as powerful and life-giving as the earth itself. As for fire, it is, in the opinion of the Slavs, a powerful energy that sets the balance in the world and strives for justice. Fire was cleansed not only the body, but also the soul (indicative in this regard are jumping through a burning bonfire on Ivan Kupala). The flame was of great importance at the funeral. At that time, the bodies were burned, betraying the purifying force of fire, not only the earthly shell of man, but also his soul, which after this rite with ease went to the ancestors. During the time of the Gentiles, water was very revered. People considered her to be the only source of strength and energy. At the same time, they respected not only the rivers and other water bodies, but also the heavenly waters - the rain, believing that in this way the gods give strength not only to the land itself but also to its inhabitants. Water was cleaned, it was treated ("living" and "dead" water), with her help, even guessed and predicted the future.

Past

With great respect, the Russian pagans also treated their past, or rather, their ancestors. They revered their great-grandfathers, often resorted to their help. It was believed that the souls of ancestors do not disappear anywhere, they guard their kind, helping people from the parallel world. Twice a year the Slavs celebrated the day when they revered their dead relatives. He was called Radonitsa. At this time, relatives communicated with their ancestors on their graves, asking for the safety and health of the whole family. It was necessary to leave a small gift (this rite still exists today - a funeral in the cemetery, when people bring sweets and cookies with them).

The Pantheon of the Gods

First of all I want to say that the gods of pagans represent this or that element or the natural force. Thus, the most important gods were Rod (who created life on earth) and Rozhanitsa (goddess of fertility, thanks to whom, after winter, the earth was reborn to a new life, they also helped women to produce children). One of the most important gods was also Svarog - the creator and lord of the universe, the Father-ancestor, who gave people not only earthly fire, but heavenly (the Sun). Svarozhichami were such gods as Dazhdbog (the god of the Sun) and Perun (God of thunder, lightning, thunder). The sun gods were Horse (circle, hence the word "round dance") and Yarilo (the god of the hottest and brightest summer sun). The Slavs and Veles, the god who was the patron of cattle, were also worshiped. He was also a god of wealth, because before that, it was possible to become rich only thanks to the domestic cattle, which brought a good profit. Among the goddesses, the most significant were Lada (the goddess of beauty, youth, love, marriage and family), Makosh (giver of life harvests) and Morana (goddess of death, cold, winter). People also worshiped in those times goblins, douche, water - spirits, who guarded everything that surrounded a person: a house, water, forests, fields.

Rituals

Important were also various rituals of the Gentiles. As already mentioned, they could be purifying for the body and soul (with the help of water and fire). There were also guard ceremonies, which were held in order to protect a person or a house from evil forces. The sacrifice was also not alien to the Slavs. So, gifts to the gods could be both bloodless and bloodless. The first were donated to ancestors or bereguinyam. Bloody victims were needed, for example, Perun and Yaril. At the same time, birds and livestock were brought as gifts. All ceremonies were sacred.