Zorya— Slavic God"Dawn Goddess"

The Dawn Sisters

The Zorya are the goddess (or goddesses) of dawn and twilight who attend the sun god Dazhbog. Most traditions describe two sisters: Zorya Utrennyaya (the Morning Star) who opens the gates at dawn for the sun to ride forth, and Zorya Vechernaya (the Evening Star) who closes them at dusk when he returns. Some traditions add a third, the Midnight Zorya.

Guardians of the Doomsday Hound

The Zorya have a cosmic responsibility beyond attending the sun. They guard a terrible hound chained to Ursa Minor (the Little Bear constellation)—if this creature ever breaks free, it will devour the constellation, and the universe will end. Each day, the Zorya check the chains, ensuring the apocalypse is postponed.

Virgin Warrior Goddesses

The Zorya are sometimes depicted as warrior maidens, fierce and beautiful, who protect humanity against the forces of darkness. They ride armed through the sky, their weapons gleaming with starlight. Soldiers prayed to them for protection before battle, invoking the sisters who guard the world itself.

The Morning Star

Zorya Utrennyaya appears at dawn, announcing the sun's arrival. She is associated with Venus as the morning star, the brightest light before sunrise. She wakes the sun, opens the gates of heaven, and sends him on his journey. Those who rise early to begin important work invoke her blessing.

The Evening Star

Zorya Vechernaya waits at dusk to receive the returning sun. She closes the celestial gates, tucks the sun into bed, and stands guard through the night. She protects against the evils that roam in darkness, her light visible even after the sun has set. Together, the sisters ensure the eternal cycle continues, day after day, until the hound breaks free.