This publication is a popular essay on one of the oldest religions in the world - Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism was the state religion of the three great Iranian empires from the 6th century. BC e. to the 7th century n. e. and had a great influence on Christianity and Islam. The book by the famous British Iranian scholar Mary Boyce, the author of many monographs on Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, traces the historical destinies of Zoroastrian communities in Iran and India from their origins to the present day. CONTENTS: Preface to the Russian edition Preface to the English edition Note to the second edition Chapter I. Prehistory Introduction Indo-Iranians Old religion Cult of the Divine Death and afterlifeConclusionChapter II. Zoroaster and his teachingsIntroductionCalling of ZoroasterAhura-Mazda and his opponentSeven deities and seven creationsCreation and three eraDeath and afterlifeChapter III. Approval of the cult of MazdaIntroductionSign of ZoroastrianismPrayersSeven festivalsFirst prayersCreedRitual of worship and Yenkhe-KhatamAshem-VohuHymnsChapter IV. Centuries of obscurityEarly periodFundamentals of faithBelief in the Savior of the worldLaws of purificationMinisters and cultConclusionChapter V. Under the rule of the AchaemenidsMedes, Persians and ZoroasterThe first AchaemenidsCyrus CambysesDarius the GreatXerxesPalaces and tombs of the AchaemenidsFires and altars of fireDeitiesStatues and templesPriestsZurvanite era There is the Zoroastrian calendarThe Three Saviors of the WorldReligious customsThe spread of the teachings of ZoroasterChapter VI. Under the Seleucids and ArsacidsAlexander the Great and IranSeleucids and IranRise of the ParthiansOn the borders of Eastern Iran. KushansOn the borders of Western Iran. ArmeniaFire temples and statues sanctuariesFuneral ritesChanges in the calendar and chronologyAvestaWritten traditionsSecular affairsKinship marriagesClergyInfidelsConclusionChapter VII. Under the early SassanidsRise of the SassanidsTansar, preacher of the faithChanges in the calendarIconoclasm and sacred firesRise of Kirder, the second great high priestProphet ManiZurvanism under the early SassanidsCreed and writingKirder at the height of powerPersian language becomes the state language of IranConclusionChapter VIII. In the Middle Sasanian period Establishment of Zurvanism Three great sacred fires Reform of worship Religious literature Reform of the calendar Mazdak movement Chapter IX. Under the last Sassanids, Khosrow the Just, Record of the Avesta, Pahlavi Literature, Religious Rites, The Last Years of Zoroastrian Iran, Conclusion, Chapter X. Under by the power of the caliphsConquest of Iran by the ArabsIncentives and obstacles to the adoption of IslamIslam takes root in IranZoroastrians of Iran in the 9th centuryZoroastrians of Iran in the 10th centuryConquest of Iran by the Turks and MongolsChapter XI. Under the Ilkhans, Rajahs and Sultans Salvation of Zoroastrians Copying and storing manuscripts Founders of the Parsi community Parsis of the 12th–14th centuries Parsis of the 15th century Iranian Zoroastrians of the 16th century Parsis of the 16th century Chapter XII. Under the rule of the Safavids and MughalsIranian Zoroastrians under Shah Abbas: their beliefs and ritualsParsis of the 16th-17th centuries.Religious disputes of the Parsis in the 18th century.Iranian Zoroastrians of the 18th century.Parsee Panchayat of BombayStudy by Europeans in the 18th century. Zoroastrian BeliefsChapter XIII. Under the Qajars and the BritishChristian missionaries and Parsi beliefsReligious reforms of the ParsisM. Haug and E.V. West on Zoroastrian beliefsTheosophy and ParsisIlmi-Khshnum: Zoroastrian occultismParsis and the printed wordReligious rites of the ParsisIranian Zoroastrians of the 19th century.Calendar and religious reforms of the Parsis at the beginning of the 20th century.Chapter XIV. XX CenturyParsis-citizensZoroastrians in modern IranParsis in independent India and PakistanModern interpretations of Zoroastrian beliefsSettlement of ZoroastriansDictionary of names and termsSourcesLiteratureAfterwordFootnotes