At any celebration: at a wedding, at a kuvda (even at a memorial table), Ossetians make the first toast to Styr Khuytsau. The second toast is made to Uastyrdzhi – the most important figure in the pantheon of Ossetian deities. In the Ossetian religion, he is portrayed as the protector of men, travelers, defender of the weak and oppressed, scourge of thieves, oath-breakers, and murderers; his name is surrounded by an aura of worship and honor. Men address him only as “Golden-winged Uastyrdzhi,” “Thunderous Uastyrdzhi,” “Spark-eyed Uastyrdzhi,” and so on. Women, since Uastyrdzhi is a male deity, dare not call him by name and refer to him as “Lagty dzuar” – protector of men.

This deity is so popular among Ossetians that he was endowed with the best human qualities. When the Narts rebelled against God, Uastyrdzhi openly took their side. Ordering steel arrows from the heavenly blacksmith Kurdalagon, he distributed them to the Narts... And from that very time until today – in joy and in sorrow – he has been the protector of the Ossetians. And they, of course, appreciate this. There is not a single village or gorge in Ossetia without a shrine dedicated to Uastyrdzhi.

The Shrine of Khetag... Recently, it has become a place of pilgrimage for all Ossetia. Women and men, elderly and youth come here, each with their troubles and joys, with their hopes. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the days of honoring Khetag have become sacred for the people of Ossetia.

Many legends have been preserved about the origin of the Khetag grove, in which the ancestor of the great Kosta appears. Here is how the poet himself wrote about it:

Long ago in Kabarda lived an old alderman Inal. He had three sons: Biaslan, Tasoltan, and Khetag. When the elder brothers learned that Khetag had embraced the Christian faith, they intended to kill him. Khetag was forced to flee his homeland. The brothers pursued him. Khetag’s strength was nearly exhausted when he heard a voice from heaven: “Khetag, to the forest!” Exhausted, he managed to shout: “Khetag will not reach the forest, let the forest come to Khetag!” And at that very moment, a dense grove rose from the slope of the Alagir gorge and descended around him...

“When the June sun burns the earth, and the sweat-soaked shirts of farmers stick to their bodies, to be in the Khetag grove means to step over the threshold of paradise. The crowns of century-old oaks, plane trees, hornbeams, and ashes are so intertwined that the sky in the gaps between them looks like a rabbit’s fur,” wrote the poet Akhsar Kodzati.

The Khetag grove is a protected corner of nature. It seems that the trees reaching to the sky float in majestic simda. Under their shade, it is easier for a person to breathe. Here one can express their most intimate wishes, cleanse the soul, entrust the protection of Uastyrdzhi Khetag to their juniors, themselves, those on a journey, and the sick... But God forbid to take even a leaf from here...

In 1843, academician Shegren wrote: “If anyone happens to kill an animal in this forest, he must immediately gather all the residents of his aul and there, on the spot, eat the animal together if it is edible; otherwise, throw it away. In short, nothing should be taken out of the forest under the threat of death and blindness.”

Of course, among those who come to the sacred grove, there are unscrupulous people. But the retribution of Uastyrdzhi Khetag catches up with them.

It is said that two frivolous young men stole money from the Khetag shrine. One of them soon died, and the second was struck by some unknown illness: his hands and feet became crooked and numb, and he lost his mind. Thus, disgraced and rejected, he lived to a very old age.

They say a young woman came from Uzbekistan to Vladikavkaz with her twelve-year-old son. They decided to celebrate their meeting in the Khetag grove. No one noticed how the boy took glasses left on a tree by someone. On the second day, his eyes turned red, and his vision worsened. Concerned relatives questioned the boy and discovered the truth. Uastyrdzhi Khetag, openly appearing and helping his people, did not forgive even a child’s mistake. The boy’s relatives went back to the Khetag grove with three pies to beg for forgiveness.

It is told that a teacher from Ardon broke off and took a branch to check if the stories were true. After a few days, his neck stiffened, and he began to lose consciousness. His relatives, with a kuvinag, went to the grove, begged for forgiveness for a long time, and only after that did the unfortunate experimenter recover.

They say several years ago a group of young people was bringing kusarttag to the sacred grove. Suddenly, hail began to fall, but the strangest thing was that not a single hailstone fell on the young people. As soon as they entered the grove, the hail stopped.

It is said that in one village, a Dzuar lag was chosen. It so happened that he committed some sin. And once, during a severe thunderstorm, the crops on his plot were completely destroyed, while the neighboring gardens were unharmed. On top of that, his youngest daughter’s mouth became distorted. The parents visited all the doctors, but no one could help the girl. Then someone advised them to consult a healer, who recommended sacrificing an animal and asking Uastyrdzhi Khetag for forgiveness. The girl recovered and now lives happily in Beslan.

They say a bride was being brought from Alagir to Vladikavkaz. One car from the wedding procession overtook the others and stopped near the Khetag grove to wait for the rest. At that moment, a rider on a shining horse rose from the forest and descended right into the sacred grove. The people sitting in the car were stunned with amazement. Finally, one of them said:

“I saw a rider on a horse. They were shining...”

“I saw too...”

“Me too...”

What was it? A collective hallucination? No, of course not. It was Uastyrdzhi Khetag, openly appearing to the Ossetian people, flying to his shrine...

The days of honoring Saint Khetag begin in the second week of July. As we have already said, this is the most popular holiday among Ossetians. Previously, only men came to the sacred grove. Each village had its own place, its own tree to which they prayed. People reached the Khetag grove however they could: some by carriage, some on foot. Many stayed overnight. The most respected elders in Ossetia were chosen as priests and prayed to Saint Khetag. Rich tables were set. Festive songs rose to the sky, youth arranged dances to the accordion, horse races.

During the Great Patriotic War, breaking customs, women also began to go to the grove. Men – both old and young – went to the front. Only frail elders and small children remained in rare homes. Therefore, Ossetian mothers, widows mourning their sons and brothers, girls waiting for their loved ones, had to go to the sacred grove themselves so that Saint Khetag would take under his protection those they awaited from the battlefield. To this day, elders and youth, men and women go to Saint Khetag, each placing certain hopes on him, entrusting him with their pain and joy.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the holiday of Saint Khetag became nationwide. People come to the shrine from all villages and cities of Ossetia. They offer prayers to Uastyrdzhi Khetag, entrust themselves and the fate of their loved ones to the care of the saint.

The holiday turns into a folk festivity: people have fun, sing, dance, and share their most intimate thoughts with each other.

There is a stone table here for three pies – an attribute of any Ossetian prayer-feast. The pies brought here must be warm because, according to belief, good intentions of a person are absorbed during their preparation. And in warm pies, these intentions are better preserved.

However, pies are not the only offering – at celebrations, Ossetians bring homemade beer and arak to the grove.

In essence, the holiday of Saint Khetag has become a day of national unity, bringing together all the peoples living in the republic.

Sources:

https://myth_ossetian.academic.ru/1038/Священная_роща_Хетага