Religion until 1200

During the Germanic settlement era of the Langobards, Warini and Semnones cultic actions emanated from natural religious beliefs.

Later Slavs created cultic centres such as the main town of the Lutici in Rethra with different worshipped idols for harvests, war or weather.

In the early 12th century Bishop Otto of Bamberg arranged for the destruction of idols in the state and the construction of Christian churches. In 1154 the Emperor gave Henry the Lion the right to appoint bishops in Oldenburg (Holstein), Mecklenburg and Ratzeburg. Bishop Evermods (died 1178) is considered to be the father of the Christian church in this region. He worked in Ratzeburg from 1154.

After 1160 Bishop Berno in Schwerin became “Apostle of the Obotrites”.

The first Cistercian convents in Althof near Doberan and Dargun were destroyed by the Slavs and then rebuilt.

The cult practices of the Lombards, the Varini and the Semnones in the age of Germanic settlement are derived from natural religions.

In the following, Slavic tribes build cult temples like the main Rani site on Cape Arcona, consecrated to the principal god Svetovit, or in Vineta, Pomerania. Gerovit is worshipped in Gützkow, Triglav in Stettin, and they are called upon to bless the harvest, in wartime or to send favourable weather.

Wartislaw I holds off from converting his territory until a period of occupation by Poland. Accompanied by priests, Bishop Otto roves the land in the years following 1124, destroying Slavic shrines. In their place he builds Christian altars and churches. The Diocese of Wolin (Jumne) is created in 1490, but relocated to Cammin in 1175. Rügen is assigned to the Danish Diocese of Roskilde.