The adoption of Christianity in Russia and its significance

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

As you know, in ancient times the Slavs worshiped many gods. However, the term "paganism" is considered by many historians to be incorrect, since it includes an extensive layer of culture. Instead, other terms are used today - "ethnic religion", "totemism".

However, Russia professed totemism only until 988. After Prince Vladimir baptized the people of Kyiv in the waters of the Dnieper, Orthodoxy replaced the mythical deities. Today we will discuss the adoption of Christianity in Russia (in the 6th grade they superficially talk about this topic), the causes and consequences of this event.

The Baptist of Kievan Rus

Vladimir, whom the Slavs called the Red Sun, is the son of Prince Svyatoslav and the Jewish housekeeper Malusha. He was an illegitimate, unloved son who received little attention as a child. Svyatoslav prepared for the reign of his two legitimate sons - Yaropolk and Oleg. However, Oleg was killed during the battle with Yaropolk for the principality. And Vladimir, having captured Kyiv with an army, ordered Yaropolk to be stabbed to death. So the unloved son of the prince became a great ruler, whomrevered and loved the people.

Vladimir is known as the baptizer of Russia. But what prompted him to abandon paganism and accept Orthodoxy? The reasons for the adoption of Christianity in Russia will be named in the following sections.

Paganism in Kievan Rus

There is an opinion that the term "paganism" in the culture of the Slavs comes from the fact that numerous Slavic tribes had one language. Nestor the lithographer in his treatises united them, calling them pagans. Later, this term began to be used to refer to the beliefs and cultural characteristics of the Slavs.

Paganism is not a religion in the modern sense. This is a chaotic set of beliefs that the divided Rus tribes adhered to. That is why paganism could not unite Russia and become the state religion. Only separate tribes that had similar beliefs united.

People worshiped mainly Dazhd-god, Veles, Perun, Rod, Svarog. Since the tribes worshiped different gods, there was no uniformity in pagan culture. The Slavs revered some gods, the Varangians - others, the Finns - the third. There were no priests and temples. There were only crude images of the gods that were found in open areas. They were sacrificed, sometimes even human. However, the culture of the population was so fragmented that it was clear that paganism had become obsolete. The significance of the adoption of Christianity in Russia cannot be overestimated. But before deciding to convert to Orthodoxy, Vladimir tried to reform paganism.

Pagan Reform

So he wantedunite the country and maintain independence from Christian Byzantium. Perun was placed at the head of the pantheon of gods, who had previously been part of the supreme gods, but was not as revered as some other deities. Probably, Vladimir chose Perun because of the love for him in the squad environment. However, this did not change the situation. The people reluctantly accepted the new head of the pagan cult. Next, we will find out the meaning of the adoption of Christianity by Russia.

The origins of Christianity in Russia

The Catechism of 1627 states that even before the adoption of Christianity by Vladimir, there were many Orthodox in Russia, especially in Novgorod and Kyiv. This explains the ease with which the people of Kiev accepted the new faith, abandoning paganism. However, historians stubbornly reject this version of events, relying on information obtained from The Tale of Bygone Years. Meanwhile, there is every reason to believe that it was written much later than previously thought. Therefore, there is no certainty that what is written in it is true. However, further we will stick to the official version of events.

By the time of the baptism of Russia, Christianity was firmly established in a number of European countries. Christian Byzantium had a particularly strong influence on Kyiv. However, Russia desperately resisted attempts to bring it into the bosom of the church.

But over time, Vladimir realized that only a change of faith would help him improve relations with European countries. They considered the Russians to be barbarians and non-humans who make human sacrifices and participate in horrific rituals. Therefore, the adoption of RussiaOrthodoxy was a matter of time.

What are the external and internal reasons that prompted the prince to be baptized? Consider the reasons for the adoption of Christianity in Russia.

There were already Christians in Russia

Christianity officially came to Russia in 988. However, before that, this religion was known to the Slavs, which slowly but surely penetrated into their culture. The first mention of Christianity dates back to 860-870. In 911, Russian ambassadors take an oath in the name of the god Perun, but in the document of 944 the oath sounds twofold - they swear by both Perun and the Christian God.

Christianity slowly but surely penetrated Kievan Rus. Information about the new doctrine was brought by merchants and Varangians who had visited Christian Byzantium. Among the warriors of Prince Igor there were many Christians. They were baptized, following the example of Princess Olga, who saw the future of the country in Orthodoxy. It was after her baptism that the Christianization of Russia accelerated.

Even before the adoption of Orthodoxy by Vladimir, there were churches in Russia. However, paganism still lived in the souls of people. The prince was also an avid pagan. However, one terrible incident left an indelible mark on his soul and, perhaps, also influenced his decision to change his faith.

After a successful battle, the Varangians (ancestors of the Swedes and Danes), who made up most of the prince's squad, decided to make a human sacrifice for the glory of Perun. The die was cast. The choice fell on a Christian young man, whose father was part of the prince's squad and also professed Christianity. The father came to his son's defense, and they were both killed by mad pagans. These were the firstChristian martyrs - Theodore and John.

One religion - one state

Monotheism corresponds to the essence of one head of state. The subjects respected and feared Vladimir, but this was not enough. Vladimir sought to unite the state, so he understood that sooner or later he would have to choose another religion for the Russians.

Christian doctrine with the concept "all people are God's servants, and the prince is His anointed on earth" was the best fit for the prince, who aspired to unlimited power. After all, Christianity taught unquestioningly to obey the prince. The evidence of those years suggests that Vladimir had previously enjoyed the love and respect of the people. However, there is never too much power.

Besides this, Christianity made it possible for Russians to change their way of life and thinking. According to most historians today, Vladimir wanted to raise the cultural level of his subjects and bring the state to the level of world powers, strong and revered by the whole world.

Following the example of Byzantium

Byzantium is a state with a rich history and a developed cultural component. She worked closely with Rus in the field of trade. However, it was significantly ahead of its development. Arriving in Constantinople, the Russians had the opportunity to get acquainted with the rich cultural heritage of the state, its new technologies and ideas. Vladimir, as a sovereign, also wanted cultural development.

However, paganism made Russia an isolated country with barbaric customs. princeI saw what heights a state with a monoatheistic religion can achieve. In addition, churched Russia became the successor of Byzantium. Baptism also gave Russia the opportunity to enter the family of European states and improve trade and economic relations with them.

Marrying Anna of Byzantium

Besides this, Vladimir wanted to marry the Byzantine princess Anna, daughter of Emperor Theophan III. The prince considered this union beneficial in all respects. First, Anna was an enviable bride - educated, rich and attractive. Secondly, he longed for a strategic alliance with Byzantium and its support.

Anna was promised to Vladimir by the emperor brothers in the event that he would help repel the blows of the rebels to Constantinople. Vladimir fulfilled his part of the contract, but the emperors were in no hurry to fulfill theirs.

Then, according to The Tale of Bygone Years, the prince decided on desperate measures. Vladimir, together with his retinue, went to the Crimea, where he captured the city of Korsun. And he sent a messenger with a message to Constantinople. It said that if Anna was not given to him as a wife, he would attack Byzantium. Also in the message, Vladimir promised to be baptized. Of course, Anna did not arrive immediately. Her brother, Emperor Basil, hesitated. But when a few months later Vladimir repeated his threat and again promised to attack Byzantium, the princess was hastily put on the ship.

Soon Anna arrived to her future husband. Together they baptized the Slavs in the waters of the Dnieper in 988.

Christian teaching

WhenVladimir decided to change his faith, he was faced with the question of which religion to give preference to. He sent messengers to study the benefits of each creed.

It is believed that he rejected Islam because of the prohibition of alcohol. According to legend, the prince said that Russia would not exist without wine. He abandoned Judaism for a completely objective reason - the Jews did not have their own state and wandered around the world. He could not give preference to Catholicism on the advice of his grandmother, Princess Olga, who at one time chose Orthodoxy. This probably played a decisive role in the choice of religion. Historians suggest that while Svyatoslav, the father of the future prince, fought, Olga raised her grandson and from childhood told him about the Christian teaching that he absorbed from an early age.

Salvation of the soul

Paganism was a terrible cult that plunged people into the abyss of sin and cruelty. For the Slavs, human sacrifices were not uncommon. One of the Arab travelers in his chronicles recalls how he was once present at the burial of one of the noble Rus. The ceremony was accompanied by disgusting rituals, many of which the Arab refuses to describe because of their abomination. However, he pointed out that for the funeral pyre, the boyar's horse and wife, who had previously been ritually raped, were killed.

Therefore, after Vladimir converted to Christianity, the idols of the pagan gods, which are the habitat of demons, were destroyed. And Vladimir was the first to do this, throwing the Thunderer Perun intoDnipro.

The fact that Vladimir decided to accept the Christian faith can be called a miracle. In just 8 years, the prince has changed a lot. He not only was baptized, but also completely changed his way of life, trying to save his soul from numerous sins - violence, fratricide, polygamy.

Consequences of the adoption of Christianity in Russia

The baptism of Russians caused the following changes:

1. Improving economic relations with European powers.
2. Improving the cultural level of the population.
3. Strengthening the state and uniting the people.
4. Strengthening the power of the prince, who now acted as God's anointed on earth.

Rus after the adoption of Christianity has changed. And these changes benefited her.