Slavisk Hedendom

"Kolovrat", the holy symbol of Rod

**Slavic Paganism** is a polytheistic pagan religion mostly followed in Eastern Europe. In Arthurian times it was the official religion of Transylvania.

## Beliefs

Like most pagan religions, Slavic Pagans worship a high number of gods. The two greatest ones are **Chernobog**, god of primordial darkness and misfortune, and **Dazhbog** (also known as Svarovich, Svetovid or Belobog), god of sunlight and good luck. Dazhbog's two main companions are **Perun** the Warrior, god of strength and thunder, and **Svarog** the Smith, god of craftsmen and creation. The three of them are worshipped both separately and as a single entity known as **Triglav**. Other important deities include **Mokosh**, the mother goddess, **Veles**, the shapeshifting god of trickery and the father of werebeasts, **Simargl**, god of primordial fire, **Yarilo**, god of harvest, the sister nature goddesses **Marena** and **Devana**, daughters of Mokosh, **Zorya**, goddess of sunrise and **Radegast**, god of hospitality. In a certain form of Slavic Paganism, all the above gods are believed to be aspect of a single deity named **Rod**.

The religion initially believed in a balance between light and darkness; Chernobog and Dazhbog were seen as equal halves of one another and two aspects of Rod. However, over time, two branches developed: the dazhbogites, most prominent in Poland and Moravia, put more emphasis on the worship of nature, light, and fertility rituals, whereas the chernobogites, mostly prominent in Transylvania and Wallachia, focused more on sacrifices and appeasing the god of darkness.

## Customs and Traditions

Like most pagan religions, the Slavic Pagans also follows the "wheel of the year", celebrating 8 holidays evenly distributed around the year.

* **Koliada** (24th of December) - celebration of the start of a new year. In the dazhbogite branch of the religion, it is seen as the rebirth of Dazhbog.
* **Festival of Veles** (17th of February) - celebration of the transformation from winter to spring. Often, an effigy representing the winter is publicly burned. People also dress up in animal costumes during this holiday.
* **Komoeditsa** (24th of March) - celebration of spring. It is traditional to bake pancakes during this day.
* **Krasnaya Gorka** (1st of May) - a celebration of generations. It is customary to honor the ancestors by remembering them and offering them yellow and green eggs. For the next generation, young men and women held big dances to find their future partner.
* **Kupala Night** (23rd of June) - a ritual of fertiliy and cleansing. It was common to light bonfires and dance around them while wearing flower crowns. In a variant, young people strip naked and jump over the bonfires as a form of cleansing.
* **Festival of Perun** (20th of July or 2nd of August) - a celebration of strength and combat prowess, usually accompanied by tournaments and animal sacrifices.
* **Tautsen** (21st of September) - a celebration of successful harvest, dedicated to Radegast. Usually celebrated by big feasts and inviting many guests.
* **Festival of Mokosh** (28th of October or 10th of November) - a celebration of motherhood.

In the original form of the religion, the six dark months between Tautsen and Komoeditsa belonged to Chernobog, and the six light months belonged to Dazhbog.

## History

During the reign of Vlad Drakula, Chernobogite Paganism was the state religion of Transylvania. Scholomance was the school where new priests were trained.

After Vlad's downfall, most of Transylvania converted to Christianity, and Scholomance was closed down. Slavic Paganism is still practiced in Poland, White Croatia and Moldova.

## Followers

### Leaders

* In Arthurian times, Baba Yaga was the high priestess of Chernobog in Transylvania.

## Claims and Rumors

* Chernobog's followers were believed to practice human sacrifices and drink blood, which would turn them into immortal vampires.