Undoubtedly, one of the events that determined the development of our country for years and even millennia ahead is the Baptism of Russia. Despite the fact that a certain date was assigned to this event in history, 988, in fact, Russia was baptized for a very, very long time.

Since ancient times, isolated cases of the conversion of the Slavs to Christian faith. Among others, Pravda was baptized, and historians argue about the reasons for her act. Someone says that she believed in one Lord, others believe that this act had political overtones. There is even a beautiful legend according to which Olga, who loved her husband, refused to marry a second time after his death. And this did not cause any particular problems until she was wooed. It was difficult to refuse such a groom due to possible political consequences. And Olga agreed. And since the emperor was Orthodox, in order to marry him, Olga had to be baptized, and she asked him to become her godfather. When after Konstantin demanded to name the date of the wedding. Olga replied that her father could not become her daughter's husband and left for Kyiv. Of course, this is just a legend and has nothing to do with real facts. Olga's baptism was one of the first steps that brought the Baptism of Russia closer.

But her son, Svyatoslav, did not support the Christian religion. I preferred to remain faithful to the faith of my ancestors. As well as Olga's grandson, Vladimir. Initially, he was also an ardent supporter of polytheism. This did not prevent him from subsequently being baptized himself and baptizing the whole of Kyiv in 988, it was this moment that entered the textbooks as the Baptism of Russia.

Now it is difficult to say whether Vladimir really believed, or whether it was an entirely political act. However, the huge influence of the political situation on his decision cannot be refuted in any case. His mind was dominated by the idea of ​​uniting the Russian people, which was seriously hampered by the disunity of religious beliefs, because many tribes lived on the territory of Kievan Rus, each with its own gods.

The first attempt at unification was made under the auspices of paganism. Near Kyiv, on the orders of Vladimir, a temple was erected, where five idols were installed, five different Slavic gods. Thus, he wanted to create a single pantheon of gods, which could become the core of the unification of the tribes. However, his expectations were not met.

Then he began to look for another method. Being sure that an adequate result will give only religious association, he began to study other beliefs and cults. It is authentically known that he actively communicated on these topics not only with Byzantium. He also considered both Islam and Catholicism as a possible option, and even maintained contacts with him. However, in the end he chose Orthodoxy, thus bringing the Baptism of Russia closer. The reasons for this decision are quite clear.

First of all, Byzantium was the most desirable ally for Russia. In addition, it was at this time that Basil II, the emperor of Byzantium, was looking for allies against his rival, claiming the throne. And he tried to enlist the support of Vladimir and the Russians by offering Vladimir a marriage with his sister, Princess Anna, in return. The advantages of this marriage for the Russian prince are obvious and he agreed to help the emperor, as well as to be baptized, since a pagan could not marry an Orthodox one.

However, after the Russian prince fulfilled his part of the agreement, Vasily began to play for time, since in fact such a relationship did not suit him so much. Vladimir had to achieve what was promised to him. To do this, he captured the city of Korsun (now Chersonese) and offered it to the emperor as a ransom for the bride. The marriage was concluded.

It was after this that the Baptism of Kievan Rus took place. Of course, having exponentially driven everything into the river and thrown into it the idols established by himself, he did not solve all the problems associated with the adoption of a new faith. Many people opposed his decision for a long time. He was received especially negatively in Novgorod, where Vladimir initially reigned. He was considered an apostate and could not forgive the betrayal of his father's faith.

The prince did not want to use violent measures, he preferred to arrange open dinners and charity events, under the auspices of the church. However, it was not possible to do without the forcible planting of faith. In many places it was necessary to baptize with fire and sword.

The baptism of Russia had colossal consequences, it was it that made it possible to make a huge step forward in the cultural and social development states.

The state of Ancient Russia could only be made by a single spiritual life - after all, in pagan times, different tribes and regions recognized different gods as their patrons, which even caused armed conflicts. It was Prince Vladimir who, in fact, first united Russia, creating a strong country with the help of spiritual bonds.

The Baptism of Russia is only symbolically named by the same name as the Sacrament of Baptism, which is performed on a person. This process can be called active missionary work in Russia and the personal preaching of Prince Vladimir, who was baptized independently and baptized Russia. Also, as a result of Baptism, the Orthodox Church became the state institution of Kievan Rus.

The first Christians in Russia

There were Christians on the Russian lands before, but the pagans periodically persecuted them: this is how the first Christians who reigned in the city of Kyiv, Askold and Dir were killed. Almost nothing is known about them, except that they were killed by Prince Oleg, the mentor of Prince Igor Svyatoslavovich, the husband of Princess Olga. It was she who eventually honored the memory of Askold and Dir. Over their graves in Kyiv, the princess erected a temple of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, thus laying the foundation for the veneration of St. Nicholas the Pleasant in Russia.

The first Christians of Russia were forced to hide and perform divine services in secret, fearing the persecution of pagan princes.

The first Orthodox ruler of Russia

The biography of Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is a stunning historical evidence of how the life of one person, according to the commandments of God, is capable of enlightening an entire state. If the life of many saints is brief, through the centuries only fragmentary information about the personality of this or that early Christian martyr or ancient Russian hermit has come down to us, then the life of the holy princess was documented. A number of chronicles vividly describe her activities in the successful management of the state, the upbringing of her son, diplomatic trips and Baptism, and attempts to plant Christianity in Russia. Considering the difficult position of women in Ancient Russia, the rejection of Christianity by the Russians and the loneliness of the saint in Christian life, the personality of the holy princess Olga is admirable. And believers have great joy that the saint comes to the aid of all those who ask for her mercy and intercession in many troubles.

Despite her great role in history, the saint helps everyone who comes to her with prayer. It is not for nothing that for many centuries the name Olga has remained one of the most common in Russia: girls are entrusted with the patronage of a truly wise, beautiful and strong-spirited saint.
Saint Olga is the first ruler of Russia who converted to Christianity. Her life is not a product of fiction, not a legend, but a series of scientifically confirmed events. Many sources call the saint the spiritual mother of Russia. The story about her life is already placed in the first ancient Russian chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years". All the more revered is St. Olga by Orthodox people because she serves as a model in many areas of life.

Causes of the Baptism of Russia

The future Princess Olga came from the family of the Izborsky princes of the village of Vybuty near Pskov. Surprisingly, she became the bride of the Kyiv prince Igor: according to legend, the prince hunted in those places, and while crossing the river, he noticed that the carrier was a beautiful girl. Having begun to make unambiguous hints to her, the prince received a decisive rebuff: Olga declared that she would rather throw herself into the river than be dishonored. (Note that this happened in pagan times, but the strength of the moral concepts of the girl, the future saint, was very great). Prince Igor retreated, but remembered the brave beauty, and when his guardian Prince Oleg began to choose a bride for his named son, having gathered all the girls of Russia in Kyiv, Igor himself asked to bring a chaste girl from Vybut to the capital. Fortunately, Olga was not only wise and beautiful, but also came from a princely family.

The couple was not released for a long happiness. Only three years old was their first-born Svyatoslav, as the princess became a widow: the tribe of the Drevlyans treacherously killed Prince Igor in one of the military campaigns.

Remaining the only ruler of the Russian land - after all, Prince Oleg had already died, and Svyatoslav was still a baby - Olga did not lose her head. She began to decide state affairs and showed excellent abilities in government. The rumor about this reached the Drevlyans: rightly frightened of the revenge of the young widow, whom they at first considered weak and unable to respond to the murder of her husband, they sent three embassies to Olga, offering marriage to their prince. The princess destroyed all these embassies, and then, under the guise of consent to marriage, entered the Drevlyansk city and killed many. After some time, she gathered a squad and completely defeated the army of the Drevlyans, capturing their main city.

The hagiographers (compilers of the life) of the saint write that such cruelty is not an example for Christian imitation: having converted to Christianity, she, at the word of Christ, began to pray for the offenders. They note, however, that the saint all her life was looking for the path of honor and truth, which is why the Lord enlightened her over time with the Light of His Truth. The famous chronicler Nestor wrote that Olga was looking for the best in the world and found a priceless pearl - Christ God and His teachings.

The campaign against the Drevlyans strengthened the authority of the princess, gave her the loyalty of the squad and the respect of her subjects. From history, her wise reforms of the Russian state, which was in its infancy, are known: the division of lands into graveyards-districts, which, after Baptism, she began to gather around churches; the emergence of new cities, the flourishing of trade. It was Princess Olga who first thought about uniting the state under one ideology, one faith - which Prince Vladimir planned and implemented in more detail over time. Only a single spiritual life could make Russia a state - after all, in pagan times, different tribes and regions recognized different gods as their patrons, which even caused armed conflicts.

Baptism of Princess Olga and the construction of the first Orthodox churches in Russia

Knowing about the power of the Byzantine Empire, the stronghold of Christianity, the future saint went on a Russian fleet already created by her to Constantinople on a diplomatic mission. Having learned about the Christian doctrine, having seen the prosperity of the Christian empire, she was baptized by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople. Her godfather was Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus himself - according to legend, he offered her to become his wife, she wisely offered to become her successor from the baptismal font. Godfather she cannot marry her daughter - this is how Saint Olga once again remained faithful to the memory of her husband without a quarrel with a powerful state dangerous for Russia.

Returning to Russia with icons and liturgical books, the saint began to preach Christianity. In the center of Kyiv, the saint founded a temple in the name of Sophia the Wisdom of God, laying in it a Cross made from the Tree of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, on which the Lord Himself was crucified and with which the Patriarch of Constantinople blessed her for the apostolic service (that is, the preaching of Christianity). In all Russian cities, she began to build churches, united the life of graveyards around churches - she set up churches in cemeteries that served as a place of worship for the spirits of the dead. And now the word "graveyard" means a church with a cemetery around it.

Saint Olga brought to Russia not only the teachings of the Lord, but also church dogmas, an idea of ​​theology. According to legend, visiting her native village of Vybuty, on the site of the current Kremlin of the city of Pskov, she saw three rays revealed by God, shining from heaven: the princess told the people who were with her that there would be a great city and in its center - a temple in the name of the Holy Trinity. And so it happened: Pskov played a big role in Russian history, and its temples to this day serve as decoration and spiritual lights of the city. At the site of the vision, the princess put up a cross and founded a temple: now the great Trinity Cathedral of the Pskov Kremlin is located here, and across the river is a chapel in the name of the most holy princess Olga.

Perhaps, for the Baptism of all Russia, Saint Olga did not have enough masculine firmness of her grandson, Prince Vladimir, who from an early age had already observed the activities of his grandmother. Rather, that the son of Olga, who had matured Svyatoslav, did not allow her to preach the teachings of Christ to people on a national scale. A big step towards enlightenment was at least the absence of oppression of Christians from Svyatoslav. As a true Christian, Olga humbly handed over power to her son, who rightfully occupied the throne, and was engaged only in preaching, building temples and charity - caring for those in need. Even before her death, she secretly received a priest and was afraid to baptize her grandchildren. It is known that Olga prayed a lot for the enlightenment of the Russian land: through her prayers, thanks to her upbringing, the holy prince Vladimir eventually came to the Christian faith and baptized Russia, which became a great state. This prayer has been preserved by church tradition - read it at the end of the article.

Saint Olga passed away to the Lord at the age of about 80 in 969, July 24 - today the Church annually celebrates her memory on this day.

Where are the first relics in Russia

After the death of Princess Olga, even before the official, church recognition of her as a saint - after all, the Church in Russia for a long time was weak and small - became famous for the incorruptibility of her relics and miracles from them.
Her words about the death of her son turned out to be true: when persuading Svyatoslav to accept Christianity, she warned him of a possible death. According to the chronicle, Svyatoslav was indeed killed by the Pechenegs, while his body was desecrated: a banquet bowl was made from his skull.

The prophecy of the princess about the enlightenment of Russia also came true: before her death, she said that the country would be baptized.

Already under Prince Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko, the Baptist of Russia, the body of his grandmother was transferred to the Church of the Tithes in honor of the Assumption of the Mother of God. The princess was placed in a stone coffin-sarcophagus in the way saints are honored. Obviously, Prince Vladimir wanted to initiate the veneration of Saint Olga, knowing her righteous life and apostolic labors.

The burial place of the saint was arranged in separate room with a hole through which one could see the sarcophagus: according to legend, believers saw the relics themselves, and the curious only saw the coffin. At the request of St. Olga (prayers to her have not yet been composed), people received healing. Thus the preaching of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga continued even after her death.

Today, for the veneration of believers, only a particle of the relics of the saint has been preserved. The Kyiv Tithes Church was destroyed during the Tatar-Mongol invasion of Kyiv in 1240, and the relics of St. Olga were hidden in the ground. According to legend, they were found during excavations in the 17th century by the Metropolitan of Kyiv Peter Mohyla, but in early XVIII century - when, after the Petrine reforms, many Russians were affected by secularization and indifference to Orthodoxy - the relics of St. Olga disappeared.

Today, a particle of the relics of the great saint, Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is carefully preserved and is always open for worship of believers in the church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Pyzhi, Moscow.

Year of the Baptism of Russia

By the time of Vladimir's accession to the princely throne, paganism flourished on the territory of Kievan Rus. The prince began to rule as a pagan, having won the respect of the people of Kiev and the squad as a wise and honest person by pagan standards. It is known that he was brave and bold in battles, but many of his deeds before Baptism horrify Christian historians - he was just a bloodthirsty warrior. During his reign, great human sacrifices were made, including the killing of Christians.

At some point, Prince Vladimir realized that paganism was becoming obsolete and began to reform polytheism by creating a common pantheon of gods in 983. However, the tribes in the country continued to quarrel among themselves, arguing which of the gods is stronger and, accordingly, which of the tribes is more powerful under his patronage (there were, for example, the Veles tribe, the Svarog tribe, depending on the region).

Back in 983, Prince Vladimir himself made sacrifices and was a tormentor, and only five years later he became Prince Vladimir the Red Sun, the Baptist of Russia. We know many examples of people who became Christians only in words. Vladimir was not like that: he dropped the foundations of Christianity and decided that this religion would be useful not only for state structure but also for the moral state of people. He was baptized himself and changed his life, trying to follow the ideals of Christ. It is known that the prince began to take care of the poor a lot, he ceased to be a polygamist (previously he had a large harem of concubines). It was thanks to his life and sincere activity that he was canonized as a saint, and not at all because the Church thanked him for the "new lands."

The soul of the prince himself underwent the main transformation and enlightenment, realizing the lack of spirituality and cruelty of paganism.

Baptism of Russia by Prince Vladimir

In 988, Prince Vladimir converted to Christianity in Korsun (Chersonesos, then a colony of Byzantium), married the Orthodox princess Anna and began the process of Christianization and missionary work in the state. In the rivers Dnieper and Pochaina, he baptized the squad, boyars and courtiers. Now, over the place of their Baptism on the Kyiv mountains, there is a monument to Prince Vladimir.

The prince did not force anyone to be baptized under pain of death, but it is possible that many were baptized out of fear of losing the prince's favor. Many historians believe that most of the population was baptized by force. However, in a number of chronicles there are testimonies of priests and bishops who became martyrs for their faith in different regions countries far from Kyiv. Many of them were canonized. This means that the priests were far from always under the protection of the squad, and even more so they could not punish those who refused to be baptized.

Holy Prince Vladimir and Holy Princess Olga

The Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess became famous for her strength and wisdom in all spheres of life: as a wise ruler, a kind mother, a faithful wife, a great saint. Before her icon they pray in all life's difficulties:

• About help in business;


• About keeping fidelity to a loved one and about helping a loved one in anticipation;


• About how to survive the bitterness of the tragedy and the loss of a loved one;



• About the forgiveness of sins;


• About getting rid of danger;


• About the correct, Christian upbringing of children;


• About the health of children and help them in all matters;


• About conflict resolution;

Holy Princess Olga is also the patroness of girls and women named after her. They, as well as everyone who loves and reveres St. Olga, can wear her pectoral icon - this is usually a small metal icon of a saint with an eye for hanging on a chain next to the cross and wearing it on the chest.

Saint Prince Vladimir is glorified as Equal-to-the-Apostles, that is, enlighteners like the Apostles. He became famous for his strength and wisdom in all spheres of life. Before his icon they pray in all life's difficulties:

• About help in business;


• About the preservation of faith and purity of the soul;


• About the forgiveness of sins;


• About getting rid of danger;


• About conflict resolution;


• About help in a political and public career, as well as church ministry.

Memorial Day of the Holy Prince Vladimir is the day of the feast of the memory of the Baptism of Russia. This date is celebrated on July 28.

History of the Russian Orthodox Church

The Russian Orthodox Church at first did not have a Patriarch and was a local church, which was ruled by bishops in local sees. When the Great Schism took place, the division of the Churches into Orthodox and Catholic, Russian remained in Orthodoxy. Prince Vladimir could initially be baptized in Rome and bring Western missionaries to Russia, but, according to historians, he considered the Pope too burdened with political ambitions, while Vladimir himself did not want to submit to any dictate.

An important milestone in the history of Orthodoxy in Russia was the reform of Patriarch Nikon.

The Old Believers appeared in the middle of the 17th century, when the Russian Orthodox Church suffered the reform of Patriarch Nikon. The Old Believers (they are Old Believers, schismatics) initiated a church schism, which was not as dramatic as the division of the Church into Catholic and Orthodox, because the dogmas of the Church were not affected by the reforms. Patriarch Nikon only tried to impose Greek rites, unifying the services of Constantinople and Russia, which in the course of centuries after the Baptism of Russia changed somewhat. For example, in the Russian Church, services became very long, there was a practice of reading certain prayers at the same time in different parts of the Church, and double-fingered baptism was preserved. The external, ritual side of the service was reformed, some liturgical books were rewritten and re-translated.

Differences between Old Believers and Orthodoxy

The Old Believers became a certain cultural and historical phenomenon of Russia. The Old Believers had their own truth, but history has shown the wrongness of the path of the Old Believers: having departed from the Orthodox Church, creating a schism, some of them lost the grace of apostolic succession and remained "priestless", that is, without priests. People who are in such a religious trend do not have the opportunity to proceed to the Sacraments of the Church: Wedding, Baptism, Confirmation, Communion and Confession - and therefore we can consider them deprived of church grace.

Now the Old Believers are divided into a number of groups called consents and rumors. Some of the Old Believers have priests and are called the Edinoverie Church. They perform rituals according to the canons of the 17th century, accepting the dogmas of the Orthodox Church and Her leadership. It is precisely the “priests” of fellow believers that the Orthodox Church accepts today into canonical communion. Bespopovtsy eventually disappeared almost completely.

Pectoral Orthodox and Old Believer crosses, which are called vests, differ from each other. This name has simply been preserved since pre-Nikonian times - this is how crosses were called from the very Baptism of Russia until the 17th century.

Today, most Orthodox crosses are made, oddly enough, in the Catholic tradition. The cross is depicted with only one large crossbar, succinctly. Perhaps this is the explanation that such crosses are cheaper, their manufacture, especially in metal, is less expensive.

However, Old Believer crosses are just a representation of crosses as they were worn by most of our ancestors before the 17th century. They retain all the features of the inscriptions and drawings of the Calvary cross.

The cross is traditionally depicted as eight-pointed, with additional lower and upper crossbars, but inscribed in more comfortable shape four-pointed cross. This is a reproduction of the famous and real historically existing Cross of Jesus Christ.

The topmost bar is the plate on the Cross of Christ with the inscription YINGI. This inscription is known from the Gospel and means "Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews."




The lowest, oblique crossbar is a foothold, traditionally placed on crosses. Its symbolic meaning is a reminder of the story of two thieves crucified to the right and left of Christ. The right end of the crossbar is raised in remembrance of the pious robber who repented of his sins on the cross, who considered himself unworthy of paradise, and who was the first to enter the Kingdom of Heaven with Christ. The second end is omitted, in remembrance of the second robber who cursed God. This story is evidence that the very death of each person can change his afterlife.




The image on the left is a spear, on the right is a cane - the instruments of execution of the Savior. With a spear, a Roman soldier pierced the already deceased Christ in order to understand whether He had died, and “blood and water flowed out of His side.” A sponge with vinegar is planted on a cane, one of the soldiers gave it to Christ.




Below is a skull - this is the head of Adam, that is, the burial of the first person is symbolically depicted. According to legend, it was near Golgotha ​​that he was buried in ancient times.




The inscription at the top - "SNH GOD" - means that Christ is the Son of God.




The tablet on the Cross of Christ with the inscription YINGI is an abbreviation for the "inscription of guilt" that should have hung over everyone who died a shameful execution on the cross. The inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" was written by Pontius Pilate, who wanted to show the Jews that there was no guilt on Christ, to shame them.




The letters “K” on the left and “T” on the right are original signatures of the objects depicted: spears and canes.




The inscription on the left “ML” and on the right “RB” is the Church Slavonic phrase “the place of the frontal paradise to be”, that is, in Russian: “The place of execution became paradise.” The inscription recalls that the death of Christ, His sacrifices for the sins of people, opened to everyone paradise, which was closed after the fall of Adam.




Even lower, at the steps on the left and on the right, one letter “G” each - this means that the steps symbolically show Mount Golgotha.




Near the skull on the left is the letter "G", on the right is the letter "A", signing it as "Adam's head".




The most important and largest inscriptions at the Cross are “IC XC” and “NIKA” above and below the long bar, to which the hands of Christ were nailed. "Nika" is translated from Greek as "victory" and is usually not on the Cross itself, since historically it was not on the Cross of Christ. According to legend, they began to write it near the Cross after the vision of Emperor Constantine the Great, described by us. However, it is possible that such a tradition appeared even earlier, because the apostles and evangelists called Christ the Conqueror of hell and death. This is what the inscription means in the full sense: by the power of Christ sin and death are overcome. Over time, this inscription also appeared on prosphora (church unleavened bread with a seal from a cross on a flat top, from which particles are removed with the remembrance of people's names; the prosphora will be given to your loved ones or to you when submitting a note “On health” to the Liturgy) and holy artos (large round bread, consecrated after Easter in memory of Christ).

In the same way, the Cross is depicted on the robes of the monks-schemas and on a number of icons. Thus, every Orthodox person can, if desired, wear an Old Believer pectoral cross, a vest. We only note that in the Old Believer tradition, women's crosses stand out: they have a symbolic image of flowers called “petals” on the actual crosshairs of the Cross.

Crucifixes and crosses of various Old Believers may also have their own characteristics, but they are insignificant. Usually the image on the top of the Cross is different: there is an image of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove or God the Father, or an icon of Christ.

Worship and cemetery crosses, that is, not underwear, have a pommel of two beveled slats. Also, crosses-stuffed cabbage are placed over the Old Believer graves: wooden posts with a thickening at the top and a carved icon in the thickening, with a house top made of beveled boards.
The "Pilatian inscription" - the letters "INTI" - also cause controversy among the Old Believers. Sometimes it is not cut out, because the Old Believers believe that this is a shameful inscription.

Church and revolution

The Russian Orthodox Church, during the most difficult years of persecution after the revolution, was headed by Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin), canonized as Saint Tikhon of Moscow. He became the first Patriarch of Russia after the Synodal period, when the Church was only an institution subordinate to the state, which was sometimes headed by unbelievers. The time of his patriarchate came during the first years of persecution and the Red Terror, and during this terrible time he managed to live such a life and manage the Church in such a way that he preserved it and himself found holiness before the Lord. He was canonized at the end of the 20th century.

After the formation of the new Synod in 1917, Bishop Tikhon became a member. The election of the Patriarch was being prepared long years still with the participation of the holy tsar-passion-bearer Nicholas II. During the congress of the laity and clergy, and then the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, the saint was elected first as the chairman of the Council, and then as the Patriarch (by lot).

Here's how it happened. The most important task of the Council was to revive the life of the Russian Orthodox Church on a canonical basis - after all, Peter the Great made the Church one of the departments of the state, dividing them into the Senate and the Synod. For many years, under various sovereigns, the Church was headed in the position of chief prosecutors and all non-believers or persons of other faiths.

There were three candidates for the place of the Primate of the Church. After Divine Liturgy and a prayer service on November 5, 10917, the schemamonk of Zosima Hermitage, a revered elder, took from the ark, placed behind miraculous icon Mother of God, one of the three lots with the name of the candidate - he turned out to be St. Tikhon, who received the title of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Despite his high position, the saint did not change either his ascetic way of life or his good character. Gentleness and calmness did not prevent him from being firm in matters of protecting the Church and faith - after all, a year later the persecution of the Church began, the terrible years of red terror and famine. During this terrible time, Saint Tikhon called on the people to prayer and calmness, wishing to prevent possible bloodshed. After all, Nicholas II himself abdicated the throne, people were at a loss and did not know what political force they would be subject to.

Persecution of the Church in Russia in the 20th century

Already in 1922, the Soviet government began a campaign to confiscate church valuables. At the same time, a group of adventurers from among the clergy created the so-called Renovationist “church”, calling for “spiritual freedom”, which consisted in changing worship services, introducing a married episcopate contrary to the traditions of the Church, and much more. It was an attempt at an ecclesiastical revolution. And it was precisely her Patriarch Tikhon, whom the Renovationists, together with the Soviet authorities, accused of conducting counter-revolutionary activities and arrested, managed to prevent.

In the middle of 1921, St. Tikhon created a committee to help the starving, calling on all parishes to make donations, donating church utensils and jewelry in favor of the "starving Volga region." The paradox was that it was precisely to help the starving (by the way, the famine arose precisely because of the actions of the Soviet government) that the state called for. However, as it became clear to historians from the surviving instructions of Lenin, the campaign to seize church valuables under the pretext of helping the starving had as its goal only the ruin, and then the destruction of the Church. The authorities assumed that the Church would resist and they would be able to legally, under the pretext of "defending the revolution", kill the Orthodox. But St. Tikhon denounced them, himself calling on people to help the people of the Volga region.

Of course, the Soviets could not leave this unpunished and arrested the saint for the time being as a "witness", accusing him of supporting the counter-revolution. No one could prove anything, and after a few months the Patriarch was released.

It is suggested that this happened because the position of the Church remained quite strong. Only in this way did the saint escape execution: the authorities were afraid of a wave of popular protest. It is known that two attempts were made on his life - during one of them, Vladyka's cell-attendant Yakov Polozov died.

The Patriarch had a hard time enduring the struggle and difficulties of leading the Ship of the Church. From 1924 he was very ill. In the middle of the spring of 1925 he celebrated the last Liturgy and died in prayer.

More than a million people came to say goodbye to the saint, not only from Moscow, but from all over Russia. The Cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery was crowded for a hundred hours - so long was the farewell to His Holiness. According to eyewitnesses, already in the hours of farewell, people, kissing the coffin with the body of the Patriarch - and after all, these were relics, that is, the body of a saint - received healing from serious illnesses, blindness, deafness, mental illness, lameness ... I can’t believe that this happened in years of persecution of the Church, some people are still alive who heard it themselves from eyewitnesses. It was said that it was not just a farewell, but also a popular glorification of the saint.

Already in 1981, Patriarch Tikhon was glorified as a confessor by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and in 1989 he was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church, which until then had not had the opportunity to canonize the saint, probably due to continued oppression by the Soviet authorities.

In 1992, after some hooligans set fire to the Small Cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery, the imperishable relics of St. Tikhon were discovered almost by accident. Since then, many people have come to pray to the saint and venerate the shrine - his relics, specially making pilgrimages to Moscow.

Church during the Thaw

Thus, the Lord glorified Patriarch Tikhon and showed that his leadership of the Church during the years of the revolution was correct. His diplomacy and at the same time fidelity to the Church Charter, the Orthodox faith became an example for the subsequent great Patriarchs, among whom are our contemporaries - Patriarch Alexy II and Patriarch Kirill.

Despite the “Khrushchev thaw,” the 1960s, when Vladyka Alexy (Ridiger), the future Patriarch Alexy II, began his hierarchal ministry, were difficult for the Church. If in the 1930s priests were shot along with everyone as enemies of the people, then during the Great Patriotic War they began to return en masse from the camps, opening temples. Khrushchev opened up new persecutions: first of all, by organizing an information wave not even of godlessness, but of stereotypical slander against the Church in the media. Revolutionary slogans were raised, condemning "obscurantism", people were psychologically pressured, dishonored at work, for example, for attending Easter services. Seminaries were closed under the pretext of poor-quality education and churches, which simply “needed” to be used as warehouses, factories and granaries.

Having become Patriarch, Alexy II often spoke, including in print, but without details, about these times, that only God knew how difficult it was for priests and bishops to endure the time of persecution. However, the interests of the Orthodox Church were defended, She did not die with the help of such zealous servants of the Lord as Vladyka Alexy.

Power and the Church in the years of Perestroika

More recently, less than a dozen years ago, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, who led the Russian Orthodox Church in the most difficult for the whole country, critical years of the late 80s and early 90s, passed away to the Lord. His Holiness, despite his high position, was easy to communicate with, and therefore loved by everyone who knew him closely, a principled person of a bright soul. He became the fifteenth Primate of the Church after the restoration of the Patriarchate in Russia.

The name of Alexy II also occupies a fundamental place in the science of Church history and theology. Only before his accession to the primatial throne, he had more than 150 publications on church history and theology of the topic. Who is Patriarch Alexy (Ridiger), why he is revered as a righteous man and what he did for the Church and all of Russia - you will learn in this article.

In 1990, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen died, and on June 10 of the same year, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia was chosen to take his place.

Interestingly, the activities of the Patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church are expanding with each subsequent election of the Primate. Usually the Patriarch was elected from among venerable hierarchs who had extensive pastoral experience, but therefore cut off from too perfect trends in society. In the middle of the 20th century, no one thought about the importance of attracting young people to the Church: it was difficult to talk to them, the guys not only strove for ordinary entertainment, but also had an opinion about the Church as a “gathering of obscurantists.” Lacking life experience, they relied on the judgment of teachers and the authority of the state.

Over time, a lot began to change. Intelligentsia, emigrants turned to Christianity as actually a religion of protest, throat fresh air in stuffy Soviet ideology. If Patriarchs Alexy the First and Pimen, basically, had concerns about maintaining parishes, about the existence of a church at least in every city, about protecting pastors from repression (and Pimen also about celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia, that is, the cultural and historical establishment of the Church ) - then His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II developed activities to spread the missionary service of the Church, work with youth (on which the new, current Patriarch Kirill also places great emphasis), restructuring the Church, and creating new dioceses.

Church and secular historians highlight the following pros and cons of the activities of Alexy II as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:

An increase in the number of churches, monasteries and dioceses, despite the fact that the number of believers and church people did not require such a number of church structures.




The active return to the church of the historical buildings of the temples, their restoration - this was called "the claim of the Church to the canonical territory." If some churches were given over to warehouses or workshops and returned painlessly, then the return of temples-museums, temples-monuments met with active resistance from public activists. There were incidents when the Church and cultural organizations found themselves on opposite sides of the barricades. Nevertheless, it was precisely during the period of Patriarch Alexy's activity that the experience of overcoming such confrontation was laid. The intelligentsia became convinced that the Church really knows how to preserve the cultural heritage of the side, especially since it was she who created this heritage: it was for prayer that both the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and Saint Isaac's Cathedral Petersburg, and the Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma.




An increase in the number of ordained bishops, priests, monks and the apparatus of church officials - Synodal departments - at a time when people were not spiritually ready for responsible church service. It is to this day point of contention: from apostolic times to the revolution in Russia, priests were not consecrated before the age of 30. Under Alexy II, even bishops under thirty began to be ordained.




At the same time, such an “increase in the flow of personnel” and places for prayer created a reserve, space for the further coming to the Church of many, many people. Today begins not only the revival of temples in the historical buildings of churches, but also the construction of new ones. So, in Moscow there is a program to create 200 new churches in the sleeping areas of the capital; 36 churches are being built in the Vyborg diocese alone, and more than 100 in the entire St. public holidays speakers are taken outside the building so that people can pray outside.




The number of educational centers increased, the missionary activity of the Church became more active. Many believed that the Church should not attract new people, but occupy a niche in a certain service sector. Nevertheless, it was Patriarch Alexy who again began the catechizing work of the Church: after all, even Christ commanded the apostles to enlighten all peoples with the light of Christianity, to save the souls of people. He himself fearlessly spoke around the world with speeches aimed at strengthening traditional moral values ​​- after all, they are based on the commandments of God - at a time when a movement was beginning in Europe to promote homosexuality and leveling differences between the sexes, legalizing euthanasia. The primate has repeatedly stated that the moral decay of society leads to the death of civilization.




Relations within the Church were not easy: Local Councils were rarely convened, relations with the Roman Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople became aggravated. At the same time, a number of clergy accused His Holiness of ecumenism, that is, too active interaction with other confessions and religions.




During the period of the Patriarchal ministry of Alexy II, military conflicts took place in the world and in Russia. This Patriarch is known. by the fact that in 1993 he admonished the State Committee for the State of Emergency by taking the Vladimir icon out of the storerooms of the Tretyakov Gallery and praying before it for peace and God's help with all the people. In addition, he regularly came up with peacekeeping initiatives regarding the wars in the North Caucasus, South Ossetia, during the bombing of the US Air Force in Iraq and Serbia.




In an interview shortly before his death, His Holiness Bishop Alexy II himself summed up the results of his work, evaluating the fruits of his labors as a completely new relationship between the Church and the state, which he was forced to build. By the will of God, he was able to turn the interaction with society and with the authorities towards the acceptance of the Church.

The death of Patriarch Alexy II and the new power in the Church

His Holiness passed away in the Lord just two months before his 80th birthday. Alexy II died at the Patriarchal Residence in Peredelkino, on the days of the Nativity Fast, on December 5, 2008. The Orthodox people of all Russia and neighboring countries are so accustomed to the fact that this good shepherd of the Church is always cheerful, travels around the country and visits even remote dioceses, that his death caused shock and amazement. Against this background, rumors even began to circulate that the Patriarch had been killed, but they were refuted by the testimony of hierarchs who knew him closely and the conclusion of a medical examination: Alexy II suffered several heart attacks and a stroke during the last years of his life, so death occurred due to natural causes, becoming the result of a heart attack. insufficiency.

Not only his spiritual children, who during their lifetime asked for the Patriarchal advice, but also many people, from the village parishioners who came to bow to the shrines of the capital, to the President himself and various celebrities, come to consult with His Holiness, to ask for his help and blessings for good and necessary deeds. The patriarch has not yet been canonized - after all, more than a dozen years must pass for canonization - but miracles are already being recorded through prayers to him at the grave, materials and evidence of milestones in his life are thoroughly studied, and popular veneration is growing.

Thus, Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, who was Alexy II’s deputy — he held the position of the Moscow Patriarchy’s manager of affairs — wrote that in close communion he always saw in him a judicious pastor of the Church, who had a truly God-given love for all people. He was for everyone Orthodox people like a caring father who led the Church with a sincere experience of her problems in his own heart. There was no unimportant question for him, even the most ordinary people who were treated unfairly, he defended before the authorities, helped the most distant and poorest church parishes. According to His Eminence Clement, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy received more than ten thousand letters annually (that is, about 30 daily) - and he did not leave a single one unattended, each day setting aside time for reading correspondence and instructions at the request of addressees. Many people who served together with His Holiness or were former employees of the Synodal departments testify that fellowship with him has become a school of life. He showed an example of pastoral service in unchanging striving for the Lord and love for every person.

Today, the most important post of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is occupied by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev), elected after the death of Alexy II, of Moscow and All Russia. However, few people know the most important milestones of his life and ministry, where he comes from and who he served before being elected Patriarch.

Head of the Orthodox Church today

The future Patriarch Kirill was born on November 20, 1946 in Leningrad, receiving the name Vladimir at birth. His Holiness's family was a priestly one. His grandfather, a priest, was in prison many times from the 1920s to the 1940s for fighting the "renovationist" church. A group of adventurers from among the clergy in the 1920s created the so-called Renovationist "church", calling for "spiritual freedom", which consisted in changing worship services, introducing a married episcopate contrary to the traditions of the Church, and much more. It was an attempt at an ecclesiastical revolution. His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon managed to prevent it.

Patriarch Kirill's father Mikhail was also a Leningrad priest, and his brother to this day is the rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Leningrad-Petersburg, a professor at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. His parents died in 1974 and 1984 (mother).

After graduating from high school, the future Patriarch worked on geological expeditions in the North in order to earn money for his family, combining this employment with schooling. Then he entered the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, after graduation - the Academy.

After completing his studies at the seminary in 1969, Vladimir Gundyaev was tonsured a monk, and after graduating from the Academy he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. Then he visited many responsible positions. He was able to apply his strength, performing many educational actions. Already in 1994, he became famous by creating the TV show "The Shepherd's Word", where he answered people's questions, including those asked live - every journalist knows how difficult it is.

The social concept of the Orthodox Church

The result of it social activities and many works, many consider the Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church accepted by the entirety of the Church - a document describing the attitude of the Church to acute modern problems that did not exist during the earthly life of Christ and the Holy Fathers, and therefore the attitude of the Church towards them had not been worked out before. Today, the Fundamentals of the Social Concept describes, for example, the attitude of the Church to contraceptives, IVF, and issues of children's rights. This is necessary so that the flock of the Church knows the guidelines and understands what is useful for the salvation of the soul.

Patriarch Alexy II died in 2008. Vladyka Kirill at that time was his closest associate, and therefore was appointed "deputy" of His Holiness - Patriarchal Locum Tenens, and a year later, at the Council of the Church, he was elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia through a vote of the bishops of the Church. 75% voted for Vladyka Kirill.

First of all, His Holiness was engaged in internal church affairs. If Patriarchs Alexy the First and Pimen, basically, had concerns about maintaining parishes, about the existence of a church at least in every city, about protecting pastors from repression (and Pimen also about celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia, that is, the cultural and historical establishment of the Church ) - then His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II developed activities to spread the missionary service of the Church, the revival of churches. The current Patriarch Kirill has placed great emphasis on work with youth and enlightenment (catechesis) of already believing people, restructuring of the Church, and creation of new dioceses.

Numerous Sunday schools for adults were opened, youth communities were created at church parishes, the social service of the Church was strengthened - helping the poor, orphans, the sick, the elderly, the destitute.

Further, Patriarch Kirill began to expand the boundaries of cooperation between Christian denominations and even states. His activity is recognized as the most useful by many states of the world; The patriarch has been awarded many awards, primarily Russian ones. Today he is a member of the State Duma of Russia, as well as many international and Russian public commissions, institutions, higher educational institutions.

His Holiness the Patriarch as a monk cannot have a family: a wife and children. His family is the Church, his life is devoted to serving God. However, His Holiness loves children very much, and when meeting him in cities and villages, children always come forward with loaves, in traditional Russian clothes. His Holiness devotes a lot of time to caring for little orphans, seriously ill and dying children: for example, it was with the participation of the Patriarch that the first Children's Hospice was opened in St. Petersburg.

The Patriarch actively conducts foreign policy activities, speaking in the course of discussions of actions various countries denouncing often the ideology of consumption. So, he said: “If you build without God, then nothing will work out - neither in your personal life, nor in the life of your family, public, state, planetary. Because the cornerstone is not the right one, because it is based on human sin, which destroys personal, social, and planetary life.”

The Patriarch spoke out on scandalous information occasions, including widely discussed works of art and cultural events, for example, comparing the life of a modern person with the lives of holy ascetics: “Amazing Russian word- "feat". It has the same root as the word "movement". An ascetic is one who moves towards God. And if modern people, dynamic and purposeful, set other goals, then they fuss in vain.

The educational work of His Holiness consists, first of all, in speaking with lengthy sermons after services. Since each Patriarchal service is crowded, and audio and video are also recorded for placement on public websites and in the media, his words are always heard by the world. In addition, His Holiness has created a number of monographs, scientific papers, and educational articles, combined into books. Their subjects are very extensive: from the history of the Church to dogmatic issues.

In addition, His Holiness is a connoisseur of literature, including modern literature, and is a member of the Commission for State Prizes in Literature, heads the Society of Russian Literature. The Patriarchal Literary Prize has also been established, the laureates and winners of which are chosen by him. Here is what His Holiness the Patriarch says about the role of literature: “In Russia, literature has traditionally been entrusted with a special high mission in the field of intellectual, aesthetic, spiritual and moral development of the individual. Our predecessors understood that native language and literature participate in the formation of the cultural self-identification of the individual, provide a connection with the history of the native people, with previous generations. Without this connection, cultural and, therefore, value continuity is destroyed.

Patriarch Kirill - charity or yachts?

It seems to be a simple question about the year in which the baptism of Russia took place, has a rather complicated answer. The reason is that the process of Christianization of the ancient Russian state was long and controversial. Therefore, we propose to deal with this issue in stages.

Reasons for the adoption of baptism by Rus

Before answering the question of in what year the baptism of Russia took place, let us find out the reasons for such a sharp change in the cultural orientation of ancient Russian society. The state of Kievan Rus was created from several large tribal unions of Eastern Slavs who professed pagan cults. Each tribe had its own gods, the rites of worship also varied. When the question arose of the need to consolidate society, then, naturally, the idea arose of creating a single ideology based on a successful monotheistic religion. The last fact related to monotheism was also very important, since it formed the idea of ​​a single strong power of one prince over everyone, including over the tribal elite. Among the neighbors of Russia, Byzantium stood out with special power and wealth, with which Russia had close economic, cultural, and political ties. Therefore, the Orthodox ideology, like no other, was suitable for state building.

Prince Vladimir

The main thing in the life of Vladimir the First, which also influenced his nickname - the Holy One, was the baptism of Russia. The date, year of this event is disputed due to the fact that the conversion took place gradually. First, the prince and the squad were baptized, then the people of Kiev, and then the inhabitants of other regions of the vast state. The prince himself did not immediately come to the idea of ​​adopting a new religion. In the first years of his reign, the ardent pagan Vladimir tried to create a single pantheon of gods for all tribes. But he did not take root, and did not solve all state problems. Thinking about the adoption of the Byzantine religious cult, the prince still hesitated with this. The Russian ruler did not want to bow his head before the Emperor of Constantinople. The baptism of Russia was being prepared for a long time. It is not clear how many years the negotiations were conducted specifically. But during the period from 980 to 988, Byzantine ambassadors visited Kyiv (by the way, not alone: ​​Catholics, representatives of the Khazar Khaganate, Muslims also came), and Russian ambassadors visited several countries, choosing a liturgical cult, and negotiations were held on the marriage of the Byzantine princess Anna with the Kyiv ruler. Finally, the patience of the Russian prince ended, and he took decisive measures to speed up the process.

Capture of Chersonesos

Both Kievan Rus and Byzantium invested a political component in the fact of the adoption of Christianity according to the Orthodox model. Byzantine emperors needed strong army Prince of Kyiv as an ally, and Vladimir wanted to maintain independence and independence. The receipt of assistance by the emperor against the uprising of Barda Foka from the Russian prince was provided for by the condition of the latter's dynastic marriage with a representative of the imperial family. The Byzantine princess was supposed to marry Vladimir. But making a promise is easier than keeping it. Therefore, Vasily II - the Byzantine emperor - was in no hurry to send Anna to the Slavic lands. Vladimir, having gathered an army, went to the Byzantine colony in the Crimea - Chersonese. After a long siege, he managed to capture the city. Threatening the continuation of hostilities, he demanded that the Byzantine ruler fulfill his promises. Anna was sent to the Crimea, but on the condition that Vladimir was baptized. The Tale of Bygone Years indicates the time of these events - 988. The Baptism of Russia had not yet been carried out in the full sense of the word. The rite was accepted only by the prince and a small part of his squad.

Baptism of Kiev

Returning to the capital as a Christian, with a new wife, Vladimir continued to make efforts to introduce a new Christian ideology. First of all, the pagan pantheon of gods was destroyed. The statue of Perun was thrown into the waters of the Dnieper, having previously undergone abuse and ridicule. The chronicler testifies that the townspeople wept and sobbed for Perun, but could not do anything. Having baptized his closest assistants from the boyars, his numerous children, ex-wives and concubines, Vladimir took up the citizens. All the people of Kiev, young and old, were driven to the banks of the river and literally driven into its waters. Addressing his subjects, Vladimir declared that all who oppose baptism oppose the will of the prince. And from now on there will be personal enemies. In fear, sobs and lamentations, under the blessings of the Byzantine priests from the shore, this grandiose rite of baptism took place. Researchers argue about the year in which the baptism of Russia took place in general and the people of Kiev in particular. Most historians are inclined to believe that these are the events of 988-990.

Methods of conversion of the Slavs

It is hard to imagine that someone can sincerely believe that, having left the waters of the Pochaina (a tributary of the Dnieper, where mass baptism took place), the people immediately became Christian. The process of daring away from the old, habitual norms of behavior and pagan rites was quite difficult. Temples were built, sermons were read in them, and conversations were held. The missionaries made great efforts to reverse the pagan worldview. To what extent this has been achieved is also debatable. Many still argue that Russian Orthodoxy is a dual faith, a kind of synthesis of Christian and pagan ideas about the world. The farther from Kyiv, the stronger were the pagan foundations. And in those places it was necessary to act even tougher. Those sent to carry out the rite of baptism in Novgorod encountered resistance from local residents, including armed ones. The prince's army suppressed discontent by baptizing Novgorod "with fire and sword." It is possible to perform the rite by force, but how to put new ideas into the minds of people? This is not a matter of one, or even a dozen years. For several centuries, the Magi called on the people to oppose the new religion, raised uprisings against the princes. And they resonated with the people.

The official date of the baptism of Russia

Recognizing the fact that it is impossible to accurately name the year of the baptism of Russia, Orthodox Church and the state still sought to establish an official date for this important event. For the first time, the celebration of the baptism of Russia was held at the suggestion of the head of the Synod, K. Pobedonostsev. In 1888, the 900th anniversary of the Christianization of Russia was solemnly celebrated in Kyiv. And although it is historically correct to consider the year 988 as the time of the baptism of only the prince and his associates, it was this date that marked the beginning of the whole process. In all history textbooks, the question of in what year the baptism of Russia took place gives a clear answer - in 988 from the Nativity of Christ. Contemporaries went further, establishing the exact date of baptism. July 28 was celebrated earlier as the day of memory of Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint Vladimir. Now on this day, solemn events dedicated to baptism are officially held.

Many historical events of the distant past can be interpreted in different ways. “The Tale of Bygone Years” is the earliest surviving ancient Russian chronicle of the beginning of the 12th century. Criticized due to lengthy writing, a large number of editions and contradictions with the evidence of other works. But such an epoch-making event as the Baptism of Russia could not be lost in the centuries and it is still possible to form an impression of the general picture of that time.

How the Baptism of Russia took place - early attempts

Mentions of the first Christian preachers in Russia begin already at the beginning of the 8th century. There is a lot of historical evidence that in 860-869 the Varangian princes Askold and Dir were baptized by the bishop of Constantinople, keeping the city under siege. But attempts to spread the religion aroused the resistance of the people, who kept faith in the old gods. Even in 967, when Princess Olga, who officially converted to Christianity, became the ruler, Kievan Rus was a country of paganism and was perceived by neighboring states as barbaric. Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich - Olga's son and famous commander - was also a pagan. In this faith, he raised his sons, among whom was the future baptizer of Russia - Vladimir.

The future prince participated in military campaigns from an early age and had little interest in religion, especially the one that forbade adultery and rejected violence. According to legend, in each settlement he had a mistress, but the conqueror's passion was even stronger. Because of her, the most famous internecine war in Russia began. The murder of his brother Yaropolk allowed Vladimir to take the throne of Kyiv and find himself at the center of world political events.

At the end of the tenth century Byzantine emperor Basil was forced to seek help in suppressing a rebellion raised by one of the commanders. He found support in the person of Vladimir, who, together with a 6,000-strong Varangian corps, helped win the battle at Abydos in modern Turkey in 989. The friendship between Russia and Byzantium was strengthened by the opportunity promised to Vladimir to marry the emperor’s sister, Princess Anna. The promise is unheard of and all the more tempting: to join the dynasty of the Byzantine emperors - the most powerful family in the world, heir to the wealth of Rome. It was a small matter, only an Orthodox prince could become the husband of a princess.

How the Baptism of Russia took place - the search for the true path

The decision to embrace the Christian faith was not an easy one. There is evidence that Vladimir invited qadis - Muslim teachers, preachers and judges - to Kyiv. But Islamic countries waged continuous wars with Byzantium, and Baghdad, which then became the center of the Islamic world, was too far away for an alliance with it to give serious advantages. Much closer was the Khazar Khaganate - a state with a center in the city of Itil, located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bmodern Astrakhan. The favorable position of the Khazars allowed them to collect tribute from neighboring Slavic tribes and receive part of the booty, skipping the raids of Russian princes deep into the Arab lands. Perhaps this killed him: despite its former strength, the kaganate was plundered by Prince Svyatoslav. The Tale of Bygone Years says that the ambassadors of the kaganate could not convince Vladimir to accept Judaism, the ally looked too weak. The center of the Christian world was Byzantium with its center in Constantinople or Constantinople, as it was known from the Varangian lands in the north to the Arab lands in the south. The united faith alliance with Byzantium promised Kievan Rus' transformation into one of the main forces of the Western world.

How did the Baptism of Russia take place?

The reasons for subsequent decisions cause controversy among scientists. Some sources say that Emperor Basil, not wanting to pass off his sister as a barbarian prince, sends a maid instead of her. When the deception was revealed, Prince Vladimir seizes the capital of the Byzantine province of Chersonese and issues an ultimatum: hand over Princess Anna or Constantinople will fall next. The princess arrives with a Christian bishop, who baptizes Vladimir, now named Vasily, along with most of his squad. Before leaving, the prince built a church in Chersonese.

The legend says that upon his return to Kyiv, Vladimir sent messengers through the cities demanding to be on the banks of the Dnieper on the appointed day. There he and the priests conducted this historical procession along the river, followed by its baptism. The Day of the Baptism of Kievan Rus is a memorable date for Prince Vladimir the Holy and is celebrated annually on July 28. But the transition of the peoples of Kievan Rus to the Christian faith was not sudden and one-time, because Christian communities existed in Kyiv since the time of Princess Olga, spreading across the Slavic lands. Only during 988-990. all the peoples of Kievan Rus were baptized.

Unfortunately, it cannot be said that even the episode of these events was pure and peaceful. The pragmatism of the rulers is too much traced. The worldview of people did not change overnight, and therefore they faced many years of struggle for their faith. But one cannot fail to note Christianization as one of the stages of enlightenment. Slavic peoples. And it's hard not to appreciate her contribution along the way.

After the death of Olga, Svyatoslav planted his eldest son, Yaropolk, in Kyiv and the second, Oleg, among the Drevlyans, the youngest, Vladimir, remained without appointment. Once Novgorod people came to Kyiv to ask for a prince and directly declared to Svyatoslav: "If none of you come to us, we will find a prince on the side." Yaropolk and Oleg did not want to go to Novgorod. Then Dobrynya taught the Novgorodians: "Ask for Vladimir." Dobrynya was Vladimir's uncle, brother his mother, Malusha. She served as a housekeeper for the late Princess Olga. Novgorodians said to the prince: "Give us Vladimir." Svyatoslav agreed. So there were three princes in Russia, and Svyatoslav went to Danube Bulgaria, where he died in battle with the Pechenegs. ( Karamzin. History of Russian Goverment)

Reasons for the baptism of Russia

• The desire of the Kyiv princes to be equal to European monarchs
• The desire to strengthen the state: one monarch - one faith
• Many noble people of Kiev were already Christians in the Byzantine way.

  Archeological data confirm the beginning of the spread of Christianity before the official act of the baptism of Russia. From the middle of the 10th century, in the burials of the nobility, the first pectoral crosses. Princes Askold and Dir, with the boyars and a certain number of people, were baptized, because during the campaign against Constantinople they were frightened by the power of the Patriarch of Constantinople, who, according to legend, lowered the holy relics into the water, and most of the fleet immediately sank during the storm that rose in the same second

• Vladimir's desire to marry Princess Anna, sister of the Emperors of Byzantium Basil and Constantine
• Vladimir was captivated by the beauty of Byzantine temples and rituals
• Vladimir was. He cared little for the beliefs of the Russian people

  Until the middle of the 10th century, paganism dominated Russia. It was based on the idea of ​​equivalence and eternity of opposite principles (“good” and “evil”). And the world was perceived by them on the basis of these paired concepts. The circle was considered a symbol of protection from evil forces. Hence the appearance of such ornaments as wreaths, chains, rings

A Brief History of the Baptism of Russia

• 882 - Varangian Oleg becomes prince of Kyiv. Takes the title "Great", unites the Slavic lands as part of the state
• 912-945 - reign of Igor, son of Rurik
• 945-969 - reign of Olga, Igor's widow. Strengthening the state, Accepted Christianity under the name of Elena
• 964-972 - The reign of Svyatoslav, the son of Igor and Olga, the continuation of the construction of the state of Kievan Rus
• 980-1015 - Reign of Vladimir the Red Sun
• 980 - Religious reform, the creation of the pantheon of the gods of Slavic paganism (Perun, Khors, Dazhdbog, Stribog, Semargl and Mokosh)
• 987 - Boyar Council, convened by Vladimir to discuss the adoption of a new faith
• 987 - Rebellion of Vardas Phokas the Younger against the emperor of Byzantium Basil II
• 988 - Vladimir's campaign in, the siege of Korsun (Chersonesos)
• 988 - Treaty of Vladimir and Vasily II on providing assistance in suppressing the uprising of Varda Foki and the marriage of Vladimir to Princess Anna
• 988 - Marriage of Vladimir, baptism of Vladimir, squad and people (some historians indicate the year of baptism 987)
• 989 - The Russian detachment defeated the army of Varda Foki. Capture and annexation of Chersonese (Korsun) to Russia

The baptism of Russia was not always voluntary and the process of Christianization of the country dragged on for a long time. Many annals have preserved meager information about the forced baptism of Russia. Novgorod actively resisted the introduction of Christianity: he was baptized in 990. In Rostov and Murom, resistance to the introduction of Christianity continued until the 12th century. Polotsk was baptized around 1000

The consequences of the baptism of Russia

• The Baptism of Russia had a significant impact on the fate of Christianity: its split into Orthodoxy and Catholicism
• Baptism contributed to the acceptance of Russians into the family of European peoples, the flourishing of culture in Kievan Rus
• Kievan Rus became a fully centralized state
• Russia, and then Russia, turned into one of the religious centers of the world along with Rome
• became the backbone of power
• The Orthodox Church performed functions that united the people during the period of unrest, fragmentation, the Mongol-Tatar yoke
• The Orthodox Church has become a symbol of the Russian people, its cementing force