Of Magic and Church

Whether you believe that spells carved on tiny gold leaves, locked in a lead amulet, will ward off demons, or that Saint Barbara can protect you against sudden death, you are in essence stepping on the water - your belief stronger than the gravity. Do I put my faith in Christ, Perun or vulture skull? …

Should we sacrifice this Christian monk? Let’s see what the horse says.

The Northern Slavs worshiped Slavic gods well into the early 13th century.  Germans, in their zeal to have all their neighbors on the Jesus boat, sent missionaries among the pagans to show them “the way.” When the Slavs weren’t impressed, the Germans would send the knights. The pagans from Turaida figured that the Cistercian missionary …