Day of Remembrance for Raud the Strong among the pagans

Once upon a time, all people living on Earth belonged to the pagans and worshiped the forces of nature, mysterious natural phenomena, and so on. Today the situation has changed and most people have converted to Christianity or Islam, while a number of people continue to worship pagan deities. However, the smaller number of followers of the “ancestral faith” is not proof that “paganism” is unimportant compared to the generally accepted world religions. Pagan celebrations were not just special days on the calendar. Each of them carried a hidden meaning and served as certain milestones in the life of society. One of these holidays is the day of Raud the Strong, who during his lifetime was a Norwegian priest and navigator. At the dawn of the march of Christianity around the world, he stubbornly resisted conversion to this faith, for which he was executed. Pagans commemorate him on January 9. Olaf Haraldson (Olaf II or Olaf the Saint), with the help of bonds and provincial rulers, became king of Norway in 1015. During his thirteen-year reign, he made many mistakes as he sought to expand his own powers by reducing traditional freedoms, changing tax collection, and introducing other innovations. As a result, a riot broke out, because of which he was forced to flee first to Sweden, from where he moved to Ancient Rus', to Novgorod. Two years later, he tried to regain his kingdom, but died in the battle of Stiklastadir. In addition to the attack on the freedoms of the Norwegian ancestors, in the life of Olaf Haraldson, a bright thread runs through his struggle to convert the pagans of Norway to Christianity. The king began his “crusade” with a trip to the lands of modern Norway, which were then under the rule of the Danish king. However, this attempt to convey the true faith to the pagans was unsuccessful, since the ancient Vikings were extremely reluctant to agree to undergo the rite of Baptism. Therefore, to intimidate the disobedient, Saint Olaf not only resorted to executions, but in addition to the existing ones, he invented new tortures. One of those resisting the Baptism was a large landowner, seafarer and leader-priest of the Norse pagan faith of Asatru, based on belief in the forces of nature, Raud the Strong. This brave man was known to the Norwegians and the inhabitants of the coast for his raids on the ship "Dragon" or "Snake". This ship was larger than any of the ships in Olaf the Saint's fleet, but in the naval battle the victory went to the current king of Norway. However, Raud the Strong was able to escape pursuit and survived. The landowner and navigator, hiding from the royal wrath, was eventually tracked down and captured. He was brought to the Norwegian king, who promised him not only his friendship and the preservation of all property and lands, but also a lot of other gifts if he became a Christian. But Raud the Strong, faithful to the ancient Norse doctrine, refused this generous offer and said that he would not betray the faith of his ancestors and did not believe in Christ, and also began to mock Olaf’s faith. Even under the threat of death, the priest Asatru remained adamant. The enraged king ordered his execution in the worst execution in Norway at that time. Raud the Strong was tied to a post and an iron funnel was inserted into his throat, through which a poisonous snake was sent. Such a terrible death made Raud the Strong a martyr of Asartu and the reason for the establishment of a day of his remembrance. Those living in Iceland, Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, as well as in Russia, commemorate the martyr by drinking a horn of wine or brandy in his honor.