Election of the victim of Perun (25/07)

Perun, not without reason, was considered the main deity of the pagan pantheon of the Eastern Slavs. He was considered the patron saint of warriors and knights and was glorified in the days of victory and made sacrifices, wanting to achieve military success. It was also believed that Perun was subject to the elements of nature and some areas of human life.

Perun — is, first of all, the god of thunderstorms, thunder, and he is also closely connected in addition to fire with the cult of water, wood and stone. He was considered the founder of heavenly fire, which, descending to earth, gives life. With the onset of spring warmth, it fertilizes the earth with rains and brings clear sun from behind the clouds. Through his efforts, the world seems to be born again every time.

People believed that Perun, walking in the white world, willingly took on the appearance of the forest bull Tur, so the bull is considered a sacred animal of Perun. Its flower was considered blue iris (six purple-blue petals, thunder sign).

Sanctuaries of Perun were set up in the open air. They were in the shape of a flower: in those sanctuaries excavated by archaeologists, there are usually eight « petals», but in ancient times, according to scientists, there were six of them. «The petals» were pits in which unquenchable sacred fires burn. In the middle there was a sculptural image of Perun. An altar was placed in front of the image of God, usually in the form of a stone ring, where offerings were folded and sacrificial blood was shed.

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