Today, the world's leading religions are monotheistic. In other words, they are based on faith in a single God. But once monotheism was a rarity, and most nations believed in many higher powers. Monotheism before the spread of Christianity was among the ancient Jews, and even then in certain periods of existence
of this people. Other nations revered many higher powers, including the Slavs. Unfortunately, not so much information about the faith of our old ancestors has been preserved in our time. It is known that the Slavic pantheon of gods included many bright characters. For example, Yarilu, Svetovita, Kupaylu, Kolyada, personifying the sun. But the Slavic pantheon of gods also contained "functional" characters: Semargla, the lord of death, Veles - the lord of the departed to another world, the
god Perun, whose activities made him something like the Greek thunderer Zeus, and Stribog - the owner of the wind.
Interestingly, all the celestials worshiped by our ancestors were considered one
family. The Slavic pantheon of gods came from the Sort. He was the ancestor of the remaining supernatural beings and the Slavs themselves, according to their beliefs. In other words, there was a supreme being, the remaining celestials were his assistants. The entire Slavic pantheon of gods resembles a family tree. Ancestor - Rod, his sons - Lada, Semargl, Makosh, Svarog. Grandchildren were Dazhdbog, Yarilo and Horse. The next generation is people. Many
Slavic tribes considered themselves children of Dazhdbog. The lowest level of this hierarchy is gobbies, bath houses, brownies, kikimors, mermaids and other
mythical creatures. The Slavic pantheon of gods contained characters whose vital activity was associated with solar activity. For example, Khors was revered in the period beginning with the winter solstice and ending with the
spring equinox.
The most famous of these deities was Yarilo. Our distant ancestors associated their faith in no small measure with the Sun, which they revered. This explains the presence of "solar deities." The Slavic swastika, known as the Kolovrat, symbolized the Sun.
The pantheon of Slavic
pagan gods, basically, consisted of light, good powers. But the dualism of the vision of the world was characteristic of most peoples, and ours is no exception. The Slavs revered Belbog (Svetovit) as the guardian of good, truth, purity. However, in their mythology there was an antipode to him. Chernobog is the patron of dark forces. Both participated in the activities and life of nature.
Veles was known as the patron saint of animals and plants. In general, he personified all the forces of nature. They tried to appease him in order to increase livestock and crop.
The 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 relationship with people.
Some of the lexicology will help to understand the faith of the Slavs more widely. The word "god" in ancient times did not mean a certain omnipotent and supernatural beginning. It was used in the sense of "luck, happiness, share." This word has kept this meaning for a long time. Hence, apparently, the wise statement attributed to A. Nevsky: "God is not in power, but in truth."