Russian Federation: Last Remaining European Pagans - the Mari (aka 'Cheremis' / 'Chimari')

ꕤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1qdU1JnSpc Last of Europe's Pagans Russia's Mari people aka 'Cheremis'  /  Chimari -- Finno-Ugric ethnic group -- Republic of Mari El -- Volga Finnic ethnic group -- x3 different groups Meadow Mountain Eastern 2002:  604,298 self-identified Mari Rural residing Mari = 60% Own language:  Mari RELIGION Pagan -- individual connected with nature -- nature exerts magical influence over the people -- relate to nature as sacred, powerful & living being -- (man cannot exist outside of nature) -- nature:  source of absolute good -- helper as long as it is not harmed or opposed -- pantheon of gods, reside in heavens -- Great White God (Osh Kugu Yumo), most important -- lesser gods:     -- god of fire (Tul Yumo)     -- god of wind (Mardezh Yumo) Hybrid Gods - Chumbulat -- Mari believe in half-men, half-gods on Earth -- most revered:  Chumbulat (leader & warrior) Ivan IV - Ivan the Terrible -- 1500s - incorporates Mari into Russian Empire -- Adoption of Christianity / but not universal -- paganism practised to this day -- pagan Mari:  25-40% of Mari population (otherwise mostly Orthodox) [wikipedia] ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Spring in the birch grove by Strakhov Keremet god identified with sacred groves birches & oaks grow on site upon which mortal killed by god of earth & water, Keremet Keremet is the punisher god Keremet's home is the sacred groves Sacred groves:  home of dead heroes Mari / Maris (Chimari) Osh Kugu Yumo Osh Poro Kugu Yumo Great White Good God Great White Good God -- masculine form -- master of heavenly laws -- protector etymological (word origin) parallels in related other languages: Finnish (Jumala) Estonian (Jumal) Zyryan (Yen) Udmurt (Inmar) God Keremet -- opponent of Kugu Yumo -- negative aspect -- dangerous, destructive -- contact made through sacrifices & consecrating trees or groves -- Eastern Mari see Keremet as defender of Maris -- but this does not negate dangerous / negative aspects -- 'keremet' - generic term for nasty spirits -- those not properly buried / dead with hostile dispositions -- Keremet evilness not absolute -- Keremet is lord of the earth & esp. the waters -- records misdeeds of humans -- does not punish without reason -- punishment for bad deeds or violation of rituals -- demonisation of Keremet = Christianity influence Ancient myth: -- earth diver water-bird that created world -- by diving down to bring up earth from abysses of water Yumo's Daughter - Yumyn-Iudyr -- regularly descended silky stairs from heaven -- to pasture 'heavenly herd of cattle' -- married a mortal -- marriage ended tragically for mortal (jealousy) -- mauled by Keremet / site of his death grew birches & oaks -- some Mari consider husband of Yumyn-Iudyr -- their totemic ancestor Kugo Yumo -- distant from humanity (in the heavens / sky) Shaman = kart belief in initial unity of gods and humans -- humans & gods lived on star (planet) -- tended to animals -- natural cataclysm:  grass stopped growing -- gods sent people to Earth -- to feed the herd & herds lifted back to heaven (for food) -- but planetary catastrophe:  ppl & animals could not return to star -- remained on earth Sacrifices -- sacrificed animal flesh burned on fire -- to feed gods in heavens -- as souls of animal (burnt offerings) rise to the star to the gods -- gods consume the spirit (and are fed) Individual Angel-Servants -- Susko, defender of faith -- protects from forces of nature & poverty -- Vitn'yze, spirit helper who helps gods -- Piyambar, goddess linked with destiny & divination Vechory (or vesiory) - male or female -- female is positive -- male brings destruction -- are local family spirits -- upon whom material success of humans depends Demonic Spirit:  Obada -- social defects blamed on an 'obada' -- eg drunkenness Cult of Saintly Heroes -- national leaders & defenders of Mari tribes -- special reverence:     -- Chumbylat - saint of all Mari, prince-warrior     -- end 11th Century gathered all Mari     -- told them to build cities     -- 1830s Chumbylat's grave, cliff at:     -- rocky mountain by river Nemda     -- cliff destroyed     -- Mari revived the cult:  honour hero - 26 June Mari often mix up figure of Chumbylat with figure of tribal god:  Kuryk Kugyza (k.a.  'Kuryk Kugu' -  the great mountain person') Akpatyr -- considered by Mari as one of ancient tribal princes -- 1500s service to Russian Tsar -- diplomatic skills -- peaceful existence for his ppl, amid Russian & Tatar expansion -- cult of Akpatyr revived in present day Mari acknowledge x9 honoured, powerful ancient hero-ancestors -- to address ancestor, one needs special spiritual power -- morally purity requisite Kugeche - connected with Easter (celebrated same day) -- Eastern Mari seek to distance themselves from Christian traditions -- celebrate a week earlier Above is not a complete overview.  It is  just a small portion of what's covered in the following academic text: SOURCE Modern Pagan & Native Faith Movements in Central & Eastern Europe by Kaarina Aitamurto (University of Helsinki) & Scott Simpson (University in Krakow) http://www.amazon.com/Movements-Central-Contemporary-Historical-Paganism/dp/1844656624 cataclysm violent upheaval causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change or  devastating flood fm. Latin 'cataclysmos' (deluge) fm. Greek kataklusmos fm. katakluzein (to inundate) 'kluzein' (to wash away) ---------------------- ꕤ ----------------------  COMMENT I could get into reverence for enormous 1,000 year old oak trees (and warrior ancestors).  Sounds sensible.  I'm also drawn to the European tribal thing.  But I'd never fit into tribal society. Mari El Republic must be a wonderful place to live -- as in the ancient history that's borne by the people and the land.  Favourite parts (aside from warrior ancestors & the space myth):  birches and oaks growing from place mortal was killed. Chimari is the term I prefer. ꕤ