Slavic beliefs are considered much older than Christian ones. This is evidenced at least by the fact that, according to the Slavic calendar, the year 7523 has come, and according to the Christian - 2015 from the Nativity of the Savior. The host of gods in the ancient Russian tradition (or, as it is commonly called, the pagan pantheon) in general terms corresponds to other similar pantheons of pagans of various peoples, personifying natural phenomena and the influence of the elements. It is headed by the formidable and omnipotent Perun, and people are traditionally perceived as “children of Perun.”
Who is this?
This god is mentioned as the dominant one in The Tale of Bygone Years. The etymology of the nickname goes back to the verb forms “to shove” - “to hit, beat”. Actually, Perun can be translated as "the one who beats, strikes", "striking with thunder or lightning." By the way, in Polish, for example, "perun" is "thunder".
Resemblance to similar gods
In this regard, Perun is usually compared with other similar Indo-European gods, Zeus the Thunderer,For example. And the children of Perun, according to the Greeks, also sacrificed animals to the formidable Deity and performed other religious rites. Echoes of paganism survived into the later Christian era. So, on the day of Elijah the Prophet (who replaced the Thunderer at the Christian military post), peasants usually slaughtered cattle. The children of Perun worshiped Him in every possible way, setting up idols on open elevations, the soldiers swore allegiance to Him.
Perun and Veles
Traditionally, these two deities were opposed among the Slavs. Perun was identified with war and weapons, Volos was rather a "home" god, responsible for trade and values. Perun favored the squad and the ruling elite more, and Veles favored the common people.
Rodnoverie
It is also - Rodoverie, Rodobozhie, Native Faith. This Russian neo-pagan neo-religious movement aims to revive the pre-Christian traditions of the Slavs. Ancient knowledge of ancestors is recognized as sacred, rituals and customs, clothes and names, way of existence and thinking are reconstructed. The leaders of the movement are revered as wise men, who are given "truly Slavic" names: Radomir, Svyatozar, Ogneyar and the like. The most revered holidays are the Slavic New Year, Ivan Kupala. They practice the Slavic-Goritsky wrestling as the original form of the battle of the Slavs. A popular community is the community union "Velesov Krug". Tellingly, according to opinion polls in 2013, 1.5% of Russians considered themselves fans and followers of the "forces of Nature"!
Ynglings - children of Perun
Each, even a very old faith, of course, there are followers. The successors of Slavic beliefs, dating back to the distant past of mankind, are now referred to as the Inglings, or the children of Perun. They also have their own church. The united religious movement was created in Omsk (called Asgard by the representatives of the old faith) and has nothing to do with another pagan movement - Rodnoverie. As one of the symbols of the church, a kolovrat resembling a swastika is used, which led to some misunderstanding on the part of the authorities.
Essence of the doctrine
Inglia is a divine fire, with the help of which the existing world appeared. Human ancestors lived in another world, and then moved to the planet Earth (Midgard). Here humanity developed on the continent, which subsequently sank, located in those ancient times at the North Pole. Later (more than 100 thousand years ago) people moved to Belovodie (near the Irtysh). Here they are experiencing the ice age and the destruction of the second satellite of the Earth - Fatta. The Ynglings created the Book of Veles, which describes their victories (including over China in 5508) and life in past times. It is considered important to honor all the ancestors, by which, in fact, the gods are understood. Here Perun acts as the god of the planet Jupiter.
Community "Children of Perun"
Representatives of the Old Believers-Ynglings also have their own communities (for example, in Pyatigorsk, Essentuki). They are engaged in conducting Old Slavonic ancient Russian rites, folk holidays. Faith of ancestors is cultivated. "Children of Perun" invite toits ranks of new adepts.
Relationship with Christianity
I must say that, despite the traditional persecution and mutual accusations of individual representatives of both religions, the relationship between them as a whole has developed quite well. Thus, the Ynglings recognize the significance of Christ and Mohammed, and revere some Christian saints in their own way. But both the Rodnovers and the Ynglings-children of Perun consider themselves top-priority, chosen in the eyes of God.
In fairness it should be noted, however, that such versions of the origin of being and humanity are controversial and are not recognized either by representatives of other world religions or scientists. And the "inglings", in fact, in the explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language are defined as a dynasty of rulers - mythical and historical - in the Scandinavian countries.
