Marking the Day of Christianization of Rus'. Rare documents of Presidential Library tell about Holy Prince Vladimir equal to the Apostles

On July 28, Russia celebrates the Day of Christianity of Rus', which occurred in 988. This date in the Orthodox calendar also commemorates Prince Vladimir (circa 960-1015), who is known as the Equal-to-the-Apostles, or the Saint of Russia.

The Russian Orthodox Church emphasizes that "... the more Christianity entered into the flesh and blood of the Russian people, the more grateful and reverent the memory of the Vladimir the Saint of the Russian land became," as writer and historian Nikander Levitsky states in his work The Most Important Sources for Determining the Time of the Christianization of Vladimir and Rus' and Their Data (1890)."

The era of Prince Vladimir, equal to the apostles, was a crucial period for the formation of the Orthodox state of Kievan Rus'. The adoption of Christianity significantly increased the country's international status, strengthening and expanding its ties with Byzantium and the South Slavic countries, as well as with Christian countries in the West. This event also contributed to the national consolidation and cultural development of the country.

However, Vladimir, who grew up during the time of paganism, did not become a staunch follower of it. "We can say with certainty that this did not satisfy the wise prince, and he did not firmly believe in idolatry," writes Nikolai Markov in his historical and biographical essay, Grand Duke Vladimir the Holy (1888).

To strengthen the state, it was necessary to adopt a single faith. But which one should it be? Vladimir took the time to study the four main religions and chose one for his country. The choice of Vladimir's faith and the Christianization of Rus' are described in detail in Russian Primary Chronichle (1116), which is the oldest source of information on Russian history. This event is also discussed in the lectures Ancient Russian History, given by Professor Vasily Klyuchevsky in 1885. The manuscripts of these lectures is available on the portal of the Presidential Library.

In the book Grand Duke Vladimir the Holy Equal to the Apostles: A Story from Russian History, it tells how difficult the prince's choice was. Representatives from different nations came to Kiev, urging Russia to adopt their faith. Vladimir was faced with the choice between Western Roman Christianity, Eastern Byzantine Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Although not immediately, the prince made a decision.

According to The Beginning of Christianity in Russia and the Christianization of Russia under Grand Duke Vladimir (1900), the prince, "desiring true faith not only for himself but for all the people", held a meeting with the boyars and city leaders. As a result, they decided to send representatives to different parts of the world to see which country had the best way to serve God.

In 1914, the printing house of the Holy Synod published a book by the historian and spiritual writer, Dmitry Troitsky, titled Holy Prince Vladimir Equal to the Apostles. The book contains lines from the Primary Chronichle, which describe the impression made on Russian envoys by the divine service at the main temple of Byzantium - St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople (now Istanbul). The envoys were so impressed by the beauty of the service that they felt as if they were in heaven, rather than on earth. 

And the day came, as Ivan Nekrasov writes in his study Grand Duke Vladimir the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles: A Story from Russian History, when Vladimir said, "I am christianizing. I like your faith. I was told about it by the people who came to me from Kiev."

Following the example of Princess Olga, Vladimir wanted to be christianized not in Kiev, but to accept the faith from the Greeks. The Byzantine Empire viewed Orthodoxy as a spiritual treasure that should only be shared with those who are worthy of it. Prince Vladimir, therefore, forced them to transfer this treasure of Orthodoxy to Russia.

According to the video lecture The Byzantine Choice of Russia (2015), by historian Pavel Kuzenkov, the Byzantines were stubborn and proud, so the prince decided to capture Korsun (Tauric Chersonesos), a city in the Crimea, and, as a victor, ask for both a wife and the faith. This campaign is described in great detail in the book How Vladimir Besieged Korsun, by A. L. Berthier-Delagarde (1909).

After a siege of the city, Prince Vladimir emerged victorious, and in 988, he was christianized in the Orthodox faith at the Cathedral of St. Basil, in the central square of Korsun, a Greek city.

Like many other reforms, the Christianization of Rus' was initially met with distrust. Historian Konstantin Bestuzhev-Ryumin wrote in his book About the Christianization of Russia: About St. Vladimir, About His Sons, and About the Pechersk Monastery (1910) that the people, blinded by pagan beliefs, viewed book learning as magic and Vladimir's kindness as a misfortune. Pagan traditions and rituals persisted for many centuries, but eventually, the Orthodox faith took hold in Russia. This faith helped shape Russian national culture and created an image of a God-fearing people who, through the protection of Orthodoxy, were able to preserve their identity and resist spiritual enslavement. In 1915, Stefan Runkevich, a doctor of church history, spoke about the significance of St. Vladimir the Equal-to-the-Apostles, saying that through his efforts, Russia was able to tell the world a message of truth.

The christianization of Rus' was facilitated by various factors, including: the preaching of Christianity in Scythia by the Apostle Andrew the First-Called; the creation of the Slavic alphabet in combination with the Greek one by the brothers Cyril and Methodius; the existence of the "From the Varangians to the Greeks" water trade route; and the christianization of Princess Olga in Byzantium.

In the electronic collections of the Presidential Library, a large number of materials related to the Christianization of Rus' and the holy Prince Vladimir, equal to the apostles, have been collected. These include handwritten texts, rare editions, scientific research, video lectures, and radio broadcasts that tell about the spread of Christianity in Eastern Europe and the spiritual and political choice made by the holy equal-to-apostles grand duke Vladimir for himself and his people.

On the Library's portal, visitors can also get informed with a virtual tour of the exhibition Preserving the Orthodox Faith: The History of Church Museums, which was opened in St. Petersburg on the occasion of the 1,030th anniversary of the Christianization of Rus'. The exhibition is housed in the historic building of the Synod, which now houses the Presidential Library.