Eastern Europe
Saint Olga Outwits Her Suitor
“Then the Emperor said, “Olga, you have outwitted me.” He gave her many gifts of gold, silver, silks, and various vases, and dismissed her, still calling her his daughter.” […]
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
The Face of a Victor — an Ugly Victor
“Their hardihood is evident in their wild appearance, and they are beings who are cruel to their children on the very day they are born.” […]
Eastern Europe
The Old Gods and the New
“Messengers thus came and said to the father, “Since the lot has fallen upon your son, the gods have claimed him as their own. Let us therefore make sacrifice to the gods.”” […]
Eastern Europe
Translation: The Huns are Trash
“There the unclean spirits, who beheld them as they wandered through the wilderness, bestowed their embraces upon them and begat this savage race, which dwelt at first in the swamps — a stunted, foul and puny tribe, scarcely human, and having no language save one which bore but slight resemblance to human speech.” […]
Eastern Europe
Satan Exalting
“Following the devil’s instruction, [the human race] sacrificed to trees, springs, and rivers, and did not know God.” […]
Eastern Europe
The Death of the Old Gods
There was joy in heaven and upon earth to behold so many souls saved. But the devil groaned, lamenting, “Woe is me! How am I driven out hence! For I thought to have my dwelling-place here.” […]
Eastern Europe
Warming Up with Some Bull-Killing
“The bull ran past the youth, and he seized the beast’s flank with his hand. He thus pulled off the skin along with as much flesh as he could grasp. Then Vladimir remarked, “You are well qualified to do combat with the champion.”” […]
Eastern Europe
The Price of Honey
Life in medieval Bulgaria. […]