Thread: Slavs and Glory

Is there a connection between the words for "Slavic" (славянский) and "glory" (слава)? If so, which came first -- Slav or glory. I'm just curious; did some guy named Igor say "Hey, that was a glorious victory! Therefore we're glorious, so let's call ourselves Slavs!" or conversely, was it "Wow, we really won that battle -- we're invincible; let's name the very trait of being glorious after ourselves." I'm being a bit silly of course, but my original question is one I'm serious about. Any ideas? Or am I just a crazy foreigner drawing faulty conclusions?

A simple google search gave me your answer http://www.unicorne.org/ORTHODOXY/artic ... inslav.htm

Origin of the Word "Slav"

The actual origin of the term "Slav" can be readily determined in accordance with the way in which it was historically used by the Slavic peoples.

At the outset, the Latin (not Greek) word for "slave" was spelled quite differently from its anglicized derivative. Western words such as these in Latin would not have been used by the Slavs in the East in their earliest history. Far from being slaves to anyone, the early history of Rus' demonstrates that the Slavs were not only war-like and independent-minded, but they actually made war several times against the Roman Empire at its later capital city of Byzantium. There are several Greek Church commemorations of Byzantium being saved through Divine intervention from the onslaught of the Slavic armies.

"Slava" means "glory." In actual fact, this term has nothing to do with any other country's assessment of Slavic culture and traditions, but with the spirit of Slavic values.

The glory that is talked about here is not about the egotism of achieving personal glory through heroic acts so that everyone else may acclaim it.

To achieve "Glory" has meant, to the Slavs in history, an heroic self-sacrifice of individuals and groups on behalf of the interests of their wider community and nation. To give one's life for the preservation or in defence of one's nation is to have truly achieved "Glory." This meaning is also wonderfully captured in the phrase coined by Metropolitan Ilarion Ohienko, "To serve one's people is to serve God."

That "glory" doesn't end with the sacrifice of the individuals, however. The story of such heroic struggles against all odds became deeply imbedded in the consciousness and oral and written tradition of the Slavic peoples who constantly referred to them, especially in times of crisis, as to sources of inspiration for the present. "Glory" is also a foundation of values to which Slavs aspire and point to as their glorious past. Even Slavic Saints are markedly different in their character than other Saints in that service to their nation/society is something that tends to be the guide-post of their lives.

Slavs are therefore very highly socially developed as a people. Their traditions reflect this brilliantly. For example, the formal prayers after meals are interrupted to allow for everyone to thank the person(s) who prepared it. There are many examples too numerous to list here.

This is also why the Orthodox Christian Faith took such a great hold on them, especially the Eastern Slavs. Orthodoxy is the religion of the worship of the Holy Trinity which is a social conception of God. All this relates back to the social understanding of glory and "Slava" which is at the root of Slavic history and values.

Dr. Alexander Roman

More info from: http://slavs.biography.ms/

Even the origin of the word "Slav" remains controversial. In Slavic languages that word is "Slowianie", "Slovene", or something similar, with obvious similarities to word slowo or slovo meaning "word". Slowianie would mean "people who can speak", as opposed to the Slavic word for Germans, "Niemcy", that is, "dumb", "people who cannot speak" (compare the Greek coinage of the term "barbarian"). Another obvious similarity links "Slavs" to the word slawa or slava, that is "glory" or "praise" (with a root in common with slowo - someone glorious has a word, a tale, spreading about him). Some linguists believe, however, that these obvious connections mislead, despite the early translation of the Greek word orthodoxos ("Correct/right", "glorifying/praising") having its equivalent in pravoslavni with pravo meaning "right" or "correct" and slavni meaning "those who praise" or "those who glorify" [God].

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

A simple google search gave me your answer http://www.unicorne.org/ORTHODOXY/artic ... inslav.htm

What is google? I have never heard of this "search" before?

No, but your chiding is fair; I suppose I got a tad lazy... Thanks.