Slavic beliefs are considered much older than Christian. This is evidenced even by the fact that, according to the Slavic calendar, the year 7523 has come, and according to Christianity , the 2015th since the Nativity of the Savior. The host of the gods in the old Russian tradition (or, as it is commonly called, the pagan pantheon) in general terms corresponds to other similar pantheons of pagans of various nations, 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 that?
This god is mentioned as dominant in the "Tale of Bygone Years." The etymology of the nickname goes back to the verb forms “to shout” - “to strike, to beat”. Actually, Perun can be translated as “he who strikes, strikes”, “smashes with thunder or lightning.” By the way, in the Polish language, for example, “perun” this is “thunder”.
Similarities with similar gods
In this regard, Perun is usually customary to compare with other similar Indo-European gods, Zeus the Thunderer, for example. And the children of Perun, according to the testimony of the Greeks, also sacrificed animals to the formidable Deity and performed other religious rites. The echoes of paganism survived in the later Christian era. So, on the day of Elijah the prophet (who replaced the Thunderer at a Christian military post), peasants usually slaughtered cattle. The children of Perun worshiped Him in every possible way, setting idols on the open heights, the soldiers swore allegiance to Him.
Perun and Veles
Traditionally, these two deities were contrasted among the Slavs. Perun was identified with war and weapons, Volos was more of a "home" god, responsible for trade and values. Perun favored the squad and the ruling elite, while Veles favored the common people.
Rodnoverie
It is - Rodoverie, Godhead, Native Faith. This Russian neo-religious movement of the neo-pagan plan aims to revive the pre-Christian traditions of the Slavs. Ancient knowledge of ancestors is recognized as sacred, rites and customs, clothes and names, a way of being and thinking are reconstructed. Leaders of the movement are revered as magi, who are assigned the "truly Slavic" names: Radomir, Svyatozar, Ogneyar and the like. The most revered holidays are the Slavic New Year of Ivan Kupala. They practice the Slavic-Goritsky struggle as the original type of battle of the Slavs. A popular community is the Velesov Krug community union. What is characteristic, according to opinion polls in 2013, 1.5% of Russians considered themselves fans and followers of the “forces of Nature”!
Englings - children of Perun
Each, even a very old faith, of course, has followers. The successors of Slavic beliefs that go back to the distant past of mankind are now referred to as Inglings, or children of Perun. They have their own church. The united religious movement was created in Omsk (called the representatives of the old faith Asgard) and is not related to another pagan movement - Rodnover. As one of the symbols of the church, a Kolovrat resembling a swastika is used, which led to a misunderstanding, in part, from the authorities.
Essence of learning
England is the divine fire by which the existing world appeared. The ancestors of man lived in another world, and then moved to the planet Earth (Midgard). Here humanity developed on the continent, subsequently sunken, located in those ancient times at the North Pole. Later (more than 100 thousand years ago) people moved to Belovodye (near the Irtysh). It is experiencing an ice age and the destruction of the second satellite of the Earth - Fatta. The Englings created the Veles book, which describes their victories (including over China in 5508) and life in past times. The veneration of all ancestors is considered important, by which, in fact, the gods are understood. Here, Perun acts as the god of the planet Jupiter.
Community "Children of Perun"
The representatives of the Old Believers-Inglings have their own communities (for example, in Pyatigorsk, Essentuki). They are engaged in conducting Old Slavonic Old Russian rites, national holidays. The faith of ancestors is cultivated. "Children of Perun" invite new adherents to their ranks.
Relations 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 worship in their own way some Christian saints. But both the Rodnover and the Yingling children of Perun consider themselves the primary ones 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 by scientists. And "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.