The Slavs were pagans .

Paganism - polytheistic religion of Christian peoples

They believed that nature is a living being.

YARILO - sun god

PERUN - god of thunder and lightning, war and weapons

STRIBOG - lord of the wind

HAIR (VELES) - patron of cattle breeding

MAKOSH (MOKOSH) – deity

fertility

Brownie- among the Slavic peoples, the home spirit, the mythological owner and patron of the house, ensuring the normal life of the family, the health of people and animals, and fertility.

Mermaid- a mythological and folklore humanoid creature, predominantly female (or spirit), associated with bodies of water. In Russian folklore it is also called cracker, kupalka, vodynitsa, loskotukha and other nicknames.

Goblin- the owner of the forest in the mythological ideas of the Slavic peoples. A frequent character in Russian fairy tales. Other names: forester, forester, leshak, forest uncle, lisun (polisun), wild peasant and even forest. The spirit's place of residence is a remote forest thicket, but sometimes also a wasteland.

Water(vodyanik, water grandfather, water jester, vodovik) - in Slavic mythology, a spirit living in water, the owner of the waters. The embodiment of the element of water as a negative and dangerous principle.

Magi(Old Russian) sorcerers, sorcerers, fortune tellers) - priests, sages, astrologers, soothsayers or magicians who enjoyed great influence in ancient times. Their wisdom and strength lay in the knowledge attributed to them of various secrets inaccessible to ordinary people. All kinds of fortunetellers, wizards, magicians, soothsayers were known in almost all cultures

Beliefs :

• ancestor cult
• worship of natural phenomena
• agricultural cults
• worship of gods (idols)
• Idols were erected in honor of the gods.
• The priests, the Magi, served the gods.

Slide 2

The religion that existed among different peoples before they adopted Christianity or Islam is called paganism. The religion of the Eastern Slavs was complex, varied, with detailed customs. Its origins go back to Indo-European ancient beliefs and even further back to Paleolithic times. It was there, in the depths of antiquity, that man’s ideas about the supernatural forces that control his destiny, about his relationship to nature and its relationship to man, about his place in the world around him arose. The Eastern Slavs were pagans, that is, they worshiped gods.

Slide 3

Origin of the Slavs

The Slavs believed in their descent from a certain ancestor. For example, some tribes considered the Wolf to be their ancestor. He was considered a powerful protector of the tribe, a devourer of evil spirits. During the winter solstice, all the men of these tribes, led by pagan priests, wore wolf skins (dlaks), which symbolized the transformation into wolves. They asked the animal ancestor for strength and wisdom. Later, with the advent of Christianity, the word “wolf-werewolf”, that is, dressed in animal skin, began to be called an evil werewolf.

Slide 4

Gods and goddesses

Like other ancient peoples, like the ancient Greeks in particular, the Slavs populated the world with a variety of gods and goddesses. There were among them the main and the secondary, the powerful, the omnipotent and the weak, the playful, the evil and the good.

Slide 5

At the head of the Slavic deities was the great Svarog - the god of the universe, sky and heavenly fire, reminiscent of the ancient Greek Zeus. According to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, he broke the heavenly cover with rays and arrows. Once upon a time, Svarog threw blacksmith's tongs to the ground from the sky, and from then on people learned to forge iron. He is the patron of blacksmiths. He himself was presented as a young, strong blacksmith. His sons - Svarozhichi - the sun and fire, were carriers of light and warmth.

Slide 6

The sun god Dazhdbog was highly revered by the Slavs. It is not for nothing that the author of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” called the Slavs “Dazhdboz’s grandchildren.” He is the son of Svarog, personifying the sun. Every morning he rides out in a chariot drawn by white fire-breathing horses. His sisters – Morning Dawn and Evening Dawn – take turns leading Dazhdbog’s horses out and bringing them into the stable. He had two servants who dispersed the clouds and cleansed his face with the help of rain.

Slide 7

The Slavs prayed to Rod and women in labor - the god and goddesses of fertility. This cult was associated with the agricultural activities of the population and was therefore especially popular. Rod is the creator of all things; he “breathed” life into people. When a family wanted to have children, a special sacrifice was prepared for Rod - porridge, cheese, bread and a sweet drink brewed with honey. Having tasted this treat, Rod allegedly sent the maidens who faithfully served him - Rozhanitsa - to help people, who were supposed to take care of the offspring.

Slide 8

God Veles was revered by the Slavs as the patron of cattle breeding; he was a kind of “cattle god”. It was believed that it promotes enrichment. In the 10th century, princes swore by the name of Veles and their treaties with the Byzantine monarchs. The holiday of Veles was celebrated in early January. For Veles of the day, special cookies were baked in the shape of pets. People dressed up in animal masks and put on inside-out sheepskin coats.

Slide 9

Stribog, according to their concepts, commanded the winds, like the ancient Greek Aeolus.

Slide 10

Yarilo is the sun god. He personified spring, nature awakening from winter hibernation. Yarilo was presented to the Slavs as a young man riding through the fields on a white horse: where Yarilo rode, a rich harvest would grow.

Slide 11

The only major female deity among the Slavs was Makosh, who personified the birth of all living things and was the patroness of the female part of the household.

Slide 12

Over time, as princes, governors, squads began to emerge in the public life of the Slavs, and the beginning of great military campaigns, in which the young prowess of the nascent state played, the god of lightning and thunder Perun, who then became the main heavenly deity, increasingly came to the fore among the Slavs , merges with Svarog, Rod as more ancient gods. This does not happen by chance: Perun was a god whose cult was born in a princely, druzhina environment. If the sun rose and set, the wind blew and then died down, the fertility of the soil, vigorously manifested in spring and summer, was lost in the fall and disappeared in winter, then lightning never lost its power in the eyes of the Slavs. She was not subject to other elements, was not born from some other beginning. Perun - lightning, the highest deity was invincible. By the 9th century. he became the main god of the Eastern Slavs.

Slide 13

The Slavs did not build temples to worship their gods. They performed their rituals in sacred groves, near sacred oak trees, where there were wooden and sometimes stone statues of pagan gods - idols. In order to appease an angry god or gain his mercy, animals were sacrificed to him, and in especially important cases, even people. The Slavs did not have a special class of priests. But they thought that there were people who could communicate with the gods, cast spells and predict the future. Such people were called sorcerers, magicians.

Slide 14

Evil and good spirits

But pagan ideas were not limited to the main gods. The world was also inhabited by other supernatural beings. Many of them were associated with the idea of ​​​​the existence of an afterlife. It was from there that evil spirits - ghouls - came to people. And the good spirits who protect people were the beregins. The Slavs sought to protect themselves from evil spirits with spells, amulets, and so-called “amulets.”

Slide 15

A goblin and a Baba Yaga lived in the forest; in the depths of every lake or river, according to the Slavs, there lived a merman, and mermaids lived near the water. The Slavs believed that these were the souls of the dead coming out in the spring to enjoy nature. The name "mermaid" comes from the word "blond", which means "light", "pure" in the ancient Slavic language. The habitat of mermaids was associated with the proximity of bodies of water - rivers, lakes, which were considered the path to the underworld. Along this waterway, mermaids came to land and lived on earth.

Slide 16

The goblin is the spirit of the forest, which lives in the hollow of an old tree and terrifies people with its long howls, creepy laughter, moans and cries. He loves to sing, but his song has no words. It is more reminiscent of the noise of trees in a strong wind during a storm. The goblin is the owner of the forest and the lord of animals. He looks half human and half beast. He wears animal skin, has horns on his head, and his legs end not in fingers, but in hooves. The goblin's eyes are green and glow in the dark. At will, he can be no larger than a fly agaric mushroom, and then he cannot be found among the grass and fallen leaves, but can become on par with the tallest and most powerful forest giants - oaks, spruces and pines. People were afraid of hell. He's too unkind and miserable. If someone gets lost in the forest, loses the path that leads back to the house, then the forester is to blame. It is he who leads a person astray, makes him circle and get lost in the thicket in the same place.

Slide 17

Vodyanoy – the spirit of rivers and lakes. The Slavs believed that he laughed loudly and clapped his hands to intimidate people. He could imitate the speech of humans or animals (hooted, quacked, moaned, howled, bleated, etc.). He loved to lure travelers to his underwater palace. He looked like this: on his plump face there were burning red coal eyes, a fish tail, his body was covered with black scales and mud, and instead of hands there were webbed paws. They thought that the merman had the ability to transform and turned into a log, a fish, a pig, a cow or a dog. He loved to ride a catfish, which he nicknamed “the devil’s horse” for this. He chose a deep place of residence, loved to settle under mills, and the miller who was his friend annually sacrificed a pig to the waterman.

Slide 18

The Slavs believed that every house was under the protection of a brownie, who was identified with the spirit of their ancestor, ancestor, or schura, chura. When a person believed that he was threatened by evil spirits, he called on his patron - the brownie, chur - to protect him and said: “Keep me away, mind me!”

Slide 19

Amulets, amulets

To protect themselves from the wrath of deities and evil spirits, evil forces and the evil eye, the Slavs came up with various amulets - objects that supposedly saved them from misfortune and warded off witchcraft spells. Every person, whether a child or an adult, always had with him amulets in the form of a bear claw, wolf tooth or boar tusk. At home, a figurine of a brownie carved from wood was placed in a prominent place to protect peace, guard the home from thieves, and protect it from fire. Makosh was the intercessor of women, and therefore many Slavic women wore an image of this deity on their necks or chests. Charms could be all sorts of signs and patterns on everyday objects: on a spoon, on a comb, on the handle of a knife or a jug. There were also amulets on clothes, bedspreads, towels and scarves: special colored embroidery or a beautiful design on the fabric. The Slavs placed great hopes on the protective power of the word. By pronouncing cherished spells, which were kept in great secrecy, and sometimes resorting to rude curses, the ancient people wanted to drive away trouble, frighten the enemy, defeat illness, and not succumb to fear.

Slide 20

The whole life of a Slav was connected with the world of supernatural creatures, behind which stood the forces of nature. It was a fantastic and poetic world. It was part of the everyday life of every Slavic family.

Slide 21

Holidaysnew year

Already on the eve of the New Year (and the year for the ancient Slavs began, as it does now, on January 1, according to some sources on December 1, March 1), and then the sun turned to spring, the holiday of Kolyada began. First, the lights in the houses went out, and then people made a new fire by friction, lit candles and hearths, glorified the beginning of a new life for the sun, wondered about their fate, and made sacrifices.

Slide 22

carnival

Another major holiday, coinciding with natural phenomena, was celebrated in March. It was the day of the spring equinox. The Slavs glorified the sun, celebrated the revival of nature, the onset of spring. They burned an effigy of winter, cold, death; Maslenitsa began with its pancakes resembling a solar circle, festivities, sleigh rides, and various fun events took place.

Slide 23

Alive day

On May 1-2, the Slavs collected young birch trees with ribbons, decorated their houses with branches with newly blossoming leaves, again praised the sun god, and celebrated the appearance of the first spring shoots.

Slide 24

Ivan Kupala

On June 24 - the day of the summer solstice - Ivan Kupala was celebrated, who was the deity of abundance and earthly fruits. The harvest was ripe, and people prayed for the gods to send them rain. On this day, herbs were collected, which were credited with miraculous powers; bathed in the river and believed that it healed ailments; They sacrificed a white rooster - a bird that greets the dawn, pleasing to the Sun. On the eve of this day, according to the Slavs, mermaids came ashore from the water - the “mermaid week” began. On these days, girls danced in circles and threw wreaths into the rivers. The most beautiful girls were wrapped in green branches and sprinkled with water, as if calling the long-awaited rain to the ground. At night, Kupala bonfires flared up, over which young men and women jumped, which meant a ritual of purification, which was, as it were, helped by the sacred fire. On Kupala nights, the so-called “kidnapping of girls” took place, when young people conspired and the groom took the bride away from the hearth.

Slide 25

Slide 26

Rituals

Births, weddings, and funerals were accompanied by complex religious rites. Thus, the funeral custom of the Eastern Slavs is known to bury along with the ashes of a person (the Slavs burned their dead at the stake, placing them first in wooden boats; this meant that the person sailed into the underground kingdom) one of his wives, over whom a ritual murder was committed; The remains of a war horse, weapons, and jewelry were placed in the warrior’s grave. Life continued, according to the Slavs, beyond the grave. Then a high mound was poured over the grave and a pagan funeral feast was performed: relatives and associates commemorated the deceased. During the sad feast, military competitions were also held in his honor. These rituals, of course, concerned only tribal leaders.

Slide 27

Pagan beliefs and customs were preserved among the Eastern Slavs for a long time even after the adoption of Christianity, intertwined with Christian holidays and rituals for many centuries.

View all slides

Class: 10

Goal: to continue acquaintance of students with the life of the Eastern Slavs, to deepen knowledge about the religion of the Eastern Slavs, the pantheon of gods, and pagan holidays.

• characterize the main features of the beliefs of the Eastern Slavs;
• promote respect for Russian history;
• contribute to the formation in schoolchildren of an emotional and personal attitude towards the treasures of world history and culture;
• promote interest in acquiring new knowledge through the use of additional sources (encyclopedias, fiction, documents).

Lesson type: learning new material

Basic Concepts: paganism, pantheon of gods, polytheism, temple, magicians.

Equipment for the lesson: computer, projector, textbook edited by A.N. Sakharov “History of Russia from ancient times to the end of the 16th century”, documents:

• Solovyov S.M.“Works” in 18 volumes. M.1988–1991, volume 1, book 1, pp. 108–109 “Paganism of the Slavs.”
• Karamzin N.M. from “History of the Russian State”. – M.: Book, 1988. Volume 1.

Leading task : prepare a short message about famous Orthodox holidays and customs that are associated with them, but are of pagan origin (Midsummer Day - Bathing Day, Elijah the Prophet's Day, Savior - Honey, Apple, Nut), images and rituals of the most ancient Slavic holidays - Maslenitsa, New Year , the yuletide cycle.

Work plan:

1. Russian paganism
2. Princely pantheon of gods
3. Reasons for the failure of the pagan reform of Prince Vladimir
4. Reinforcing new material in the lesson

Lesson progress

1. Teacher's opening speech

Introducing students to the topic of the lesson, goals and objectives of learning new material.

The faith of the ancient peoples who inhabited vast territories in Eastern Europe - the Slavs - was pagan. There were no common ideas about gods for the entire Slavic world: since the Slavic tribes in pre-Christian times did not have a single state, they were not united in beliefs. Therefore, the Slavic gods are not related. Each Slavic tribe prayed to its own gods. The pagan Slavs worshiped the elements and made sacrifices to the deities that inhabited everything around them.

Question to the class: What is paganism?

Notebook entry: “Paganism (from Church Slavonic “pagans” - peoples, foreigners) is a designation for non-Christian polytheistic religions.

Polytheism is polytheism.

Paganism assumes a cyclical view of the world: summer - autumn - winter - spring. The soul passes from one body to another. Nature is eternal. The human soul is eternal. The world is inhabited by spirits.

Students are presented with a table with the meaning of the main pagan gods of the ancient Slavs:

Major Slavic deities (in comparison with others)

Name of the gods	Meaning	Ancient Greek analogue	Ancient Roman analogue
Svarog	God of Heaven	Uranus, Hera	Juno
Dazhbog	Sun God	Helios	Salt
Stribog	Wind God	Boreas, Noth, Zephyr
Perun	God of Thunder, lightning	Zeus, Ares	Jupiter, Mars
Veles	God of cattle	Artemis, Pan	Diana, Mercury
Yarilo	God of Spring (Sun)
Kupala	Goddess of Summer
Mokosh	Mother of Cheese Earth	Hestia	Vesta

The main difference between Slavic paganism and ancient or Scandinavian paganism: according to Slavic ideas, not a single god was the main one among others, the ruler of the gods, like Zeus or Jupiter.

Today we will get acquainted with the pantheon of Slavic gods. The word “pantheon” in this case means a list of Slavic gods.

Working with slides: characteristics and illustrations of Slavic gods.

Slide 1–2 Introduction
Slide 3 Perun - god of thunder and lightning
Slide 4. Rod - God the Father
Slide 5. Stribog – god of wind, storm and war
Slide 6. Solar deities – Dazhdbog and Semargl
Slide 7 Makosh - the mother of cheese, the earth
Slide 8. Veles - god of all Rus'
Slide 9. The lower deities are the goblin and the merman
Slide 10. Patrons of the house - the brownie and the bannik
Slide 11. Mythological heroes

Student messages about gods and lesser deities. ( Appendix 1) .

Working with documents (photocopies of documents are on the desks) ( Appendix 2)

Class assignment: In your workbook, use arguments and facts to prove that the beliefs of the Slavs were pagan. Present your answer in the form of a table.

Question to the class: Why didn’t the Eastern Slavs rise to the level of civilization at the same time as the Southern Slavs?

Write your conclusions in your notebook

1. The Eastern Slavs remained pagans, because lived far from the regions where world religions spread.
2. The Eastern Slavs settled not civilized territories, but the lands of primitive tribes.
3. Only in the southern part of the East Slavic world were there favorable conditions for the transition to agriculture - the basis for the transition to civilization.
4. Only in the 9th century did features begin to appear in the lands of the Eastern Slavs that destroyed the primitive tribal system.

System of cults of the pagan Slavs

Since ancient times, the place of prayer was the mountains, especially the “bald” ones, i.e. with a treeless peak. At the top of the hill there was a temple - a place where there stood a drop - an idol. Around the temple there was a horseshoe-shaped rampart, on top of which the kradas - sacred bonfires - burned. The second rampart was the outer boundary of the sanctuary. The space between the two shafts was called the trebishche - there they “consumed”, i.e. ate sacrificial food.

Pagan priests - the Magi - performed rituals in sanctuaries, made idols and sacred objects; Using magic spells, they asked the gods for a bountiful harvest.

Pagan reform of Prince Vladimir.

Immediately after coming to power in Kyiv, Vladimir attempted pagan reform, ordering idols of the six deities that made up the state pantheon to be placed next to his palace. These “main” gods, according to the Grand Duke, were Perun, Dazhbog, Stribog, Khors (sun horse), Mokosh and Simargl (meaning unknown).

However, the attempt to reform paganism failed: the people could not get used to the new roles of the old gods, and the monotheistic faith of neighboring peoples penetrated more and more into the borders of Kievan Rus.

Consolidation of the studied material.

1. Quiz about paganism. ( Appendix 3)
2. Magic circle - find the names of the gods (a sheet with a task on everyone’s table) ( Appendix 4)
3. Crossword ( Appendix 5)
4. Test tasks ( Appendix 6)

Summing up the lesson:

What conclusions can be drawn about the occupations of the Eastern Slavs, their social system, knowing their religious beliefs?

Homework:

• Textbook 3, prepare messages: what of paganism has been preserved today in the form of superstitions, customs, traditions? What does this mean?
• The creative task is to write poems about paganism or make drawings.

Literature for the lesson.

1. Bukhareva N.Yu.
History of Russia from ancient times to the end of the 16th century. didactic materials (tests, tests, crosswords) Volgograd 2009.
2. Blokhin V.F.
History of Russia. Ancient Rus' in the VI-XII centuries. Didactic materials, practical advice. Bryansk 2003.
3. Dorozhkina N.I.
A modern history lesson. – M., 2009.
4. Danilov A.A.
Kosulina L.G. History of Russia from ancient times. Workbook. – M., 2009.
5. Eremenko M.V.
Slavic gods. – M., 2009.
6. Karamzin N.M.
History of the Russian State. – M., 1988. 1 volume.
7. Kishenkova O.V., Ioffe A.N.
Test assignments on the history of Russia. – M., 2008.
8. Brief encyclopedia of Slavic mythology. – M., 2004.
9. Petrovich V.G., Petrovich N.M.
History lessons. – M., 2008.
10. Putilov B.N.
Ancient Rus' in faces. Gods, heroes, people. S – P.2008.
11. Rumyantsev V.Ya.
Assignments and questions on the history of Russia from antiquity to the 16th century. – M., 2002.
12. Solovyov S.M.
Works in 18 books. – M., 1988–1991. Book 1
13. Serov B.N.
Lesson developments on the history of Russia. – M., 2002.
14. Dictionary of Slavic mythology. – M., 2010.

• access to lesson development for the widest audience;
• teachers - for the purpose of exchanging experience;
• students - to test their knowledge;
• for those who want to broaden their horizons;
• the possibility of updating and supplementing with new material on the history of paganism in Rus'.

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Presentation on the topic: Religion of the Eastern Slavs

Slide no. 1

Slide description:

Slide no. 2

Slide description:

The religion that existed among different peoples before they adopted Christianity or Islam is called paganism. The religion that existed among different peoples before they adopted Christianity or Islam is called paganism. The religion of the Eastern Slavs was complex, varied, with detailed customs. Its origins go back to Indo-European ancient beliefs and even further back to Paleolithic times. It was there, in the depths of antiquity, that man’s ideas about the supernatural forces that control his destiny, about his relationship to nature and its relationship to man, about his place in the world around him arose. The Eastern Slavs were pagans, that is, they worshiped gods.

Slide no. 3

Slide description:

The Slavs believed in their descent from a certain ancestor. For example, some tribes considered the Wolf to be their ancestor. He was considered a powerful protector of the tribe, a devourer of evil spirits. During the winter solstice, all the men of these tribes, led by pagan priests, wore wolf skins (dlaks), which symbolized the transformation into wolves. They asked the animal ancestor for strength and wisdom. Later, with the advent of Christianity, the word “wolf-werewolf”, that is, dressed in animal skin, began to be called an evil werewolf. The Slavs believed in their descent from a certain ancestor. For example, some tribes considered the Wolf to be their ancestor. He was considered a powerful protector of the tribe, a devourer of evil spirits. During the winter solstice, all the men of these tribes, led by pagan priests, wore wolf skins (dlaks), which symbolized the transformation into wolves. They asked the animal ancestor for strength and wisdom. Later, with the advent of Christianity, the word “wolf-werewolf”, that is, dressed in animal skin, began to be called an evil werewolf.

Slide no. 4

Slide description:

Like other ancient peoples, like the ancient Greeks in particular, the Slavs populated the world with a variety of gods and goddesses. There were among them the main and the secondary, the powerful, the omnipotent and the weak, the playful, the evil and the good. Like other ancient peoples, like the ancient Greeks in particular, the Slavs populated the world with a variety of gods and goddesses. There were among them the main and the secondary, the powerful, the omnipotent and the weak, the playful, the evil and the good.

Slide no. 5

Slide description:

At the head of the Slavic deities was the great Svarog - the god of the universe, sky and heavenly fire, reminiscent of the ancient Greek Zeus. According to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, he broke the heavenly cover with rays and arrows. Once upon a time, Svarog threw blacksmith's tongs to the ground from the sky, and from then on people learned to forge iron. He is the patron of blacksmiths. He himself was presented as a young, strong blacksmith. His sons - Svarozhichi - the sun and fire, were carriers of light and warmth. At the head of the Slavic deities was the great Svarog - the god of the universe, sky and heavenly fire, reminiscent of the ancient Greek Zeus. According to the beliefs of the ancient Slavs, he broke the heavenly cover with rays and arrows. Once upon a time, Svarog threw blacksmith's tongs to the ground from the sky, and from then on people learned to forge iron. He is the patron of blacksmiths. He himself was presented as a young, strong blacksmith. His sons - Svarozhichi - the sun and fire, were carriers of light and warmth.

Slide no. 6

Slide description:

The sun god Dazhdbog was highly revered by the Slavs. It is not for nothing that the author of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” called the Slavs “Dazhdboz’s grandchildren.” He is the son of Svarog, personifying the sun. Every morning he rides out in a chariot drawn by white fire-breathing horses. His sisters – Morning Dawn and Evening Dawn – take turns leading Dazhdbog’s horses out and bringing them into the stable. He had two servants who dispersed the clouds and cleansed his face with the help of rain. The sun god Dazhdbog was highly revered by the Slavs. It is not for nothing that the author of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” called the Slavs “Dazhdboz’s grandchildren.” He is the son of Svarog, personifying the sun. Every morning he rides out in a chariot drawn by white fire-breathing horses. His sisters – Morning Dawn and Evening Dawn – take turns leading Dazhdbog’s horses out and bringing them into the stable. He had two servants who dispersed the clouds and cleansed his face with the help of rain.

Slide no. 7

Slide description:

The Slavs prayed to Rod and women in labor - the god and goddesses of fertility. This cult was associated with the agricultural activities of the population and was therefore especially popular. Rod is the creator of all things; he “breathed” life into people. When a family wanted to have children, a special sacrifice was prepared for Rod - porridge, cheese, bread and a sweet drink brewed with honey. Having tasted this treat, Rod allegedly sent the maidens who faithfully served him - Rozhanitsa - to help people, who were supposed to take care of the offspring. The Slavs prayed to Rod and women in labor - the god and goddesses of fertility. This cult was associated with the agricultural activities of the population and was therefore especially popular. Rod is the creator of all things; he “breathed” life into people. When a family wanted to have children, a special sacrifice was prepared for Rod - porridge, cheese, bread and a sweet drink brewed with honey. Having tasted this treat, Rod allegedly sent the maidens who faithfully served him - Rozhanitsa - to help people, who were supposed to take care of the offspring.

Slide no. 8

Slide description:

God Veles was revered by the Slavs as the patron of cattle breeding; he was a kind of “cattle god”. It was believed that it promotes enrichment. In the 10th century, princes swore by the name of Veles and their treaties with the Byzantine monarchs. The holiday of Veles was celebrated in early January. For Veles of the day, special cookies were baked in the shape of pets. People dressed up in animal masks and put on inside-out sheepskin coats. God Veles was revered by the Slavs as the patron of cattle breeding; he was a kind of “cattle god”. It was believed that it promotes enrichment. In the 10th century, princes swore by the name of Veles and their treaties with the Byzantine monarchs. The holiday of Veles was celebrated in early January. For Veles of the day, special cookies were baked in the shape of pets. People dressed up in animal masks and put on inside-out sheepskin coats.

Slide no. 9

Slide description:

Slide no. 10

Slide description:

Yarilo is the sun god. He personified spring, nature awakening from winter hibernation. Yarilo was presented to the Slavs as a young man riding through the fields on a white horse: where Yarilo rode, a rich harvest would grow. Yarilo is the sun god. He personified spring, nature awakening from winter hibernation. Yarilo was presented to the Slavs as a young man riding through the fields on a white horse: where Yarilo rode, a rich harvest would grow.

Slide no. 11

Slide description:

The only major female deity among the Slavs was Makosh, who personified the birth of all living things and was the patroness of the female part of the household. The only major female deity among the Slavs was Makosh, who personified the birth of all living things and was the patroness of the female part of the household.

Slide no. 12

Slide description:

Over time, as princes, governors, squads began to emerge in the public life of the Slavs, and the beginning of great military campaigns, in which the young prowess of the nascent state played, the god of lightning and thunder Perun, who then became the main heavenly deity, increasingly came to the fore among the Slavs , merges with Svarog, Rod as more ancient gods. This does not happen by chance: Perun was a god whose cult was born in a princely, druzhina environment. If the sun rose and set, the wind blew and then died down, the fertility of the soil, vigorously manifested in spring and summer, was lost in the fall and disappeared in winter, then lightning never lost its power in the eyes of the Slavs. She was not subject to other elements, was not born from some other beginning. Perun - lightning, the highest deity was invincible. By the 9th century. he became the main god of the Eastern Slavs. Over time, as princes, governors, squads began to emerge in the public life of the Slavs, and the beginning of great military campaigns, in which the young prowess of the nascent state played, the god of lightning and thunder Perun, who then became the main heavenly deity, increasingly came to the fore among the Slavs , merges with Svarog, Rod as more ancient gods. This does not happen by chance: Perun was a god whose cult was born in a princely, druzhina environment. If the sun rose and set, the wind blew and then died down, the fertility of the soil, vigorously manifested in spring and summer, was lost in the fall and disappeared in winter, then lightning never lost its power in the eyes of the Slavs. She was not subject to other elements, was not born from some other beginning. Perun - lightning, the highest deity was invincible. By the 9th century. he became the main god of the Eastern Slavs.

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The Slavs did not build temples to worship their gods. They performed their rituals in sacred groves, near sacred oak trees, where there were wooden and sometimes stone statues of pagan gods - idols. In order to appease an angry god or gain his mercy, animals were sacrificed to him, and in especially important cases, even people. The Slavs did not build temples to worship their gods. They performed their rituals in sacred groves, near sacred oak trees, where there were wooden and sometimes stone statues of pagan gods - idols. In order to appease an angry god or gain his mercy, animals were sacrificed to him, and in especially important cases, even people. The Slavs did not have a special class of priests. But they thought that there were people who could communicate with the gods, cast spells and predict the future. Such people were called sorcerers, magicians.

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But pagan ideas were not limited to the main gods. The world was also inhabited by other supernatural beings. Many of them were associated with the idea of ​​​​the existence of an afterlife. It was from there that evil spirits - ghouls - came to people. But pagan ideas were not limited to the main gods. The world was also inhabited by other supernatural beings. Many of them were associated with the idea of ​​​​the existence of an afterlife. It was from there that evil spirits - ghouls - came to people. And the good spirits who protect people were the beregins. The Slavs sought to protect themselves from evil spirits with spells, amulets, and so-called “amulets.”

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A goblin and a Baba Yaga lived in the forest; in the depths of every lake or river, according to the Slavs, there lived a merman, and mermaids lived near the water. The Slavs believed that these were the souls of the dead coming out in the spring to enjoy nature. A goblin and a Baba Yaga lived in the forest; in the depths of every lake or river, according to the Slavs, there lived a merman, and mermaids lived near the water. The Slavs believed that these were the souls of the dead coming out in the spring to enjoy nature. The name "mermaid" comes from the word "blond", which means "light", "pure" in the ancient Slavic language. The habitat of mermaids was associated with the proximity of bodies of water - rivers, lakes, which were considered the path to the underworld. Along this waterway, mermaids came to land and lived on earth.

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The goblin is the spirit of the forest, which lives in the hollow of an old tree and terrifies people with its long howls, creepy laughter, moans and cries. He loves to sing, but his song has no words. It is more reminiscent of the noise of trees in a strong wind during a storm. The goblin is the owner of the forest and the lord of animals. He looks half human and half beast. He wears animal skin, has horns on his head, and his legs end not in fingers, but in hooves. The goblin's eyes are green and glow in the dark. At will, he can be no larger than a fly agaric mushroom, and then he cannot be found among the grass and fallen leaves, but can become on par with the tallest and most powerful forest giants - oaks, spruces and pines. People were afraid of hell. He's too unkind and miserable. If someone gets lost in the forest, loses the path that leads back to the house, then the forester is to blame. It is he who leads a person astray, makes him circle and get lost in the thicket in the same place. The goblin is the spirit of the forest, which lives in the hollow of an old tree and terrifies people with its long howls, creepy laughter, moans and cries. He loves to sing, but his song has no words. It is more reminiscent of the noise of trees in a strong wind during a storm. The goblin is the owner of the forest and the lord of animals. He looks half human and half beast. He wears animal skin, has horns on his head, and his legs end not in fingers, but in hooves. The goblin's eyes are green and glow in the dark. At will, he can be no larger than a fly agaric mushroom, and then he cannot be found among the grass and fallen leaves, but can become on par with the tallest and most powerful forest giants - oaks, spruces and pines. People were afraid of hell. He's too unkind and miserable. If someone gets lost in the forest, loses the path that leads back to the house, then the forester is to blame. It is he who leads a person astray, makes him circle and get lost in the thicket in the same place.

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Vodyanoy – the spirit of rivers and lakes. The Slavs believed that he laughed loudly and clapped his hands to intimidate people. He could imitate the speech of humans or animals (hooted, quacked, moaned, howled, bleated, etc.). He loved to lure travelers to his underwater palace. He looked like this: on his plump face there were burning red coal eyes, a fish tail, his body was covered with black scales and mud, and instead of hands there were webbed paws. They thought that the merman had the ability to transform and turned into a log, a fish, a pig, a cow or a dog. He loved to ride a catfish, which he nicknamed “the devil’s horse” for this. He chose a deep place of residence, loved to settle under mills, and the miller who was his friend annually sacrificed a pig to the waterman. Vodyanoy – the spirit of rivers and lakes. The Slavs believed that he laughed loudly and clapped his hands to intimidate people. He could imitate the speech of humans or animals (hooted, quacked, moaned, howled, bleated, etc.). He loved to lure travelers to his underwater palace. He looked like this: on his plump face there were burning red coal eyes, a fish tail, his body was covered with black scales and mud, and instead of hands there were webbed paws. They thought that the merman had the ability to transform and turned into a log, a fish, a pig, a cow or a dog. He loved to ride a catfish, which he nicknamed “the devil’s horse” for this. He chose a deep place of residence, loved to settle under mills, and the miller who was his friend annually sacrificed a pig to the waterman.

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The Slavs believed that every house was under the protection of a brownie, who was identified with the spirit of their ancestor, ancestor, or schura, chura. When a person believed that he was threatened by evil spirits, he called on his patron - the brownie, chur - to protect him and said: “Keep me away, mind me!” The Slavs believed that every house was under the protection of a brownie, who was identified with the spirit of their ancestor, ancestor, or schura, chura. When a person believed that he was threatened by evil spirits, he called on his patron - the brownie, chur - to protect him and said: “Keep me away, mind me!”

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To protect themselves from the wrath of deities and evil spirits, evil forces and the evil eye, the Slavs came up with various amulets - objects that supposedly saved them from misfortune and warded off witchcraft spells. Every person, whether a child or an adult, always had with him amulets in the form of a bear claw, wolf tooth or boar tusk. At home, a figurine of a brownie carved from wood was placed in a prominent place to protect peace, guard the home from thieves, and protect it from fire. Makosh was the intercessor of women, and therefore many Slavic women wore an image of this deity on their necks or chests. Charms could be all sorts of signs and patterns on everyday objects: on a spoon, on a comb, on the handle of a knife or a jug. There were also amulets on clothes, bedspreads, towels and scarves: special colored embroidery or a beautiful design on the fabric. The Slavs placed great hopes on the protective power of the word. By pronouncing cherished spells, which were kept in great secrecy, and sometimes resorting to rude curses, the ancient people wanted to drive away trouble, frighten the enemy, defeat illness, and not succumb to fear. To protect themselves from the wrath of deities and evil spirits, evil forces and the evil eye, the Slavs came up with various amulets - objects that supposedly saved them from misfortune and warded off witchcraft spells. Every person, whether a child or an adult, always had with him amulets in the form of a bear claw, wolf tooth or boar tusk. At home, a figurine of a brownie carved from wood was placed in a prominent place to protect peace, guard the home from thieves, and protect it from fire. Makosh was the intercessor of women, and therefore many Slavic women wore an image of this deity on their necks or chests. Charms could be all sorts of signs and patterns on everyday objects: on a spoon, on a comb, on the handle of a knife or a jug. There were also amulets on clothes, bedspreads, towels and scarves: special colored embroidery or a beautiful design on the fabric. The Slavs placed great hopes on the protective power of the word. By pronouncing cherished spells, which were kept in great secrecy, and sometimes resorting to rude curses, the ancient people wanted to drive away trouble, frighten the enemy, defeat illness, and not succumb to fear.

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Already on the eve of the New Year (and the year for the ancient Slavs began, as it does now, on January 1, according to some sources on December 1, March 1), and then the sun turned to spring, the holiday of Kolyada began. First, the lights in the houses went out, and then people made a new fire by friction, lit candles and hearths, glorified the beginning of a new life for the sun, wondered about their fate, and made sacrifices. Already on the eve of the New Year (and the year for the ancient Slavs began, as it does now, on January 1, according to some sources on December 1, March 1), and then the sun turned to spring, the holiday of Kolyada began. First, the lights in the houses went out, and then people made a new fire by friction, lit candles and hearths, glorified the beginning of a new life for the sun, wondered about their fate, and made sacrifices.

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Another major holiday, coinciding with natural phenomena, was celebrated in March. It was the day of the spring equinox. The Slavs glorified the sun, celebrated the revival of nature, the onset of spring. They burned an effigy of winter, cold, death; Maslenitsa began with its pancakes resembling a solar circle, festivities, sleigh rides, and various fun events took place. Another major holiday, coinciding with natural phenomena, was celebrated in March. It was the day of the spring equinox. The Slavs glorified the sun, celebrated the revival of nature, the onset of spring. They burned an effigy of winter, cold, death; Maslenitsa began with its pancakes resembling a solar circle, festivities, sleigh rides, and various fun events took place.

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On May 1-2, the Slavs collected young birch trees with ribbons, decorated their houses with branches with newly blossoming leaves, again praised the sun god, and celebrated the appearance of the first spring shoots. On May 1-2, the Slavs collected young birch trees with ribbons, decorated their houses with branches with newly blossoming leaves, again praised the sun god, and celebrated the appearance of the first spring shoots.

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On June 24 - the day of the summer solstice - Ivan Kupala was celebrated, who was the deity of abundance and earthly fruits. The harvest was ripe, and people prayed for the gods to send them rain. On this day, herbs were collected, which were credited with miraculous powers; bathed in the river and believed that it healed ailments; They sacrificed a white rooster - a bird that greets the dawn, pleasing to the Sun. On the eve of this day, according to the Slavs, mermaids came ashore from the water - the “mermaid week” began. On these days, girls danced in circles and threw wreaths into the rivers. The most beautiful girls were wrapped in green branches and sprinkled with water, as if calling the long-awaited rain to the ground. On June 24 - the day of the summer solstice - Ivan Kupala was celebrated, who was the deity of abundance and earthly fruits. The harvest was ripe, and people prayed for the gods to send them rain. On this day, herbs were collected, which were credited with miraculous powers; bathed in the river and believed that it healed ailments; They sacrificed a white rooster - a bird that greets the dawn, pleasing to the Sun. On the eve of this day, according to the Slavs, mermaids came ashore from the water - the “mermaid week” began. On these days, girls danced in circles and threw wreaths into the rivers. The most beautiful girls were wrapped in green branches and sprinkled with water, as if calling the long-awaited rain to the ground. At night, Kupala bonfires flared up, over which young men and women jumped, which meant a ritual of purification, which was, as it were, helped by the sacred fire. On Kupala nights, the so-called “kidnapping of girls” took place, when young people conspired and the groom took the bride away from the hearth.

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Births, weddings, and funerals were accompanied by complex religious rites. Thus, the funeral custom of the Eastern Slavs is known to bury along with the ashes of a person (the Slavs burned their dead at the stake, placing them first in wooden boats; this meant that the person sailed into the underground kingdom) one of his wives, over whom a ritual murder was committed; The remains of a war horse, weapons, and jewelry were placed in the warrior’s grave. Life continued, according to the Slavs, beyond the grave. Then a high mound was poured over the grave and a pagan funeral feast was performed: relatives and associates commemorated the deceased. During the sad feast, military competitions were also held in his honor. These rituals, of course, concerned only tribal leaders. Births, weddings, and funerals were accompanied by complex religious rites. Thus, the funeral custom of the Eastern Slavs is known to bury along with the ashes of a person (the Slavs burned their dead at the stake, placing them first in wooden boats; this meant that the person sailed into the underground kingdom) one of his wives, over whom a ritual murder was committed; The remains of a war horse, weapons, and jewelry were placed in the warrior’s grave. Life continued, according to the Slavs, beyond the grave. Then a high mound was poured over the grave and a pagan funeral feast was performed: relatives and associates commemorated the deceased. During the sad feast, military competitions were also held in his honor. These rituals, of course, concerned only tribal leaders.

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Pagan beliefs and customs were preserved among the Eastern Slavs for a long time even after the adoption of Christianity, intertwined with Christian holidays and rituals for many centuries. Pagan beliefs and customs were preserved among the Eastern Slavs for a long time even after the adoption of Christianity, intertwined with Christian holidays and rituals for many centuries.

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Origin of the Slavs The Slavs believed in their descent from a certain ancestor. For example, some tribes considered the Wolf to be their ancestor. He was considered a powerful protector of the tribe, a devourer of evil spirits. During the winter solstice, all the men of these tribes, led by pagan priests, wore wolf skins (dlaks), which symbolized the transformation into wolves. They asked the animal ancestor for strength and wisdom. Later, with the advent of Christianity, the word “wolf-werewolf”, that is, dressed in animal skin, began to be called an evil werewolf.

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The sun god Dazhdbog was highly revered by the Slavs. It is not for nothing that the author of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” called the Slavs “Dazhdboz’s grandchildren.” He is the son of Svarog, personifying the sun. Every morning he rides out in a chariot drawn by white fire-breathing horses. His sisters – Morning Dawn and Evening Dawn – take turns leading Dazhdbog’s horses out and bringing them into the stable. He had two servants who dispersed the clouds and cleansed his face with the help of rain. The sun god Dazhdbog was highly revered by the Slavs. It is not for nothing that the author of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” called the Slavs “Dazhdboz’s grandchildren.” He is the son of Svarog, personifying the sun. Every morning he rides out in a chariot drawn by white fire-breathing horses. His sisters – Morning Dawn and Evening Dawn – take turns leading Dazhdbog’s horses out and bringing them into the stable. He had two servants who dispersed the clouds and cleansed his face with the help of rain.

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God Veles was revered by the Slavs as the patron of cattle breeding; he was a kind of “cattle god”. It was believed that it promotes enrichment. In the 10th century, princes swore by the name of Veles and their treaties with the Byzantine monarchs. The holiday of Veles was celebrated in early January. For Veles of the day, special cookies were baked in the shape of pets. People dressed up in animal masks and put on inside-out sheepskin coats. God Veles was revered by the Slavs as the patron of cattle breeding; he was a kind of “cattle god”. It was believed that it promotes enrichment. In the 10th century, princes swore by the name of Veles and their treaties with the Byzantine monarchs. The holiday of Veles was celebrated in early January. For Veles of the day, special cookies were baked in the shape of pets. People dressed up in animal masks and put on inside-out sheepskin coats.

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Evil and good spirits But pagan ideas were not limited to the main gods. The world was also inhabited by other supernatural beings. Many of them were associated with the idea of ​​​​the existence of an afterlife. It was from there that evil spirits - ghouls - came to people. And the good spirits who protect people were the beregins. The Slavs sought to protect themselves from evil spirits with spells, amulets, and so-called “amulets.”

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A goblin and a Baba Yaga lived in the forest; in the depths of every lake or river, according to the Slavs, there lived a merman, and mermaids lived near the water. The Slavs believed that these were the souls of the dead coming out in the spring to enjoy nature. A goblin and a Baba Yaga lived in the forest; in the depths of every lake or river, according to the Slavs, there lived a merman, and mermaids lived near the water. The Slavs believed that these were the souls of the dead coming out in the spring to enjoy nature. The name "mermaid" comes from the word "blond", which means "light", "pure" in the ancient Slavic language. The habitat of mermaids was associated with the proximity of bodies of water - rivers, lakes, which were considered the path to the underworld. Along this waterway, mermaids came to land and lived on earth.

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The Slavs believed that every house was under the protection of a brownie, who was identified with the spirit of their ancestor, ancestor, or schura, chura. When a person believed that he was threatened by evil spirits, he called on his patron - the brownie, chur - to protect him and said: “Keep me away, mind me!” The Slavs believed that every house was under the protection of a brownie, who was identified with the spirit of their ancestor, ancestor, or schura, chura. When a person believed that he was threatened by evil spirits, he called on his patron - the brownie, chur - to protect him and said: “Keep me away, mind me!”

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Ivan Kupala On June 24 - the day of the summer solstice - they celebrated Ivan Kupala, who was the deity of abundance and earthly fruits. The harvest was ripe, and people prayed for the gods to send them rain. On this day, herbs were collected, which were credited with miraculous powers; bathed in the river and believed that it healed ailments; They sacrificed a white rooster - a bird that greets the dawn, pleasing to the Sun. On the eve of this day, according to the Slavs, mermaids came ashore from the water - the “mermaid week” began. On these days, girls danced in circles and threw wreaths into the rivers. The most beautiful girls were wrapped in green branches and sprinkled with water, as if calling the long-awaited rain to the ground. At night, Kupala bonfires flared up, over which young men and women jumped, which meant a ritual of purification, which was, as it were, helped by the sacred fire. On Kupala nights, the so-called “kidnapping of girls” took place, when young people conspired and the groom took the bride away from the hearth.

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Rituals Births, weddings, and funerals were accompanied by complex religious rituals. Thus, the funeral custom of the Eastern Slavs is known to bury along with the ashes of a person (the Slavs burned their dead at the stake, placing them first in wooden boats; this meant that the person sailed into the underground kingdom) one of his wives, over whom a ritual murder was committed; The remains of a war horse, weapons, and jewelry were placed in the warrior’s grave. Life continued, according to the Slavs, beyond the grave. Then a high mound was poured over the grave and a pagan funeral feast was performed: relatives and associates commemorated the deceased. During the sad feast, military competitions were also held in his honor. These rituals, of course, concerned only tribal leaders.

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