Gilly Flower Writings

Ivan, the Firebird, and the Three Gods

A Russian Folktale

By Kathryn Evans

In a far land there was once a mighty Tsar named Radomir, and his daughter, Princess Natal'ia, was the considered to be the most fair of all maidens. So fair was she that princes came from far off kingdoms to petition for her hand. Among her admirers was a young man named Ivan Vladovich who, though he was no prince nor was he very wealthy, had managed to win Natal’ia’s heart with his courage and kind heart. However, her father, the Tsar, disapproved of Ivan, and thought him only a love struck youth who would, in the end, bring only heartbreak to his daughter. So the Tsar decided to set a test, to prove who was worthy to wed his daughter. Those who sought Natal’ia’s hand would be given a year and a day to seek out the majestic Firebird and bring back one of it’s golden feathers to Natal’ia as a wedding gift. Whoever returned first with a feather would be given Natal’ia’s hand in marriage.

Ivan swore to his love that he would return with the feather before the year was up, and without hesitation he set off on his quest. He traveled through many kingdoms, and over many seas, yet could not find the Firebird.

Eventually Ivan came to rest against a mighty oak tree, which he knew are sacred to Perun, god of thunder. Ivan prayed to the god for guidance, but could do no more than to lay his head down in sleep after his long journey. In the night he awoke to find a powerful man with a copper beard standing over him. In the man’s hand was a mighty axe, and behind him Ivan could see a chariot that was being pulled by a powerful looking he-goat.

“Who are you, that sleeps beneath my sacred tree?” the god bellowed.

“O Mighty God of Thunder, I am Ivan Vladovich, and I am on a quest. I seek the Firebird so that I might bring one of its feathers to my beloved Princess Natal’ia, and thereby win her hand in marriage. Please, O benevolent Perun, can you tell me where I may find the Firebird?”

“Nay, Mortal,” Perun answered. “I know not where to find the Firebird. But pray seek out my sister Mokos, for she knows all things of the earth and of beauty and may know better than I where the Firebird lay. But she has not a temple or sacred place to find her. All the earth is sacred to her, seek her in her garden.”

Ivan thanked the god, and promised that once he found the Firebird and was wed to Natal’ia, he would sacrifice many roosters, bulls, and he-goats in honor of Perun’s benevolence.

Again Ivan set out, traveling over fields, and through forests, with no hint of the Firebird. Eventually he came to a beautiful garden, which he knew must belong to Mokos, goddess of the earth and patron of women and all fiber arts. Ivan prayed to the goddess for nourishment, but could do no more than to lie down amidst the garden and rest a while. Again he was awakened in the night, and this time a beautiful woman stood over him, her face kindly and her appearance the embodiment of motherhood.

“Who are you that sleeps amidst my garden?” the goddess inquired.

“O Beautiful Mother of the Earth, I am Ivan Vladovich, and I am on a quest. I seek the Firebird so that I might bring one of its feathers to my beloved Princess Natal’ia, and thereby win her hand in marriage. Please, O kind Mokos, can you tell me where I may find the Firebird?”

“Nay, Mortal,” Mokos answered. “I know not where to find the Firebird. But pray seek out my brother Dazhbog, for he knows of all things that travel the sky and may know better than I where the Firebird lay. But you will not find him wandering the land, seek him out in his palace to the east.”

Ivan thanked the goddess, and promised that once he found the Firebird and was wed to Natal’ia, he would hold a mighty feast in her honor, and would feast only on vegetables, as they were of her womb.

Again Ivan set out, traveling across lakes and over mountains, with no trace of the Firebird to guide him. Eventually, he came to the golden palace of Dazhbog, god of the sun. He entered the palace and stood before the god on his gold and purple throne.

“Who are you who enters my palace unbidden?” the god queried.

“O Radiant God of the Sun, I am Ivan Vladovich, and I am on a quest. I seek the Firebird so that I might bring one of its feathers to my beloved Princess Natal’ia, and thereby win her hand in marriage. Please, O generous Dazhbog, can you tell me where I may find the Firebird?”

“Aye, Mortal,” Dazhbog answered. “I know where to the find the Firebird, for he and I have hunted together on many a day. But why should I tell you, a mere mortal, where he lies?”

“O Dazhbog, I have traveled far from my home in search of the Firebird, but I would travel farther still to prove my love for my beautiful Natal’ia. My only wish is to bring her the feather of the Firebird, to match her own golden hair, and to show her that my love is greater than all others.”

The God of the Sun looked thoughtfully at Ivan, for Dazhbog rays had shone on many lovers before, but he thought that perhaps there was finally a love that could outshine even the sun god.

“Very well, Ivan Vladovich, I will aid you in your quest. But I cannot merely tell you where to find the Firebird, for he lives in Paradise, where no mortal can find him. If you will step into my golden chariot, I will take you to the Firebird, so that you may complete your quest.”

And with that Ivan was whisked away in the Sun God’s chariot, even farther east than Dazhbog’s palace, into a place of unimaginable beauty. As the chariot stopped, Ivan was awed as he looked around. Blooming flowers of every color imaginable surrounded him, and curious beasts he had only ever heard of came out to investigate. In the distance he could hear the gentle rush of water.

Dazhbog called out once, and soon after, a beautiful bird flew into view landing only a few feet from Ivan. It was perhaps only the size of a hawk or falcon, but it was impressive nonetheless. It’s feathers were the colors of the sunset, crimson, gold, and deep purple, with jeweled eyes, and a long, flowing tail. The bird looked curiously at Ivan, as Ivan looked at Dazhbog, unsure of himself. Dazhbog only said that now Ivan had found what he had been searching for, he did not need Dazhbog anymore.

Ivan again turned his eyes to the Firebird, to speak his plea.

“O Magnificent Firebird, I am Ivan Vladovich, and I have quested long and hard to seek you out. I have but one request, that I might bring one of your beautiful feathers to my beloved Princess Natal’ia, so that I might gift it to her and win her hand in marriage.”

The Bird remained silent. But thinking of Natal’ia made Ivan grow confident again, for the Firebird was known to be a patron of lovers, and there was never a love as strong and pure as that Ivan and his Natal’ia.

“Please, O Spectacular Firebird,” Ivan pressed on. “I would do anything for my Natal’ia, if you would only ask something of me in return, I would grant it to you willingly.”

The Firebird tilted its head slightly, as if considering Ivan’s plea, then, all at once, it opened it’s beak and let out the most beautiful song Ivan had ever heard. In its song, the Firebird seemed to compose all the love, and grief, and beauty in the world, and by the time the song was finished there were tears on Ivan’s cheeks.

The Firebird took one more look at Ivan, and then launched into flight, leaving a single golden feather on the ground at Ivan’s feet.

Still openly weeping from the Firebird’s song, Ivan bent down and picked the feather from the ground, tucking it safely away in his tunic. He turned to see Dazhbog smiling at him.

“It isn’t often that the Firebird gifts a mortal with his song, it means that he has given you his blessing along with his feather.”

Ivan was still speechless from the Firebird’s song, so he silently climbed back onto the golden chariot, and as Dazhbog cracked his mighty whip, they flew back into the sky and left paradise behind them. Ivan looked back longingly only once, then turned his face to the west, where his Natal’ia waited for him.

The sun god was kind enough to take Ivan all the way back to his own kingdom, the golden chariot setting down just outside the Tsar’s city.

Ivan waved goodbye to Dazhbog as he flew away to the west to finish his daily cycle ‘round the sky. And at last Ivan set out for the Tsar’s palace, to present the Firebird’s feather and to finally claim his bride.

But as Ivan entered the city, he noticed the city was much livelier than normal for this time of the year. Ivan stopped to ask one of the local merchants what was happening today, and was horrified at the merchant’s answer. Apparently one of Natal’ia’s other suitors had come back only days before Ivan, with a supposed feather belonging to the Firebird, and it was said that soon he and Natal’ia would wed.

Without wasting another second, Ivan ran to the palace. Barely pausing to catch his breath, he threw open the doors to the Tsar’s great hall.

On his great throne sat Radomir, and beside him stood Natal’ia, looking even more beautiful than Ivan has remembered, with her gold hair and fair skin. Before the Tsar and his daughter, knelt a young prince, whom Ivan remembered had been one of the more persistent of Natal’ia’s suitors. In the prince’s hand was a small feather that looked vaguely gold, but not nearly as gold as Ivan knew the true Firebird to be.

“What is the meaning of this?” the Tsar shouted, clearly upset at Ivan’s interruption. But Ivan took courage when he saw Natal’ia’s face become suddenly aglow when she saw him.

“Your majesty, I fear you were about to make a great mistake,” said Ivan, walking purposely towards the Tsar, his daughter, and the still kneeling prince. “For this man has lied to you if he has told you that he found the Firebird.”

The prince sputtered at Ivan’s accusation, though he was obviously looking a little worried now, as he held his false feather as closely as he could. The Tsar looked between Ivan and the prince, but at his daughter’s beckoning, indicated Ivan should continue.

Ivan walked up to the prince, and took the feather he was still trying to conceal. Ivan took the feather between two of his fingers and rubbed it slightly, and when he took away his fingers, he let out a laugh and held them up for the Tsar to see.

“Paint,” Ivan proclaimed. “This charlatan thought to deceive you by merely painting an ordinary feather gold. Is this truly who you wish your daughter to marry? A man who must deceive you to win your blessing?”

The Tsar took the false gold feather from Ivan, and after he examined it himself, he turned angrily towards the prince, who was now cowering far from the Tsar’s wrath.

The Tsar called for his guards, and would have ordered the prince thrown into the dungeon, but Natal’ia pleaded for him to merely banish the pretender. For she did not wish any suffering to come from his lie, even if it would only be his own.

Once the wailing prince was dragged from the hall, the Tsar turned to Ivan.

“I thank you for revealing the trickster for what he is, but that is not enough if you still wish my daughter’s hand. Were you able to find the Firebird?”

Ivan took one look at his lovely Natal’ia, her eyes were warm and loving, and he felt a peace flood through him. Without hesitation, he reached inside his tunic and drew out the Firebird’s feather.

A golden light seemed to infuse the room, and Ivan thought he could still hear the Firebird’s song. Radomir gasped when he beheld the golden feather, which was the same color as his daughter’s golden hair, and he reached out and took Natal’ia’s hand. He looked from the feather, to Ivan, and finally to Natal’ia, and he sighed as he realized that today he would lose his daughter forever. But then he smiled, as the golden light from the Firebird’s feather seemed to penetrate to his very heart.

He took the feather from Ivan, and stroked it only once, amazed at its softness, and then he placed it in Natal’ia’s left hand, and gave her right hand to Ivan. Radomir thought to say something, to formally announce his acceptance of Ivan as Natal’ia’s betrothed, but he saw that Ivan and Natal’ia only had eyes for each other, so he merely smiled, and left them alone.

The very next day Ivan and Natal’ia were married. A mighty bull was sacrificed to Perun, as well as he-goats and roosters. For their wedding feast, Ivan asked specifically for many vegetables, in honor of Mokos. And all day Dazhbog’s rays shined on the happy couple.

And that is the tale of how Ivan Vladovich met the three gods, found the beautiful Firebird, and married his beloved Princess Natal’ia.

The End