988
Prince Vladimir I united all of his subjects under one Christian faith in 988. By doing so, he strengthened his power and acquired a strong ally in the form of the Byzantine Empire.
“Baptism of Saint Prince Vladimir” by Viktor Vasnetsov (1890)
Background
Prince Vladimir I wished to unite all of his subjects under one common religion, but he was not sure which religion to choose.
Events
Vladimir sent ambassadors to study all the major religions to find out, what is best for his people. When the envoys returned, he overheard them. Vladimir disliked Islam, because “drinking is the joy of all Rus”, he distrusted Judaism, because god had expelled the jews from their own native land, neither did he like Roman Catholicism when he was told about the importance of fasting. Vladimir was stunned, when he learned about the Greek Orthodoxy.
Christianization
Vladimir I was baptized in Cherson, in today’s Ukraine, in 988. The whole population of the Rus were forcibly Christianized after Vladimir.
Christianization
988
Prince Vladimir I united all of his subjects under one Christian faith in 988. By doing so, he strengthened his power and acquired a strong ally in the form of the Byzantine Empire.
“Baptism of Saint Prince Vladimir” by Viktor Vasnetsov (1890)
Background
Prince Vladimir I wished to unite all of his subjects under one common religion, but he was not sure which religion to choose.
Events
Vladimir sent ambassadors to study all the major religions to find out, what is best for his people. When the envoys returned, he overheard them. Vladimir disliked Islam, because “drinking is the joy of all Rus”, he distrusted Judaism, because god had expelled the jews from their own native land, neither did he like Roman Catholicism when he was told about the importance of fasting. Vladimir was stunned, when he learned about the Greek Orthodoxy.
Christianization
Vladimir I was baptized in Cherson, in today’s Ukraine, in 988. The whole population of the Rus were forcibly Christianized after Vladimir.
Yaroslav the Wise