In the vastness of North Ossetia there is a sacred place called the Khetag grove. All Ossetians know the legend about her, as she has been passing from fathers to children for several hundred years. It is difficult to say how true this story is, but everyone should hear it. After all, such a wondrous miracle has not happened on Orthodox land for a long time.
Grove of Khetag: the legend of a man of unshakable faith
A long time ago, a tribe of Alans lived near the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River. They were ruled by Prince Inal, a strict but fair man. He had three sons: Beslan, Aslanbeg and Khetag. The brothers competed with each other since childhood, because everyone wanted to become a real man in the eyes of his father. But even so, they never crossed the line, remaining true brothers.
Alas, peace was not long in this land. A new religion came to them from neighboring lands - Islam. And quickly people forgot about Orthodox faith by choosing a different path. And only Khetag remained true to the old traditions, not wanting to recognize another teaching. Moreover, he tried to reason with his people, but they only got angry with him.
Seeing the indignation of the people, Inal drove his son from his land, ordering him not to appear before him again. As for the brothers, they supported their father and soon forgot about the existence of Khetag. After that, the young man could no longer stay in his native land and finally decided to leave it.
The phenomenon of the miracle of Khetag
The hearts of his enemies were restless, and they decided to kill the self-sacrificing Christian in order to glorify Allah. They quickly caught up with Khetag, as he was unaware of the approaching threat. But it was not so easy to stop the young warrior, especially on the right horse.
Seeing the enemies outnumbered, Khetag rushed to the nearest forest. Only there he could control them, attacking them one by one. Alas, the trees were still far away, and the riders were already coming close to him. A little more - and he would have been surrounded, and then even the skill of a warrior would not have saved him.
And then a voice was heard from the forest: “Here, Khetag, come here quickly!” The young man did not see who was calling him, but he sensed a wondrous power in that voice. Then Khetag shouted with all his might: “If I don’t have time to reach the forest, then let him come to me!” The forest obeyed him, and in an instant surrounded the Khetag grove with an impenetrable wall of trees. The enemies of the marvelous miracle were frightened, turned around and ran away.
Mysterious savior
The young man looked around, realized that there was no more pursuit, and began to look for his savior. And then the great Uastirdzhi (better known as Saint George) appeared to his eyes, all dressed in a bright stream of light. And he said in a quiet voice: "Your salvation is a reward for your faith, so remember this and continue to carry the word of God to the people."
Khetag lived in the forest for another year in order to comprehend the great truth. Then he gathered his things and went to the village of Nar. Over the years, the young man became even stronger and became a worthy husband, and brought into the world a great offspring, known as the Khetagurov family.
Memory of a great hero
The history of the Khetag grove has become a symbol of the true faith of the Ossetian people. That is why it has long been customary to pass it on from father to son, so that the memory of the great hero lives forever. In addition, the Khetag grove has become a place for pilgrimage, where believers from all over Ossetia come together.
People believe that St. Uastirdzhi even today protects peace in this forest. Therefore, all pilgrims honor those customs and laws that the Khetag grove keeps. The legend says that the main rule is the integrity of the entire array. That is, you can’t break anything in the forest, and even more so take it out of it: be it a dry branch or a small acorn.
Also, for a long time, the Khetag grove was closed to women. However, during the Second World War, saddened wives came here to ask St. George for protection. Since then, the law has been relaxed towards them. Now they can come here during the holidays to thank Uastirdzhi for his patronage.
What is the Khetag Grove in reality?
Even without legends, this place has a special charm that is unique to it. What is most surprising is that the grove has an almost perfect round shape. Looking at her, you involuntarily begin to believe that she, indeed, appeared due to divine influence.
Also, one cannot but admire how the Khetag grove has changed under the influence of time. North Ossetia has done everything possible to transform its shrine without disturbing its peace. So, centuries-old ash and beeches harmoniously combine with stone tables for sacred meals, and small benches placed along the paths only decorate the local landscape.
And although the territory of the grove is not among the protected areas of North Ossetia, people treat it with all respect. There is no place for poaching, vandalism and other excesses, which only confirms how spiritual the Ossetian people can be.
Hundreds of holidays are celebrated annually on the territory of our country, the existence of which most Russians have not even heard of.
In various gorges, and often villages North Ossetia celebrate many holidays dissimilar to each other either in content or form. All of them cannot be described, but the Ossetians also have the most important celebrations for the whole people. For centuries they have been preserved in their original form with their national names and customs: Dzheorguyba, Uatsilla, Qahts, Bynaty Khitsau and many others.
Ossetians celebrate a holiday in July Hetaji Bon- translated into Russian Khetag Day.
The legend says that Kabardian Prince Khetag fled from his pursuers, who intended to kill him because he converted to Christianity. As you know, Kabardians, like most Caucasians, are Muslims. The only Christian republic in the Caucasus - Ossetia. This is where Khetag fled. When the pursuers had almost overtaken the young man in the open field, he pleaded:
Oh Uastyrji! (in Ossetian it means "Oh, Lord") Help me!
Khetag! Run to the forest!
Forest to Khetag!
And a wonderful grove with tall trees grew in front of him. There the young man took cover and thus escaped from his pursuers: they turned back, as they could not find Khetag. The young prince lived in the grove for about a year, after which he moved to the mountainous Ossetian village of Nar, where he gave rise to the famous Ossetian family Khetagurovs.
Grove Khetag is located east of the village of Suadag in North Ossetia. now this Holy place. Every year on the second Sunday of July, people from all over North Ossetia come here to pray to the Almighty for help. They say that prayers said in the Holy Grove of Khetag have special power. It is believed that Khetag patronizes all people: even those who have committed crimes can pray in the grove. The main thing is not to harm her.
In recent decades, the holiday has become truly national. On the Day of Khetag, a bull, calf or ram is sacrificed. Those who, for objective reasons, cannot do this, buy three ribs.
As on other great Ossetian holidays - Uatsilla, Dzheorguba, etc. - on this day it is not customary to put poultry, fish, pork and dishes prepared from them on the table.
You should come to the grove with three pies and meat. But it is not supposed to arrange endless feasts there.
Many traditions and prohibitions are associated with the Khetag grove: for example, nothing can be taken out of the grove. In ancient times, only the most worthy men of the village were allowed there in order to ask for a harvest, a cure for an illness, and other essentials. Before the Great Patriotic War, women were forbidden to enter the grove, but during the war years they began to come there to pray for their loved ones who had gone to fight. Since then, the ban has been naturally lifted.
Today, the Khetag grove does not have the state status of a natural or cultural monument. This is a national shrine, protected and revered by the Ossetian people.
Elina Khetagurova
Ossetians are the only people in the North Caucasus (except for the Cossacks, perhaps) that have preserved Christian faith. The traditions of Christianity in Ossetia are very peculiar and have their roots in the distant 10th century, when the ancestors of modern Ossetians, the Alans, adopted Christianity from Byzantium. n Among the oral traditions of the Ossetians there are stories about the legendary martyrs and righteous people, about all kinds of miracles revealed by God and saints. Such is the legend of the righteous Khetag.
n In ancient times, the Alans settled in groups in Kabarda and the Kuban. Prince Inal lived on the banks of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River, a tributary of the Kuban. He had three sons: Beslan, Aslanbeg and Khetag. Beslan is the founder of the dynasty of Kabardian princes. Aslanbeg had no children. When the positions of Islam strengthened in Kabarda, when the ancient Christian church Zelenchuk district after a landslide went into the lake, even then Khetag was faithful to his God. For this, even his relatives were angry with him, they no longer considered him their own. And then Khetag went to Ossetia. His enemies found out about it, they decided to overtake him on the road and kill him because he did not want to accept their faith. Fidarov's painting "Saint Khetag
Khetag was on his way to the Kurtatinsky gorge, when not far from the place where the village of Suadag is now, the enemies caught up with him. From the forest covering the slopes of the nearby mountains, Khetag heard a cry: “Khetag! In the forest!" . And Khetag, overtaken by enemies, answered his well-wisher: “Khetag will no longer reach the forest, but the forest will reach Khetag!” And then a mass of forest rose from the slope of the mountain and moved to the place where Khetag was, hiding it in its thicket. The pursuers, frightened by such miracles, rushed to run. n This is how the Grove of Khetag or the Sanctuary of the Round Forest (Tymbylkhady dzuar) appeared. And on the side of the mountain, from where the forest rose, only grass grows to this day.
The trees in the Khetag grove differ sharply from the trees in the surrounding forests - they are taller, thicker, denser than their foliage. The people, like the apple of their eye, protect the Grove - according to an unwritten law, nothing can be taken out of it with them - even a small twig, even a leaf. n They say that a few years ago, a scientist, a resident of the city of Ardon, specially took a twig out of the Grove with him as a challenge to what he considered dark prejudices. Rumor claims that in less than two days something strange began to happen to the scientist (disorders of the nervous system); he recovered only after his relatives visited the Grove and asked for forgiveness from Saint Uastirdzhi at a prayer meal.
Khetag lived in the grove for about a year, and then moved to the village of Nar. And the Grove has become one of the main holy places in Ossetia. n Every year in July, people all over the country celebrate the Khetag Festival.
They say that prayers said in the holy grove of Khetag have a special power. It is believed that Khetagha patronizes all people: even those who have committed crimes can pray in the grove. The main thing is not to harm her. Many traditions and prohibitions are associated with the Khetag grove: for example, nothing can be taken out of the grove. In ancient times, only the most worthy men were allowed into the grove in order to ask for a harvest, a cure for an illness, etc. To this day, men still walk one kilometer from the highway to the grove barefoot.
n Before the Great Patriotic War women were not allowed to visit the sanctuary of St. Uastirdzhi in the Grove of Khetag (to this day, women do not pronounce the name of this saint, replacing it with the descriptive expression "patron of men" or, speaking specifically of Khetag Uastirdzhi, "saint of the Round Forest"). When, in the difficult days of the war, the men went to fight, and there was no one to pray for them in the Grove, the Ossetians stepped over the ancient ban, prayed under the spreading trees for the health of their fathers, husbands, brothers, beloved "patron of men of the sanctuary of the Round Forest". n “As the Great God once rescued Khetag, may He protect you in the same way!” - one of the most often sounding good wishes in Ossetia.
At first there were no buildings in the grove, then places for sacrifices, “three pies”, were built. Pies brought to the grove should be warm, because when they are cooked, good intentions seem to be absorbed by the food, and in warm pies, these intentions are believed to be preserved. At first, only pies without drinks were brought to the grove. Later, milk and honey were allowed as sacrifices. n Today, the Khetag grove does not have a state status. That is, it is not a monument of nature or culture - it is a national shrine. On the territory of the Grove, a kuvandon (in Ossetian “kuvændon”) was built - a prayer house. On holidays, women are also allowed to enter. n Since 1994, Khetag Day has been celebrated in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania as a republican national holiday.
The Khetag Grove is a preserved piece of forest of almost perfectly round shape, with an area of about 13 hectares, in the Alagirsky district of North Ossetia near the Vladikavkaz-Alagir highway. If you move from Vladikavkaz to the west, on the way to the Alagir Gorge along right hand from the road there will be a small grove, and nearby - a covered pavilion, from a distance similar to a bus stop.
In the center of the pavilion there is a colorful panel - a gray-haired old man soars on the mountains astride a winged horse. Ossetians call the elder Uastirdzhi, in the Christian tradition - St. George, the most revered saint in Ossetia.
2.
Ossetians revere the Grove as a sacred place. Every year on the second Sunday of July, people from all over the republic, as well as from neighboring South Ossetia, come here for the Khetag holiday.
3.
Each Ossetian village has its own place for celebration in the Grove. Everywhere there are metal capsules where believers drop their donations.
4.
Kuv was built on the eastern edge of the grove. A ndon - prayer house. Women can go there only on holidays.
5.
According to legend, Khetag was a Christian, the son of a Kabardian prince, who refused to convert to Islam. Relatives were angry with him for this, and he decided to hide in Ossetia. According to another version, Khetag fled from his native places with a stolen bride.
On the way to the Kurtatinsky gorge, near the modern village of Suadag, Khetag began to overtake the pursuers. Then from the thicket the fugitive heard a call: "Khetag! To the forest, to the forest!" But he would not have had time to rush to the forest. And then the fugitive said: "Let the forest come to Khetag!" - and he was surrounded by a thick thicket. The pursuers turned back, as they could not find Khetag.
He lived in the grove for about a year, and then moved to the mountain village of Nar, where he gave rise to the famous Khetagurov family. The most famous representative of this family is Kosta Khetagurov, the founder of Ossetian literature.
6.
According to legend, Saint George appeared in the Khetagu Grove.
7.
People from all corners of dual Ossetia come here to pray to the Almighty for help. They say that prayers said in a sacred grove have a special power. The main thing is not to harm her.
8.
Many traditions are connected with the Khetag grove: for example, nothing can be taken out of here, even acorns. For disobedience, Khetag severely punishes anyone who violates the ban. Dry trees are also not taken out, only the dead trunks are folded to the side.
Candles are placed in a wooden figure (to the right of the table) during the holiday.
Photo: Welran .
9.
In ancient times, only the most worthy men were allowed into the Grove to ask God and Uastirdzhi for a harvest, a cure for an illness, etc.
Photo: Welran .
10.
Even in the first decades of the last century, women were not allowed to enter the Grove, but during the Great Patriotic War, they began to come here to pray for the warring men. Since then, this prohibition has naturally disappeared.
11.
Photo: Welran
.
12.
Most Ossetians are Orthodox Christians, but Orthodox tradition they are intertwined with national traditions. So, the Ossetians honor St. George the Victorious (Uastyrdzhi). In the popular mind, his image combines the features Orthodox martyr and a hero from the pagan pantheon.
Photo: Welran .
13.
In the Grove there is a stone table for three pies - an attribute of any Ossetian prayer-feast. The pies brought here should be warm, as, according to legend, when cooked, good intentions of a person are absorbed into them. And in warm pies, these intentions are preserved better.
14.
In addition to pies, homemade beer and araka are brought to the Grove for the festivities.
15.
The grove does not have any state status. This is not a monument of nature or culture - it is a national shrine. Since 1994, Khetag Day has been celebrated in North Ossetia as a public holiday.
Ossetians are the only people in the North Caucasus (except for the Cossacks, perhaps) who have preserved the Christian faith. The traditions of Christianity in Ossetia are very peculiar and have their roots in the distant 10th century, when the ancestors of modern Ossetians, the Alans, adopted Christianity from Byzantium. Among the oral traditions of the Ossetians there are stories about the legendary martyrs and righteous people, about all kinds of miracles revealed by God and saints. Such is the legend of the righteous Khetag. Among the oral traditions of the Ossetians there are stories about the legendary martyrs and righteous people, about all kinds of miracles revealed by God and saints. Such is the legend of the righteous Khetag.
Painting by Fidara Fidarov "Saint Khetag In ancient times, the Alans settled in groups in Kabarda and the Kuban. Prince Inal lived on the banks of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River, a tributary of the Kuban. He had three sons: Beslan, Aslanbeg and Khetag. Beslan is the founder of the dynasty of Kabardian princes. Aslanbeg had no children. in the lake, even then Khetag was faithful to his God. For this, even his relatives became angry with him, they no longer considered him their own. And then Khetag went to Ossetia. His enemies found out about this, decided to overtake him on the road and kill him because he did not want to accept their faith. In ancient times, the Alans settled in groups in Kabarda and in the Kuban. On the banks of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River, a tributary of the Kuban, Prince Inal lived. He had three sons: Beslan , Aslanbeg and Khetag.Beslan - the founder of the dynasty of Kabardian princes.Aslanbeg had no children.When the position of Islam strengthened in Kabarda, when the ancient Christian church of the Zelenchuk district went into the lake after a landslide, even then Khetag was faithful to his God. For this, even his relatives were angry with him, they no longer considered him their own. And then Khetag went to Ossetia. His enemies found out about it, they decided to overtake him on the road and kill him because he did not want to accept their faith.
Khetag was on his way to the Kurtatinsky gorge, when not far from the place where the village of Suadag is now, the enemies caught up with him. From the forest covering the slopes of the nearby mountains, Khetag heard a cry: “Khetag! In the forest! In the forest!". And Khetag, overtaken by enemies, answered his well-wisher: “Khetag will no longer reach the forest, but the forest will reach Khetag!” And then a mass of forest rose from the slope of the mountain and moved to the place where Khetag was, hiding it in its thicket. The pursuers, frightened by such miracles, rushed to run. This is how the Grove of Khetag or the Sanctuary of the Round Forest (Tymbylkhady dzuar) appeared. And on the side of the mountain, from where the forest rose, only grass grows to this day. This is how the Grove of Khetag or the Sanctuary of the Round Forest (Tymbylkhady dzuar) appeared. And on the side of the mountain, from where the forest rose, only grass grows to this day.
The trees in the Khetag grove differ sharply from the trees in the surrounding forests - they are taller, thicker, denser than their foliage. The people, like the apple of their eye, protect the Grove - according to an unwritten law, nothing can be taken out of it with them - even a small twig, even a leaf. They say that a few years ago, a scientist, a resident of the city of Ardon, specially took a twig out of the Grove with him as a challenge to what he considered dark prejudices. Rumor claims that in less than two days something strange began to happen to the scientist (disorders of the nervous system); he recovered only after his relatives visited the Grove and asked for forgiveness from Saint Uastirdzhi at a prayer meal. They say that a few years ago, a scientist, a resident of the city of Ardon, specially took a twig out of the Grove with him as a challenge to what he considered dark prejudices. Rumor claims that in less than two days something strange began to happen to the scientist (disorders of the nervous system); he recovered only after his relatives visited the Grove and asked for forgiveness from Saint Uastirdzhi at a prayer meal.
They say that prayers said in the holy grove of Khetag have a special power. It is believed that Khetagha patronizes all people: even those who have committed crimes can pray in the grove. The main thing is not to harm her. Many traditions and prohibitions are associated with the Khetag grove: for example, nothing can be taken out of the grove. In ancient times, only the most worthy men were allowed into the grove in order to ask for a harvest, a cure for an illness, etc. To this day, men still walk one kilometer from the highway to the grove barefoot. Many traditions and prohibitions are associated with the Khetag grove: for example, nothing can be taken out of the grove. In ancient times, only the most worthy men were allowed into the grove in order to ask for a harvest, a cure for an illness, etc. To this day, men still walk one kilometer from the highway to the grove barefoot.
Before the Great Patriotic War, women were not allowed to visit the sanctuary of St. Uastyrji in the Grove of Khetag (to this day, women do not pronounce the name of this saint, replacing it with the descriptive expression "patron of men" or, speaking specifically of Khetag Uastyrdzhi, "saint of the Round Forest"). When, in the difficult days of the war, the men went to fight, and there was no one to pray for them in the Grove, the Ossetians stepped over the ancient ban, prayed under the spreading trees for the health of their fathers, husbands, brothers, beloved "patron of men of the sanctuary of the Round Forest." Before the Great Patriotic War, women were not allowed to visit the sanctuary of St. Uastyrji in the Grove of Khetag (to this day, women do not pronounce the name of this saint, replacing it with the descriptive expression "patron of men" or, speaking specifically of Khetag Uastyrdzhi, "saint of the Round Forest"). When, in the difficult days of the war, the men went to fight, and there was no one to pray for them in the Grove, the Ossetians stepped over the ancient ban, prayed under the spreading trees for the health of their fathers, husbands, brothers, beloved "patron of men of the sanctuary of the Round Forest." “As the Great God once rescued Khetag, may He protect you in the same way!” - one of the most often sounding good wishes in Ossetia. “As the Great God once rescued Khetag, may He protect you in the same way!” - one of the most often sounding good wishes in Ossetia.
At first there were no buildings in the grove, then places for sacrifices, “three pies”, were built. Pies brought to the grove should be warm, because when they are cooked, good intentions seem to be absorbed by the food, and in warm pies, these intentions are believed to be preserved. At first, only pies without drinks were brought to the grove. Later, milk and honey were allowed as sacrifices. Today, the Khetag grove does not have a state status. That is, it is not a monument of nature or culture - it is a national shrine. On the territory of the Grove, a kuvandon (in Ossetian “kuvændon”) was built - a prayer house. On holidays, women are also allowed to enter. Today, the Khetag grove does not have a state status. That is, it is not a monument of nature or culture - it is a national shrine. On the territory of the Grove, a kuvandon (in Ossetian “kuvændon”) was built - a prayer house. On holidays, women are also allowed to enter. Since 1994, Khetag Day has been celebrated in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania as a republican national holiday. Since 1994, Khetag Day has been celebrated in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania as a republican national holiday.
