Pagan_Bulgaria First_Bulgarian_Empire

the pliska rosette dated pagan period has 7 fingers representing classical planets

in first 2 centuries after creation, bulgarian state remained pagan. bulgars , slavs continued practice indigenous religions. bulgar religion monotheistic, linked cult tangra, god of sky. worship of tangra proven inscription reads kanasubigi omurtag, divine ruler ... performed sacrifice god tangra . ruling khan had important place in religious life; high priest , performed rituals. large sanctuary dedicated cult of tangra existed near modern village of madara. bulgars practised shamanism, believed in magic , charms, , performed various rituals. of rituals described byzantines after christian ruler leo v had pour out water on ground cup, turn round horse saddles, touch triple bridle, lift grass high above ground , cut dogs witnesses during ceremony of signing of byzantine–bulgarian treaty of 815. pouring of water reminder if oath broken, blood pour out. in same sense can explained turning of saddle – a warning violator not able ride or fall dead horse during battle. triple bridle symbolised toughness of agreement , lifting of grass reminded no grass remain in enemy country if peace broken. sacrifice of dogs common custom among turkic peoples further strengthened treaty.

the slavs worshiped numerous deities. supreme god perun, god of thunder , lightning. perun god mentioned (though not name) first authoritative reference slavic mythology in written history, 6th century byzantine historian procopius, described slavs settled south of danube. procopius noted worshipped rivers , believed in nymphs. number of mythological being slavic pantheon persisted in bulgarian folklore present, such samodivas, halas, vilas, rusalkas, slavic dragons, etc. during sacrifices slavs perform divinations. after adoption of christianity worship of perun merged cult saint elijah.

bulgarian soldiers kill christians during persecutions, menologion of basil ii

christianity practised in bulgaria throughout whole pagan period. dissemination among populace increased result of successful wars of khan krum in beginning of 9th century. krum employed many byzantine christians – greeks, armenians , slavs – in military , administration; of them served deputies of kavhan , ichirgu-boila. tens of thousands byzantines resettled across bulgaria, beyond danube river protect north-eastern borders, face non-byzantines. many of them, however, maintained clandestine links byzantine court fuelled traditional distrust of bulgarian elite , resulted in large-scale persecution of christianity under khans omurtag , malamir. omurtag , nobility saw christians byzantine agents , felt religion, hierarchy based in byzantium, treat bulgarian independence. there executions, including 2 of 5 strategoi served under krum, leo , john, metropolitan of adrianople, bishop of debeltos, etc. list of martyred christians included bulgar (asfer, kuberg) , slav names. dismissive attitude of christians towards pagans insulting bulgarian elite. in conversation byzantine christian omurtag told him: not humiliate our gods, power great. proof, worship them, have conquered whole roman state . yet, despite measures, christianity continued spread, reaching members of khan s own family. omurtag s eldest son enravota, seen pro-christian, disinherited , converted christianity. after refusing renounce faith, executed orders of brother malamir c. 833 , became first bulgarian saint. attitude of bulgarian rulers christianity seen in philippi inscription of khan presian:

...if seeks truth, god watches. , if 1 lies, god watches. bulgarians did many things christians [the byzantines] , christians forgot, god watches.