Slavic symbols and the meaning of traditional Slavic symbols. The cult of fire in ancient Rus' The image of the fire of water and air among the Slavs

Cross of Lada-Virgin Mary- A symbol of Love, Harmony and Happiness in the family, the people called him Ladinets. As an amulet, it was mainly worn by girls in order to have protection from the "evil eye". And so that the strength of the power of Ladin was constant, he was inscribed in the Great Kolo (Circle).

Ladinets, also known as the Harmony of the Feminine, is a female Amulet that brings the female essence to harmony. Calmness and joy in the soul are immediately reflected in the appearance - you become more beautiful and attractive, and most importantly - healthier.
The amulet gives peace, joy and self-awareness as a Woman.

The red ray remains unchanged in any case, the color of the second ray changes depending on the sign of the Zodiac.
Fire - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius,
Water - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces,
Earth - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn,
Air - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

For the elements of the Earth - the classic black color (many embroider dark green).
For the element of Fire, black is also used (many embroider dark brown).
For the element of Air - blue.
For the element of Water - blue or turquoise.

Ladinets are usually embroidered in combination with roses.

A girl, a woman who was presented with the amulet Ladinets or the Harmony of the Feminine, should, after receiving the gift, walk in a skirt and dresses for 40 days !!! Even at home, you need to wear bathrobes or sundresses, in trousers, shorts, etc. it is forbidden! This applies to yourself as well! It is very important!
Another Ladinets is a popular and simplified name for the amulet "Kolo-Ladnik".
Ladinets is a couple to Kolyadnik (Rodovich). Together they personify the feminine (Ladinets) and masculine (Kolyadnik) principles, and form a heavenly family.

The Slavs called the Goddess Lada the great Mother Goddess, or the Woman in Childbirth. It is Kolo (circle, feminine) and 8 elements (the symbol of infinity) emphasize the feminine character of the amulet, harmony and the embodiment in eternity of all living things and things.
Kolo-Ladnik or Ladinets can be seen paired with Kolyadnik inside the family home - these are symbols of the giving and receiving beginnings, they personify the unity of a man and a woman, and are twisted in a whirlwind of solar movement, which is embodied in 2 amulets.
Ladinets is given to a woman, and regardless of her marital status. If Ladinets is worn by an unmarried girl, a girl, he reveals femininity, feminine qualities and character traits in her. For a married woman, Ladinets will help give birth to healthy children, promote family well-being, keep Peace, Harmony and Consent in the house.
The Cross of the Lada of the Virgin (Ladinets) is a Symbol of Love, Harmony and Happiness in the family. This amulet was worn mainly by girls in order to have protection from the "evil eye". In order for the strength and power of Ladin to be constant, the amulet was inscribed in the Great Kolo (Circle).
If there is a Ladinets amulet in the house, Trouble will never befall him. For this pattern, the traditional colors are blue and emerald green.
When to embroider: 10, 14 lunar day.

Introduction

cult mythology fire Rus'

The mystery of fire has given rise to a huge number of myths and legends that are associated with the origin of this element, as well as its control on earth. In almost all nations, fire is of divine origin. The great power that fire possesses did not allow people to think that man himself could get the spark from which the fire flared up.

Fire has always been considered sacred. In order to get fire, primitive people had to try hard, so the hearth was always protected and maintained. After all, without fire it was not possible to keep warm or cook food. Knowledge about fire was passed down from generation to generation, fathers told their children about its power, and it was the sacred duty of every person to protect the fire. Often fire descended from the sky in the form of lightning and fiery peals. Such fire was considered a divine manifestation. And all this eventually made it possible to add up a huge number of legends about the origin of the fire element. Almost all the legends of different nations say that there was a struggle for the fire, and the flame did not immediately appear in a person. Initially, fire was the power of the gods, and only through their negligence did a small piece of coal fall to the ground, where a man found it and began to use it for his own needs.

So, the hypothesis of my work: The cult of fire is the earliest among the peoples of ancient Rus'. The cult of fire has multiple expressions, in various rites and rituals, which confirms that it took place in Ancient Rus'.

Tasks of the work: To analyze the literature on the chosen topic.

Reveal the facts that the Cult of Fire took place in Ancient Rus'.

Prove with examples that the cult of fire takes place both in the past and in the present.

Cult of Fire in Ancient Rus'

B.A. Rybakov writes in the book "Paganism of Ancient Rus'": "The image of Perun was placed by Dobrynya in the place that is still called Peryn, as Adam Olearius testifies to this, who visited Novgorod in 1654. "Novgorodians, when they were still pagans, had an idol called Perun, i.e. the god of fire, for the Russians call fire "perun". And in the place where Perun stood, a monastery was built, which retained the name of the idol and was called the Perun Monastery. This deity had the appearance of a man with a flint in his hand, similar to a thunder arrow (lightning) or a beam. As a sign of worship to this deity, they kept an unquenchable day or night fire, laid out from an oak forest. And if the minister at this fire, through negligence, allowed the fire to go out, then he was punished by death. "In 1951 - 1952, the Novgorod archaeological expedition, led by A.V. Artsikhovsky, excavated at Peryn. The Peryn tract is located at the very source of the Volkhov near Ilmen on a small on a flat hill, which turns into an island during high water. Excavations were carried out in the center of this hill. As a result of very careful excavations, a round platform with a diameter of 21 m was revealed, in the center of which there was a round pit with traces of a tree in it. The researcher rightly considers the pit to be the basis of a wooden image Perun. A shallow ditch was dug around the platform-temple with eight expansions in the cardinal points (along the points). In each expansion, traces of a fire were found at the bottom of the ditch. The temple was illuminated by eight fires. The sanctuary was in the open air, like many other Slavic sanctuaries similar in shape and size." B.A. Rybakov writes in the book "Paganism of the Ancient Slavs": "The cult of fire in the most various forms lived until the beginning of the 20th century. everywhere. Fire is called "god", "holy fire"; when the fire was blown up, prayers were read. The fire is transferred from the old dwelling to the new one. In certain cases, a new, "living fire" is lit by friction. "We revere fire as a god," said the inhabitants of Podolia. "He (fire) should be revered anyway as a god," they said in Polissya. A prominent place is occupied by fire in conspiracies-spells. In Siberia, a conspiracy for all diseases is recorded, which should be pronounced in a bath on hot coals: "Father you, Tsar-Fire, you are the king of all kings, you are fire with all fires. Be meek, be merciful!". Ancient sources speak of the cult of Svarozhich under the barn, where a fire should burn, drying the sheaves. Belarusians, making a fire under a barn, threw an unthreshed sheaf of rye into it as a sacrifice to the fire. Thus, we see that the cult of fire, the deification of fire, have survived almost to the present day. Only the name of him Svarozhich disappeared, and, obviously, this happened a long time ago, since there are no traces of this name anywhere.

Researcher of the Slavic heritage A.E. Bogdanovich in the ethnographic essay "Remnants of the ancient worldview among the Belarusians" writes: "In the views of the Belarusians, fire is one of the foundations of the family, home penate, the beginning of healing and all-cleansing. This is especially true in remote areas. There, in each family, they try to maintain their fire, carefully hot coals in the stove. It swells as needed. When moving from one dwelling to another, during a family division, they carry with them fire from the hearth." In the understanding of our ancestors, unquenchable fire symbolized vitality, the energy of procreation, grace and wealth.

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. First - the main 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 physical body and represents 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. Medium - more deities local control- patrons of crafts, women's cares, hunting and fishing, 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 warm, snowy winter, health for yourself, your 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 it passes, there useful plants will sprout. Yarilo is also responsible for the fertility of animals. He is described as young guy riding across the sky on a white horse. In the hands - a bow and arrows, bare feet, on the head - a crown of rye ears with wildflowers. 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 longest night of 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 the old god, the husband of the Earth, the father of the Sun, Dazhdbog and the most significant gods 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 big 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. They pray to Stribog for rain and for its cessation, as well as for the strong wind to subside. 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 is the female incarnation of the supreme god Rod. 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. For eight years they comprehended the intricacies of various fields of 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. The Magi put on her a beautiful 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 is the deity of trade, the final harvest, already existing fruits, their sale 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 was a market day in Rus' for a long time, 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 coincidence, 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, faith in black cat, a woman with an empty bucket, etc. Nevertheless, the expediency of introducing a 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.

Vladimir Institute of Tourism and Hospitality

Topic: Cult of Fire among the peoples of Ancient Rus'

Completed by: Kolotilina V.

Checked by: Zakharov R.G.

Vladimir 2012

Introduction

1. Cult of Fire in Ancient Rus'

1.1 Fire mythology

1.2 Worship of the Gods of Fire in Ancient Rus'

2. Symbolism of Fire in Christianity

3. Confirmations of the cult of fire that have survived to this day

Introduction

cult mythology fire Rus'

Tasks of the work: To analyze the literature on the chosen topic.

Reveal the facts that the Cult of Fire took place in Ancient Rus'.

Prove with examples that the cult of fire takes place both in the past and in the present.

1. Cult of Fire in Ancient Rus'

B.A. Rybakov writes in the book "Paganism of Ancient Rus'": "The image of Perun was placed by Dobrynya in the place that is still called Peryn, as Adam Olearius testifies to this, who visited Novgorod in 1654. "Novgorodians, when they were still pagans, had an idol called Perun, i.e. the god of fire, for the Russians call fire "perun". And in the place where Perun stood, a monastery was built, which retained the name of the idol and was called the Perun Monastery. This deity had the appearance of a man with a flint in his hand, similar to a thunder arrow (lightning) or a beam. As a sign of worship to this deity, they kept an unquenchable day or night fire, laid out from an oak forest. And if the minister at this fire, through negligence, allowed the fire to go out, then he was punished by death. "In 1951 - 1952, the Novgorod archaeological expedition, led by A.V. Artsikhovsky, excavated at Peryn. The Peryn tract is located at the very source of the Volkhov near Ilmen on a small on a flat hill, which turns into an island during high water. Excavations were carried out in the center of this hill. As a result of very careful excavations, a round platform with a diameter of 21 m was revealed, in the center of which there was a round pit with traces of a tree in it. The researcher rightly considers the pit to be the basis of a wooden image Perun. A shallow ditch was dug around the platform-temple with eight expansions in the cardinal points (along the points). In each expansion, traces of a fire were found at the bottom of the ditch. The temple was illuminated by eight fires. The sanctuary was in the open air, like many other Slavic sanctuaries similar in shape and size." B.A. Rybakov writes in the book "Paganism of the Ancient Slavs": "The cult of fire in various forms survived until the beginning of the 20th century everywhere. Fire is called "god", "holy fire"; when the fire was blown up, prayers were read. Fire is transferred from the old dwelling to the new one. In certain cases, a new, "living fire" is lit by friction. "We revere fire as a god," said the inhabitants of Podolia. "It (fire) must be revered anyway as a god," they said in Polesie. In Siberia, a conspiracy for all diseases is recorded, which should be pronounced in a bath on hot coals: “Father you, Tsar-Fire, you are the king of all kings, you are fire with all fires. Be meek, be merciful!". Ancient sources speak of the cult of Svarozhich under the barn, where a fire should burn, drying the sheaves. Belarusians, making a fire under the barn, threw an unthreshed sheaf of rye into it as a sacrifice to the fire. Thus, we see that the cult of fire, the deification of fire, have survived almost to the present day. Only the name of him Svarozhich disappeared, and, obviously, this happened a long time ago, since there are no traces of this name anywhere.

1.1 Fire mythology

The myths associated with fire belong to the earliest layers of mythological creativity. A man became a man only thanks to the domestication of the most dangerous and purest elements, the possession of which provided him with the opportunity to survive in extreme weather conditions and defend himself from predatory animals. Making and using fire is the most clear sign transformation of a proto-human into a rational person. In the mythological consciousness of primitive man, fire was placed in a privileged position in relation to other elements, since the nature of its appearance remained unclear for a long time. On fire ancient man I clearly saw the incarnation of a deity, the will of heaven, the pointing finger of God, etc.

Fire is the basis of life, the basis of the state, the basis of the family. All Aryan peoples saw in the fire a luminous, calorific principle, capable of expelling diseases and defeating the forces of darkness. It was to this hollow that the cult of fire took a central place in religious beliefs.

The fire of the earth was embodied in the image of the hearth - protection and the unifying principle of the family. Home fire was constantly maintained in the oven, kept at night in the form of hot coals as a symbol of prosperity and well-being in the house. He was conceived as a living being capable of protecting, angry, punishing. The image of home fire is mentioned in fairy tales, conspiracies, amulets. The fire was “fed up” - a pot of water and a log were left in the stove overnight, so that there would always be prosperity in the house. Later, a brownie became one of the personifications of the hearth. When moving to a new house, they tried to take him with them, so that in a new place he would protect the household. At the same time, the Eastern Slavs, for example, put bast shoes in the oven with the words: “Grandfather brownie! Here's a sleigh for you, come with us! Let's go with me!"

The Slavs burned their dead. They believed that along with the flame, the soul is transferred to Iriy, paradise. The fiery river served as a boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead (in some places, especially in Ukraine, after baking bread, they put a log in the oven so that later there would be something to cross the fiery river with). Sacrifices brought by the Slavs were also associated with sacred fire; fire in this case served as an intermediary between the human, earthly and divine, heavenly. So, for example, on the night of Ivan Kupala, it was customary to burn a white rooster - a symbol of fertility; the first sheaf was thrown into the fire so that the harvest would be rich.

1.2 Worship of the gods of Fire on ancient Rus'

The Slavs revered heavenly fire (lightning, sun) and earthly fire (hearth, sacral fire). Heavenly fire combined two principles - punishing, later embodied in the image of Perun; and cleansing, bringing light, warmth, and with them life. This beginning was embodied in the veneration of the sun and solar gods - Yarilo (Yarovit), Svarog, Khors, Dazhbog (Dazhdbog). The veneration of the sun is widely reflected in Slavic folklore: in incantations, ritual songs, riddles, fairy tales, etc. The rites of the spring cycle were designed to wake up the sun. Shrovetide pancakes were baked in the form of the sun, burning Maslenitsa (Kostroma, Mara), the Slavs called spring to the earth. The sun protected people from evil spirits. The Slavs believed that she could freely roam the earth only before sunrise; as soon as the daylight ignites its first rays, evil spirits scatter, feeling their impotence.

Svarog - God-blacksmith, father of Dazhdbog (God of fertility and sunlight, ancestor of the Russian people). "Svarog" is translated - walking in the sky. IN old times they called the path of the sun across the sky, and then they began to call the sky in general - heavenly light. Sometimes Svarog was simply called God the world. Svarog is the source of fire and its master. This is where the word "bung" comes from - to create. You can harp only with the help of fire and water (VAR - Skt. Water) - blacksmiths, welders, cooks harp.

A deity that was part of the system of the state religion Kievan Rus. His idol was installed on the temple by Prince Vladimir in 980, along with the idols of Perun, Stribog, Veles and others. Some scholars suggest that the peoples of Kievan Rus borrowed it from the Scythians.

God Semargl in pagan mythology was one of the sons of the great god Svarog. And his son Semargl after birth becomes the god of earthly fire. From ancient Slavic books it is known how Semargl was born. Once Svarog hit the Alatyr stone with a magic hammer and carved divine sparks from it. The sparks flared up and turned into a flame, and the fiery god Semargl became clearly visible in the flame. Semargl is also revered as the god of the moon and fire sacrifices, the keeper of the house and hearth. At times it can turn around winged dog and soar under the sky. People rarely try to pronounce the name of Semargl aloud, fearing his wrath. After all, Semargl does not live in distant heavens, but among people and at any moment can interfere in human life.

Fire is a magical and powerful force. With him, the Slavs associated the emergence of people on earth. According to legend, at first the Gods created a Man and a Woman from two sticks, between which a Fire flared up - the very first flame of love.

2. Symbolism of Fire in Christianity

We also meet fiery symbols in the Gospel. The Savior says: "I have come to send fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49) The "Acts of the Apostles" speaks of the descent of the Holy Spirit: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together with one accord. And suddenly there was a noise from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled the whole house where they were. And dividing tongues appeared to them, as if of fire, and rested one on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The Apostle Paul says in his epistles about the Spirit as about fire: "Do not quench the Spirit." The eternal fire also appears as a Judge testing us: "13 [...] The work of each will be revealed; for the day will show, because it is opened in the fire, and the fire will test the work of each, what it is. 14 Whoever has the work that he built, 15 And whoever's work is burned up will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as it were by fire." (1 Corinthians 3:13)

Fire has a special place in Orthodox church. The “Handbook of the Clergyman” reports: “In the altar behind the throne, lamps or candles burn in a special lamp, the lamp or candle in the candlestick is placed on the High Place, on the throne, on the altar, lamps can also be lit at individual icons in the altar. In the middle part of the temple icon lamps are usually lit at all icons, and next to especially revered icons, several lamps are lit; in addition, large candlesticks with cells for many candles are placed so that believers can put here the candles they bring to these icons. A large candlestick is always placed in the center of the temple from the east side of the lectern, where the icon of the day lies.A special candlestick with a large candle is taken out at the small entrances at vespers and liturgy, at the great entrance for the liturgy, and also before the Gospel, when it is taken out at the entrances or for reading.This candle marks the light of Christ's sermon, Himself Christ, as the Light from the Light, the true Light.The candle in the candlestick has the same meaning, with which, together with the censer at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the priest blesses the people with the words "The Light of Christ enlightens all." Candles in hierarchal dikiriyas and trikiriyas have special spiritual significance. [...] Ancient Byzantine-Russian temples had very narrow windows, which created twilight, twilight in the temple even on the brightest day. Temple lamps have always had a spiritual and symbolic meaning. The burning of wax and oil in church lamps is called upon to signify the Divine light, different from the light that is used for simple illumination in the world, for the Church is a Kingdom not of this world (John 17, 14, 16; 18, 36)."

The website of the "Missionary Center Svetoch" (the Center works with the blessing of having accepted the death of Fr. Daniel Sysoev for Christ) writes: "Church teacher Tertullian says:" Divine services are never performed without lamps, but we use them not only to disperse the gloom of the night, the Liturgy is performed in our daylight, but in order to portray Christ - the Uncreated Light, without which we would wander in darkness even in the middle of the day. Lamps have always had a spiritual and symbolic meaning. , the light of God. "And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (Jn 1-5) The fire of the lamp is also an image of spiritual fire, the Holy Spirit, descended from heaven, in fiery tongues on the holy apostles.

3. Confirmations of the Cult of Fire that have survived to this day

· "Eternal flame"

Although it was used very widely in the USSR, nevertheless it is difficult to call it a Soviet invention, because such an unquenchable flame is an ancient occult rite that symbolized a slander - while this fire is burning, the house that lit it will stand, and the dead will stand guard. IN Ancient Greece not only the Olympic fire was eternal, but also the fires of special temples, which were continuously maintained by special priests. The tradition also migrated to Rome, where an eternal fire burned in the temple of the goddess Vesta, and before Greece, both the Egyptians and the Persians used the eternal fire (for example, the Zoroastrians, who were even called fire worshipers), and even more so, supported their power through the “eternal fire”, in Babylon.

The Olympic fire is one of the symbols Olympic Games.

It is lit in the host city of the Games during their opening, and it burns continuously until they are over. The tradition of lighting the Olympic flame existed in ancient Greece during the ancient Olympic Games. The Olympic fire served as a reminder of the feat of the titan Prometheus, who, according to legend, stole fire from Zeus and gave it to people.

· Fire-show (Show of fire)

This is the true art of fire control. Once you start watching the poi spin, you can't stop. The manifestation of the highest skill is a detailed fire show. It fascinates, combining the clarity of movement and freedom of improvisation. This is an exciting magic that allows you to control the elements.

In Persia, the ruins of intricate temples and rooms where the Rites of Fire were performed can be seen everywhere. These ruins can be found today in Persepolis, Isfahan, Yazd, Palmyra, Susa, etc.

Sacred Dances of Dancing Dervishes both in Persia and in

Turkey and others, in essence, represent the Cult of Fire. It is a pity that the authorities of Ankara, boasting of high civilization, banned the public dances of the Dancing Dervishes. Dervishes wonderfully imitate the movements of the planets solar system around the sun.

walking on coals

In the Slavic ritual tradition, methods have been preserved to achieve the purification we need. These are ablutions with water, it removes physical dirt, and jumping over a fire, they remove energy dirt. And the most interesting thing is walking on coals. In science, the practice of walking on coals is called nestinarstvo. Nestinars are a religious and cultural phenomenon characteristic of a part of Bulgaria. main feature nestinarstva - a ritual dance on hot coals. It is believed that nestinism is a mixture of ancient pagan and Orthodox traditions.

The cult of Fire has been preserved in the creeds of Zoroastrianism to this day (The cult of fire, which is not given such attention in any other pagan religion.)

The cult of fire is one of the earliest among the peoples of ancient Rus'. The cult of fire in various forms survived until the beginning of the 20th century. everywhere. Fire is called "god", "holy fire"; when the fire was blown up, prayers were read.

The cult of fire has multiple expressions, in various rites and rituals, which confirms that it took place in Ancient Rus'.

Novgorodians, when they were still pagans, had an idol called Perun, i.e. the god of fire, for the Russians call fire "perun". And in the place where Perun stood, a monastery was built, which retained the name of the idol and was called the Perun Monastery.

After the work done, it is safe to say that the cult of fire was practically one of the most important components of people's lives. There were certain ceremonies, rituals, there was a lot of evidence that the fire was treated as a deity. And to this day there are many sources in which you can see the importance of this cult, which came from ancient times.

Why you need to know Slavic symbols

Slavic symbolism is surprisingly rich. Look at the embroidery decorating traditional clothing. Everything in it is no coincidence, every turn of the pattern, a sign inscribed in general drawing embroidery - everything has its own meaning. However, for an uninitiated person, embroidery remains just an outdated way to decorate an outfit, the secret of Slavic symbols remains hidden.

Slavic symbolism is worth studying for this:

for understanding Slavic myths and legends, their visual perception.
to understand the worldview of our ancestors.
to be able to read Slavic symbols on clothes, household items, home decorations, to determine the purpose of ritual objects.
to be able to choose a talisman for yourself and loved ones.

Sources of knowledge about Slavic symbolism

There are disputes about the origins of Slavic symbols. Some sources attribute ancient roots to our patterns, see them as complex schemes that describe the structure of the world. Others, on the contrary, are distrustful of Slavic symbols, even such famous ones as Kolovrat or the Star of Rus', calling them a remake.

Where is the truth? It is enough to look at the old clothes preserved in the northern houses self made, richly decorated with Slavic symbols, to make sure that it originated many centuries ago. However, grandparents, who still know how to embroider and cut traditional patterns, do not at all associate their meaning with the cosmos, with complex calculations, do not explain the origin of patterns with intricate theories.

We consider true all Slavic symbols that we meet in the decoration of houses, folk embroidery, amulets found in the excavations of ancient cities. And we are looking for a simple explanation, close to nature, connected with our myths. But simple does not mean primitive. It is in simplicity Slavic pattern, in the ability to explain even to a small child the meaning of traditional patterns and there is deep wisdom.

What Slavic symbols do we know?

We can divide Slavic characters into groups different ways. For example, in relation to the Slavic Gods. Then Gromovik, also known as the Thunder Cross, and a forged ax will be next to each other. Both signs refer to Slavic God Thunderstorms to Perun.

We can share signs according to their execution. Then we will single out the Slavic symbols that are depicted on amulets, embroidered on clothes, carved on the decoration of Slavic huts, and signs-objects. For example, the Star of Rus' with sharp tips and the hammer, the symbol of the Blacksmith God, will become the sign of Svarog.

Some Gods have Slavic symbols associated with images of animals. Most of these signs are attributed to God Veles. Among his symbols we meet, the seal of Veles in the form of a paw of a bear and a wolf. Even the sign of Veles itself, in the form of an inverted letter "A", is otherwise called "bull's head".

The most universal is the division of signs by their shape.

Circular solar symbols

Swastik solar symbols

Other solar symbols

Symbols based on the human figure

Slavic symbols based on a square or a cross

Symbol "Summer oblique cross"

- a sign of another daughter of Lada, the Goddess Alive. This sign is dedicated to the Goddess of Summer and Life, therefore it brings confidence that all the bad things are behind, the “winter” in life is over. Read more about this sign and the influence of the Goddess Zhiva in the article "Zhiva - the Great Goddess of Life, the Goddess of Summer".

Slavic symbols and the meaning of traditional Slavic symbols. The cult of fire in ancient Rus' The image of the fire of water and air among the Slavs

Introduction

Cult of Fire in Ancient Rus'

Supreme god and his pantheon

Participation of divine beings in everyday life

Kolyada

Yarilo

Dazhdbog

Svarog

Perun

Veles

Stribog

Lada

Mokosh

Paraskeva Friday

Semargl

Chernobog

Moraine

Penetration of Christianity into pagan rituals

Similar Documents

Why you need to know Slavic symbols

Sources of knowledge about Slavic symbolism

What Slavic symbols do we know?

Circular solar symbols

Swastik solar symbols

Other solar symbols

Symbols based on the human figure

Slavic symbols based on a square or a cross

Symbol "Summer oblique cross"

Slavic symbols based on a star

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