#volhv

[lugvelesasrz]

Petar Meseldžija - Wandering Sage (Veles’ Priest)

[russianfolklore]

“Volhv. Pagan Rus” by Yuriy Sergeev.

A volhv (Cyrillic: Волхв; translatable as wiseman, wizard, magus, i.e. shaman, or mage) is a priest in ancient Slavic religions.

Volkhvs are attested among the early Rus people. Volkhvs were believed to possess mystical powers, particularly the ability to predict the future. The first literary reference to a volkhv occurs in the Primary Chronicle under the year 912; there, the priest-soothsayer predicts Prince Oleg's death. With the adoption of Christianity, the pagan priests came under persecution and sometimes tried to channel social discontent against the Christian church.

[weles3-blog]

Aleksander Karcz  - “Wołchw”

[lugvelesasrz]

“Herbalist“

by Russian artist Andrey Shishkin

[slavonica-antiqua]

Andrey Shishkin