Slovenski Staroverci
Dear Sir or Madame
We are “Slovenski staroverci”, an informal association which continues the traditional old Slovenian faith that is the only indigenous pre-Christian religion of our country. We usually tend to call ourselves “slovenski staroverci” meaning Slovenian Old-believers, somehow similar is the term Slovenian rodnovery that might also shed some light on our beliefs. On a yearly basis we celebrate four season related holidays, Jarilo (vernal equinox), Mara (autumnal equinox), Kresnik – Kupalo (summer solstice) and Božič Svarožič (winter solstice). In addition to above mentioned season related holidays, we also commemorate Veles’ day and Perun’s day.
As the only Slovenian ethnically based belief system and therefore one of many ethnic religions of Europe, it is our hope to establish the spirit of cooperation with ECER. Up until now we have only worked together with other ethnically based Slavic religions, but we firmly believe that there is much to gain through mutual sharing of experiences, view points and other informations concerning ethnic religions. If the possibility arises we will try to attend the next European Congress of Ethnic Religions. We regularly follow news via your web page and newsletter but it would give us great joy to be also informed about news and events that might not find its place among general publications. In addition to individual membership that a few of our members are highly interested in, we are also considering to join in as a group member somewhere in the near future. It should be noted that we are in full agreement with ECER declaration.
The beginnings of our work go way back to the year 2005. At first we started as a small group but as the years passed the number of same-minded people grew, and our small group became quite a movement. As an informal nonpolitical association we are not yet formally registrated in Slovenia. It should also be noted that we disapprove being classified as “neopaganism” because our religion is a genuine part of a broader Slavic old-religion context. We are full members of Slavic rodnoverie veche and have hosted it’s annual conference in the castle Struga, in the year 2009. Throughout the year we organize different activities, that mainly take place in the Struga castle, where we have set up a room dedicated to the old beliefs of Slavic mythology. In the year 2010 we have published a journal from the 6th international conference Slavic heritage, titled Triglav: religious meaning among the Slavs (Anžur, Matjaž, ed.: Triglav: religiozni pomen pri Slovanih). Just last year the six meter statue of Perun (Slavic thunder god) was erected in Turno village, this year we have already published a special edition of a magazine The Awakening of Consciousness – magazine for personal growth and rebirth (Prebujenje zavesti; revija za osebno rast in prerod) dedicated entirely to Slavic/Slovenian old beliefs, and a old belief themed calendar for the year 2012. Next to religious celebrations we focus on a wide range of activities such as lectures, evenings dedicated to music, poetry nights and other cultural events that deal with Slovenian ethnic religion.
Despite the fact that Slovenia is geographically close to the European center of Christianity, the complete conversion of our lands was never accomplished. Up until the beginning of 20th century reports concerning the survival of our old beliefs in the western part of Slovenia are documented and share a common form of dual-faith. The last Old-believers in that area allowed their stories to be written down and published in agreed time. Today these stories are published in two books, that are for now unfortunately available only in Slovenian language.
Many of modern Slovenian Old-believers dedicate a large amount of their time to the scientific investigations of Slavic mythology, many of these find their place in articles and books devoted to the mentioned subject. The old beliefs of our ancestors are once more gradually becoming an important part of Slovenian nation and our culture.
Quite a few of our activities and articles etc. are published on our web site http://www.staroverci.si Email: info@staroverci.si