Rodnovery

Origins

Rodnovery, also called Slavic Native Faith, is a family of modern movements that seek to revive the pre-Christian religion of the Slavic peoples. Early versions appeared in the 1930s and 1940s in Poland and Ukraine, and the movement grew strongly after the end of communism in the 1990s in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech lands and other countries.

The evidence is thin. Most of it comes from medieval chronicles written by Christian authors, from later folklore and from archaeology. Sources include the account of the idols set up in Kyiv around 980 and the later campaign of conversion. Scholars are cautious about what can be reconstructed, and Rodnovery draws on folk customs to fill gaps.

Beliefs and values

Rodnovers honour gods such as Perun, the god of thunder, Veles, linked to cattle and the underworld in many accounts, and Mokosh, a goddess associated with women and the earth. They also honour ancestors, household spirits and the spirits of forests and waters.

Practice is often outdoors, with offerings of food and drink, and many groups emphasise community, tradition and connection to the land. Beliefs and customs differ widely between groups and countries.

Timeline

c. 980

Prince Vladimir sets up idols of several gods at Kyiv, according to the Primary Chronicle.

988

Vladimir accepts Christianity for Kievan Rus.

1930s

Early revival movements appear in Poland and Ukraine.

1990s

Rodnover groups grow rapidly after the end of communism.

Key terms

Perun

The god of thunder and lightning.

Veles

A god often linked to cattle, magic and the underworld.

Mokosh

A goddess associated with women, spinning and the earth.

volkhv

A name for a priest or ritual leader in some modern groups.

Kupala night

Midsummer, marked with bonfires, wreaths and water.

How it keeps the festivals

Many Rodnovers mark Kolyada around the winter solstice, Maslenitsa at the end of winter, Kupala night at midsummer and festivals for the harvest. Several of these survived in Slavic folk custom after Christianisation, often with Christian names attached, so groups often rely on folklore for their forms.

See the Wheel of the Year and the glossary.

Where to read

• Kaarina Aitamurto, Paganism, Traditionalism, Nationalism: Narratives of Russian Rodnoverie, Routledge
• Judith Kalik and Alexander Uchitel, Slavic Gods and Heroes, Routledge
• The Russian Primary Chronicle, Laurentian Text, Cross and Sherbowitz-Wetzor (trans.), Medieval Academy of America
• Francis Dvornik, The Slavs: Their Early History and Civilization

Cautions

Be careful with sources. The so-called Book of Veles is a 20th-century forgery and should not be treated as an ancient text. Some Rodnover groups are linked to extreme nationalism or racism, and others strongly oppose it. Look closely at what a group says and does before taking part.