Creativity of modern Russian artist Andrei Alekseevich Shishkin very diverse and not limited to one topic. Mysterious female images from Russian antiquity and Europe of the Middle Ages come to life in his paintings: charming peasant women, nobles and aristocracy, secular ladies and ladies, looking at whom you are amazed.

Keepers of the Russian Land.

The author subtly and sensitively captured not only the outer shell, but also the character of each of them. In addition to portraits in his works, one can find old Russian epics and landscapes in the style of realism inherent in classical Russian painting.

But instead of a thousand eloquent words praising his skill, just one glance is enough to understand how talented he is in everything...

Girl in a kokoshnik.

Lady with a rose.

Bus Beloyar.

Russian field.

Igor of Chernigov, monastic Gabriel, Grand Duke of Kiev.

Andrei was born and raised in Moscow. His paintings are exciting stories from the past, in which fables come to life, as well as all sorts of myths and legends. Focusing on the Slavic culture, he masterfully conveys the atmosphere of the past, reigning around, when paganism and not only were in vogue.

On the bell.

The characters of his works are imbued with incredible energy and a kind of magnetism, and each masterpiece created by him leaves no one indifferent, causing slight thoughtfulness and admiration. In addition to this subject, Shishkin also paints portraits of different genres, touching on different times and eras.

Glass of wine.

The works of Andrei Alekseevich are devoid of empty and meaningless brightness. The coloring of the painting is noblely restrained, which helps to appreciate the meaning and depth of the plot depicted.

History of diseases.

Young aristocrat.

Without any exaggeration, we can say that Andrei Shishkin is one of the brightest artists of modern Russian painting. I would like to hope that his name will remain in the history of Russian art.

On the website of Andrey Shishkin -

Grow, braid, to the waist, don't shed a single hair.
Grow, braid, to toe - all the hairs in a row.
Our grandmothers knew this saying when they themselves were girls.

From it we can conclude that the most ancient hairstyle in Rus' is a braid, but this is not so. At first they wore loose hair. And so that they do not fall on the eyes, they held the strands with a hoop or tied them with a ribbon. The hoop was made of wood, bast or birch bark. And sheathed with cloth, trimmed with beads, dyed feather grass, bird feathers, natural or artificial flowers.

Well, braids appeared much later. Russian girls braided only one braid. And this differed from mothers who relied on two. Girls of Belarus and Eastern Ukraine braided one braid only on holidays. And on working days, they wove two at a time and laid them on the head with a crown. In the west of Ukraine, one spit was completely unknown. Two, four or more braids adorned the hairstyles of local girls. They called them "small pigtails" or "dribushki".

Before marriage, girls wore one braid. At the bachelorette party, the girlfriends with howling and crying, probably caused by envy, intertwined one braid into two. It was two braids worn by married women in Rus'. One braid nourished her with life, and the other - future offspring. It was believed that a woman's hair contained a force that could energetically support her family. They were placed as a crown on the head or tied with a ribbon to make it easier to put on a headdress. From the moment a woman entered into marriage, no one, except her husband, naturally, saw her braids again. In Rus', women always covered their heads with a warrior, tearing off a headdress was considered a terrible insult (to goof off means to disgrace yourself). The worst insult was perhaps the cutting of the scythe. Once, one gentleman, in a rage, cut off a thin pigtail to his maid, and then calmed down his indignant peasants, and even paid a fine. If a girl cut her braid on her own, then, most likely, she mourned the deceased groom, and cutting her hair was for her an expression of deep sorrow and unwillingness to get married. Pulling the braid meant insulting the girl.

By the way, those who dared to tear off a headdress from a woman were also punished with serious fines. Only fines, it seems, did not go at all to improve the moral state of the victim, but to the state treasury.

But the braid could also be cut off by force - say, if a girl parted with innocence before marriage. This was already at the time of the adoption of Christianity, because in pagan times the presence of a premarital child was not an obstacle to a wedding, and even vice versa: the girl's fertility was confirmed by a living fait accompli. Then morals became stricter, and the one who allowed herself liberties before the wedding could part with her hair as a punishment - a jealous rival could also cut it off.

In addition, in some places there was a curious custom when a girl’s braid was cut off before marriage, and she gave it to her husband, as if saying by this that she was giving him her whole life, and then she grew a new one under the scarf. In the event of an attack by enemies - Pechenegs or Polovtsians, for example - a husband could take his wife's girlish braid with him into battle, as a talisman against misfortunes and the evil eye. And if the enemies broke into the Slavic settlements, then, in addition to the logically explainable robbery, violence and murders, they could cut off women's hair.

During pregnancy, the hair was not cut, as the woman took the energy not only for herself, but also for the child. Cutting your hair during pregnancy meant depriving your unborn child of support. Hair has traditionally been considered the seat of life force, so young children were not usually cut until a certain age (usually 3-5 years old). Among the Slavs, the first haircut acted as a special rite, which was called - tonsure. In princely families, the boy was also put on a horse for the first time on the day of tonsure. And a newborn child under one year old is not recommended to even comb, not only cut.

Children at a young age were combed by their parents, then they did it on their own. They could only trust someone who was well known and loved to comb their hair. A girl could only allow her chosen one or husband to comb her hair.

For children under 12 years old, even the ends of their hair were not cut, so as not to cut off the mind that comprehends life, the laws of the Family and the Universe, so as not to deprive them of the vitality bestowed by Nature and the protective power.

Trimming the ends of the hair to a length of no more than one nail in young people over 16 years of age was done in order to make the hair grow faster, and this act could be performed only on the days of the new moon.

Interestingly, the old maids were strictly forbidden to twist one braid into two, they were also forbidden to wear a kokoshnik.

The so-called three-beam braids were braided for little girls, which were a symbol of the unification of Reveal, Navi and Rule (present, past and future). The scythe was located strictly in the direction of the spine, since, according to our ancestors, it served to fill a person through the ridge with vital forces. A long braid kept feminine power for the future husband. Weaving braids protected women from the evil eye, negativity and evil.

The braid was not just a hairstyle. She could tell a lot about her owner. So, if a girl wore one braid, then she was in an “active search”. Is there a ribbon in the braid? Marriageable girl, and all potential candidates urgently need to send matchmakers. If two ribbons appeared in the braid, and they were woven not from the beginning of the braid, but from its middle, - that’s it, “dry the oars”, or, as they say, whoever didn’t have time, he was late: the girl had a groom. And not just the one that builds eyes and plays glances, but the official one, because the ribbons also meant the blessing received from the parents for marriage.

Combing hair was like a sacred ritual, because during the procedure it was possible to touch the vital energy of a person. Apparently, in order to restore the vitality lost during the day, it was necessary to run a comb through the hair at least 40 times. Only parents could comb their hair for babies, and then the person himself did this daily procedure. It is interesting that the girl could only allow her plait to be untwisted and her hair to be combed by her chosen one or husband.

The fact that cutting hair radically changes lives seems to have been well known in the old days. Hence the sign that has survived to this day that it is highly undesirable for pregnant women to cut their hair. Voluntarily, and sometimes with reverent awe, only women who were in a state of severe spiritual shock, for example, during monastic vows, were allowed to cut off their braids. Hair in Ancient Rus' did not have the habit of cutting at all, and this custom has been preserved in modern men's monasteries.

A braid as thick as a hand was considered the standard of female beauty in Rus'. Healthy and shiny hair could be better than the words of flattering matchmakers could say about the future wife. Unfortunately, not all beauties could boast of thick long braids. Of course, in Rus' they have never heard of building up. So the young ladies resorted to deception - they wove hair from ponytails into their pigtails. And what to do, everyone wants to get married!

Long hair is a sign of good health, beauty and female inner strength, which means that men subconsciously like it. According to statistics, men, evaluating women, put women's hair in third place after the figure and eyes.

An experiment was conducted: children of 5 years old, drawing their mother, in 95% of cases drew her with long hair, despite the fact that mothers had short haircuts. This suggests that the image of a mother - gentle, kind and affectionate, is subconsciously associated in young children with long hair. The same statistic claims that 80% of men associate short haircuts with masculinity and aggression.

Long hair gives a woman strength, but what is important: they should not be worn loose. Letting down long hair was indecent, it's like being naked. “Masha loosened her braids, and after her all the sailors.”

Loose hair in the presence of a man meant an invitation to intimacy. Therefore, before a woman was not allowed to let her hair down in front of strangers. The women who wore their hair loose were the fallen ones, they were called "LITTLE GIRLS".

It was also not customary to let your hair down because it was considered unsafe to scatter energy and strength by letting your hair down. Therefore, the hair was taken and braided. After all, a woman, letting her hair down, could attract other people's views, could arouse the envy of ill-wishers. Women cursed themselves in this sense, as they knew that in their hands was the energy protection of the family and their home.

Women's hair has a very powerful sexual attraction, which is probably why married women could only show their hair to their husbands, and the rest of the time they wore a headscarf. Therefore, a woman in the temple should wear a headscarf so as not to embarrass the men and not distract them from prayer.

And also the scarf symbolizes the power of the husband and female humility and humility. Only unmarried women could not cover their heads with a scarf in temples before.

It is very important to know about the power of women's hair and use this knowledge for your own benefit, and most importantly, remember that hair is our dignity and our pride.

Incredible paintings by a Russian artist Andrey Shishkin (born in 1960 in Moscow). A delightful collection of paintings by a professional Russian artist. Andrey Shishkin writes his works in various genres. In his work, one can find portraits of extraordinary beauty and quality of transmission, which can be compared with the portraits of the authorship of the great artists of the past. In his art there is a place for both landscape and traditional Slavic painting. The style of execution of these works is realistic academic painting. Within the framework of this tradition, he finds completely unusual angles of contact between beautiful art and its viewer. Everyone here can find something for themselves, and taking into account the fact that all the works are done very beautifully and professionally, enjoying the paintings of Andrey Shishkin is an extraordinary pleasure.

Without any exaggeration, we can safely say that Andrey Shishkin is one of the brightest artists. It can be assumed that his name will remain in the history of Russian art, and I think we all would like it to happen that way. His paintings are not only very beautifully and talentedly written, but also contain some kind of symbolic magic. These pictures can allow us to see in ourselves something that is capable of selflessly loving our Motherland, that is capable of loving beautiful art and never getting tired of being surprised by human genius.

His Rus very deep and poetic. That Russian spirit, which from time to time, despite any modern trends, makes itself felt, is seen especially clearly in his art. It can be seen, felt and even touched, it is so thick and dense. Combining a psychological portrait and the rich, beautiful past of our country into one whole, he created a collection of such paintings that deserve your closest attention.

Art-Lux is a framing workshop on Leninsky Prospekt, where you can find everything for your creativity or for decorating an object of art in a beautiful frame. You can use the services of this workshop in order to beautifully decorate paintings, photographs, embroidery, tapestries and much more.

In the wilderness of the forest

Vladimir the Brave

Devana (Old Slavic Goddess of the hunt)

Evpatiy Kolovrat

Spell

Lullaby

beauty girl

Naming

prophetic bird

Rogue

Author - Matrioshka. This is a quote from this post.

Artist Andrey Alekseevich Shishkin. Part 8, final.

hostess

Cherry

Slavic culture was distinguished by its great originality. Our ancestors amazed representatives of other races with the strength of their spirit and a unique craving for creation and knowledge of the world around them. Slavic mythology represents a peculiar concept of transmitting sacred knowledge of the worldview and life in harmony with nature, as well as knowledge about the lifestyle of ancestors.

Idyll

The gods occupied a very important place in the life of the Slavs. It is distinctive that they praised them, and did not pray to them, offering thanksgiving hymns for their help and patronage. The Slavs perceived their gods as parents and revered them as parents. The pantheon of Slavic gods is extensive and each of them corresponds to its hypostasis.

Yarilo

Yarilo - Furious- in Slavic mythology means indomitable, rage - forgetting to rage. The side of love, which poets call "ebullient passion", was "in charge" of the Slavic God Yarilo. That is, it can be called to some extent the god of love.
Yarilo was imagined as a young man: an ardent, loving groom dressed in white clothes, barefoot, riding a white horse (according to other beliefs, Yarilo was depicted as a woman dressed in a man's outfit: white trousers and a shirt. In her right hand she holds a stuffed human head, ears of rye in the left.A wreath of the first wildflowers was put on Yarila's head.

Alive

Alive- in Slavic mythology - the Goddess of life, spring, fertility, birth, zhita-grain. Daughter frets, spouse Dazhbog. Goddess of Spring and Life in all her manifestations; giver of life force Rhoda that makes all living things alive. She is the Goddess of the Life-Giving Forces of Nature, spring bubbling waters, the first green shoots; patroness of young girls and young wives.

Belun

Belun- according to Belarusian beliefs, the god of the harvest in the form of an old man with a light beard, in white clothes. He helps to reap, awards gold to those who serve him. He also helps those who get lost in the forest leading them to the path. Although he himself does not enter the forest, because this is not his territory, with his shouts he helps those who stray to go to his field.

The Slavic faith is a cult of the Sun, personifying the life of all life on the whole earth. All Slavic gods were solar. There were also functional deities who helped farmers and livestock breeders.

Belun bore the signs of a thunder god and a solar god. The first disperses dark clouds, and the second drives away the dark time of the night. In the views of the Slavs, he was an old man in white clothes, with a long snow-white beard and holding a staff in his hands. He can appear only in the daytime, and he leads those who have lost their way in the dense forests onto the tornado road. It was not for nothing that they used to say in those days that it was dark in the forest without Belun.

Belun is also revered as the patron of wealth and fertility. There is a belief that Belun is present during the harvest in the fields and helps the reapers in their work. There is such a belief: Belun can be seen among the ears of wheat and a bag full of money on the nose. He beckons the poor man to him and asks to wipe his nose. If the poor fulfill his request, then coins begin to pour out of the bag into the hands of a person, and Belun will disappear.

Belun is considered a good god. As soon as dawn comes, he goes to the fields, walks along the boundary and guards each spikelet. At noon, Belun visited the beekeeper, and after the heat subsided, he returned to the fields again.

Kwasura

Kvasura, Kvasir- in Slavic mythology - the Spirit of intoxicating brew, the god of fun, joy and hops, the sacraments of brewing. Lada taught Kvasura how to cook nourishing honey (surya).
The veneration of Kvasura dates back to the Proto-Slavic times, since "sur" is close to the sun deity "Surya", kvass was littered, i.e. kept in the sun.

Svyatibor

Svyatibor- in Slavic mythology, mentioned territorially - the god of forests, hogs, the lord of the goblin. Its functions are identical to Veles.

Svyatobor is the god of the forest. Outwardly, he looks like an aged hero, representing an old man of strong build, with a thick beard and dressed in animal skins.

Svyatobor fiercely guards the forests and mercilessly punishes those who harm them, in some cases even death or eternal imprisonment in the forest in the form of a beast or a tree can become a punishment.

Svyatobor is married to the goddess of hunting Devan.

Devana

Devana is the goddess of hunting, the wife of the forest god Svyatobor and the daughter of Perun. The Slavs represented the goddess in the form of a beautiful girl dressed in an elegant marten fur coat trimmed with a squirrel. Over the fur coat, the beauty put on a bearskin, and the head of the beast served as her hat. With her, Perun's daughter carried an excellent bow with arrows, a sharp knife, which obeys only its owner, and a horn, with which they go to a bear.

The forest goddess takes care of all forest dwellers - all birds and all animals, teaches them to avoid dangerous places and endure winter frosts. Devana is the wife of Svyatobor, who is the god of all forests and their inhabitants.

The beautiful Devana is revered by all hunters and hunters of animals. They ask for her patronage in hunting and bring her gifts in gratitude - a share of hunting trophies. It is this goddess who sends hunters luck in battles with wolves or a bear. Devana herself loves to hunt on moonlit nights. On such nights, she can be seen at the edge of the forest with her fierce friends.

Perun the Thunderer

Perun not without reason is considered the main deity of the pagan pantheon of the Eastern Slavs. Perun is considered the patron saint of warriors and knights. He was praised in the days of victory.

Perun, patron of warriors, thunder and lightning. His high position among the pantheon of the Gods is evidenced by the fact that Russian ambassadors, princes and his squad worshiped him. The ancient Slavs found the strength and power of Perun in nature, endowing oak groves and forests with its properties. In times of drought, people called on Perun to send his grace to them - to drink the earth with water and rid him of evil spirits.

The name of Perun is related not only to the history of the ancient Slavs. It is also mentioned in other folk tales. Lithuania - Perkunas, Belarus - Pyarun. The Celts called Perun Tarinis, while the Scandinavians gave him the name Thor.

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Bird Sva-Glory

Bird Sva-Glory- Great Mother Glory, patroness of the Russian lands, progenitor of all Russian Clans.

Initially, the Bird of Sva Glory is the image of a caring mother. Mother Sva Glory, this is the incarnation of the honor and glory of Rus'. It is in it that all the memory of the exploits of our grandfathers and fathers lies, the glory of all the Rus who fell in the great battles for their land.

Mother Swa reminds the Russians of their heroic deeds and motivates them to new achievements. She comes to the aid of the warriors and inspires them, in the form of a bird she pounces on enemies and mercilessly beats them with her wings and strikes with her beak.

The modern image of the Bird-Swa is presented in the form of emerging energy, which accumulates strong-willed and imaginative impulses into a single cohesive clot, from which the warriors receive a powerful charge. The image of the Mother or Bird-Sva of Glory is a harmonious combination of the personal and the general, the glory of a single person and the whole people. At the same time, it is a deity, a kind of flow of time from the past through the present into the future. In other words, we can say that, remembering the exploits of their ancestors and multiplying them today, the Slavs will remain just as strong and glorious in the future.

The bird-Sva-Glory was an image of a caring mother and a formidable warrior at the same time. And how else, because any mother, protecting her children, will turn into a real Valkyrie. And since the Slavs considered their gods to be their parents, the gods also considered the Slavs to be their children and, accordingly, also protected them. And history knows many such mothers - they are defenders, winners and sovereigns. Mother Swa is the patroness of Rus' to this day. Therefore, one can turn to the Slavic gods wherever a person is, since the ancient Slavic gods are everywhere. According to Vedic traditions, the Slavs praised the gods and sang thanksgiving hymns in their honor for their assistance in all human affairs.

Volga

Volkh Vseslavievich, Volga, Volkha- Slavic mythology. A prince who understands the language of nature, animals, birds.

According to Slavic legends, Volga is a hero and a werewolf who was born from Marfa Vseslavievna and a snake and represents the most ancient image of a hero in Russian epics. An unusual birth carries the totemic ideas of our distant Slavic ancestors. His name Volga or Volkh indicates the birth of the greatest wizard or sorcerer.

At the time of the birth of Volga, the earth trembles, animals, birds and even fish hide in fear. He is a magician and a werewolf who can subjugate the forces of nature and he is the hero of those distant times when agriculture was not yet familiar to people, and only hunting was the only trade. Military victories go to Volga thanks to more magical skills than physical strength. Having won a great victory over the enemy, he remains the ruler there, and this is unusual for other epic heroes.

Kolyada

Kolyada- in Slavic mythology - opposite to Kupala. It marks the seasonal turn, the arrival of light, the dying of the old, the arrival of the strong-young.

God Kolyada is known to many by the festival of the same name. Kolyada, this is the Slavic solar God, the youngest son of Dazhdbog, and therefore he is honored on the day of the winter solstice. On this day, the sun turns away from winter and turns towards summer, filling every day with summer forces. Kolyada is a young, zealous and strong God, a young Sun that replaces the old winter Sun of Svetovit. It is Kolyada who begins the opposition to the harsh winter frosts and hibernation.

In some cases, Kolyada is represented in the form of a newborn baby, thus personifying the young hypostasis of the nascent summer Sun. Therefore, on this day, the Slavs praise Kolyada and arrange merry festivities. It is noteworthy that, over time, having lost contact with their relatives and their traditions, gradually God Kolyada began to be considered the God of a wild feast and fun. However, Kolyada personified the end of the winter cold and was a harbinger of the imminent onset of spring.

Kupalo and Kostroma

Kupalo- in Slavic mythology, the twin brother of Kostroma. Both of them are children of the Goddess of the Night Bathing suit and Semargl. In Slavic myths, it is said that once, when Kupala and her sister were still small, they ran into a pure meadow to listen to the bird of death, Sirin, and misfortune happened there. The bird Sirin took Kupala to the Dark Kingdom. Many years passed, and now Kostroma (sister) walked along the river bank and wove a wreath. The wind tore off the wreath from the head and carried it into the water, where Kupala picked it up, sailing past in a boat. Kupala and Kostroma fell in love and got married without knowing that they were brother and sister, and when they found out they decided to drown themselves. Kostorma became a mermaid or mavka. But the gods decided to take pity on the brother and sister and turned them into a flower that we now know as Ivan da Marya.

Lel

Lel- this is the ancient Slavic god of fiery love, who was born by the goddess Lada. The root of his name has come down to modern times and is preserved in such a word as "cherish", which means "to love" or "undead". The birth of Lelya is associated with attractiveness, which gives rise to true fiery feelings.

In some surviving legends, Lel is represented as a handsome shepherd with curly blond hair. One of the most famous is dedicated to the magic flute, which has since become considered an essential attribute of shepherds. The legend says that Lel had a magic flute on which he played tirelessly, completely oblivious to everything that was happening around him. A beautiful girl was in love with this guy, who decided to hide the flute so that Lel would pay attention to her. But, unfortunately, Lel could not forget about his flute and died of anguish. Since that sad moment, the shepherds have been playing only sad melodies about love, devotion and happiness between a man and a woman.

Lel was also considered the god of the onset of spring, but not calendar, but visible. Spring was often associated with youth, and therefore Lelya was revered as the god of youth. It is believed that he lives in a bright forest with his brother Pole, and every morning the brothers go out to the edge to greet Yarilo. It was believed that you could hear Lel's magic flute only on Kupala night, so the girls often listened to forest sounds - does Lel call them with his melody?

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Zarya-Zaryanitsa

Zarya-Zaryanitsa- in ancient mythology, the goddess, the ruler of the dawn. And she was also the patroness of a good harvest. Dawn-Zarnitsa, this is the goddess of dawn, purification and health.
The most famous of the Zaryanitsa conspiracies against insomnia.
Zarya-Zaryanitsa, red maiden, take insomnia, restlessness, and give me sleep - calm down.
The dawn was revered by many healers and healers, it was not for nothing that the conspiracies themselves and the treatment were carried out at dawn, with the rising of the first rays of the sun, special power was invested in them.

This goddess was revered by the villagers, as she could contribute to the early ripening of fruits. Very often, divine services were performed in her honor, where they asked for a fertile harvest. In addition, Dawn-Zarnitsa is the patroness of love. Young girls falling in love with boys turned to her. In Slavic mythology, one can often find mention of this goddess.

In ancient times, this goddess was believed to have her place under the sun. That is, on the second earth from the Sun. In our world it is called the planet Venus. The legend says that there are two sisters, Dawn and Evening. One meets the sun, and the other accompanies him. The sun's rays drove away the evil forces of darkness, and the Goddess of Dawn-Zarnitsa could drive away all evil. People believed this and bowed before her.

Young girls collected various gifts to the goddess. Beaded jewelry, beautiful bouquets of a wide variety of flowers. All this was done only in order to recognize what a sweet thing the Heavenly Gods would bring to them. Very often the name of this goddess is found in East Slavic fairy tales and conspiracies. She was always depicted as a young maiden in a golden-purple robe with long golden hair sparkling in the sun.

Stribog is the master of the winds

Stribog- In East Slavic mythology, the god of the wind.

Stribog is one of the most ancient Slavic gods. He was considered the patron of the winds, the whole airspace with its elements and spirits obeyed him. The etymology of the word "Stribog" is related to the Old Slavic root "streg", which can be translated as "paternal uncle" or "senior". Slavic myths and legends tell that he appeared from the breath of the Family, therefore he is considered one of the first gods.

Stribog was usually represented as a strong old man with thick gray hair and a beard, and in some legends he had the appearance of a Striking Archer in azure robes, inseparable from his bow and arrows. The abode of Stribog was considered to be a remote forest thicket at the very end of the world or a lonely island in the middle of a formidable ocean. He was also often depicted flying on an amazing ship through the sky, and in his hands there was always a horn and a spear. If necessary, Stribog could turn into a mythical bird called Stratim. According to legend, he rarely contacted other gods, but he always came to the rescue and fought fiercely against the forces of evil.

Stribog was a revered god throughout Rus', as evidenced by the "Tale of Bygone Years". It repeatedly mentions the phrase "Stribog's grandchildren" - that is how the winds were called. It was believed that Stribog had four sons - the Winds of the four cardinal points, from which the rest of the winds were born.

Stribog was revered by the plowmen, because they believed that rain clouds would come to the field only if they were driven by the wind, which was called "Stribog's breath". But sailors felt the most reverence for this god, because for them a fair wind was the key to navigation. That is why more temples and shrines of Stribog were placed precisely on the banks of rivers and seas. Before going to sea, sailors and merchants always brought gifts to Stribog and asked him for a fair wind.

Stribog does not control the winds alone: ​​his sons and grandsons help him in this, each of whom is responsible for his own wind.

Whistling is the eldest son, the lord of the storm.
Podaga is the lord of the hot, desert wind.
The weather is the master of a warm light breeze.
Siverko is the lord of the cold, harsh north wind.
Poludenik - the lord of a light warm daytime breeze.
Midnighter - the lord of a light cool night breeze.

Numberbog

Numberbog- in Slavic mythology - the god of time and astronomy, letters, numbers, calendar and everything connected with it.

One of the highest gods among the Slavs. The priests of Chislobog knew the secret ancient sciences of counting days, months and years. The legend says: “He had two faces: one was like the sun, the other was like a crescent, because the Sun measures the course of the day, and the Moon measures the nights. The Number God is the keeper of the Universal Scales, on which the time and measure of each Being is measured, and the Chalice of Time, drinking from which you can return the past or get into the future. Symbols of Numbers - scales, abacus, measuring instruments, numbers and arithmetic signs. The sacred bird is the cuckoo, which on certain days and hours broadcasts to people about the terms allotted to them.

Pozvizd

Pozvizd- Posvist, Pokhvist, Pozvizd - in Slavic mythology - the elder wind, is considered the god of the storm. Son or grandson of Stribog. God of the north wind.
The Russian epic poet says this about him: There Whistle; storms, like a robe, entwined around ...
And here is an old concept about him:

Rod and Rozhanitsi

Genus- The parent of all living and existing among the ancient Slavs. Rod gave birth to everything that we see around. He separated the visible, obvious world - Yav, from the invisible, spiritual world - Navi. He separated Truth from Falsehood.
The genus is mentioned in the annals with the main deities along with women in labor who accompanied it with female deities. (later) The clan and women in labor were considered the dead ancestors of the patriarchal clan, which the relatives considered their patrons. They also had the ancient name shur, grandfather.

Svarog

Svarog- in East Slavic mythology - the God of fire, blacksmithing, family hearth. Heavenly blacksmith and great warrior.

Svarog is the god of heavenly fire, the son of Rod, and at the same time the ancestor of the second circle of the Slavic pantheon. Outwardly, Svarog looks like a tall old man with a strong physique, with red hair. The god is dressed in bright clothes of red and white color, and is armed with a spear. Although Svarog is able to instantly move around the world, including between worlds, he rides on a red horse.

Like Rod, Svarog is the creator god, he continued the formation of this world, changing its original state, improving and expanding. However, blacksmithing is Svarog's favorite pastime.

Veles

Veles, Volos, Vlasiy- in Slavic mythology - the patron of livestock and wealth, the embodiment of gold, the trustee of merchants, cattle breeders, hunters and tillers. (Son of Rod, brother of Horse)

Veles is the god of cyclic movement, the son of Rod. It can not be attributed to either good or evil gods. The cyclic movement brings both into this world, forcing good and evil to constantly replace each other. Two animals are associated with the image of Veles: a bull and a bear; in the temples dedicated to the deity, the magi often kept a bear, which played a key role in the rituals. Veles often appears to people in the guise of a huge bear. Veles is armed with a wooden staff, in fact, he is not a warrior, rather he can be called a magician. It is with the help of magic that he attacks and defends himself.

Despite the great distribution and mass veneration of this god, Veles was always separated from other gods, his idols were never placed in common temples (sacred places in which images of the main gods of this territory were installed). So in the most described historical event - the unification of Rus' by Prince Vladimir, in the pantheon he collected, there was no image of Veles. The idol of Veles was installed separately on the banks of the river.

Horse

Horse, Horos- Slavic god of the solar disk - the Sun - the luminaries. The veneration of the sun separately as a planet and sunlight is found among many peoples.

Khors is the god of systemic chaos, the son of Rod. In fact, Horse is responsible for the movement and development of the whole world: the movement of stars and planets, the change of day and night, seasons, etc. Horse brings order to this world, but the order is so complex that it is most often perceived as chaos. The image of Horse is primarily associated with heavenly bodies: the sun, moon, stars. Outwardly, Horse looks like a young man, with golden curly hair. The god is armed with a sword and shield, and rides on a golden horse.

Dazhdbog

Dazhdbog - Svarozhich among the pagan Slavs - the god of fertility and the Sun, life-giving force. His name is not from the word "rain", as is sometimes mistakenly thought, it means - "giving God", "giver of all blessings."

Dazhdbog - the god of sunlight, the eldest son of Svarog. Among the ancient Slavs, Dazhdbog was one of the most revered gods from the entire pantheon. This is reflected in his name, which, despite the consonance, has nothing to do with rain. The particle “Give” comes from the words “give”, “give”, and a short appeal to him has survived to this day in the form “Give, God!”.

Dazhdbog is the deity of the Sun, fertility, he is the most striking personification of the fire element. Slavic chronicles indicate that Dazhdbog was the father of Arius, who is considered the progenitor of the entire white race of Slavs. Therefore, in the pre-Christian era, all people called themselves none other than Dazhdbozh's grandchildren. This suggests that the Slavic people have a direct relationship with God.

In the legends, Dazhdbog is described as a man with golden-sunny hair fluttering in the wind. He had bright blue eyes, and a look so penetrating that all lies and impure thoughts were revealed before him.

Dazhdbog is considered the patron saint of orphans and all people who need help. When properly addressed to himself, he can give rain in a drought, material assistance in poverty, or good advice in a difficult matter. Dazhdbog also patronizes all tillers and other people working on the land. After all, for them, the cycle of the heavenly body plays a major role in harvesting.

Suritsa

Suritsa- in Slavic mythology - the solar Goddess of joy, fun and light (surya drink (drinking honey)). Khmel's wife. Daughter of Dazhbog.

Suritsa is the solar Goddess of joy and light and is the daughter of Dazhdbog. She symbolizes life and patronizes it. The goddess is not only a symbol of life, but also helps to prolong it. No wonder Suritsa brings her children the divine drink of life - Surya. The goddess is dressed in white Slavic clothes and wears a wreath of wild flowers on her head. Her simple and modest beauty clearly testifies to purity and innocence.

Surya is practically a non-alcoholic drink made with honey. The honey drink is cheerful, but does not have an intoxicating effect and is a drink of the Sun itself.

Mermaids

Mermaid- character of Slavic mythology. One of the most varied images of folk mysticism: the ideas about a mermaid that exist in the Russian North, the Volga region, the Urals, Western Siberia differ significantly from Western Russian and South Russian ones. It was believed that the mermaids took care of the fields, forests and waters.

Naming

The sacred rite of naming in the Native Orthodox Faith is an obligatory component of the spiritual development and self-improvement of the Slavs, this is a kind of starting point from which the life of a person in his own way begins. The main purpose of naming is to introduce a person to the great Slavic Family. The soul, having arrived in Reality, after the transition from one state to another, still remains connected with the other world of Navi. Only after the naming does she really renew her spiritual and bodily connection with the Native Gods, hundreds of generations of the Ancestors and the earthly race.

It was believed that only the person who had passed the sacred Rite of Naming was truly full-fledged and had the right to take the appropriate place in the family.

Herbalist

Herbalist- in glory. myth. forest deity.

Spring

Spring. In ancient times, the spring was endowed with magical powers and worshiped as a deity.

Magus

In Slavic pagan society Magi stood out as a special group associated with religious rites, predictions and fortune-telling. Sorcery is a synonym for witchcraft, prediction; the sorcerer was considered a prophet, shaman, healer and compiler of potions. In the ancient Slavic hierarchy, the Magi traditionally occupied a high place next to the ruler. Princes came to the Magi for predictions.

Bylina

Epics (old)- heroic-patriotic songs-tales, telling about the exploits of heroes and reflecting the life of Ancient Rus' of the 9th-13th centuries; a kind of oral folk art, which is characterized by a song-epic way of reflecting reality. The main plot of the epic is some kind of heroic event, or a remarkable episode of Russian history (hence the popular name of the epic - “old”, “old”, implying that the action in question took place in the past).

tree worshiper

forest king

prophetic bird

She would live in the spring and sing about love ... She would live in the spring And sang about love But gardens do not bloom where she nests, She sings fate, about spilled blood A bird is broadcasting in a slightly hysterical voice ... And what does it feel like To be a woman without hands Not turning "into the flesh" the possible passion of dreams, Experiencing fifty someone's anguish a day, Anticipating sorrows and disasters, and tears?! .. The elders come to her She's so young That there is not a wrinkle on the inspired face, And they demand news, they say, what awaits the tribes, But - nothing about her, about the most secret! .. They want to know Who created this world Who manages it, only glorifying good, But indulging evil, and why the idol Only the one who took by force, adding suffering ... They want to know Who, where, when and with whom,

And whether they expect riot in time, the flow is smooth; They have countless topics for her, And she would like one, about the most important thing! .. And she would like But ... they love to torture About the stars in the sky, about the conception of light, And she would like to try at least once Simple girlish love mutual happiness!.. The Magi fawn on her, Like, you are very wise, Tell me, telling where the winds blow from, And the dawns are so burning, and the rain is like a bucket, And they don't dare to ask her about herself. And what to answer her If they suddenly ask After all, there is no hope for her, her dreams are in vain: Only in foreshadowing her days pass, Though kissing could be very passionate! .. Everyone is waiting for the grave darkness, Only she is immortal After all, such is the fate of this bird of things - To live alone, even though... there is a moon in the sky And the bright stars above it shine at night. © Copyright: Vladimir Kotovsky, 2013

To Kupala

Almost got lost

Andrey Alekseevich Shishkin, born in 1960 - was born and raised in Moscow. Since the age of fifteen he has been painting, working as an artist in a private studio. The main direction in creativity - a portrait, historical, genre painting. The paintings have great energy, depth and expressiveness. The artist works in a realistic manner based on the traditions of academic painting.

Without ignoring landscapes and still lifes, Andrei prefers a psychological portrait. He considers this genre the most suitable for the manifestation of skill.

Andrey's works are devoid of empty and meaningless brightness. The coloring of the painting is noblely restrained, which helps to appreciate the meaning and depth of the plot depicted.

A special place in the artist's works is occupied by the theme of Slavic history, pagan polytheism, epics and fairy tales. This ancient world in the artist's paintings is more than a reconstruction of images, the paintings carry a deep symbolic meaning, are filled with great respect for the history of the country and true patriotism.

Original entry and comments on

Vladimir the Brave.

Russia cannot be understood with the mind,
Do not measure with a common yardstick:
She has a special become -
One can only believe in Russia.
Tyutchev F.I.


Traditions of antiquity deep
Soul in itself rebellious nature
And I can't send back time
But I still miss you
Epic, pagan Rus'!

You are in life, and not only in the tales of the ancients
Did you stay? - You don't know yourself
Princess Rus, where in villages and villages
Not huts stood - towers;

Where bread was sown with love in the wild,
Working for the good of Mother Earth;
Where are your knights on the battlefield
They bravely went into a heavy, mortal battle,

Proud of the dashing - Perun breed,
For a bribe not sold to enemies;
Where everyone lived in harmony with nature,
And not a slave, but a grandson of the Gods!

Native Rus' - fire in the sky blue
And the memory of grandfathers and fathers,
You keep us like a maiden - Bereginya,
You live in us - both in thoughts and in hearts,

And through centuries of oblivion, through adversity
You haven't lost your Light
We are like from the holy Tree of the Family,
We eat from your root! Marina Volkova


Vladimir the Brave


Lullaby


Things long past


Before the battle

The last defender


Memory


Guardians of the Russian Land


Evpatiy Kolovrat


Russian field


In the wilderness of the forest


Spell


tree worshiper




Tsar Ivan the Terrible

THERE ARE NO PICTURES EVERYTHING, IT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE A NATIONAL RUSSIAN OUTFIT! | ANDREY SHISHKIN

Kokoshnik- an old Russian headdress in the form of a comb (fan or rounded shield) around the head, a symbol of Russian traditional costume.
In the 19th century existed in the boyar, merchant and peasant environment (mainly in the northern provinces), in pre-Petrine Rus'.


Peasant woman costume - it is traditionally
He wore national traits.
And the enlightened West did not touch
Its peculiar beauty!
All the same sundresses were worn,
Ponies and shirts without fuss.
And yet the outfits of women differed
From the northern and southern regions!

Sundresses were worn in the north
From plain fabric, from canvas,
From dyed, homespun wool.
And only finishing bright beauty
She gave an elegant look to the costume,
And the shirts are always embroidered
She answered special events -
For weddings, rural holidays, work...

The peasant women of the south - they preferred
Put on poneva over shirts,
Decorated with a pattern along the hem,
But skirts were considered
Outfit for women. The girls wore
Over the shirt an apron or an armyak,
For adulthood they were sewn
Ponevy skirts, that's how it happened!

In the North they put on a kokoshnik,
embroidered crowns,
In the South, kiki was preferred to them
And bells were sewn to the skirts.
And an apron or an apron everywhere
Tried to wear for elegance,
The pattern was decorated with an interesting,
They knew how to embroider with silk and beads.
There is no more picturesque all the same, it should be noted,
National Russian outfit!
Kika - headdress in the form of a crescent.
Armyak - an apron decorated with a pattern.







Wreath(from the old Slavic veno “gift”) - a ring-shaped decoration made of fresh greenery, flowers and branches.
In folk traditions (particularly among the Slavs) - a ritual object, an element of decoration for performers of rituals, a talisman, a talisman.

Pagan gods among the Slavs, artist Andrey Shishkin

Perun the Thunderer - the main god of the pantheon, the patron of the prince and the squad, also a thunderer


Khors - the personification of the sun


Numbers is one of the highest gods among the Slavs. The priests of Chislobog knew the secret ancient sciences of counting days, months and years. The legend says: “He had two faces: one was like the sun, the other was like a crescent, because the Sun measures the course of the day, and the Moon measures the nights. The Number God is the keeper of the Universal Scales, on which the time and measure of each Being is measured, and the Chalice of Time, drinking from which you can return the past or get into the future. Symbols of Numbers - scales, abacus, measuring instruments, numbers and arithmetic signs. The sacred bird is a cuckoo that, on certain days and hours, broadcasts to people about the deadlines allotted to them.

Dazhdbog - a solar deity, is considered the ancestor of the Russian people


Stribog - a deity associated with the winds


Veles - patron of storytellers and poetry


Svyatobor - the god of forests and forest lands


Rod and Rozhanitsy - deities personifying fate


Dawn-Zarnitsa - Goddess of the dawn


Devana - goddess of the hunt


Kvasura - god of fun, joy and hops


Lel - God of Love


Belun is the embodiment of light, the god of goodness, good luck, happiness, good, the personification of the daytime and spring sky.


Kolyada - God of winter festivities, God of the beginning of a new life


Suritsa - solar Goddess of joy and light


Kupalo and Kostroma. Kostroma is the sister and wife of Kupaila, the goddess of fertility, harvest, summer and the Sun, the patroness of lovers. She was the elemental embodiment of Water, the creative female primary energy. Kupala (the correct pronunciation of Kupailo or Kupaila) is an ancient Slavic solar deity, personifying the apotheosis of the active creative energy of sunlight. Legend of Kupalo and Kostroma


Volga - epic character


Mother Bird Sva Glory - Great Mother Glory, patroness of the Russian lands, progenitor of all Russian Clans


Bylina. Epics (starins) are heroic-patriotic songs-tales that tell about the exploits of heroes and reflect the life of Ancient Rus' in the 9th-13th centuries.


Magus - sorcerer, sorcerer, soothsayer, sage


Name naming. It was believed that only the person who had passed the sacred Rite of Naming was truly full-fledged and had the right to take the appropriate place in the family.


Herbalist - in glory. myth. forest deity


Spring. In ancient times, the spring was endowed with magical powers and worshiped as a deity.

GO TO GOD...IF PAIN CAPTURES YOUR SOUL... | ANDREY SHISHKIN
Angelight - Angels of Heaven

Go to God... if pain captivates the Soul...
Do not be afraid of revelations ... he knows how to listen ...
And don't be ashamed of your tears before God...
Coming to the temple of God, you bow to the Father ...
Go to God... if sadness gnaws at you...
He will not leave ... he will always help ...
Light a candle at dawn...
And wash away your pain with holy water...

Go to God...in search of forgiveness...
And let there be no doubt in the heart ...
He will understand everything...he will not judge...
His forgiveness will be with you forever...
Live in peace and harmony with others...
Pray... before the holy icons...
Don't cross the threshold...
Love... God bless you... Galina Volenberg


Prayer for everyone


Spring

Annunciation


Guardian angel


Before the service


Archangel Gabriel


Vladyko


On the belfry


Chronicler


archangel Michael


Saint


Hermit


Resurrection


Archangel Uriel


Apostle John


Let your name shine


deaf ringer


Igor Chernigovskiy


Who will open me...


Elijah the prophet


Candlemas


Simeon and Jesus


Mystery of birth


Christ in the Dark


Apostle

SHISHKIN ANDREY ALEKSEEVICH
Family.
Jam.
Weaving a wreath.

Archangel.
Cavalier.
Andrey Shishkin is a contemporary artist, a well-known portrait painter and a real master of the brush, whose vocation was realistic academic painting. The artist was born in Moscow, where he lives and works to this day. Andrei Alekseevich has been painting for more than fifteen years. Being an unusually creative person, he created thousands of original portraits, the beauty, depth and character of which amazes and fascinates, makes you think about the transience of time, about wonderful moments, about the depth of the human soul.
Lady in black.
Condottiere.
Bully.
Viking.
Guardsman.
Ivan groznyj.
Things of bygone days
Forest king.
Duelist.
Lady with a fan.
Vladimir the Brave.


Name naming.


Herbalist.
Fairy tale.



Bylina.


Lullaby.


Hedgehogs.


Rowan wreath.

Silly ringer.
Guide.
Memory.
Beggar.
On the bell.
Prayer for everyone.
Crossbowman.
Archangel Gabriel.
Guardian angel.
In the wilderness of the forest.

Magus.

Artist Andrey Shishkin

viking

He whispered something to her
Right into your warm ear
Hand fiddled with a strand of silky hair;
His mouth was dry from excitement,
And he “sipped” half a glass of wine in one gulp! ..
And got a little drunk!
And she smiled...

Yes, he is a nine year old widow,
Lonely man,
By the way, not at all old, still in full juice,
But, alas, without love, the heart gnaws torment,
And ... he sits in the house, like an owl on a bitch! ..
To brighten up your life -
“The house is like a “full bowl”! ..” -
He bought a cat, and how he raised his son,
He allowed everything to the cat, and fed yogurt,
And, although he was less bored, he was sad without affection ...
The dream was interrupted at that moment
When… “Someone in the closet?!..”
A thief steals his bow?!
... Flew away in a dream from his strong hand,
Having broken all hopes, prima ball, Madam.

Portrait - a genre of painting, one of the most difficult, because the focus of our perception is shifting to an important part - to our face. The face is a reflection of our essence. All this must be understood by a good portrait painter. A portrait is a synthesis of the best features subordinated to an artistic image. And even if this is not so - a good portrait painter always strives for this. Artist Andrey Shishkin presents an opportunity to look through the prism of artistry, to discover something new, manifesting itself through the fog of an ordinary look. Being an unusually creative person, he created thousands of original portraits, the beauty, depth and character of which amazes and fascinates, makes you think about the transience of time, about wonderful moments, about the depth of the human soul.
"I was born in Moscow in 1960. I live there, I work as an artist in a private studio. I have been painting for 15 years. I have no special art education. exhibitions."

ANDREY SHISHKIN CONTEMPORARY RUSSIAN ARTIST