Memory of Russia: The exhibition “Baptist of Rus’” timed to the millennium of the repose of St. Vladimir in Moscow

The State Historical Museum (Moscow) on June 24, 2015 hosts the exhibition “Baptist of Rus’” timed to the millennium of the repose of St. Vladimir.

The reign of St. Vladimir was the most important period for the formation of the state of Russia. Submission to a single center of disparate Slavic lands and registration of state borders of Kievan Rus took place in a tense struggle with neighboring tribes and states. The socio-political development of the country and demanded changes in the ideology - the old pagan cults, wore a local character, were already unusable. Proclamation as the state religion of Christianity (in the Byzantine model) has become one of the most important factors in the millennium ahead determined the historical fate of the people and the state, its spiritual and cultural development. This event was a crucial step of state self-determination, including the young state in terms of world history and connected it lasting political, ecclesiastical and cultural ties with the Byzantine Empire, the Balkan countries. 

The memory of St. Vladimir was reflected in iconography and painting, in Russian chronicles and literary works in the objects of arts and crafts of the XI-XX centuries.

The exhibition at the State Historical Museum is opened in the framework of events dedicated to the memory of St. Vladimir, and on the eve of anniversary of the state - the Day of the Christianization of Rus’.

The subject range of the exhibition includes all the diversity of museum items: manuscripts, printed books, icons, splints, engravings, monuments of arts and crafts and small sculpture, ecclesiastical objects, archaeological treasures. The exhibition was attended by the leading museums of the Russian Federation (Moscow Kremlin Museums, the State Hermitage Museum, the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery and others), the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts. An important place in the exhibition is devoted to the famous Gnezdovo put of 105 items, and the most important monuments of ancient writing - Sviatoslav Miscellany (1073) - the second oldest Slavic dated (and Old) manuscript book and Mstislav Gospel (up to 1117).