Alkonost

Lore

Alkonost is a sea bird symbolizing mercy. This is a paradise bird with the head and hands of a maiden. Some legends describe her as wearing a crown on her head.

Alkonost sings of paradise and joy; when her wings touch apples, they turn into healing fruits. Upon hearing her song even once, an ordinary person would forget about hardships, melancholy, and sorrow, while the righteous might glimpse angels and the rewards of a virtuous life. From her own singing, the bird herself could fall into a trance. It is believed that as long as the bird sings, those under her influence will follow her until they die of exhaustion.

Alkonost lays her eggs on the seashore, usually during the winter season. She immerses them into the depths of the sea and then uses her magic to calm the waters for six or even seven days.

Then the egg surfaces, and the bird takes it to her nest, where chicks are born.

According to legend, if someone steals the egg and places it in a temple, they will gain knowledge of all the mysteries of the universe, and their cherished wishes will come true. There were daredevils who managed to do this, but along with the joy of universal wisdom came inevitable retribution. Alkonost would take the thief's soul, leaving it on earth to endure eternal suffering.

There's an interesting legend about how one evening, a young bird catcher set up nets for small game and went to check them in the morning. He came to the field and couldn't believe his eyes: in his trap was a beautiful girl with the face of a woman and the body of a bird. She said her name was Alkonost.

The young man was struck by her beauty and wanted to kiss her. But Alkonost covered her face with her wings and began to cry:

"Don't do that! If you kiss me, I will forever lose my magical powers, won't be able to fly to the heavens, and will perish on earth. Let me go, and in return, I will grant any wish you have!"

The bird catcher thought. Should he ask for wealth? But it might disappear. Ask for the love of beautiful women? But they might be unfaithful. Then he said:

"I want to experience heavenly bliss while still alive!"

At that moment, his ears filled with a rushing sound, the ground vanished from under his feet, and the wind whistled around him. A moment later, he found himself in a bright and wondrous land—Iríy, the heavenly kingdom beyond the clouds where angels and the souls of the deceased dwell. Fragrant flowers sang everywhere, streams of living water flowed. Alkonost performed sweet songs that brought clear weather to the earth. The young man was enchanted and felt he had reached the pinnacle of his dreams.

However, over time, he grew bored. Idleness began to weary him, and the winged beauties paid him no attention. The paradise fruits no longer brought joy. One day he dozed off under a tree, and a raven woke him.

"What are you doing in Iríy, alive among the dead?" asked the raven. "You have not yet known earthly love and happiness, so why did you forsake the joys of life? Return home!"

The young man realized he had been hasty with his wish. He wanted to return to earth but didn't know the way back.

"I will help you," said the raven. "Your great-grandfather, also a bird catcher, once freed me from a net, and I owe your family a debt. Close your eyes and hold onto my tail."

The young man did as he was told. The wind whipped around him, and in a moment he felt solid ground beneath his feet. Opening his eyes, he saw he was standing again in the same clearing where he had been catching birds for dinner.

Upon returning home, the bird catcher lived a long life. Only in his old age did he tell his grandchildren about the miraculous journey to Iríy and how the bird-maiden Alkonost granted his wish. He shared the wisdom that true happiness can be found on earth and that one should not neglect what one has.