"The moral code of our ancient faith, the stories of gods and goddesses, relics, rituals, chants, and the wisdom itself was handed down to us."
~ Jonas Trinkunas.
Night is incomprehensible if day has never dawned. Evil is all there is if good has never been experienced. So too with our faith - to understand what we believe, how we believe and why we believe, we cannot constrain ourselves to following the narrow trail of one religion without ever glancing aside. Context gives meaning and value to everything.
Comparative religion involves 'un-isolating' your faith by studying other beliefs. It provides a way to understand the communality of faith, to focus upon the similarities between us all rather than the differences. And that helps diminish fear and distrust. I am a great believer in reducing such negative and harmful emotions, which is why I support religious study through comparison.
That is the purpose of this column - to share knowledge about the different paths taken by members of the Pagan community. This month I am looking at Romuva, the faith of the Slavic and Baltic peoples, and its practice in Lithuania. Romuva means sanctuary and also abode of inner peace.
Conversion
Lithuania converted to Christianity in 1387 - the last of the European countries to do so. Grand Duke Jogaila agreed to the conversion as a part of his marriage contract with Jadwiga, Queen of Poland, in an effort to end the horrendous wars of conversion. Prior to this, Lithuania had practiced religious tolerance, and this did not change although the state religion had. The old faith did not die out, possibly because of Jogaila's tacit support, but instead coexisted with Christianity. Among the lower social groups Christianity did not become the dominant religion until the Industrial Age, and Paganism never lost its hold on the people's hearts. Some regions of the country practice a combined Christian-Pagan belief, with the old hill shrines, sacred springs and other places of worship still revered today.
As such, Lithuania is a fascinating glimpse into Paganism - not the revived faith it often is elsewhere in the world, but as an unbroken community tradition. While the old Pagan tradition has been corrupted through its marriage with Christianity, there are still elements of the past glories to be found. Myths and legends remain to point the way home, and the number of Lithuanians seeking the path of Baltic tradition is growing.
Lietuvos Romuva
Lietuvos Romuva (Lithuanian Romuva - the modern inheritor of the traditions) is predominantly focused upon Nature worship, as evidenced by the hill-shrines and sacred trees. Interestingly, the Romuviai do not consider their path to be related to modern Neo-Paganism - they see Romuva as a continued tradition, as opposed to revived which is indeed what many Neo-Pagan faiths are. Unlike many Pagans whose revived religion resulted from the need to find their 'religious roots', the Romuviai know theirs and are more interested in the 'truth' of their knowledge and if what they practice is a true reflection of the divine.
This search for the truth is what Jonas Trinkunas, the ordained krivis (head priest) of Lietuvos Romuva (Lithuanian Romuva), works for. Instrumental in the continued growth of the old faiths, Trinkunas focuses upon the surviving "local mythology, folklore and ethic heritage" for inspiration. He is also strongly convinced that spirituality comes from knowing divinity, and that "It is more important to experience this for each human being individually, in nature, near an oak or linden tree, near a stone or fire," than through dogma-led organized religion. As an integral part of this concept, Romuva believes deeply in the idea that to each person his/her own path. All religions are founded in the one truth, and as such the followers of another faith should be given the freedom to practice their beliefs.
"The gods of different peoples and localities are not just the divine forms of the nature's vital powers. Their power grows and spreads together with people who have strength of faith."
~ Jonas Trinkunas.
May God Dievas help! May Goddess Laima bless!
Deity, to the Romuviai, is a very personal matter. There are many gods, each with their own function. However, the concept of Dievanesiai - holding God within oneself - is central to the religion. One is then answerable to that god for everything one does, and encouraged by the immediate presence of god to behave in a more spiritual fashion. This is seen as a warm and close relationship - god as an intimate acquaintance.
"The Baltic faith unites all the faithful - living and dead."
~ Lietuvos Romuva.
Fire and the Ancestors
The Romuviai also honour fire, Ugnis, for its divine nature, its life-giving properties, and its symbol as to the unbroken line of family and ancestors. Fire plays a crucial role in every single Romuviai ritual.
This link to the past is important in understanding Romuva. A nature-faith it may be, but it is also very much a religion of ancestral worship to - although not as most such are know. The ancestors are seen as a continuing and communicating part of life. The focus upon the past as present within daily life flows over into all things and creates a rich, living heritage.
"Blessed is the man, who seeks the way to the eternal Romuva,
And desires, in the light of everlasting fire,
To live forever. Naught will stand against him.
May we see what is eternal and sacred.
Throughout the ages it will bless us all!"
~ Vydunas.
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