Svantevid – the bearer of light

Svantevid or young Vid was the youngest, the most beautiful and the best of all Svarozici, the sons of Svarog. While the other gods had the same flaws as humans, Svantevid remained righteous in nature and pure as the sun. The strong and handsome young man was the dearest son of the Old Vid and the favorite of all the gods.

One day, when Svantevid had just grown into a man, Svarog called him and said: "Listen Vid, you have grown up, you are prudent and it is time for you to accept some duties. You will be the bearer of light, so you will bring the daylight to the people of the earth. The gifts I give you are actually embodied duties of your life journey. With this day, ends the age of your youthful carelessness and you must take on duties towards heaven and earth, and responsibility towards yourself. Everyone must have a purpose and goal in life, even if he was the king of heaven."

Father’s gifts

Then Svarog brought him his glorious weapon – an invincible fiery sword, a sharp flaming spear and a horn. The horn is a symbol of fertility and abundance, and in times of war it would be his battle call. The scepter was the pledge of his power. As long as he carried it with him, his face would always be bright. With the rays of light, reflected in him, every corner of the world would be exposed, darkness dispelled and he would be the enemy of all evil. The moment Svarog handed him the scepter, Svantevid shone in a gleam of the brightest and the shiniest glow. His sword as yellow as gold behaved like a living being and obeyed every command of the young deity, always returning to Svantevid’s arms, no matter how far away he was from him. With it, Svantevid could cut through the darkness and release the light by conquering the night, the time of evil fairies, magical beings of darkness and the ruler of darkness himself, the Black God. In addition, Svarog gave him a winged horse that could fly to the ninth heaven and be his friend and faithful companion, and he also gave him faithful helpers and companions, the goddesses Danica and Zora who became his wife.

A celestial, cosmic deity

The memory of Svantevid is still not completely forgotten. He continues to live in the names, customs, songs and folk tales. The Croats called him Vid, Vido and Sutvid, meaning strong Vid or Jakobog. No one's worship has penetrated as deeply into the soul of the people - as Vidovo or Vid's religion, which was very widespread, especially among the coastal Croats. He first appears to us as a deity of light and sun, looking at all parts of the world, which is why sculptors and woodcutters, like the ancient Romans, represented him with four heads. He was most celebrated in the summer when he was at the height of his power because he gave everything in abundance. All the gods loved him except one who felt every ray of light as a whip and prickly thorns. This villain is none other than the Black God who hated him and spread that hatred among the people as malice, pity and intolerance. This is where, according to our ancestors, so much anger and envy among people originated.