The Miholjanec Legend

There is a legend that tells of a locality where an ancient sword, in some tongues known as the Sword of the War God, was found... [quote]On the dreary heights of Grga was once a handsome village, whose inhabitants were elated. The abundance of gold and shiny possessions let the fear of God and morality dwindle more and more, and it attracted all sorts of wickedness and vice, as a permanent guest in the homes. One day, a shepherd on the hills of Grga grazed his flock, when he perceived that one of his flock was limping and was wounded at the foot. Following the blood trail, he was standing in front of a rusty iron point on the earth. He scratched with his shovel away the earth and discovered an ancient form of a metal cross. Just as he touched this cross with his hand, he felt as if he was looking through the Earth like through the mirror of a lake, deep, deep down and looked below the sunken village in all its golden glory, and "His" old brilliance, but no inhabitants, he was able to see who all were in the Church and suffered for their sins. As discovered by the seer also surprised, quite close the massive golden knob of the church tower, and he thought to bring this button with very little trouble to himself. But these efforts were entirely fruitless, the gold knob sat firmly on the iron tower of the absorbed village. He finally got up and went to summon help, so unwilling to share his wealth with his fellow companions. As they came back, they sought the iron peak and the cross. In his haste and hurry he had forgotten to put a sign next to it. He wanted to be responsible and to show them the wounded sheep, but no one was hurt by the whole herd. Instead of the golden tower button the shepherd received many beatings, and after three days he was dead. It is not good to hear the sound of the bell of the cursed village, and even worse to look down, because the latter indicates impending death. Soon after that another shepherd was grazing his flock on the dreary heights of Grga and saw that one cattle was lame because it was injured on the foot. He followed the blood trail and found a sword. The shepherd completely dug the sword from the ground and carried it to the King, who was pleased with the gift in which he and his priests acknowledged the Holy War Sword of the Scythians (Sword of Attila), and he saw that he was determined to master the world. He attended the place of the find, and met a hermit who told him "Scourge of God", and therefore he called and wrote full of high spirits following titles in a golden plate, and had it in front of his tent like a banner to increase: "Attila, the son of Bendeuci, grandson of the great Nimrod, born at Engedi: By the Grace of God King of the Huns, Medes, Goths, Dacians, the horrors of the world and the scourge of God."[/quote] Interpretation of Legend To me this myth is an adapted ethnocentric take on the christ-figure archetype acting through their "modern" day in the form of a parable that illustrates the larger message intended by the original scripture of the New Testament. How easily we forget ourselves it seems, as the presence Old Testament's God faded in in memory the once pious subjects of the church let their amnesiac souls betray them. They were corrupted and greedy, wallowing in their own avarice, riches that vainly celebrated a God who no longer had any relevance. So complete was their fall from grace, their once humbled town no longer honored the God that once had blessed it but rather was a monument to all their sins. The wickedness of the townsfolk had invited a persistent guest to stay with them in their homes. In a dream a common shepherd, perhaps less blinded by the crashing moral structure of his community, saw himself grazing his flock on the dismal heights of the township and sensed one of his flock was wounded at the foot,limping, trailing blood. He tracked the path and found himself before a rusty point on the Earth. At this point he metaphorically places himself on the cross understanding the only way to free his people is by making them realize that religion or no together they have all crossed a line that must be redrawn plainly for all to see if they are to avoid true death. The death of their souls. As the Lamb of God descends into hell he sees that no one lives in the old glorious village anymore. They live below in a netherspace of existence, all that remains of them is their suffering. He tries to pry free the golden church button to show them true glory but cannot, no one is yet ready to accept its presence. Thus knowing that no other in the village will be able to help him he reluctantly he lets go, completes his journey into hell, and the town sinks into the depths of irredeemability. When he awakens he realizes the glorious village and his vision of Hell have coalesced, he has forgotten to put a marker next to the iron because it is not even there, the sheep are all healthy because none were wounded. Evidence explaining to the townspeople what transpired is not enough to save them either. The shepherd is martyred, this cuts short the Hellish destiny of the village and grants the people salvation. It is not good to heed the call of depravity. It is even worse to seek out the the death of one's own soul. The final chapter of the Miholjanec Legend embodies the resurrection of Christ and the coming end of the world in Revelation, when the lamb comes not to bring peace, but to bring a sword. The shepherd fully awakens from his dreaming and a bit of deja vu strikes him, nevertheless the world has been set right and is spiritually ready for the end times of the Rapture. The prophecy is fulfilled and a would be messiah arrives bearing a sword for the king, as a gift.