Saint Vladimir baptized our people in 988, converting the country to Orthodox Christianity. Prior to this, the Slavs for centuries worshiped Svarog, Perun and other ancient gods, each of which had different powers and played a role in the pantheon.
When Prince Vladimir, who ruled Kievan Rus from 978 to 1015, sent his soldiers and Orthodox priests to baptize Novgorod, they removed the wooden idol of Perun, one of the most important gods of Slavic paganism. He was dragged through the streets, beaten with sticks, and then thrown into the Volkhov River. Christians attached a symbolic meaning to this: the Orthodox God won. The pagan rivals of Christianity, weak and disgraced, had to retire. People cried looking at the beating of Perun. Perun, Svarog, Mokosh and others have been an integral part of the mystical life of the people for centuries.
So who were the main gods worshiped by the Slavs?
Svarog, the father of all
Each pagan pantheon has its own Demiurge - the god who created the world. The ancient Slavs had Svarog, a heavenly deity who was believed to have dominion over the universe and gave birth to all the younger gods.
Svarog. Igor Ozhiganov.
According to the "New Encyclopedia of Mythology Larousse", the root of the name Svarog (svar - bright, clear) is associated with Sanskrit. Svarog was usually depicted as a bearded old man, wise and strong. For peasants, heaven could bring both blessing and disaster - no wonder that a heavenly god ruled the world.
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Dazhbog, the warming sun
The Slavs lived in an incredibly harsh climate. For this reason, they adored Dazhbog - the merciful deity of the Sun, who was believed to be a descendant of Svarog.
Dazhbog. Max Presnyakov.
His name literally meant "giver." Dazhbog crossed the sky in a chariot drawn by four white horses with golden wings and radiated sunlight. He was responsible for the fertility of the land. People proudly called themselves "Dazhbog's grandchildren".
Perun, god of war and thunder
Perhaps the most famous of all Slavic gods is Perun the Thunderer. He was in some way close to the Greek Zeus and the Scandinavian Thor - the deities of thunder and war, who used lightning as a weapon. People were afraid of Perun's anger, but at the same time they admired him and called for help during the war.
Painting by Viktor Korolkov.
Depicted as a very strong man with a long beard, he was deeply associated with princely power. Perun was the supreme patron of the squad and the noble prince.
Veles, "the god of cattle"
Unlike the aforementioned gods, Velez was a grounded deity. He controlled water, forests, soil and the underworld. He was portrayed as unkempt, hairy, with a long beard. He looked scary. Even compared to the Greek Pan.
Veles. Igor Ozhiganov.
Nevertheless, the Slavs loved Veles. He protected livestock, took care of animals and plants. If Perun was a god who supported the ruler and his entourage, then Veles was associated with ordinary people, hunters and peasants. Perun and Veles often collided with each other, causing the change of seasons.
Chernobog, Slavic "devil"
Battles between Perun and Veles were commonplace: these gods, although different, were part of an eternal pantheon. In contrast, Chernobog (literally "black god") represented absolute evil in Slavic mythology.
Chernobog. Igor Ozhiganov.
As the ruler of the world of the dead, he stood behind everything bad, weak and vile in human nature and sent natural disasters to the mortal world. He was more in line with the devil in the Abrahamic religions than an ordinary pagan god. Perhaps for this reason, Chernobog often appears in modern popular culture. He can be found in many computer games and in Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods.
Mokosh, the great mother goddess
There were not many women in the cruel patriarchal Slavic pantheon. Mokosh was one of the most influential. She was responsible for the soil and crops.
Mokosh. Igor Ozhiganov.
Gave people love, prosperity and wealth, punished villains, protected women and children.
Pavel Romanutenko
