#slavic beliefs

[royalfilm]

If anyone has resources on upper Silesian folk magic or folk beliefs, I am desperate for some! They are hard to come by in English but ones that can be translated would be amazing

[landfilloftrash]

earlier beliefs had the butterfly symbolizing a departed soul

I figure him and his beloved’s soul might have had a few instances like this

[weirdnerdygoat]

I don't think that Christianity adopting earlier customs and beliefs is bad necessarily? Like I'm saying this from the perspective of someone from Ireland, where the conversion to Christianity was relatively peaceful and voluntary, and a LOT of older customs were adopted into Christian tradition. Obviously, it would differ depending on the area and how conversion played out there.

I actually think it's quite beautiful that there's a continuum of tradition dating from ancient times, (despite enjoying dunking on Christianity, and being frustrated that earlier Irish religions and beliefs are mostly lost).

Looking at it from the smaller scale, it makes a lot of sense that individuals would convert to Christianity but still keep their previous customs, (my non-christian family still celebrates a lot of Christian traditions, like there isn't anything unusual about keeping customs), and because of that being often allowed Christianity managed to spread so easily.

I'm not sure what my point exactly is, but basically Christianity taking other religions' traditions and assimilating them isn't bad. We all know Christianity has a LOT of problems, (similarly to most large and influential institutions), but I don't think adapting to other cultures is one of them.

(Though pointing out the history of such traditions is always good imo!)

(And of course, this isn't too say that there aren't any christian-origin traditions. Obviously the Easter eggs aren't, but I'm sure there's other stuff, I just know very little about religions lol. However, I'd assume that most traditions come from SOMEWHERE, like they rarely just spontaneously start with no prior precedent. Same with Pagan religions, I'd assume that their traditions also date back to earlier cultures.)

Not everything the Christians do is stolen from some anonymous pagan culture. I'm sorry y'all but the Christians did actually come up with a bunch of shit on their own.

[szczekaczz]

i have to learn more about belarus

[lilshoots]

Finished another wip, you could say :P

Context:

In Ukraine, you give a buqet with an even number of flowers only to those who passed away. (the tradition dates beck to the slavic pagan beliefs. Even numbers were the personification of evil, and the even number of flowers meant the end of the life cycle. Therefore, it brought troubles to the family and death.)

My younger self was so shocked and horrified watching foreign movies in which the guy gave the girl he likes a buqet of paired flowers. Like, why would you do this? Do you want her dead??? That's six flowers. Just add one more. Wait... Why are you giving these 4 flowers to your mother??

So, yeah. I thought it would blend well into the Senju/Uchiha cultural differences

P.S. Tobirama clearly knew about these cultural differences. He just believed in Madara's brain too much, thinking he knew them too. He just thought Madara gave him these frowers to mess with him:P

[hawke]

In ancient Slavic beliefs, the cycle of death and rebirth plays a prominent role. This is why the death of the Goddess Morana at the end of each winter is also considered the rebirth of Spring. Each year, a ritual is held to celebrate the arrival of Spring, during which the participants sing traditional songs and throw effigies of Morana into the water. However, only those skilled in the art of thaumaturgy know that there's more to these rituals than meets the eye. This is because Morana is also a powerful Salutor, but she is not easy to meet. You can try to find her lurking just beneath the water's surface, waiting to take a surprised victim into her cold and deadly embrace.

[writingwithcolor]

WritingWithColor FAQ: Why do I need to be so specific with my character’s identity?

We often receive this question from people whose asks have been rejected because the terms they used were not helpful. Consider racial/ethnic terms associated with regions like:

“Native American” / “Indigenous”

“Pacific Islander” / “Pasifika”

“Asian”

“African”

“Hispanic” / “Latin American” / “Latino/e/x”

“Middle Eastern”

“Slavic” / “Siberian”

“Nordic”

These are common but overly broad demographic terms meant to be used by governments for convenience and record-keeping purposes. In other contexts, these terms cover far too wide of a range of nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities to be informative. For example, while “Native American” is often used as catch-all term for every Native nation across the US, this encompasses a very large continent’s worth of cultural variety. You could not accurately portray a Native person unless you knew their specific tribe’s stereotypes, beliefs, customs, and day to day lives.

These terms can also be relative or vague when used alone. “Indigenous” is even broader, and covers any native inhabitant of a region anywhere in the globe, having the potential to cause confusion if it is used to refer to Native American identities.

---

This Q&A is an excerpt from our General FAQ for Newcomers, which can be found in our new Masterpost of rules and FAQs. If you're looking to send us an ask about your own writing, go there first!

-Writing With Color

[wilddogsdivorce]

EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL!! and we did some errands too, on top of the meeting :D

going to my first library meeting after the move while feeling physically unwell. wish me luck

[travelingbandit]

My biggest hot take: I do not believe an author should be using mythology and religion (or even culture) to make things marketable and easily relatable (by popular reference) for a reader. Let me explain:

My biggest problem with SJM is that she continuously takes from religions and mixes and matches them in ways they should never be matched, and will disrespect both religions in the process. She will pass sacred terms off as her own, or use it to fill the holes in shitty world building. Forgive me but I do NOT think that real religions should be filling the holes of fantasy world building.

This is coming from a Pagan of course, but I’ve compiled an entire list of atrocities SJM has put together. This ranges anywhere from combining so religions that should never mix, using a traumatic sacred part of a religion and using it as a plot device in a random fantasy world, or even using something from a closed practice.

I bring this up especially now because I’ve seen certain types of fans who tend to enjoy making fun of mythologies, and dismissing the views of people who practice those beliefs because “they don’t believe in that religion, it’s fake, so why should they acknowledge someone’s frustration?”. I’ve had so many people tell me “that religion isn’t real, get over it, [insert author, usually SJM] is actually a genius for combining these mythologies”! Like I’m sorry, pardon me if I don’t think a creature from closed Indigenous practices should be mixed with Slavic deities and Celtic/Gaelic folklore.

It all boils down to empathy on the end of fans, and it boils down to actually putting in effort when it comes to authors.

And of course this is definitely not to say you can’t have mythology in your stories if it serves a purpose. I just think it’s so incredibly lazy to mix and match mythologies and slap them together and call that your world building.

And for those of you who want to tell me that SJM got a degree in world religions or whatever the hell:

That is not an excuse for lazy fucking writing. Not only is it not an excuse, it’s an insult to authors who also study the same thing, put in the work, and really produce excellent material regarding those mythologies or folklore.

Thjs is why I don’t trust people who say they like ACOTAR over The Folk Of The Air Series. Because what do you mean you prefer a poorly mashed up plot held together by a piece of string than a really fascinating depiction of fae folklore and its effect on humans? Wild to me. Fucking wild.

[pagan-stitches]

Morana is Reborn

“You are the lady of life, the mother of the whole world,

You are the pregnant lady, the mother of the sun,

Wherever you set foot, rye is born,

You make the hearts of men and animals beat.”

—Lelek, Marzanna (translated from Polish)

I drown her on St. Matthew’s Day (Feb. 24th), and then set about restructuring the altar into a bower for her to be reborn.

Spring embroideries were hung backwards, and the new Morana (inspired by @zarya-zaryanitsa ‘s beautiful dolly) veiled until Spring arrived. I had decided that this year I was not going to be constrained by the calendar, but rather do things that felt seasonally appropriate for the southern region in which I live—a region where spring comes earlier than the northern lands of my ancestors.

Yesterday on my St. Gregory’s Day mini-pilgrimage around our land I came upon the first new leaves of the year and decided this was the sign that I was waiting for.

The drowning of Morana (or Marzanna, or Marena, or Mara, or Smrtka . . . ) is an old Slavic tradition and the beginning of my devotional year.  Traditionally in the Czech Republic, on the fourth or fifth Sunday of Lent, depending on the region, an effigy of the goddess is thrown into the river to drown; sometimes she is also burned.  We know that people have been drowning effigies of the goddess since at least 1420, when it was forbidden by the Catholic church, but probably for much longer.  It is a misconception by many that Morana is only a goddess of winter and death.

“However, many historical sources and traces of her cult (particularly in the West Slavic beliefs) show clearly that the cold winter is only one of the faces of this goddess. After getting rid of the winter effigy, another similar one was being brought up in a procession around the villages and fields - it was a symbol of spring, the same goddess being reborn after the winter phase and waking up nature’s vital strength for the upcoming growing season. Many of such informations survived in countless folk songs and rituals.” --Lamus Dworski

My Spring Morana ritual is two fold. First I drown a dolly that I made the Spring before in the creek that I use as a sacred space for many of my rituals. Then I carry a decked out dolly back up to the house who represents the goddess reborn—and who will be drown the following year.

I was excited to place the Sun Goddess Tapestry, completed last summer, upon the altar for the first time for the light half of the year. During the winter season she was hung at Midwinter through Three King’s day to celebrate her rebirth, but then removed until I hung her backwards on St. Matthew’s Day to await the arrival of spring.

@goodfolkbelow @msgraveyarddirt

[lilu787788]

One of the things I love most about Aleksander is… his name. It’s not only beautiful and proud, but also carries a deep essence. Derived from the Greek Alexandros, meaning “defender of the people,” it’s not simply a label, but a destiny for Sasha. In my Slavic culture, names are deeply significant, and Aleksander is no exception. His name alone is a testament to who he is, a leader who stands against the tides of violence from Fjerda and Shu, protecting his people and Ravka from those who would destroy them. Like his historical namesake, Alexander the Great, Aleksander is a brilliant strategist and visionary. Just as the ancient conqueror carved out an empire in the belief of unification, Aleksander dreams of a Ravka where Grisha are no longer hunted, where they are not slaves or weapons, but a people with dignity and strength. I see how these parallels run deep, because both men are conquerors, not for the sake of conquest, but for something greater. Aleksander’s battles are not fought out of arrogance or blind ambition, but out of necessity. In his world, fighting means survival, and command means protection. Although history remembers Alexander the Great for the empire he built, what truly made him great was his ability to inspire unwavering loyalty, to make those who followed him believe in something greater than themselves. Aleksander inspires such devotion, too, not through fear, but through his relentless pursuit of a world where Grisha no longer has to live in the shadows, where he is no longer at the mercy of kings and tyrants who see him as nothing more than a subhuman. His name, his legacy, is not that of a tyrant, but of a guardian, someone who bears the burden of impossible choices so that his people can have a future. And the most beautiful thing is that he fights not for himself, but for those who have no one to fight for them. For me, the name Aleksander is more than a collection of letters. For me, it will always be associated with Aleksander Morozova the eternal warrior, the eternal defender, the eternal shadow who protects his people from the storm.

[hayatheauthor]

How To Write Vampires With An Original Twist 

Mythical creatures are an essential part of the fictional scene, but the same creatures have been used so many times that these creatures now often seem redundant and boring in fiction. This is why I've started a new blog series: How To Create Original Mythical Creatures. I'm kicking off this series with vampires!

Join me as we dive into the world of vampires, from their mythical beginnings to their modern-day interpretations, and learn how to write them effectively in your own narratives.

Origins of Vampires

Vampires have a rich and diverse history rooted in ancient folklore and legends. Across various cultures and civilizations, tales of bloodsucking creatures have emerged, each with unique characteristics and behaviors.

One of the earliest known vampire myths comes from ancient Mesopotamia, where stories of blood-drinking demons known as Lilitu or Lamashtu date back to around 3000 BCE. These entities were believed to prey on humans, particularly targeting children and pregnant women.

In ancient Greece, the Lamia was a mythical creature often depicted as a female vampire who lured and devoured children. Similarly, in Roman mythology, the Strix or Strigoi were vampiric entities that fed on blood and flesh.

Moving forward in history, Slavic folklore introduced the concept of the Upyr, a vampire-like creature that rose from the dead to feed on the living. These early depictions of vampires often portrayed them as revenants or undead beings with a thirst for human blood.

Modern-Day Vampires: Where Were They Originated? 

The modern concept of vampires, as we commonly know them today, took shape during the European Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Legends of vampires emerged in Eastern Europe, with notable figures like Vlad the Impaler contributing to the folklore. Vlad's reputation for cruelty and his association with impaling enemies on stakes led to the creation of the vampire archetype, inspiring Bram Stoker's iconic character, Count Dracula.

From ancient Mesopotamia to medieval Europe, vampire lore has evolved and adapted, weaving its way into popular culture and literature. Understanding the origins of vampires provides writers with a rich tapestry of mythology to draw upon when crafting their own bloodsucking creatures.

I wanted to go into more detail regarding the Lamashtu and Lamia since they’re not as well known as their Slavic and European counterparts, but unfortunately, that would deviate from the purpose of this blog. 

The Evolution Of Vampiric Appearances 

Before we proceed with this section, it's crucial to clarify that the mythical creatures and beings discussed in this blog are not direct representations of ancient vampires. Instead, they serve as inspirations for the concept of vampires and share certain attributes with our modern-day depictions, including blood-feeding, pale skin, human-like appearance with some animalistic features, and so on.

Vampiric Creatures In Mythology

In ancient mythology, vampiric entities were not always depicted as the suave, charming figures we see in modern vampire tales. Instead, they often embodied primal fears and monstrous traits.

Lamia: In Greek mythology, Lamia was a terrifying creature depicted as a woman with a serpentine lower body. She was known for her insatiable hunger for children, often depicted as a child-eating monster. Lamia's appearance combined elements of human and serpent, emphasizing her monstrous nature and predatory instincts.

Lamashtu: In Mesopotamian mythology, Lamashtu was a malevolent demon who preyed on pregnant women and newborns. She was depicted with a fearsome appearance, often described as having the head of a lion, the body of a donkey, and bird-like talons. Lamashtu's grotesque features and destructive tendencies reflected ancient beliefs about the dangers of childbirth and infancy.

Lilitu: In Mesopotamian and Jewish folklore, Lilitu or Lilith was often associated with nocturnal demons or spirits. She was depicted as a seductive, winged demoness who preyed on men and newborns. Lilitu's appearance varied across different myths but often included features like wings, long hair, and sometimes talons, emphasizing her otherworldly and dangerous nature.

Strix: In Roman and Greek mythology, the Strix was a bird-like creature or vampiric owl associated with dark omens and death. It was believed to be a shape-shifting creature that could transform into a woman or an owl. The Strix's appearance combined avian and human features, instilling fear and dread in those who encountered it.

Strigoi and Upyr: In Eastern European folklore, Strigoi and Upyr were blood-sucking undead creatures similar to modern-day vampires. Strigoi were believed to be restless spirits or revenants that returned from the dead to torment the living. Upyr, on the other hand, were vampire-like beings with sharp fangs and a penchant for drinking blood. Both creatures were depicted as pale, gaunt, and often with elongated canines, reflecting their predatory and undead nature.

Medieval Depictions: Shift in Appearance

During medieval times, the depiction of blood-sucking mythological creatures underwent a transformation, shifting from monstrous and terrifying to more humanoid and relatable appearances. This change in portrayal can be seen in various aspects of their physical features:

Teeth: Originally depicted with long, sharp fangs or talons for blood-drinking, medieval depictions often featured more subtle fang-like teeth or no visible teeth at all, aligning with the concept of vampires being able to blend in with humans.

Skin: While ancient vampires were often described as monstrous and otherworldly, medieval vampires were portrayed with paler skin to signify their undead nature but without extreme deformities or monstrous features.

Appearance: Medieval vampires were often depicted as more human-like in appearance, with regular clothing and a less monstrous demeanour. This shift allowed for more nuanced storytelling and exploration of themes like temptation, desire, and the struggle between humanity and monstrosity. This is also what birthed the romanticization of vampires. 

Mythological Vampire vs Modern-Day Vampire

Mythological vampires, rooted in ancient folklore and mythology, were often depicted as malevolent spirits or creatures with supernatural powers. These creatures varied widely across different cultures, from the Lamia and Lilitu in Mesopotamian mythology to the Strix in Roman and Greek folklore, and the Upyr in Slavic tales.

These ancient vampires were not always the suave, charismatic beings we see in modern media. Instead, they were often portrayed as terrifying and monstrous, with features that reflected their otherworldly nature. For example, the Lamia was described as a demonic woman with the ability to transform into a serpent, while the Lilitu were associated with storm demons and fertility spirits.

In contrast, modern-day vampires, especially those popularized in literature and film, have undergone significant transformation. They are often depicted as sophisticated and alluring, with a penchant for romance and drama. Authors and filmmakers have humanized vampires, giving them complex personalities, tragic backstories, and even moral dilemmas.

While modern vampires still retain some traditional attributes such as a need for blood and sensitivity to sunlight, their portrayal has evolved to include a wide range of characteristics and abilities. This shift has allowed for more diverse and nuanced storytelling, exploring themes of immortality, love, redemption, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Which Option Is Better For Your Novel? 

When deciding which type of vampire to incorporate into your story, consider the tone and themes you wish to explore. Mythological vampires offer a darker and more primal essence, rooted in ancient fears and superstitions. On the other hand, modern-day vampires provide a canvas for exploring human emotions, relationships, and societal issues through a supernatural lens.

Ultimately, the choice between mythological and modern vampires depends on the narrative direction and atmosphere you want to create. Both types offer unique storytelling opportunities, allowing you to craft captivating tales of mystery, romance, horror, or even philosophical introspection.

Research and Resources

Writing about mythical creatures like vampires requires a solid understanding of folklore, mythology, and literary traditions. Here are some resources and research methods to help you delve into the world of vampires and other mythical beings:

Books and Literature

Start by exploring classic works of literature that feature vampires, such as Bram Stoker's "Dracula," Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles," and Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series. These novels not only showcase different interpretations of vampires but also delve into the cultural and historical contexts surrounding these creatures.

Mythology and Folklore

Dive into ancient myths and folklore from various cultures to uncover the origins of vampire legends. Look into Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Slavic, and other mythologies to discover different vampire-like entities and their characteristics.

Research Journals and Articles

Academic journals and articles can provide valuable insights into the evolution of vampire folklore, the psychological aspects of vampirism, and the cultural impact of vampire mythology. Explore journals in folklore studies, literary analysis, and cultural anthropology for in-depth information.

Online Resources

Utilize online platforms such as mythology databases, folklore websites, and literary forums to gather information and engage in discussions about vampires. Websites like The Vampire Library, Vampire Empire, and Vampire Rave offer a wealth of resources for vampire enthusiasts and writers.

Historical Research

Delve into historical records, archival documents, and historical accounts related to vampire hysteria, vampire burials, and vampire folklore in different regions. Understanding the historical context can add authenticity to your portrayal of vampires.

Interviews and Expert Opinions

Consider reaching out to folklore experts, historians, and scholars specializing in vampire mythology for interviews or consultations. Their insights and expertise can provide valuable perspectives on vampire lore and storytelling.

Creative Exploration

Don't hesitate to let your imagination roam while exploring vampire mythology. Experiment with creating your own vampire mythology, incorporating unique traits, powers, and origin stories for your vampires.

By combining thorough research with creative exploration, you can develop rich and compelling portrayals of vampires in your writing. Remember to stay open to diverse interpretations and adaptations of vampire folklore, allowing room for innovation and originality in your storytelling.

I hope this blog on How To Write Vampires With An Original Twist will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and publishing tips for authors every Monday and Thursday! And don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey! 

[thetepes]

"Fuck it, I'm going to go back to calling people Nazis if they look at me funny." - 4:20 is the timestamp.

She is such a fascinating streamer, no? Dead air, no music, bringing up a cosplayer who killed themselves over accusations after saying it's perfectly fine and good to make flippant accusations. Telling her viewers to mass report Ant's videos, something which youtube found her so inert and completely fucking unable to meaningfully achieve they automatically considered his report solved because there was never any meaningful threat to begin with.

Anyway, it means nothing. This accusation. These words. Nothing, but meaningless piss from a person who so loudly declares their victimhood and cries about their status as a poc, a transwoman, a disabled person who lives off government assistance.

These things that all of which would have made you a victim of this meaningless regime to you. Let's look at who they targeted!

Black people

Civilians accused of disobedience, resistance, or partisan activity

Gay men, bisexuals, and others accused of deviant sexual behavior

 whose religious beliefs conflicted with Nazi ideology, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses

people with disabilities 

Slavic People

Political opponents and dissenters in Germany such as communists

Roma and other people derogatorily labeled as “Gypsies” 

Social outsiders in Germany derogatorily labeled as “asocials” or “professional criminals”

Soviet Prisoners of War. 

Hm, would you look at that? It seems we both meet the measure of those who would be eradicated. We would be victims of Nazis, Lily. Both of us.

Most estimates place the total number of deaths during the Second World War at around 70-85 million people. Approximately 17 million of these deaths were due to crimes against humanity carried out by the Nazi regime in Europe. In comparison to the millions of deaths that took place through conflict, famine, or disease, these 17 million stand out due to the reasoning behind them, along with the systematic nature and scale in which they were carried out.

They were 17 millions of us. A number not one of us can begin to fathom the actual scale of.

So why do only I know the weight of this between us, Lily? Are you really so disconnected from what you are that that multi generation eradicating horror is something you can't comprehend? Nazi isn't some flighty term like Republican that can mean anything from a out of touch grandma who thinks a house can still be bought for 25k to a man holding a tiki torch saying we should nuke downtown Atlanta. Nazis are one thing. They are the thing I struggle to describe as people, but they were and are people and we must remember the great evil people are capable of.

These are not the same thing. You can't just fling Nazi out like it's meaningless. To do so demeans not just the victims, but people still living. You belittle us. You belittle yourself. When you reduce Nazi to a buzzword you take away the sheer magnitude of the violence and loss they caused. Nazi is a word with meaning. It should hurt to say because of how heavy it is.

Have some pride. Have some dignity. Some grace. Have some respect for our lost kin and those that would have been our friends, for the strangers that would have been connected to us by the single thread of this group's hatred.

Give that word it's meaning.

This part is for all of us who have grown too casual with our language, not just her,

Stop calling people Nazis unless they are. Nazis aren't fairytale creatures or monsters under the bed. They're human. They're your brother, your father, your cousin, your next door neighbor. That's what's so scary about them. They're just people. Hateful people. They look like you and me. Look at what a Nazi is. Look at their beliefs. Look at what they did. Memorize it. We all must look even though it hurts because we need to be able to identify them and half of that is giving that word weight so when we see the danger we can name it. For our own safety.

It's time to demand better. It's time to have meaning. It's time to use our words and use them accurately.

[giulliadella]

Enjoy some beautiful lichen!

This one grew on “zapis”, a holy tree that naturally has a cross on its bark. These types of trees were used to unify Slavic pagan beliefs and tree worshipping with Christianity.

[jh-newman-opn]

The Moscow Fiasco

At the prodding of @quonunc, here is a quick overview of the incident I fondly referred to as "the Moscow fiasco" in a previous ask about the difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy. It's a subject dear and horrifying to my heart after I wrote my undergrad dissertation on it.

In short: this is to do with how the Moscow Patriarchate (Russian Orthodox Church, hereafter ROC) is entirely in bed with the Russian government, and how Patriarch Kirill (of Moscow and All Russia) has been responding to the ongoing situation in Ukraine (and former Soviet lands more generally). Picture will make sense lower down the post.

The slightly longer short answer is that Patriarch Kirill is entirely in favour of the Ukraine war, and the ROC clergy are under significant pressure to support that as an official church stance-- my dissertation topic started to germinate when, completely by accident, I came across a 10-minute video of a ROC priest explaining very slowly and carefully that when he met the Pope, he did not talk about Ukraine. Will link this video if I can find it again, but at present it's proving elusive. (EDIT: found it!!! It was the Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary. This video looks like a hostage video honestly £10 says there's someone behind the camera holding a gun to this man's head for legal reasons this is a joke).

The foundation for this belief is obviously completely political (and the history of how the ROC and Russian state are completely entwined is long and complicated to say the least!), but officially the ROC stance is that it's about reclaiming the historic Slavic spiritual unity founded on the Baptism of Rus' in the year 988 by Vladimir the Grand Prince of Kievan Rus' when Slavdom become Orthodox. Proponents of this "Russian World" theory (Russkiy Mir') basically argue that it's the influence of the West that has fractured the unified Slavic people into different, opposing nations, and that by "liberating" Ukraine of this alien ideology of nationhood, the Slavic Orthodox world will regain its historic unity under the common banner of Orthodoxy. All I will say on this is that these people have a very rosy view of Kievan Rus', but that's a post for another day.

This has obviously caused friction within the Orthodox world. Ukraine now has two Orthodox churches-- the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is in communion with the Russian Patriarchate. They are not in communion with each other, and Constantinople's decision to grant autocephalous status to the OCoU caused Moscow to schism with Constantinople. Constantinople is also accusing Moscow of heresy (specifically, ethno-phyletism). Moscow obviously denies this. Obvious question for the Catholics among us-- does this mean Russian Orthodox christians are no longer Orthodox? No, because schisms between Orthodox churches are not particularly unusual, and they remain within the general cloud of Orthodox communion links.

The whole mess is then immortalised in the absolute monstrosity that is the Main Cathedral to the Russian Armed Forces, which is what I wrote my diss on. The YouTube video linked there is promotional material from Russian military-themed TV channel Звезда, and is one of the better sources of info on it-- a lot of English-language sources contain a lot of incorrect information on it-- either because they don't understand the cultural background, or just straight up lies from the Russian govt propaganda arm--, so take anything they say with a grain of salt. Kirill then gives televised sermons from this cathedral in which he talks about the glorious Russian martyrs of the Ukraine invasion, does his best to harmonise Stalinism and Orthodoxy, and oversees military parades for national holidays. This cathedral has a huge amount of weird symbolism and imagery, and I am super happy to talk more about the mosaics and propaganda going on there, because it's a lot (to say the quiet part out loud: pLEASE ask me more about this cathedral because the more I think about it the more scream-worthy facts about it I remember).

You may have seen memes with this picture of the Virgin Mary (below). Yeah that's from this cathedral. And it's a really really fucked up image. Like, more fucked up than you may think. Could have written my entire diss on this image alone and how shockingly awful it is. western orthobro converts who keep reblogging it as if it's somehow cool and macho are just showing how little they know and it's embarrassing.

The militarism of the ROC since this whole thing has also gone bonkers and there's a huuuuuge amount of corruption and weird stuff going on. The tension between the clergy and the laity has been extremely high for decades, and has spilled over most notably in Pussy Riot's Punk Prayer stunt, an exhibition called Осторожно, религия! (beware, religion!), and some shenanigans in church-building more generally. On this particular incident I would point to the blessing of nuclear weapons and the canonisation of a patron saint of long-range nuclear missiles as key moments. The cathedral also has matching mosaics of Putin and Stalin, a fact that the Russian government very much wants you to think never happened (officially the mosaics were removed, but they absolutely were not-- muggins here found them and has the pictures to prove it).

The main takeaway from this topic is that situation is obviously complicated and the repercussions for everyone involved-- particularly Russian and Ukrainian laypeople-- are unpleasant to say the least. It gives something of a window into the Putin regime and its propaganda arm (Epiphany swim, topless horseriding pictures, Soviet-style policies, I could go on) more than anything else, because the situation inside the ROC is still quite obscure. From talking to people who know Kirill personally, it's not clear quite what he thinks is going on or why he's involved the way he is. Either way. Fiasco.

[whencyclopedia]

Why Did Hitler Attack the USSR?

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), the leader of Nazi Germany, was intent on attacking the USSR in the summer of 1941. With Western Europe subdued in 1940, Hitler could finally pursue his dream of territorial expansion in the East, destroy Bolshevism, the ideological enemy of Nazism, and grab a vast array of resources ranging from wheat to oil.

Hitler directed his generals to launch Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941. The leader of the USSR, Joseph Stalin (1878-1953), overcame a series of gigantic defeats and ensured his Red Army was continually replenished and resupplied so that the Axis invaders gained vast swathes of territory but no strategic victory. The German-Soviet war dragged on until 1945 and ended in Germany's total defeat as the Second World War (1939-45) came to a close in May 1945. Although often dismissed as Hitler's great folly, the reasons why he attacked the USSR are many and varied, ranging from suspect ideological motives to practical economic necessity.

Adolf Hitler & Generals, 1943

State Treasury of Poland (Public Domain)

Motives to Attack the Soviet Union

The reasons Hitler attacked the USSR in 1941 include:

The identification of communism as a long-standing ideological enemy of Nazism and the Germanic people.

The realisation that Germany's massive rearmament had exhausted and indebted the economy, which now needed an external boost of wealth.

The belief that the USSR might soon stop shipping raw materials to Germany, as it was obliged to do by the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

The belief that the USSR intended to take over the oil fields in Romania, which were vital to Germany's economy.

The desire for Lebensraum ('living space') for the German people, that is, new lands in the east where they could find resources and prosper.

The desire for the resources of Ukraine and the oil fields of the Caucasus.

The belief that Slavic people were racially inferior to Germanic people and so were 'ripe for conquest'.

The belief that Stalin's purges had seriously weakened the fighting capabilities of the Soviet Red Army.

The consideration that the Red Army had failed to subdue Finland in the Winter War of 1939-40.

The belief that the USSR was amassing troops to attack the Third Reich.

The hope that eliminating the USSR from WWII would oblige Britain to seek peace terms, removing the threat of an invasion of the Continent.

The belief that the USSR must be attacked and conquered before the United States entered WWII.

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