Slavic Paganism in Medieval Christian Writings: Ink, Cross, and Pagan Gods (East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450, 97)

Book info: Slavic Paganism in Medieval Christian Writings: Ink, Cross, and Pagan Gods (East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450, 97) (Hardcover, 332 pages) – Brill, 2025. Language: English.

How did medieval Christian writers shape our understanding of Slavic paganism? What prompted men like Thietmar of Merseburg, Saxo Grammaticus, Cosmas of Prague, or the anonymous Old Russian preacher to write detailed accounts of Slavic rituals, deities, and nearly forgotten tales? This volume examines the discursive strategies these authors used to describe, distort, and redefine pre-Christian Slavic religion. Through over a dozen case studies, the author explores texts, archaeological evidence, and ethnographic data that reveal how Christianity attempted to reframe pagan traditions. With innovative interpretations and interdisciplinary methods, this book offers novel perspectives on the study of Slavic pre-Christian religions in the Middle Ages. Editorial Reviews About the Author Jiří Dynda, Ph.D. (2021), Charles University, is a religious studies scholar working at the Institute of Slavonic Studies of the Czech Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on Slavic pre-Christian religion, the Christianization of the Slavs, and the pagan-Christian syncretism in medieval popular culture.