Gods of Ancient Rus'

GENUS

Genus - is the main deity in Slavonic pantheon. Creator of everything, primary spirit, Knight of Light. Rod was a god sky, thunderstorms, fertility. They said about him that he rides on a cloud, throws rain on the ground, and from this children are born. He was the ruler of the earth and all living things, was a pagan god the creator.
In Slavic languages, the root "genus" means kinship, birth, water (spring), profit (harvest), such concepts as in genus and homeland, in addition, it means red color and lightning, especially ball, called "rhodium". This variety of cognate words undoubtedly proves the greatness of the pagan god. Other Gods descended from this Primal Godhead, obey it and are the more powerful, the closer they stand to their Forefather.
Rod there were many sons and daughters who are also from above gods : Svarog, Lada, Veles ...
The ancient ruler takes care of the affairs of heaven. Other Gods obey only him and fulfill all the requirements unquestioningly.

PERUN

Perun is the god of thunder in Slavic mythology.
In the All-God Tribal Perun-Batiushka signifies Strength and [Obvious] Will,
Perun the Terrible-eyed, Merciless Destroyer of Krivi, Smashing evil spirits, Power of Truth, Shadow of the Sky, Light of the Glance, Glory Banner, Thunder Ax Volunteer, Arrow Thrower, Possessing Lightning Arrows - Father of Victories, Golden Mustache Voivode of the Heavenly Regiments, Supreme Patron of the Great and Glorious Russian princes.
Power, Strength, Will, Honor, Duty, Loyalty, Victory, Glory, Military skill, Right judgment - this is what Perun-Father gives to those who follow His Path.
The Knowledge of Manifestations and Its Essence has six main Facets - according to the number of sides in the Hexagonal Thunder Sign - Symbol signs of His will.

Veles and Makosh with a cornucopia

Makosh - Goddess family happiness, well-being, the keeper of the hearth .. Makosh protects the house, bestows peace and tranquility family . . They turn to Mokosh for family happiness and for the well-being of children. She is the giver of all blessings, therefore, on Images and Idols Goddess Makosh was often depicted withHorn of Plenty. Cornucopia, overflowing with the fruits of the earth, is a symbol not only of prosperity and good luck, but also of divine generosity.

Veles - one of the sunniest gods. Veles - the god of wealth and the husband of the goddess Mokosh. Administered Veles there are riches both earthly and underground - money, gold, jewelry, oil.Veles - God of roads, paths, trails and travelers. God Veles and the right path will be revealed to you, you will accept the right decision where to go, or someone will tell you and help you, and that person is a messenger Veles. Through him, Veles helps you. Veles - God healing and health God healers, healers and herbalists. He also patronizes farmers, merchants, musicians, poets, travelers, scientists, doctors, fortune-tellers, soothsayers. . In the hands ofVeles cornucopiafilled with flowers and fruits of every kind. It is a symbol of wealth, generosity, abundance , all the best, happiness and generosity. A great estate acquired by labor, trade, strength, power and victories. It is a symbolic sign of all ancient Gods.

Slavic god "Veles"

Veles is one of the sunniest gods. Veles - god wealth and the husband of the goddess Makoshi. Veles is in charge of both earthly and underground wealth - money, gold, jewelry, oil. Veles - God roads, paths, trails and travelers. God Veles, and the right path will open for you, you will make the right decision where to go, or someone will tell you and help you, and that person is the messenger of Veles. Through him, Veles helps you. Veles - God healing and health God healers, healers and herbalists. He also patronizes farmers, merchants, musicians, poets, travelers, scientists, doctors, fortune-tellers, soothsayers. . In the hands of Veles is a cornucopia filled with flowers and fruits of all kinds. It is a symbol of wealth, generosity, abundance, all blessings, happiness and generosity. A great estate acquired by labor, trade, strength, power and victories. It is a symbolic sign of all ancient Gods.

Slavic goddess "Svoba"

Freedom - Slavic Goddess forests. Symbol in her hands - Fireflower (fern flower) or Odolen-grass - the main amulet to protect against any ailments and ailments. A fiery sign capable of burning diseases, purifying the body, soul and reviving the spirit. Has a powerful healing power capable of granting wishes.

Mother Earth

EARTH (Mother Earth) - has long been revered by man as the Mother Goddess. Earth - Cosmic Divine Being - Logos.
Mother Earth has its own Kundalini. It is not just a dead earth. She understands, thinks, coordinates and creates. You can only discover this when you are a realized soul.

Nature was understood by the Slavs as an eternally creative force. The highest value for people was the continuation of the family - fertility. Hence the cult of the Earth - Mother-nurse, giving life all living things, including humans.
The earth from time immemorial was considered both a nature and a deity. The Slavs called her Mother - that is, the foremother of all living things. She was considered the ancestor Russian people. In Russian folk tales and epics, the earth endowed the hero with great power, kept him, protecting him from evil. A good fellow will fall to Mother Earth - and will be filled with new strengths.
By folk beliefs, earthly flesh could give birth, i.e., become a Mother, only being irrigated with moisture. Hence the ancient name "Mother Cheese Earth", the veneration of her fertility, together with the veneration of life-giving moisture and other elements.

Goddess "Alive"

Goddess life. It has life-giving power, awakening not only nature, but also the feelings of people. This Goddess

Gods of the sun "Svarog, Lada and their daughter Lelya"

Svarog

God light is the father of all gods and husband of Lada. Svarog was among the Slavs god Heaven, the father of all things. God fiery element, wisdom, patron of marriage, oaths, crafts and hunters. Heavenly blacksmith and great warrior. Svarog is the owner and keeper of the sacred fire and its creator. It promotes the development of knowledge and the observance of God's laws.

Great Lada

Goddess spring and summer fertility. The patroness of weddings and married life. The Slavs called the name of Lada the whole system of life - LAD, where everything should be fine and
Great Lada
Goddess spring and summer fertility. The patroness of weddings and married life. The Slavs called the whole system of life after Lada - LAD, where everything should be fine and good.

Lelya

Daughter of Goddess Lada and God Svarog. Lelya goddess girlish love, patroness of lovers, wealth and beauty. The strength of this goddesses in the fire of love between a man and a woman.

Slavic God "Kolyadnik"

Slavic God Kolyada (Kolyada).
Makes renewals on earth and changes for the better. Symbol of the victory of light over darkness. Ismale amuletgiving strength in creative work and victory over enemies.

Slavic goddess "Alive"

Goddess life. It has life-giving power, awakening not only nature, but also the feelings of people. This Goddess Spring, fertility and birth. The patroness of young maidens and young wives.

Slavic God "Dazhdbog"

Dazhdbog is a higher being who bestows earthly blessings on people. God of fertility sunlight and life force. His name is explained as follows:
"Give" - ​​give. "bogъ" - happiness, well-being.

Slavic god "Volod"

Slavic God Volod and the sign symbolizing him, from ancient times endowed a person with heroic strength, comparable to the strength Gods to do good deeds and protect the native land.

Veles

Veles (Volos) - son of Rod, brother of Khors. Veles is one of the most revered Gods . Veles stands on the border of Reveal and Navi, he is the essence of God's help to those who, walking the Paths of Rule, learn ancient wisdom, penetrating into the subtle, naive world. patron of livestock and wealth , the embodiment of gold, the trustee of merchants, cattle breeders, hunters and tillers. All lower spirits obey him.
God symbol Veles - the "Latin" letter "V", in general terms resembling a bull's head - symbol of prosperity, wealth, trade.

Ded Moroz and Snegurochka .

Father Frost , Morozko is one of Slavic gods. . Father Frost , although he is a God and patron of the cold, he always serves this world, is one of the important Gods in this world and can help people. He appeared as a mighty old wizard with a staff, in a rich and warm fur coat. Strict but fair, He will never leave people who revere him and know what he really is in trouble. It is also worth noting that, despite its cold hypostasis, Father Frost has a kind and warm heart. Father Frost always enjoyed such fame, and we can verify this by reading Russian tales.
But it would be very lonely. Santa Claus don't be around him Snow Maiden . And if some semblance of ourSlavic Santa Clausunder different names exist in many countries Snegurochka - our purely Russian wealth, the offspring of the great and generous is true Russian spirit.

The basis of the mythology of the Slavs - Slavic gods, higher power which our ancestors worshiped for centuries, offered gifts, sang laudatory songs. The gods occupied a certain place in the life and life of our ancestors, they were feared, praised and revered, they were worshiped. pagan religion did not arise spontaneously, the neighborhood with various peoples had a great influence on it.

Svarog is the god of the sun, the creator of the earth and sky, the master of fire and its lord. He was rightfully considered the first earthly image of the Family and was the father of the first generation of Slavic gods. The symbol of Svarog is an all-destroying and at the same time life-giving fire.

Rod - the god of fertility, is the creator of the whole world, the progenitor of the gods and the beginning of the life of everything.

Vyshen is one of the incarnations of the great Family, which at all times was especially revered by the Slavs, who loved the freedom of spirit, soul and thoughts. Vyshen was rightfully considered the patron of all Slavs and Aryans on earth. An honest and noble person could always count on the support of this god.

The roof is younger brother Rhoda, although much younger. The purpose of this god is to help in the liberation of people from the power of Chernobog. Often Kryshen is depicted as patrolling the air on a giant bird.

Perun is the god of war and thunder, the lord of the elements. The main cult of war, commanding thunder and lightning. Defender of the military squad in campaigns and battles. Perun's Day - Thursday. His holiday was celebrated on August 2, from metals God prefers tin, his stones are sapphire and lapis lazuli.

Indra is a celestial warrior who does not descend to earth, but fights a constant battle in interstellar space. This is the god of thunder and right hand Perun himself.

Zimun is the Mother of God of Perun, Veles and many other higher gods. Zimun is a collective image of a loving mother, waiting for her children, ready to give everything she has for their happiness.

Semargl - this god has always symbolized the original fire and fertility. Semargl was presented in different ways - either in the form of a warrior, or in the form fire dog, then in the form of a fabulous bird.

Lada is the goddess, the patroness of love and family well-being, she protects the hearth. The symbol of the goddess is a swan and a dove, we associate these birds with fidelity, tenderness, affection. The time of the goddess Lada is spring, the time of the awakening of the spirits of nature, mermaids, mermen, goblin.

Lelya is a young goddess who combines spring, girlish love and beauty. The image of Lely is pure young girl who is about to get married. The goddess of love patronized all young girls who dreamed of getting married. The symbol of Lelya is a birch.

Tara - the goddess patronized all living things, especially forests. Kindness and sincerity are essential traits of Tara's character. For her, a person is not just a creature, but a part of wildlife, which is the basis of everything around.

Alive - This is the female incarnation of the Family, which patronizes Reveal and gives life. According to many sources, Zhiva had a power similar to the power of Rod. The goddess Zhiva was revered by the Slavs as the goddess who gives life to everything and knows the fate of everyone. Therefore, spring was rightfully considered sometimes Alive - it breathed life into the world, after the cold reign of the black goddess Mary. They honored the goddess on May 1, and called this day Zhivin Day.

Makosh (Mokosh) - the Goddess of fertility, it was on her that productivity depended. The Slavs revered the goddess Makosh as the great Spinner of Fates. Water was considered the symbol of Mokosh, giving life to the earth and all living beings.

Veles is the patron saint of pets and surrounding nature. A magical werewolf who helps merchants and travelers, bringing good luck.

Yarilo (Yarila) - the god of youth and fertile land, the lord of the sun. Some consider him one of the faces of the god Veles, in his spring incarnation. Its month is March, the day of the week is Tuesday. Symbol - iron, stones - pomegranate, ruby, amber.

Khors, Horos - the ruler of the solar disk, observes the world order. Depicted as the sun. His day is considered a day winter solstice- 22 December. According to the Slavs, on this day the old sun completed its course and gave way to the new sun, as if opening the beginning of a new year. Sunday is considered its day, its metal is gold.

Dazhdbog - The first son of Svarog - Dazhdbog. Gives warmth and light, vitality. The patron of light and heat. Commands the rains, gives life-giving moisture and fertility. Sunday is considered the day of Dazhdbog, his stone is yahont, and his metal is gold. The Russians considered themselves descendants of Dazhdbog, in every house there was certainly a sign of the deity - the Solstice.

Kolyada - the son of Dazhdbog, embodies the New Year cycle, this is a festive god. Symbolizes the departure of the old and the arrival of the new year. Honoring Kolyada began on December 20, and from December 21 began festive ceremony, dedicated to god - Carols.

Ruewit is the patron saint of warriors who defend their lands. He guards the stars and lands of Yarila and Mokosh. The main purpose of God is the fight against dark forces, in which no less militant gods help him. Ruevit was an idealized warrior who was exemplified by Slavic men from birth.

Dogoda - known as bringing good weather, a light fresh breeze. The God of clear days, but sometimes he quarrels with his wife and walks gloomy. That's why the days are cloudy, and even rainy

Stribog is the master of the wind. Can catch up a storm and tame the elements. It is rightfully considered one of the militant gods who fight on the side of the world. Stribog was Svarog's brother. Both the bow and arrows were considered a symbol of Stribog. There is a charm called Stribozhich - designed to protect both the people themselves from the violence of nature, and their entire household.

The number god is the patron of stability and change, the god who protects the human race, the god who administers the court of conscience after death, determining a person by his actions. The number-bog is credited with the systematization and ordering of the movement launched by Veles, therefore he belongs to the higher gods.

Kostroma - this Slavic goddess was the sister of Kupala and has long symbolized the element of primordial water, fertility, harvest, summer warmth, helping lovers meet each other.

Kupalo (Kupailo, Kupaila) - a solar deity, often called Kupailo. It is the apotheosis of all the energy of the Sun and is similar to the original elemental fire. The image of Kupala clearly expresses the concepts of our ancestors about honor and justice, that truth always wins. The symbol of this god helped in love, recovery, spiritual and physical cleansing.

Belobog - he was also called Svetich, Svyatovit. Belobog gave fertility to the lands and souls of people. It was presented in the form of a white horseman, dispersing darkness, accepting the laws of goodness and light.

Morena (Mara, Morana) - Goddess of cold, winter, snow. Brings severe cold, darkness, death. But this goddess is not so terrible, she personifies the harsh Russian winter, which, as it were, tests people for strength. Morena's symbols are the moon, the lynx and the owl.

Radegosta (Radegast, Radogast) is a god who was famous for his hospitality, helps in trade and brings a rich harvest. Very often, the ancient Slavs considered Radegast as the embodiment of kindness and openness.

Khovala is a symbol of justice and noble retribution. Khovalu is often called the avenging god, who is a punishment that sooner or later overtakes the guilty.

Devana - this young slender goddess of the huntress was considered the patroness of hunters and the entire forest world. But she did not like hunting for fun, not food, and those who hunted for fun were expected to die. Devana always had a bow and arrows in her hands, a cloak with a bear or wolf head on her shoulders.

Karna is an ambiguous figure in Slavic mythology. Perhaps this goddess was revered by our ancestors, as responsible for the rebirth of souls, for the continuous circle of being in the universe.

Viy - The personification of dark forces, god underworld, lord of sinners. According to legend, Viy had a deadly look, not a single person could withstand it.

Baba Yaga (Yaginya Goddess) is a dark sorceress, daughter of Viy. Do not think that she was a terrible old woman, she is often described as a young woman who is comparable in beauty to Lada. Yaga ruled the top underworld Navi, a passage to the world of the dead.

Chernobog is the embodiment of failure, cold, destruction, death, madness. The ancient Slavs often called the Black Snake, in which all dark forces. But at the same time, our ancestors understood that there is a part of Chernobog in every person - this is his dark side.

Kashchei (Koshchei) is the son of Chernobog, distinguished by wisdom and malice towards all living things. He practically did not take part in the battles between darkness and light, preferring to intrigue in his dark kingdom, he could control the dead.

Volkh is the son of the Fire Serpent and the Earth. He was a werewolf, identifying in himself the courage and fury of the Slavs. According to legend, the Fire Serpent deceived Mother Raw Earth, and when Volkh was born, his goal in life was revenge for his mother, for all the offended and humiliated.

Paganism is a traditional worldview. It is based on the thousand-year experience of the life of the ancient Slavs. It contributed to the knowledge of oneself, the self-improvement of a person, the development of the world around him. The ancient Slavs considered themselves descendants of the gods. In the monument of Russian culture of the 12th century, "The Tale of Igor's Campaign", the prince and his associates are called "Dazhdbozh's grandchildren", that is, the descendants of one of the traditional deities. Slavic gods and their significance in the life of the ancient Slavs is the subject of this article.

How many gods did the ancient Slavs have?

The pantheon of Slavic pagan gods is huge. Their exact number is practically indeterminate. This is explained there, that each deity has several names, and they were often distributed equally. The more powerful the god, the more names he has. Gradually the names were mixed up. And today it is impossible to speak with absolute certainty about the number and characteristics of the Slavic gods. Nevertheless, researchers single out the main pantheon.

Ancient Slavic pagan gods

Slavic gods by date of birth are divided into the gods of the primordial, ancient and deities of the new formation. The ancient ones are:

1. Genus and women in labor

Rod is the ancestor of all gods and the creator of the surrounding world. He is the originator of life on earth. The area of ​​activity of the Sort is the emergence of a new life, the creation, construction and continuation of the human race. Usually Rod was brought a trebu - an egg. This pagan rite has been preserved today in the form of the tradition of laying an egg on the grave of a loved one.

Women in labor are the maidens of life and fate, the helpers of the Family.

The second name of the Sort is Stribog. It was used when talking about the commemoration of parents, parental Saturday.

2. Belobog

Belobog is the patron of the fertility of the earth and the generosity of the human soul. Defender of goodness and light, blocking the way for darkness. Belobog is a seer and legislator. He created good and wise laws of life for people. This is a four-faced god. Four faces, two of which are female, were carved from wood by the ancient Slavs, depicting him. Belobog is honored in autumn after the harvest on the autumn solstice. The symbols of the bright god are a bow, a horn and a sword, from living beings - a duck and a pike. He accepts requests with high sweet cakes and sweet wine.

Other names of Belobog:

• Belbog,
• Svetovit,
• Svyatovit,
• Sventovit,
• Svetich or Svetovik.

Belbog has a female incarnation - Svetlusha - the patroness of a woman - a mother and mistress, a keeper of home comfort.

3. Chernobog

Chernobog is the antipode of Belobog. Perceived as an evil deity, wild god, patron of wild animals and livestock. He introduces a person into excitement, makes them chase after luck. Chernobog controls the temptations of fate, but he also helps people look inside themselves, develop new qualities. Chernobog is the deity of stubborn people, the day of his highest power is Wednesday. Then a person can contact him by going to the crossroads. This can help:

• stones - opal and obsidian;
• metals - lead and mercury;
• trees - spruce, pine, ash and walnut.

Chernobog looks at people through the eyes of an owl, a raven, a snake, a snake or a cat.

According to some versions, the second name of the evil god is Veles.

4. Pulp

The pulp is the goddess of fate and the giver of fertility, her children are forests and winds. She patronizes sorcerers and escorts a person to another world after death. The pulp is honored on Parskeva Friday as the protector of wives and housewives. To establish a connection with Myakosha, silver, rock crystal and "moonstone" were used in rituals. The goddess is especially favorable to people who keep a cat in the house. The main symbol of Myakoshi is an aspen with horns carved on it. It is likely that the medieval women's festive headdress, the horned kick, originated from here.

Myakosha is the wife of Veles.

5. Crodo

Crodo - the god - the keeper of altars and places of worship to deities. Lord of the Sacrificial Flame. Svarog's father. Crodo is considered one of the incarnations of Frost. He brings death with him. Linguists associate with his name the origin of the word "to ditch" - to freeze, to stiffen.

The second name of this deity is Krt.

6. Svarog

Svarog is the god of crafts and artisans. The blacksmith, therefore, especially patronizes blacksmithing. Embodies light, flame, ether. Constantly shows attention to the material world, creating or changing a lot in it. Hardworking, does not use witchcraft. His strength is in skill. Svarog is the son of Krodo, from him the Svarozhich family originates.

7. Lada

Lada is the goddess of love and a strong, prosperous marriage. It contributes to the fidelity of the spouses, protecting the family hearth. There is also a male incarnation of this deity - Lad - the god of war, unrestrained fun and at the same time the patron of marriage. Recall the expression "to live in harmony" - that is, together, in harmony. Experts disagreed for a long time whether this is one god or two different ones. Today it is believed that Lad and Lada are one deity, which is likely to be related to the goddess of love of the Western Slavs - Priya.

Other names of god - Lado, Ladon.

We have given here only a small part of the huge list of Slavic gods. Quite a lot is known about some, almost the same names have been preserved from some. There were, for example, Diy - the god of rain, sky and all natural phenomena taking place in the sky. Diya is the goddess of the earth, according to some sources, who was his wife. Dazhdbog is the giver of sunlight. Khors is the keeper of the life-giving disk of the luminary. Kvasur is the god of the national intoxicating drink. The one-legged god of troubles and misfortunes - Likho. Kupala is the deity of summer. Tsetsia is the patroness of marriage. Svoba is the goddess of forests. Karna is the goddess of farewell, funeral. Zhelya is the embodiment of sadness for the departed forever.

Worshiped a whole pantheon of gods. In some areas, they differed significantly. History has preserved more than a hundred names, whose functions are quite definite and utilitarian. It is generally accepted that the gods of Ancient Rus' were divided into several levels. At first - chief god, after him - the gods of the Sun, then - the gods of everyday life, the last - the forces of darkness.

Supreme god and his pantheon

Let us consider in more detail how the pagan gods of Ancient Rus' differed.

The list is headed by the supreme god of the Slavs - Rod. It is located at the top of the divine pantheon. Rod is the ancestor, creator and ruler of all living things. He himself does not have a physical body and is an incorporeal spirit that exists everywhere, uncreated and having no beginning and no end. Isn't it very similar to the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu concept of God? The genus is capable of bursting with thunder, throwing lightning, pouring rain. In his management is life and death, the abundance of the fruits of the earth and poverty. Everything is under his control. No one has seen him, but he sees everyone. His name is still present in the words that symbolize our most important values ​​- "homeland", "relative", "spring" (in the sense - pure water), "rhodium" (ball lightning, that is, fire), "birth", "harvest", etc.

In power and importance, he is followed by the sun god. In Ancient Rus', he has four forms: Kolyada, Svarog, Yarilo and Dazhdbog. All incarnations operate seasonally. In autumn, winter, spring and summer, people expect appropriate help from each of them. Ritual meetings and farewells are associated with each of them, known among the people as big holidays-festivities. Even now, we are happy to bake pancakes for Maslenitsa, weave wreaths and burn bonfires on the night of Christmas time.

Participation of divine beings in everyday life

The gods of Ancient Rus', the list of which is very long, are mysterious entities that influence the entire cycle of life. They are divided into three levels according to their authority among other deities and according to their importance in worldly affairs. The upper one is the gods responsible for global, national issues: wars, weather, fertility. The middle one is the deity of more local control - the patrons of crafts, women's cares, hunting and fishing, and agriculture. They are all human-like in appearance.

The lowest level is reserved for spiritual beings, appearance significantly different from gods and people. These are all kinds of forest and house creatures - mermaids, goblin, brownies, kikimors, ghouls, banniks, etc.

Kolyada

Without Kolyada, Yarila, Kupala and Svetovid, it is impossible to imagine the paganism of Ancient Rus'. The gods responsible for the seasons begin their cycle with Kolyada.

Kolyada, or Khors, reigns on earth from December 22 to - from the winter solstice to the spring equinox. This is a baby sun. Welcome his arrival in December. The celebration lasts for two weeks, until January 7, at the very peak of winter, when agricultural work is not carried out, and the short daylight hours do not encourage needlework. These days are well known as Yuletide.

By the holidays, cattle were specially fattened and slaughtered, barrels with pickles and pickles were opened. Thrifty owners carried the surplus to the fairs. Most of the cattle just at this time was relieved from the burden by calves, kids, lambs. Adult animals were allowed to eat and sold, and dairy queens with newborn cubs were content with one serving. Everything was very reasonable and expedient.

Christmas time is the most fun time with songs, games, fortune-telling, matchmaking and weddings. These are days and nights of unbridled fun, friendly gatherings, plentiful feasts and completely legal idleness. Kolyada was praised with special songs - they thanked for the preservation of stocks, asked for a warm, snowy winter, health for themselves, their loved ones and livestock. It was customary to show generosity and mercy to the poor so that Kolyada would not bypass the benefactors with his mercy.

Yarilo

This is followed by more adult solar gods of Ancient Rus'. The list continues Yarilo (Ruevit, Yar, Yarovit) - the sun-god young age. Wherever he looks, there the field will grow, where he will pass, there useful plants will come up. Yarilo is also responsible for the fertility of animals. He is described as a young man riding a white horse across the sky. In the hands - a bow and arrows, bare feet, on the head - a crown of rye ears with wild flowers. Its time is from March 21, when nature is actively awakening from its winter sleep, and until June 22. Food stocks by this time are completely running out, and there is a lot of work. In spring, the day feeds the year. The peasants plow and sow the land, plant chickens on the nests, check pastures, put their houses and outbuildings in order. Rituals pleasing Yarila are held immediately after the day of the spring equinox. Intensive work ends on the day of the summer solstice, when the luminary turns back.

Dazhdbog

Dazhdbog, or Kupail, Kupala, is a god in his prime, a mature man. His arrival is celebrated on the very long night in the year - June 22. The gods of Ancient Rus', according to legend, love noisy holidays. When seeing Yarila off and meeting Kupala, they arrange games, burn Yarila's effigy, jump over bonfires, throw wreaths on the water, look for a fern flower and make wishes. The gods of Ancient Rus' and the Slavs react to them with a good disposition.

As you know, our ancestors lived well and freely. They knew how to work well and have fun from the heart. In the season of Dazhdbog, the earth gives all the juices to the fruits planted in it. long daylight hours and a large number of work - harvesting hay, harvesting the first crop, harvesting fruits for the winter, repairing and building housing - required selfless labor from our ancestors. There is a lot of work in summer, but it is not hard when Dazhdbog helps with rain and sunny days. September 23, on the day of the autumn equinox, the power of Dazhdbog ends.

Svarog

The fourth age of the sun god begins with the day of the autumn equinox on September 23 and ends on December 22, on the day of the winter solstice. The God of Ancient Rus' Svarog, or Svetovid, is an old god, the husband of the Earth, the father of the Sun, Dazhdbog and the gods of the most significant natural phenomena. Dazhdbog he gave fire and gave the power to throw thunder and lightning. In legends, he is represented as a gray-haired old man. His time is a period of prosperity, satiety and peace. The people enjoy the stored fruits of the earth for three months, play weddings, arrange fairs and do not grieve about anything. According to the annals, the god of Ancient Rus' Svarog is a tall man with four heads on four necks. He faces north, south, west and east. In his hand is a sword with which God strikes the forces of darkness.

Perun

Perun is the son of Svarog. In his hands are lightning bolts and a rainbow bow. Clouds are his face, beard and hair, thunder is the verb of god, wind is breath, and rain is fertilizing seed. The Vikings and Varangians believed that the most best god in the pantheon - this is, of course, Perun. God of what in Ancient Rus' is the son of Svarog and the Earth? Endowed with a cool and changeable disposition, the formidable and powerful Svarozhich is considered the patron saint of brave warriors. He gives them good luck in military affairs and strength in confrontation with any opponent.

The Slavs attribute to him love and patronage of blacksmiths and plowmen. Both of them did the hardest work, and Perun patronizes everyone who does not shy away from putting physical strength into their work.

Perun is the god of war in ancient Rus'. Going on military campaigns or expecting an enemy attack, the Slavs made sacrifices to him. Altars dedicated to Perun were decorated with military trophies, armor and weapons. The statue of the god was carved from the trunk of the largest tree. A fire was kindled in front of her, on which a sacrificial animal was burned. Dances with pipes and rattles accompanied songs containing the words of a request for victory over the enemy.

Veles

Veles is the beloved god of farmers and cattle breeders. He is also called the animal god. The Slavs did not share these areas of peasant life - everyone had cattle, and everyone plowed the land. Veles (Volos, Month) - the god of wealth. Initially, Veles was identified with Perun. He also commanded the clouds and was the shepherd of the heavenly sheep, but later he was ordered to look after the earthly flock. Veles sends rain to the fields and meadows. After the harvest, he was always left with one sheaf uncut. This tradition is also still preserved. It was the gods of Ancient Rus' Veles and Perun who have always been the most revered people. Our ancestors swore by them in fidelity and in an honest word. This is mentioned in the "History of the Russian State" by N. M. Karamzin.

Stribog

If we analyze which gods were worshiped in Ancient Rus' with the greatest zeal, then these are mostly the gods of the elemental forces of nature. For modern Russians, it is very difficult not to confuse them with each other. Take the same Stribog. How to distinguish him from Perun, Veles, Posvist, Pogoda and other lords of wind and rain?

Stribog is the lord of the wind, clouds, storms and snowstorms. He is both evil and good. God holds a horn in his hands. He blows into it and calls the elements. From his wind came music, songs and musical instruments. Understanding the magical effect of music on the human psyche was born from the sounds of nature - the sound of water, foliage, whistling and howling of the wind in pipes, crevices and among trees. All this is Stribog's orchestra. Stribog pray for rain and for its cessation, as well as for subsidence strong wind. Hunters ask for his help before going after a shy and sensitive animal.

Lada

Most of the information has been preserved about this goddess. Lada - female incarnation supreme god Kind. Her clothes are clouds, and her dew are tears. In the morning haze - the veil of the goddess - the shadows of the dead move, whom she leads to the afterlife.

The main temple of the goddess stood on Lake Ladoga. The high priestess was chosen very carefully. This can be compared to how the Dalai Lama is chosen. First, the magi singled out women who were most suitable for the role of the mother goddess. They had to be distinguished by intelligence, beauty, dexterity, strength and courage. Then their daughters, who had reached the age of five, were collected for the competition. Several winners became the disciples of the Magi. Eight years they comprehended subtleties various areas knowledge, sciences and crafts. At thirteen they were tested again. The most worthy became the high priestess - the embodiment of Lada, and the rest served as her retinue.

Sacrifices to Lada consisted of flowers woven into wreaths and pancakes or fritters. They were burned at a ritual fire. It happened on the feast of Ladodania. The best young men and women lit torches from the sacrificial fire and, passing the baton, carried them all over Rus'. On the morning of the feast, the priestess gave a speech. She went out to people dressed up, in a wreath of the most beautiful flowers. It was believed that at that moment she herself entered her body and mouth. She talked about what awaits her fellow tribesmen, how they should live, what can and should be done, and what cannot. If she called the name of a person, then woe to him, if it was a reprimand. The whole family turned against the rejected goddess. She could justify the innocent accused. At the end of her speech, the woman fell to her knees. This was a sign that the heavenly Lada had left the body of the priestess. Magi put on her Nice dress and the fun began.

Lada is primarily the patroness of women. Under her protection is the hearth, childbearing and love. Some sources draw a parallel between the Slavic Lada and the Roman Venus.

Friday is the day dedicated to Lada. Women rested on Friday. It was believed that any business started by a woman on this day of the week would back away, that is, slow down all other work.

Mokosh

Mokosh, or Makesha, is another goddess guarding the family hearth. Translated from Old Slavonic, her name means "full purse". Mokosh - the deity of trade, the final harvest, already existing fruits, their implementation and the most correct use. The statue of the goddess is made holding a large horn in his hands. Her arms and head are larger than those of the average person, and are disproportionate to the rest of her body. She is credited with managing the fruits of the earth. Therefore, another appointment of Mokosh is the management of fate.

Mokosh is especially interested in weaving and spinning. The spinning of thread in many beliefs is associated with the weaving of fate. They say that an unfinished tow cannot be left overnight, otherwise Mokosha will ruin the yarn, and hence fate. In some northern regions, she was considered an unkind goddess.

Paraskeva Friday

The goddess Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa is the successor of Mokosh. She walks in a white dress. He patronizes trade and youth festivities with games, songs and dances. For this reason Friday for a long time was a market day in Rus', when women were not allowed to work. For disobedience, she can turn a disobedient into a frog.

The goddess is responsible for the purity of water in the wells, helps to find underground keys. In order for Paraskeva Friday to always help, women sew pieces of woolen tow into their aprons.

Semargl

One of the most ancient and, if I may say so, stable gods is Semargl. This god is one of the seven most revered. The origin of the name is shrouded in mystery. Another name, Pereplut, seems more Russian, but its meaning has been lost over the years. Smargle is the only god who has the appearance of an animal - a winged dog. He performs the function of an intermediary between people and gods. Semargl passes the sacrifices. He is the god of fire.

Once Semargl brought to earth a branch of the tree of life. Since then, he has taken seeds and crops under his patronage. He is the god of plant roots and knows how to heal diseases.

Chernobog

Forest thickets, swamps, pools and ponds with stagnant water are terrible. Many legends about the various evil spirits living in them were preserved by Ancient Rus'.

Slavic gods are not all kind and pleasant for Russian people. Such is Chernobog - the lord of the forces of evil, the god of darkness, illness and misfortune. In his hands is a spear, and his face is full of malice. He rules at night. And although Belobog is opposed to him, but subordinate to Chernobog, she is very numerous and insatiable. These are mermaids, dragging into the pools of water, goblin, confusing forest paths, capricious brownies, cunning banniki.

Moraine

Morena, or Maruha, is the goddess of evil and death. She rules cold winter, rainy night, during wars and epidemics of disease. She is represented as a terrible woman with a black face, a bony body, a sunken snub nose and long curved claws. Her servants are diseases. During the battle, she clings to the wounded and drinks their blood. Morena never leaves on her own. Perun drives her away. During the feast of the meeting of the god Perun, the Slavs mercilessly destroy the idol of Morena.

Penetration of Christianity into pagan rituals

There is an opinion that Christianity is less close to Russians than paganism. It is no accident, they say, that for more than a thousand years we have not outlived many ancient customs, such as: the celebration of Maslenitsa, wedding rituals, pleasing the brownie, belief in a black cat, a woman with an empty bucket, etc. Nevertheless, the expediency of introducing new religion is beyond doubt. During the time of Prince Vladimir, who christened Rus', there was great disunity between the individual principalities and tribes. Only a common ideology could reconcile everyone. Christianity became such a binding force. Its rituals, the time of holidays and fasts organically fit into the annual cycle of everyday affairs and everyday life, and Christian saints no less effectively help believers who have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in pressing matters. The very word "Orthodoxy" came from Ancient Rus'. The gods of the Slavs helped our ancestors no worse than Christian saints. Addressing them was the right word, that is, Orthodoxy.

The rejection by many of us of the current form of Orthodoxy is the rejection of church officials who profit in unrighteous ways. In pre-Christian times, there were also priests who weaved intrigues and grew rich on offerings obtained by cunning.

The gods of Ancient Rus' and the Slavs changed their functions from time to time and turned from good into evil, passed from one hypostasis to another. Their ancestry varied in many places. This created conflict situations. The great gods of Ancient Rus' have not disappeared anywhere, just as the one God, the creator of the whole world, has not disappeared. They simply began to be called by other names - the names of Christian saints, and at the head of the divine pantheon is the son of the Creator, Jesus Christ, who died a martyr on the cross in order to atone for our sins. He brought New Testament- the law of love of people to each other. This was not before him. In the old days, disputes were resolved only by physical strength. To correctly understand and accept this law is what we must learn and teach our children. If the pagan gods of Ancient Rus', the list of which, with various incarnations and transformations, as well as broken down on the ground, exceeds hundreds, often caused strife between individual clans, then Christian saints have never been the cause of disunity between Christians of different denominations.

All Slavic gods that were part of the ancient pagan pantheon were divided into solar gods and functional gods. The supreme deity of the Slavs was Svarog (aka Rod). There were four solar gods: Khors, Yarilo, Dazhbog and Svarog. Functional gods of the Slavs: Perun - the patron of lightning and warriors, Semargl - the god of death, the image of the sacred heavenly fire, Veles - the black god, the lord of the dead, wisdom and magic, Stribog - the god of the wind.

Since ancient times, Lavians have celebrated the change of seasons and the change in the phases of the sun. So, for each season (spring, summer, autumn and winter), a god was responsible (Khors, Yarilo, Dazhbog and Svarog), who was especially revered throughout the season. So the god Khors was revered in the period between the winter solstice and the spring solstice (from December 22 to March 21). Yarilo was revered between the spring solstice and the summer solstice (from March 21 to June 22). Dazhbog was revered between the summer solstice and the autumn solstice (from June 22 to September 23). God Svarog was revered between the autumn solstice and the winter solstice (from September 23 to December 22).

Svarog

Svarog is the god of fire. One of the main gods in the Slavic pantheon. "Svarga" in Sanskrit - sky, vault of heaven, "var" - fire, heat. All Slavic derivatives come from here - cook, bungle, top, etc. Svarog was considered the god of Heaven, the mother of life (“Sva” is the mother of the Indo-Europeans). At a later time, Svarog changed his gender. By analogy with the Greek Zeus, he became the parent for many son-gods, Svarozhich, who have a fiery nature: Perun (?), Dazhdbog-Radegast, Fire-Rarog-Semargl.

Among the Slavs, almost all heavenly gods are based on fire. Thanks to the works of Svarog, people learned how to master fire, process metal, created in the “image and likeness” of the heavenly - a plow, pincers and a chariot, and it was Svarog who gave them laws and knowledge. Then he retired and handed over the reins of government to his sons. The young gods Khors, Dazhdbog, Yarilo are also fiery or solar.

According to Ditmar (died in 1018), the pagan Slavs honored Svarog more than other gods; some recognized him as one being with Redigast and presented him as the master of wars. In the myths of the white peoples, God forges with a hammer - he creates the world, carving lightning and sparks, for everyone he has one or another relation to fire.

The cult of Svarog was most actively used in the pagan practice of cremation. Among the Baltic Slavs, Svarozhich (otherwise called Radgost) was revered in the cult center of the redaria Retre-Radgoste as one of the main gods, whose attributes were a horse and spears, as well as a huge boar, according to legend, coming out of the sea. Among Czechs, Slovaks and Ukrainians, the fiery spirit of Rarog can be associated with Svarog.

Svarog is an old sun riding in a chariot, cold and dark. Nature is silent in an old man's way, dressing in white snowy clothes. People in houses insulate windows, burn torches and eat what they have grown in the summer, sing songs, tell fairy tales, sew clothes, mend shoes, make toys, heat stoves. And they are waiting for the birth of Khors, preparing outfits for caroling.

Horse

Khors is the god of the sun. Khors, khorost, brushwood, cross, cross, flint, spark, round dance, horo, colo, wheel, brace, stake, carols, circle, blood, red - all these words are related to each other and denote concepts associated with fire, circle, in red. If we merge them into one, we will see the image of the sun, described allegorically.

The Slavs celebrated the beginning of the new year on December 22 - the day of the winter solstice. It was believed that on this day a small bright sun is born in the form of a boy - Khors. The new sun completed the course of the old sun (old year) and opened the course of the next year. While the sun is still weak, the earth is dominated by night and cold inherited from the old year, but every day the Great Horse (as mentioned in "The Tale of Igor's Campaign") grows, and the sun grows stronger.

Our ancestors celebrated the solstice with carols, wore Kolovrat (an eight-pointed star) on a pole - the sun, put on the guise of totemic animals that were associated in the minds of people with the images of the ancient gods: the bear - Veles, the cow - Makosh, the goat - the cheerful and at the same time evil hypostasis of Veles , the horse is the sun, the swan is Lada, the duck is Rozhanitsa (the progenitor of the world), the rooster is a symbol of time, sunrise and sunset, and so on.

On the mountain they burned a wheel tied with straw, as if helping the sun to shine, then sledding, skating, skiing, snowball fights, fists and wall-to-wall fights, songs, dances, competitions, games began. People went to visit each other, everyone tried to better treat those who came, so that in the new year there would be abundance in the house.

Severe northern Rus' loved valiant fun. Forced to live and work in difficult conditions, our ancestors until the twentieth century were known as cheerful and hospitable people who knew how to relax. Horse is a male deity, embodying the desire of boys and adult husbands for knowledge, spiritual growth, self-improvement, to overcome the difficulties encountered in life and find the right solutions.

Yarilo

Yarilo is the god of conception, the ardent god of awakening nature and spring light. Yarila marked the triumph of fruitful love; some researchers refer to the descendants of Svarog, and others to the descendants of Veles. It is likely that there is no inconsistency in this. Considering that Svarog was once a goddess (Veles never changed sex), then Yarilo is the child of both parents. In the minds of the villagers, even in the 19th century, Yarila seemed to be a young handsome groom, taking part in all kinds of spring holidays and looking for a beautiful bride. Yarila gave a good harvest, healthy offspring, he drove out winter and cold. The very name Yarila comes from the word "ardent" - strong, powerful. No wonder in the western lands he had a different name - Yarovit.

Meanwhile, the root "yar" is present in such purely feminine combinations: spring cow - bright, yoke, spring wheat, spring bread. But in a purely feminine gender: rage, milkmaid, yar, yarina (sheep wool), yara (spring). Yarilo is the son or reality hypostasis of Veles, who acts as Frost in winter, and in spring as Yarila.

Yarilo, fury, spring, Yar (among the northerners in ancient times it meant "village"), because used to live in huts with a hearth; brightness, - these words are united by the concept of increasing brightness, light. Indeed, after the arrival of spring, there is a rapid addition of the day and an increase in heat. Everything comes to life, grows, reaches for the sun. Nature is resurrected in the form of the beautiful Lada. Yarilo, melting the snow, lives mother - the earth with melt water. Yarilo - the sun in the form of a young, full of strength groom rides a horse to his Lada. In a hurry to start a family and give birth to children (harvest, cubs of animals, birds, fish, etc.).

TO summer solstice Yarilo is gaining full strength. He lives in truth and love with the earth, giving birth to new lives in the summer. By June 22, Yarilo turns into Belbog, the day is the longest, nature is kind to him and loves him. The state of Yarila is the state of all young guys. In the fourth month of the year (now April), the Russians began the most important agricultural work for the entire Slavic family.

Dazhdbog

Dazhdbog - the god of fertility, personified the strength and brightness of the luminary, its thermal characteristics, life-giving warmth and even the rules of the universe. From Dazhdbog (the giving god) they expected the fulfillment of desires, health and other benefits. The symbols of Dazhdbog were silver and gold - light, flaming metals.

Dazhdbog, give, rain - words of the same root, meaning "share, distribute." Dazhdbog sent people not only rain, but also the sun, which saturates the earth with light and warmth. Dazhdbog is an autumn sky with clouds, rains, thunderstorms, and sometimes hail. September 22nd - autumnal equinox, the holiday of the Family and Rozhanitsy, the day of Dazhdbog and Mokosh.

The entire crop has been harvested, the last collections are being made in gardens and orchards. All residents of a village or city go out into nature, light a fire, roll a burning wheel - the sun onto a mountain, dance round dances with songs, play pre-wedding and ritual games. Then tables are taken out onto the main street, the best food is placed on them, and a common family feast begins. Neighbors and relatives taste the food prepared by others, praise, all together glorify the Sun, the earth and Rus' - mother.

Dazhdbozh's (solar) grandchildren - this is how the Rusichi called themselves. Symbolic signs of the sun (solar rosettes, solstice) were present everywhere among our ancestors - on clothes, dishes, in decorating houses. Every Russian man must create big family- kind, feed, raise, raise children and become Dazhdbog. This is his duty, glory, truth. Behind each of us are countless ancestors - our roots, and everyone must give life to branches - descendants.

Veles

Veles is the owner Wildlife. Vodchiy on all Roads. Lord of the Ways, patron of all travelers. The owner of Navi, the ruler of the unknown, the black god. Posthumous judge and lifetime tester, powerful wizard and master of magic, werewolf. The patron of trade, mediator in contracts and interpreter of laws. Giver of wealth. Patron of those who know and seek, teacher of the arts. God of luck.

The patron of livestock and wealth, the embodiment of gold, the trustee of merchants, cattle breeders, hunters and tillers, the owner of magic and the secret, the ruler of crossroads, the Navi god. All lower spirits obeyed him. The island of Buyan became the magical abode of Veles. Basically, Veles was engaged in earthly affairs, because he was revered as the lord of forests, animals, the god of poetry and prosperity.

Veles was the moon god, the brother of the Sun and the Great Guardian of the Rule. According to the Vedic teachings, after death, human souls ascended along the moonbeam to the gates of Navi. Here the soul meets Veles. The pure souls of the righteous are reflected from the Moon and already go to the Sun, the abode of the Most High, along the sunbeam. Other souls either remain with Veles on the Moon and are cleansed, or are reincarnated on Earth as people or lower spirits.

Veles is the keeper of gray antiquity and silent bones of ancestors. The last night of October is the day of commemoration of grandfathers (in the West - Halloween). On this day, the Russians saw off with bonfires and the music of bagpipes and pipes the spirits of nature and relatives who died during the year under the snow.

Semargl

Semargl is the god of death. Semargl, stench, flicker, Cerberus, Smargl's dog, death - these concepts in their essence mean an otherworldly deity - a fiery wolf or a dog. Among the ancient Slavs, this is a fiery wolf with falcon wings, a very common image. The Russians saw Semargl as a winged wolf, or a wolf with wings and the head of a falcon, and sometimes his paws were like those of a falcon.

If we recall mythology, we will see that not only the horse was dedicated to the sun, but also the wolf and the falcon. It is worth looking at the chronicle letters, frames, ancient embroideries and decorations of houses, household utensils, armor, and we will see that the wolf-falcon Semargl is found on them very often. For the Rus, Semargl was as important as for the Chinese - the dragon, and for the Celts - the unicorn. The wolf and the falcon are swift, fearless (they attack a superior enemy), devoted (the wolf, even when hungry, will not devour its relative like a dog). Warriors often identified themselves with wolves (warrior - howling wolf).

Do not forget that the wolf and the falcon clear the forest of weak animals, healing nature and producing natural selection. Image gray wolf and a falcon are often found in fairy tales, epics, songs, ancient written monuments, such as "The Tale of Igor's Campaign". Semargl lives in every Slav, who fights against diseases and evil in the human body. A drinking, smoking, lazy, degrading person kills his Semargl, falls ill and dies.

Perun

Perun is the god of thunder and lightning, the patron saint of warriors. According to the views of the Slavs, Perun appeared with his lightning on warm days of spring, fertilized the earth with rains and brought out a clear sun from behind the scattered clouds. His creative power awakened nature to life, and he, as it were, created the World again. Hence Perun is a producer, a creator. At the same time, Perun is a formidable and punishing deity; his appearance excites fear and trembling. Perun was the supreme deity of the pantheon of Prince Vladimir as the patron of the ruling military elite, the prince and the squad, punishing for non-compliance with the laws.

Animals, children, prisoners were sacrificed to Perun; an oak tree was dedicated to him, from which, according to legend, living fire was extracted; solemn oaths were pronounced in his name, for example, at the conclusion of contracts. The ancient worship of Perun was transferred to the Christian era to Elijah the prophet.

Perun was represented as an elderly man: according to the ancient Russian chronicle description, the head of his wooden idol was silver, and his mustache was gold. According to other Indo-European traditions, the beard of the Thunderer had a special mythological significance, which was indirectly reflected in Russian folklore formulas relating to the "beard of Elijah", the image of which was replaced by Perun in the era of dual faith. The main weapons of Perun were stones, arrows, as well as axes, which were objects of a pagan cult.

Although Perun was related to the cold (he was born in the first month of winter), the Days of Perun - his time - began on June 20 and ended in early August. At this time, the Russians celebrated funeral feasts for the soldiers who fell in battle - they gathered on mounds and red mountains, arranged feasts, military fun, measured strength among themselves in running, throwing weapons, swimming, horse racing. They killed a bull bought on a bargain, roasted and ate it, drank honey and kvass. They conducted initiations of young guys, who had to pass serious tests, into warriors and gird themselves with weapons of the Family.

Our ancestors always had many external enemies, there were constant wars. The shield and sword were revered as a symbol of Perun, his gift to a man. Weapons were worshiped and idolized. But not only men went into mortal combat. Often, among the dead Russians on the battlefield, the enemies were surprised to find women fighting with their husbands shoulder to shoulder. They were also patronized by the golden-whiskered Perun.

Stribog

Stribog - the god of the wind, the head of the air currents. It was to Stribog, without mentioning his name, that they turned to more later times to perform conspiracies and spells on clouds or drought. In his subordination, Stribog had various kinds of Winds (names are lost). It is believed that one of these Stribozhich-winds was the Weather, carrying warm and soft western air masses. Others - Pozvizd or Whistle, the evil north wind.

There are several interpretations of the name Stribog itself: Stry - that is, the old, elder god or strga - a verb denoting the duration in space, the length of something. Swift, swift, fast, nimble, aspiration, jet - all these concepts mean flow, speed, distribution, spreading. If we combine all this into one, we have before us the image of the wind and everything connected with it. According to one version, Stribog sends his wind-arrows to the world of Reveal and helps the solar rays-arrows to fertilize the earth. This god always in fairy tales under the name of the Wind acts as the destroyer of intrigues and Death itself. The essence of Stribog is ambiguous: he, as the lord of the elements, sends life-giving moisture and life-giving clouds, but at the same time, he sends hurricanes and drought to the earth, and with them death.

In April, Stribog will fly in from the east with a young, warm daytime breeze. At night, he will breathe cold dampness. In summer, Stribog will blow from noon (south), burning with heat during the day, and caressing with warmth at night. And in autumn, having flown from sunset (west), as in spring, it will warm during the day and cool at night. In autumn and spring, Stribog disperses the clouds, revealing a warm, bright sun. In the summer it brings rain during the drought so that the crops do not perish, in the winter it rotates the wings of the mills, grinding the grain into flour, from which bread is then kneaded. The Rus considered themselves Stribog's grandchildren. Stribog is our breath, it is the air in which words sound, smells spread and light is scattered, allowing us to see our surroundings.