Recently, a trend of increasing interest in religion has been clearly traced, and more than once we have heard that paganism and Christianity still coexist on the territory of modern Russia . Dual faith in Russia is a phenomenon that is still widely discussed. We will try to understand in detail this issue.
The concept
Dual faith is the presence of signs of a different belief in the generally accepted faith. As for our country, at present in Russia Christianity coexists peacefully with the echoes of paganism. Orthodox people still celebrate Shrovetide, gladly burn a scarecrow and enjoy pancakes. It is worth noting that this day of the beginning of spring is celebrated before Lent. In this sense, it is customary to talk about syncretism, that is, about non-fragmentation and, as it were, peaceful coexistence of beliefs. However, Orthodoxy and pagan cults did not so easily get along together.
Negative connotation
The phenomenon of dual belief originates in the Middle Ages, this word is reflected in the texts of sermons written against the Orthodox, who continued to worship pagan gods.
It is interesting to note that the concept of “popular religiosity” at first glance seems identical to the definition of “dual faith,” but with a deeper analysis it becomes clear that in the first case we are talking about a peaceful mode of existence, and in the second - about the existence of confrontation. Dual faith is a sign of conflict between the old and the new faith.
About paganism
Now let's talk about this term. Before the Baptism of Russia, paganism was what replaced religion with the ancient Slavs. After the adoption of Christianity, this term began to be used more and more often in order to designate non-Christian, "alien" (foreign, heretical) activities. The word "heathen" was considered a curse word.
According to Y. Lotman, paganism (Old Russian culture), however, cannot be considered undeveloped in comparison with the Christian religion, since it also satisfied the need to believe, and in the last stages of its existence it substantially approached monotheism.
Baptism of Russia. Double faith. Peaceful Coexistence of Beliefs
As mentioned earlier, before the adoption of Christianity, Slavic paganism was a certain belief, but there were no zealous defenders and opponents of the new faith in Russia. People accepting baptism did not understand that the adoption of Orthodoxy should mean a renunciation of pagan rituals and beliefs.
The ancient Russians did not wage an active struggle with Christianity, just in everyday life people continued to adhere to the rites adopted earlier, without forgetting the new religion.
Christianity was complemented by vivid images characteristic of former beliefs. A person could be an exemplary Christian and at the same time remain a pagan. For example, people on Easter Day could loudly shout to the forest owners about Christ's resurrection. Cakes and eggs were also offered to the brownies and goblin.
Open fight
Dual faith in Russia , however, did not always bear the character of quiet coexistence. Sometimes people fought "for the return of idols."
In fact, this was expressed in the mood of the people of the Magi against the new faith and power. There have been only three open clashes in all time. It is known that representatives of princely power used force only in those cases when the defenders of paganism began to intimidate the people and sow confusion.
On the tolerance of Christianity in Russia
A positive aspect of the new religion was a high tolerance for established traditions. Princely power acted wisely, adapting people to the new faith in a gentle way. It is known that in the West the authorities tried to completely get rid of established customs, which provoked years of war.
The Institute of the Orthodox Church in Russia invested ideas of Christian content in pagan beliefs. The most famous echoes of paganism are undoubtedly such holidays as Kolyada and Shrovetide.
Opinions of researchers
The phenomenon of dual faith in Russia could not leave indifferent the public and the outstanding minds of different generations.
In particular, N. M. Galkovsky, a Russian philologist, pointed out that the people converted to Orthodox Christianity, but did not deeply know this creed and, although not intentionally, did not refuse pagan beliefs.
The public figure D. Obolensky also noted that there was no enmity between Christianity and popular belief and identified 4 levels of interaction between them, which reflected a different degree of interconnection of Christian ideas and pagan beliefs.
Marxist scholars in the Soviet Union protested the ignorance of the common people and argued that most of them consciously opposed the Christian faith.
Soviet archaeologist B. A. Rybakov openly spoke about the hostility between Orthodoxy and popular beliefs.
In times of publicity, individual Soviet scholars such as T.P. Pavlova and Yu.V. Kryanev, expressed their lack of open hostility, but developed the idea that Christian asceticism was not close to the optimistic mood of pagan culture.
The ideas of B. Uspensky and Yu. Lotman reflected the concept of the duality of Russian culture.
Feminists completely refuted the positive side of Christian teaching and defined it as a “masculine” ideology directed against the old Russian “feminine” belief system. According to M. Matosyan, the church was not able to completely eliminate pagan culture due to the fact that women were able to modify and balance Christianity with pagan rites.
Famous figure Yves. Levin means that most researchers have tried to distinguish between the Orthodox and the ancient beliefs, not even suggesting the slightest coincidence between them. In general, the author notes that the concept of the presence of dual faith should be deprived of derogatory meaning.
Baptism of Russia. Political significance
A significant religious and political event was the adoption of Christianity. Dual faith arose as a result of the imposition of the ideas of Orthodoxy on pagan traditions. This phenomenon is simple enough to understand, because the adoption of faith is a complex process for which centuries must have passed. People could not abandon the Slavic views, because it was a centuries-old culture.
Let us turn to the personality of the person who initiated the rite of baptism. Prince Vladimir was far from a person prone to holiness. It is known that he killed his brother Yaropolk, publicly raped the captured princess, and also accepted the ceremony of sacrificing people.
In this regard, it is not unreasonable to believe that the adoption of Christianity was a necessary political step, which allowed Vladimir to strengthen the status of the prince and make trade relations with Byzantium more productive.
Why the choice fell on Christianity
So, the problem of dual faith arose after the adoption of Christianity, but could Prince Vladimir convert Russia to a different faith? We’ll try to figure it out.
It is known that the adoption of Islam for ancient Russia was impossible. In this religion there is a ban on the use of intoxicated drinks. The prince could not afford this, since a very important ritual was communication with the squad. A joint meal implied, undoubtedly, the use of alcohol. Refusal of such a libation could lead to disastrous consequences: the prince could lose the support of the squad, which could not be allowed.
Vladimir refused to negotiate with the Catholics.
The prince refused the Jews, pointing out that they were scattered throughout the earth and he did not want such a fate for the Russians.
So, the prince had reasons for performing the baptismal ritual that gave rise to dual faith. This , most likely, was an event of a political nature.
The baptism of Kiev and Novgorod
According to historical data that has reached us, the baptism of Rus was begun in Kiev.
According to the testimonies described by N. S. Gordienko, it can be concluded that Christianity was imposed by Prince Vladimir by order, in addition, he was received by persons close to him. Consequently, a significant part of ordinary people could probably see in this ritual an apostasy from the Old Russian faith, which gave rise to dual faith. This manifestation of popular resistance is clearly described in the book of Cyrus Bulychev "Secrets of Rus", which states that the Novgorodians fought a desperate battle for the beliefs of the Slavs, but after resistance the city obeyed. It turns out that people did not feel the spiritual need to accept a new faith, therefore, they could have a negative attitude to Christian rites.
If we talk about how Christianity was adopted in Kiev, then everything was completely different here than in other cities. As L. N. Gumilyov points out in his work “Ancient Russia and the Great Steppe,” everyone who came to Kiev and wanted to live there should have adopted Orthodoxy.
Interpretation of the Christian religion in Russia
So, after the adoption of faith, as it turned out, Christian traditions and pagan rites closely penetrated each other. It is believed that the time of dual faith is the 13-14th century.
Nevertheless, it was noted in Stoglava (1551) that even clergymen used pagan rites, for example, when they put salt under the throne for a while, and then passed it to people to heal ailments.
In addition, examples are known when a monk who had great wealth spent all his money not on improving people's lives, but on church needs. After he lost all material wealth and became a beggar, people turned away from him, and he ceased to care about the holy life. Consequently, he spent all his money not to save his soul, but out of a desire to receive a reward.
As Froyanov I. Ya. Notes in his research, the Old Russian Orthodox Church was more likely a guided link. The institute of the church was preoccupied with state functions and drawn into public life, which did not allow the clergy to engage in the spread of Christianity among ordinary people, so do not be surprised at the power of pagan beliefs in the time of pre-Mongol Russia.
In addition to Shrovetide, manifestations of dual faith today are commemoration in the cemetery, when people themselves eat and “treat” the deceased.
Another famous holiday is Ivan Kupala Day, coinciding with the birth of John the Baptist.
A very interesting manifestation of pagan and Christian beliefs is presented in the calendar, where a name is added to the name of the saint, for example, Vasily Kapelnik, Ekaterina Sannitsa.
Thus, it should be recognized that dual faith in Russia, which was formed not without the participation of ancient Russian traditions, gave Orthodoxy on our Earth original features that were not devoid of their charm.