UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository)
English Translation of the Article by V.V. Proshak. Paganism in Ukraine: Its Beliefs, Encounter with Christianity, and Survival Translation of the Article from Russian into English Mykhalchuk, T.
Publication date 2006
Published in Theological Reflections License Unspecified Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA): Mykhalchuk, T. (2006). English Translation of the Article by V.V. Proshak. Paganism in Ukraine: Its Beliefs, Encounter with Christianity, and Survival: Translation of the Article from Russian into English. Theological Reflections, 7, 141-148.
General rights It is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons).
Disclaimer/Complaints regulations If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: https://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible.
UvA-DARE is a service provided by the library of the University of Amsterdam (https://dare.uva.nl)
Download date:28 Sep 2021 Paganism in Ukraine: Its Beliefs, Encounter with Christianity, and Survival
© V. Proshak, 2006 Vitaliy PROSHAK, Zaporozie, Ukraine
“…the past decade has seen a revival of neo!paganism in Ukraine…”1 his article presents an overview of Ukrainian paganism Tas the main pre!Christian religion in Ukraine, explains its encounter with Christianity, and evaluates the reasons for the rising interest in paganism in modern day Ukraine. The first part of the article shows that Ukrainian pagan beliefs could have a connection with ancient Asian religions because of trade routes from India and China to the Roman Empire that passed through the lands of modern day Ukraine. The second part of the article demonstrates that Ukraine was already partly Christian even before its official Christianization due to the missionary outreach of the apostle Andrew, Greek colonization, and the political Vitaliy Valentynovych influence of Byzantium and Rome. The third part of the Proshak is a researcher article presents a short overview of neo!paganism in in the Theological Department of Utrecht Ukraine and its international connections. The conclusion University, the of the article responds to the two main reasons for rising Netherlands, where he is interest in paganism in Ukraine: the issue of national pursuing his PhD in identity and the essence of Christianity itself. Philosophy of Religious Education. Before entering the doctoral Paganism in Ukraine program he received the Master of Divinity and As one of the world religions, paganism is, of course, Master of Evangelical present in Ukraine. It is impossible to say when paganism Theology degrees at “came” to Ukraine. However, neither are there sufficient Tyndale Theological historical sources indicating that paganism has always been Seminary in Amsterdam. He also works with in Ukraine. One thing is clear—according to the sixth cen! Zaporozhye Bible College tury Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea, paganism and Seminary in Ukraine is the main pre!Christian religion in Ukraine.2 where he received his Bachelor’s Degree and 1 Andrij Yurash, “Ukraine,” in Religions of the World, J. Gordon Melt! taught full time until on and Martin Baumann, eds., vol. 4, (Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC! June 2003 when he left CLIO, Inc.: 2002), 1321. to further his education. 2 Bohdan Kravtsiw and Bohdan Medwidsky, “Mythology,” Encyclopedia of Ukraine, n.d., 140 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #7, 2006 Paganism in Ukraine Pagan Beliefs in Ukraine tsi) and ancestor spirits,9 but still The Encyclopedia of Ukraine speaks held to its general description as a 10 of four main periods in the develop! polytheistic religion. ment of paganism in Ukraine. Arche! Scholars who have explored the ological investigations along the history of paganism in Ukraine cannot Dnieper, Don, and Dniester rivers re! explain the fact that there is a third vealed that the first inhabitants of phase in its development that is this land (3500!2700 BC) lived in large radically opposed to the previous two. villages with as many as 600!700 peo! Bohdan Kravtsiw and Bohdan ple, and had a “culture rich in magi! Medwidsky in their article in cal rituals and supernatural be! Ukrainian Mythology state that liefs.”3 The characteristic belief of during this phase paganism changed the earliest period was animism—the its nature from polytheistic animism 11 simple belief in the existence of su! to monotheism. This was the time pernatural beings4 which explains when all of the deities were organized death, dreams, visions, and natural in the doctrinal pantheon with Svaroh phenomena.5 Animism was expressed being the supreme god. Later, in Ukrainian paganism in the belief in however, the religious system was the existence of good (berehyni) and changed and Perun came on the scene, evil (upyry, demony) spirits,6 a prim! subdued Svaroh, and took authority itive form of ethno!religious dual! over the pantheon. ism.7 It should be noted that this devel! During this period the ancestors opment in the doctrines of paganism of the Ukrainian nation, the Cimme! from animism to Perun’s supremacy rians, as Homer in the Odyssey called does not mean that all other pagan the nation that lived on the northern gods were forgotten and not wor! shore of the Black Sea in the eighth shiped anymore. Development in doc! century BC,8 also worshiped a mythi! trines did not eliminate the previous cal hero!horseman. Animism devel! beliefs, but added to them the su! oped later this period into the worship premacy of a new god without neglect! of fertility gods (Rod and the rozhany! ing to worship to the old ones. AddButton=/pages/m/y/mythology.htm> (24 pages\P\A\Paganism.htm> (24 March 2006). March 2006). 7 H.B. Kuhn, “Dualism,” in Evangelical Dic! 3 Orest Subtelny, Ukraine: A History, (Toron! tionary of Theology, Walter A. Elwell, ed., 2nd to: University of Toronto Press, 1988), 6. ed., (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 4 Raymond Firth, “Animism,” in A New Dic! 2001), 357. tionary of Christian Theology, Alan Richard! 8 Subtelny, Ukraine, 9. son and John Bowden, eds. (London: SCM Press 9 Mushynka, “Paganism,” Encyclopedia of Ltd., 1983), 21. Ukraine. 5 D.A. Hu, “Animism,” in New Dictionary of 10 Ibid. Theology, Sinclair B. Ferguson and David F. 11 Bohdan Kravtsiw and Bohdan Medwidsky, Wright, eds. (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsi! “Mythology,” Encyclopedia of Ukraine, n.d., ty Press, 1988), 24. Theological Reflections #7, 2006 141 Vitaliy Proshak Table I: Names and Functions of Gods in Ukrainian Paganism Name Description Rod one of the fertility gods Svaroh12 god of sky, sun, and heavenly fire (thunder);13 identified with the Roman Vulcan14 Perun15 god of thunder, lightning, and rain, the ruler of the heavens, and later the god of war;16 the thunder god in the old Baltic religion17 Khors18 a god of the sun and the source of righteousness;19 the healer20 Dazhboh21 a god of the sun, the son of Svaroh; third after Perun and Khors;22 ancient Ukrainian people (Varangians and Polianians23 ) were called “the children of Dazhboh” Stryboh24 a god of the wind;25 however, Dictionary of Pagan Religions says that the functions of this pagan god are obscure;26 the counterpart of the Greek god Aeolus27 Mokosh28 a goddess of fertility, water, and women; related to Hecate and Aphrodite in classical mythology; Perun’s wife29 Unlike the Egyptians, Babylo! ganism in Encyclopedia of Ukraine nians, or Greeks, Ukrainian pagans did says that Ukrainians preferred to wor! not build huge temples for their gods. ship gods in open areas using altars Mykola Mushynka in his article on pa! built on the sacred places.30 Archeol! 12 Mushynka, “Paganism,” Encyclopedia of (24 March 2006). Ukraine. 20 Wedeck and Baskin, eds., Dictionary of Pa! 13 Mykola Mushynka, “Svaroh,” Encyclopedia gan Religions, s.v., “Khors,” 186. of Ukraine, n.d., 142 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #7, 2006 Paganism in Ukraine ogists have discovered several minor trines of Ukrainian paganism could and two major places of worship. represent an encounter with the be! One of the main altars was built liefs of these two ancient Asian cul! by the Grand Prince of Kyivan Rus’ tures. (the ancient name of Ukraine) Volod! These altars and places of worship ymyr the Great (956 – 1015) near his to pagan gods reflect the condition of palace in Kyiv, and was dedicated to the Ukrainian nation before the offi! Perun, Khors, Dazhboh, Stryboh, and cial “introduction” of Christianity. Mokosh in thanksgiving for the victo! ries he gained over the enemies of his The Encounter of Paganism country.31 and Christianity in Ukraine The second known place was built under a great sacred oak on Khortyt! Being relatively close to Christian sia Island (an island in the middle of Byzantium and having trade contacts the Dnieper near the city of Zapor! with Catholic Europe, Ukraine was izhzhia) and worshipers, mainly mer! open to outreach by missionaries from chants, sailed down the Dnieper Riv! both the Eastern and Western Chris! er to bring sacrifices there.32 Natalia tian churches and to the influence of Polonska!Vasylenko in her book new ideas from the Greek colonies on Ukraine!Rus’ and Western Europe in the northern shore of the Black Sea. the Tenth–Thirteenth Centuries says Wasyl Lencyk, in his article on the that some of those merchants could Christianization of Ukraine says that have been from as far away as India because of its favorable geographical and China, because the main trade location—close to the Black Sea and route between China and the Roman the Near East—Christianity was Empire went through Ukrainian known in the present territory of lands, crossing the Dnieper River near Ukraine as early as the first century 35 Kyiv.33 Also, Orest Subtelny in his AD. According to Orthodox tradi! book Ukraine: A History proves this tion, Andrew, one of the twelve apos! when he says that among the archeo! tles and the brother of Peter, was the logical discoveries on Ukrainian land first missionary in the lands of the are items of Asian origin: silk from northern shore of the Black Sea and 36 China, crystal from the Caucasus, and traveled along the Dnieper River. semiprecious stones from Iran and In! Later he was proclaimed the patron 37 dia.34 This being the case, the doc! saint of Ukraine. 31 Arkadii Zhukovsky, “Volodymyr the Great,” Encyclopedia of Ukraine, n.d., Theological Reflections #7, 2006 143 Vitaliy Proshak Later Ukrainian lands became not came a Christian and was baptized in just the place for the popes’ exiles, 955.39 but also for the popes’ visitations. At After these events, the “war” for the end of the tenth century, the Ukraine started between Rome and Grand Prince of Kyivan Rus’, the Byzantium and Kyiv became the same Volodymyr the Great who built place of visitations from these two altars for pagan gods, considered the Christian camps. Natalia Polonska! possibility of conversion to Christian! Vasylenko says that there were three ity. It is difficult to say whether it missions from Rome to Kyiv (in 979, was from pure belief or merely a po! 991, and 1000) and two missions from litical move, but in 987 Volodymyr Kyiv to Rome (in 992 and 1001).40 In the Great was baptized, and in 988 he addition to this, at approximately the forced the whole nation to reject the same period there were numerous ex! old gods and be baptized in the Dniep! peditions from Eastern Byzantium. er River.38 If it was a faith decision, Having chosen the Eastern liturgy, then there is a question of who influ! Ukraine still kept a friendly relation! enced him more: his friend Olaf Tryg! ship with Rome. Later Kyiv became gvason the First, King of Norway, or an advance point for Western monks one of his Christian wives, or his returning to Rome from missions in grandmother Olha, princess of Kyivan the eastern and northern lands.41 Rus’ from 945!957, who herself be! Table II: Christianization of Ukraine Method Example Missionary Outreach Visits of St. Andrew, Roman clerics, missionaries from Byzantium, Colonization Greek colonies on the northern shore of the Black Sea Political Influence Economic, political, and family relation! ships with western and eastern countries However, it should be noted that beliefs, customs, and holidays of tra! paganism was not completely re! ditional branches of the Christian moved by traditional Christianity church in Ukraine. The chart below from the religious life in Ukraine. Pa! shows the pagan holidays united with ganism, partially merged with Chris! religious holidays of the traditional tian doctrines, is still present in some church in Ukraine. 38 Lencyk, “Christianization of Ukraine,” En! April 2006). cyclopedia of Ukraine. 40 Natalia Polonska!Vasylenko, Ukraine!Rus’ 39 Mykhailo Zhdan and Arkadii Zhukovsky, and Western Europe in the Tenth –Thirteenth “Ol’ha,” Encyclopedia of Ukraine, n.d., 144 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #7, 2006 Paganism in Ukraine Table III: Pagan Holidays Adapted by Christianity42 Paganism Christianity Perun: the god of thunder, lightning Saint Elijah Veles: the old Slavic god of cattle, Saint George: protector of agricul! wealth, and trade turists, one who blesses the fields Kupalo: translated from Old Slavonic Saint John the Baptist language, meaning “the one who washes” Equinox: the winter holiday, the return Christmas of the sun or the commen!cement of the agricultural year ‘Great Day’ (Velykden’): the spring Easter festival, beginning of life after the winter Rosalia: the festival of the return of the The Descent of the Holy Spirit dead in the form of spirits Neo-Paganism in Ukraine According to the website Neo!Pagan! of the Ukrainian Native Faith “Pra! ism in Central Eastern Europe, the voslavya,” which was founded in Kyiv founder of the new pagan movement in 199344 and, interestingly, uses the in modern day Ukraine was Volody! same name as the Eastern Orthodox myr Shayan who was born in L’viv in Church. The founder of the Society of 1908.43 After World War II he immi! the Ukrainian Native Faith considers grated to London where his continued the Orthodox Church45 to be a thief work influenced the Ukrainian pagan and accuses it of stealing this name to movement and promoted the founding “deceive the faithful during the first of the strongest pagan organization in centuries following conversion to the Ukraine: the Union of Ukrainian In! Christian religion.”46 digenous Faithful. Presently this or! These two major pagan organiza! ganization publishes a monthly mag! tions are members of European pagan azine, Svaroh. organizations and have connections The second most influential pagan with worldwide federations of pagan! organization in Ukraine is the Society ism. 42 Mushynka, “Paganism,”Encyclopedia of 45 The English transliteration of the Russian Ukraine. word “Orthodox” is pravoslavya, which trans! 43 Neo!Paganism in Central Eastern Europe, lated from Russian means “one who praises God “Ukraine,” n.d., Theological Reflections #7, 2006 145 Vitaliy Proshak Table IV: Beliefs of the Society of the Ukrainian Native Faith “Pravoslavya”47 Doctrines Explanation God Immortal, with multiple identities and names: “The ancient God of our faith is Svaroh, the high God of the universe, the heavenly zodiac. His sons are Dazhboh, Perun, Veles, Sryboh, Yarylo, Khors, Lado, Kupajlo, Symarhl, Pozvizd, Pereplut and others. His daughters are Lada, Leiya, Kupala, Dana, Perunystya, Mokosha, Kolyada and others.” Holy The Book of Veles, written in the fifth century on oaken Scriptures boards Trinity “Reflected in the idea of the sacred Tree of Life: the roots of of existence this tree reach to underground depth (the universe of the ancestors); the trunk and branches symbolize the manifestation of Life (the Universe of living people).” Nature “The main idea of our Faith is to obtain a better knowledge of Nature and the Universe and to praise our Gods for the happiness in our lives.” Evaluation of Paganism in Ukraine As was said above, the last ten years Many people confuse paganism with in Ukraine was a decade of rising in! national identity and call for a return terest in paganism.48 Paganism was to paganism in order to discover this in Ukraine before the coming of Chris! lost native religion and to deny “for! tianity; paganism survived and ad! eign” religion. However, people who justed to this new religion after its hold this opinion forget that Ukraine coming; and paganism is experiencing was partly Christian even before the a revival in Ukraine now. official Christianization of Ukraine in That paganism is experiencing a 988!989 because of the missionary revival in Ukraine means that there outreach of the apostle Andrew and are some needs in the hearts and minds the spread of beliefs from the Greek of people that have not been met by colonies on the northern shore of the Christianity. The brief research in Black Sea. Therefore national identi! this article shows that there are two ty does not equal paganism. main reasons why paganism is The second reason for rising inter! growing in Ukraine. est in paganism concerns the essence The first reason for rising inter! of Christianity itself. In some cases est in paganism concerns the national Christianity has failed to keep the identity of the Ukrainian people. pure Christian doctrine and has adopt! 47 Society of the Ukrainian Native Faith “Pra! Ukraine/> (2 April 2006). voslavya,” World Congress of Ethnic Religions, 48 Yurash, “Ukraine,” Religions of the World, n.d., 146 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #7, 2006 Paganism in Ukraine ed pagan traditions, forms, and be! fore, Christianity is not based on pa! liefs; because of this many people see ganism. paganism as a foundation of Christian! The situation with paganism in ity and call for a return to the spiri! Ukraine waits for Christians to tual roots of the true religion. How! respond. If Christianity will not ever, people who hold this view either provide an answer to these two forget, or do not know at all, that it is questions—national identity and the not the doctrine of any particular essence of Christianity—then many church that defines the core of Chris! people will perceive this silence as a tianity, but the Bible. The Bible does positive answer and the partial not have any traditions, forms, and failure of Christianity. beliefs adopted from paganism. There! Bibliography Attridge, Harold W. “St. Andrew.” The David F. Wright. Downers Grove, Ill.: Harpercollins Encyclopedia of InterVarsity Press, 1988. Catholicism. Edited by Richard P. Kravtsiw, Bohdan and Bohdan Medwidsky. McBrien. New York: HarperCollins “Mythology.” Encyclopedia of Publishers, 1995. Ukraine, n.d. Theological Reflections #7, 2006 147 Vitaliy Proshak Polonska!Vasylenko, Natalia. Ukraine!Rus Polytheistic Religion, From the Stone and Western Europe in the Tenth! Age to the Present. S.v., “Khors,” Thirteenth Centuries. London: “Perun,” “Stribog,” “Svaroh.” Secaucus, Ukrainian Publishers Ltd., 1964 N.J.: The Citadel Press, 1973. Shevelov, G.Y. “Rus.” Encyclopedia of Yurash, Andrij. “Ukraine.” Religions of Ukraine, n.d. 148 Áîãîñëîâñêèå ðàçìûøëåíèÿ #7, 2006