Valenian Rodnovery
| Valenian Rodnovery | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Slavic Native Faith |
| Scripture | Kronika |
| Theology | Valenian theology |
| Zhret Pritsya | Michał I Kazimierz |
| Language | Napranian language, American Polonic, Polish |
| Liturgy | internal and external |
| Headquarters | Sobieski, Valenowa |
| Origin | 1 January 2024 Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Separated from | Native Polish Church |
| Church buildings | 1 |
| Tax status | taxpaying |
| Logo |  |
Valenian Rodnovery (High Napranian: Родновэря Валэновэй) is a denomination of the Slavic Native Faiths, classified as a modern Pagan or neopagan religion. It's theology and rituals hearken back to Slavic Paganism, the belief systems of the early Slavs before and during the 10th century CE. It is the national religion of the Grand Duchy of Valenowa, and utilizes the Napranian, American Polonic, Polish, and English languages in its scriptures and documents.
The Temple of Valen, the sole Valenian Rodnover organization, was founded by Michał I Kazimierz of Valenowa on 1 January 2024, following his own conversion to Rodnovery the year prior, and inspired by the lack of Rodnover temples in the United States. Valenian Rodnovery traditionally places focus on the good of the collective instead of the rights of the individual, however is typically more lenient with personal freedoms than certain Eastern Rodnovery groups in Russia and Ukraine. It takes much of its theology and culture from the Native Polish Church, with inspiration from Russian Rodnover groups such as the Union of Slavic Communities of the Slavic Native Faith.
Terminology
| Term | English translation | Definition | Root(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Родновэря/Rodnowerja | Rodnovery | The modern reconstruction of the early Slavic systems of belief. | Proto-Slavic rod (meaning indigenous or native) and vera (meaning religion or faith) |
| Вец/Wiec | Veche | A congregation or community of Valenian Rodnovers, sometimes also referring to religious gatherings as a whole. | Proto-Slavic větiti (meaning to talk, to speak) |
| Ортодоксэй/Ortodoksej | Orthodox | A sarcastic term used to describe theology and customs of Eastern Rodnover groups (ex. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus). | Greek orthodoxía (meaning righteous/correct opinion) |
| Грóд/Gród | Gord | A Slavic fortified settlement. | Proto-Indo-European ǵʰortós (meaning enclosure) and Proto-Slavic gordъ (referring to fenced-in or enclosed areas) |
| Крамало/Kramało | Kremlin | A Slavic walled city or traditional fortress. | Russian кремль (meaning kremlin) |
| Развэра/Razwera | mono-ideology | A derogatory term directed toward faiths and politics that are viewed as one-dimensional and universal beliefs. | Polish raz (meaning one) and Proto-Slavic vera (meaning religion or faith) |
| Балван/Bałwan | Idol | An idol utilized in prayer and rituals. | Polish bałwan (an archaic word for 'idol') |
Beliefs
Perun, the Perunitsa, and the Belarev
Valenian Rodnovery revolves around the worship of two pantheons of deities, called the Perunitsa (High Napranian: Рэруница/Perunica) and the Belarev (High Napranian: Беларэв/Belarew). The Perunitsa are headed by the supreme Valenian God, Perun, and are believed to be his direct descendants. Perun himself is the God of thunder, storms, justice, and war, with his pantheon consisting of his wife, Dodola, their two sons, Svarozhits and Dazhbog, the children of Svarozhits (Belobog and Chernobog), and Volos, the son of Dazhbog. Alternatively, the Belarev (literally White-Blood) are mortal beings that were deified in some way by the Perunitsa. This pantheon consists of the Gods Mokosh, Svetovid, Skoroviek/Rowań, Rugiaevit, and Yarilo. The Perunitsa are believed to busy themselves with the matters of the universe as a whole, whereas the Belarev are believed to be more engaged in mortal affairs, and frequently visit humanity. As such, Valenian Rodnovers traditionally pray to the Belarev more often, with holidays and prayers dedicated to the Perunitsa being less common.
Demigods and divine creatures
Demigods (High Napranian: Дэвина/Devina) are mortals who are of partial divine blood, or who were deified posthumously either by the Grand Temple or by the Gods themselves (e.g. Lech, Czech, Rus, Valen, Baba Yaga). Divine creatures, however (e.g. Simargl, Griffin, White Eagle) are creatures taken from Slavic mythology such as the Kronika, the Book of Veles, and the Primary Chronicle. Divine creatures traditionally either hinder or aid mortals in their journeys, and are the companions of the Gods and Demigods.
Lech, Czech, Rus, and Valen
According to the Kronika, the fathers of the Lechites (Poles), the Czechs, and the Ruthenians (Russians) are Lech, Czech, and Rus respectively, each a son of Pan, a prince of Pannonia. The brother's legend states that Czech, the eldest, was the first to found his nation, establishing the Czech kingdom after settling with his followers atop Říp Mountain, follwed by the youngest of the brothers, Lech, who trekked further north past the snowy mountains until he came upon a White Eagle guarding its nest. He took the sight of the White Eagle against the red setting sun as a good omen, and established his kingdom there, calling his settlement Gniezno (Polish: gniazdo - 'nest'). Finally, Rus would travel east, founding the collection of principalities and kingdoms making up the Kyivan Rus' and later Russia.
The legend also tells of a son of Lech, Valen (Old Napranian: Wálen) who instead sought refuge amongst the Norse, and whose descendants traveled alongside Leif Eriksson to Vinland around 1000 CE, long after Valen died. Calling themselves the Valenians, these people would settle there, eventually traveling further southwest into the territories of modern-day Wisconsin, United States. There, they encountered a people they called the Oczyżna (Oneota), with whom they integrated and established a fourth Slavic realm which they called Valenia. The Kronika does not establish the date during which the Kingdom of Valenia and the Oczyżna Tribe as a whole were lost, however its legendary founder, Valen II, is believed to have fallen in battle somewhere within the present-day Las Umarłych Exclusion Zone in Valenowa.
Slavic nationalism
Both the Kronika and the Temple of Valen preach ideologies of Slavic nationalism and the necessity for a united Slavic state consisting of all of the world's Slavic nations, as well as for the return of the Slavic Native Faiths and the ancient Slavic languages such as Old Church Slavonic and Proto-Slavic. The Temple defines being ethnically Slavic as both genetics and culture, with neither being mutually exclusive (e.g. an individual who is not genetically Slavic may become so if they dedicate themself to learning and adopting the cultures, languages, and faiths of the Slavs, whereas an individual who is genetically Slavic will remain Slavic regardless of the adoption of another culture, language, and/or faith). Those who are genetically and culturally Slavic are generally regarded as the most divine of the mortals. The tenets of the Kronika establish that a traditional tribal society is best, and that the most honorable pursuit in life is that of uniting the Slavs and reclaiming lost Slavic culture and traditions. For a Slav to kill or intentionally harm another Slav is typically considered the greatest sin in the eyes of the Gods. One micronation follows these tenets, that being the Grand Duchy of Valenowa and the greater Commonwealth of Valenowa.
Views on other religions
Valenian Rodnovers generally view the Abrahamic faiths (not including Judaism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity) as unnecessarily hostile and destructive foreign influences. Additionally, the Temple of Valen denounces and dismisses a number of neopagan faiths, namely Wicca, the Church of Satan, and "Ortodoksej" (Orthodox) Rodnovery, while viewing others (such as The Satanic Temple) neutrally or in a positive light.
Catholicism and Islam are generally viewed with disdain within the Valenian faith due to past grievances, namely the Northern Crusades and the various Muslim raids on Slavic lands in Eastern Ukraine and Russia.
Tribalism
Valenian Rodnovers, namely the Temple of Valen, believe that a tribal or "semi-tribal" way of living should be pursued instead of fully embracing modern technology. This ideology establishes that certain amenities should remain, such as telecommunication, radio, electricity, and plumbing, but in moderation and utilized via "greener" methods so as to preserve both traditional Slavic ways of life and the environment as a whole. Wind and solar power are staples within Valenian Rodnover communities.
Valenian Rodnover communities additionally tend to consists of structures made with traditional or semi-traditional methods, including wattle and daub, mud brick, and field stone constructions, typically in a semi-subterranean fashion so as to "utilize the earth's natural insulation." Another common method of construction is to use timber, which often makes up the defensive palisade around Valenian settlements along with earthworks and field stone foundations.
While Valenian Rodnovers as a people claim to be descended from the same tribe (the legendary Oczyżna Tribe), each settlement is typically viewed as its own "tribe," and protecting one's tribe is viewed as the most sacred duty for a Valenian Rodnover. Each settlement is headed by one or more elders, who in turn oversee the operation and maintenance of the settlement, and who cooperate with the elders and/or mayors of surrounding settlements to ensure a region's governance.
Practices
Valenian Rodnovery is a religion of the community, in which democracy and the citizen's right to control his government are highly valued aspects of life. It is traditional to worship as part of a veche, or congregation, instead of in a solitary manner. Almost all Valenian Rodnover rituals and ceremonies are large community gatherings of some variety, and closeness within one's community is viewed as closeness to one's ancestors and cultural history. Additionally, historical/cultural knowledge, agriculture, and literature are highly regarded within Valenian Rodnover communities.