Slavic Paganism. From Perun and Veles to the Cult of the Bear and the Chicken God

The book explores Slavic paganism using facts and reconstructions, offering versions of lost traditions while leaving room for personal conclusions. Eastern Slavic paganism is full of mysteries, where the meaning of each myth, ritual, and god’s name requires detailed research. Due to a shortage of sources, knowledge has to be gathered in small pieces, reconstructing beliefs from scattered facts and mentions. The reader learns what a Slavic pantheon might have looked like, why Perun and Veles are not simply “gods of thunder and livestock,” how pagan elements hide within Christian holidays, and why the “Veles Book” is a literary hoax rather than a historical document. The book is intended for lovers of Russian history and mythology, for those who want to understand more deeply the life and beliefs of the ancient Slavs, and for everyone who seeks a holistic picture of Slavic paganism.