Today the leading world religions are monotheistic.In other words, they are based on the belief in one God.But once monotheism was a rarity, as most peoples believed in many higher forces.Monotheism to spread Christianity among the ancient Jews there, and then only in certain segments of the existence of this nation.Other nations worshiped many higher forces, including the Slavs.Unfortunately, in our time, it survived not so much information about the faith of our ancient ancestors.It is known that the Slavic pantheon included many bright characters.For example, Yarily, Svetovita, Kupaylu, Kolyada, personified the sun.But the Slavic pantheon and contained "functional" characters: Semargl, the lord of death, Veles - lord gone to another world, the god Perun, the activities that make it something like the Greek Zeus the Thunderer, and Stribog - owner of the wind.
Interestingly, all the inhabitants of heaven, worshiped by our ancestors considered as one family.Slavic pantheon of gods descended from the race.He was the forefather of other supernatural creatures and actually Slavs, in their beliefs.In other words, it was the Supreme Being, the other inhabitants of heaven were his assistants.All Slavic pantheon recalls family tree.Grandfathers - Rod, his sons - Lada, Semargl, Makosh, Svarog.Grandchildren were Dazhdbog, Jari and Horse.The next generation - people.Many Slavic tribes considered themselves children Dazhdbog.The lowest level of the hierarchy - is Sprites, Bannikov, brownies, frights, mermaids and other mythical creatures.Slavic pantheon contain characters whose livelihoods were linked to solar activity.For example, the Horsa was revered in the period commencing winter solstice and ends with the spring equinox.
The most famous of these deities was Yarilo.Our ancestors tied his faith to a large extent with the sun, which they worshiped.This explains the existence of a "solar deity."Slavic swastika, known as the Kolovrat, symbolized the sun.
Pantheon Slavic pagan gods, mainly consisted of light, good forces.But the duality of vision of the world was typical for most people, and we are no exception.The Slavs worshiped belbogs (Svetovita) as the guardian of good, truth, purity.However, in their mythology, and there was the antithesis of it.Chernobog - the patron of the dark forces.Both participated in the activities of life and nature.
Velez was known as the patron saint of animals and plants.In general, he represented all the forces of nature.They tried to appease, to increase livestock and crops.
pantheon of Slavic gods personified the forces of nature.But on the other hand, he was anthropomorphic.That is, it was believed that the gods were in direct relations with people.
Some of lexicology will help to understand the faith of the Slavs wider.The word "god" in ancient times did not mean that some omnipotent and supernatural beginning.It was used in the sense of "luck, happiness, share."This word stores this for a long time.Hence, apparently, and wise sayings attributed to Alexander Nevsky: "God is not in force, but in truth."
