Discovery of a Treasure: From the Invisible Side of the Sky – Revealed Secrets of Old Faith in Slovenia
The book Iz nevidne strani neba: Razkrite skrivnosti staroverstva" (From the Invisible Side of the Sky: Revealed Secrets of Staroverstvo) by Pavel Medvešček - Klančar is a monumental work that finally lifts the veil of silence over the longest-preserved indigenous spirituality in Slovenia. This book does not merely describe life from over a thousand years ago, but attests to Staroverstvo (Old Belief) as a living way of life that survived among us until the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Significance of Unique Testimonies
The central insight offered by the book is astonishing: this narrative is exceptional because we finally hear the Staroverci speak about themselves. Although descriptions of the Old Belief exist in medieval European writings, they were penned by Christians—mostly priests—whose presentation of the subject matter was necessarily biased, derogatory, and distorted. Never before have we had the chance to listen to the Staroverci themselves. However, half a century ago, Pavel Medvešček managed to gain the trust of a group of Staroverci from the Soča region, who accepted him as their "confessor" and witness.
They were motivated by the awareness that they were the last of their kind and had a unique opportunity to tell the world who they were and how they lived in a way that was dying out. It is this "inner voice" that gives the book its incomparable, unique value and immense importance, as it reveals an authentic image of the Old Belief as a way of life before our ancestors were Christianized.
Silence: A Necessary Strategy for Survival
The survival of Staroverstvo into the modern era was possible only due to an exceptional commitment to silence and concealment. This was not a voluntary choice, but a necessity dictated by a long history of violence. The book documents the clashes between Staroverstvo and Christianity, which were, in reality, a series of violent repression. Even in medieval records (1331), we read about a violent campaign and the destruction of a sacred tree and spring near Kobarid. The Staroverci had to develop a strict protective silence to defend their shrines, identity, and way of life from destruction.
Consequently, the content is filtered and carefully guarded, and the reader receives only a fragment of the truth. It is this very cautious nature of the testimonies that proves the immense strength and vitality of the belief.
Network of Sacred Sites and Ancient Words
The heart of the book is the exploration of the network of Staroverci communities, which were connected through their leaders—elders, or dehnarji—who once met on the sacred mountain Matajur (known as Velika Baba). Through the collected material, we enter the mysterious places of the Soča region, whose names echo in the index:
- Right bank of the Soča River: Padence, Škeljak.
- Left bank of the Soča River: Taura, Jelenk, Bunjščice, Babja jama and its surroundings.
- Area Along the Idrijca and Bača Rivers: Baška grapa, Kamrtna.
The book is full of ancient terms, such as Nikrmana (Great Mother/Velika Baba), dehnar, and matjar, which are neither Slavic nor Romance in origin. This emphasizes the incredible age of the tradition, while the author also notes that the use of foreign, incomprehensible words was a deliberate protection against uninvited ears.
The work "Iz nevidne strani neba" is a unique document confirming the disturbing realization that a part of our cultural heritage was alive with us, yet we could not see it. It is a fundamental work that reveals a deeply rooted spiritual tradition, essential for understanding the Slovenian past.
