Christianization Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Kievan Rus' === {{Main|Christianization of Kievan Rus'}} [[File:Lebedev baptism.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|''The Baptism of Kievans'', a painting by [[Klavdiy Lebedev]]|alt=photo of a painting by Klavdiy Lebedev of mass baptism of the Kievens in a river]] Around 978, [[Vladimir the Great|Vladimir]] (978–1015), the son of [[Sviatoslav I|Sviatoslav]], seized power in [[Kiev]].{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=103}} Slavic historian Ivo Štefan writes that, Vladimir examined monotheism for himself, and "Around that same time, Vladimir conquered Cherson in the Crimea, where, according to the [[Tale of Bygone Years]], he was baptized".{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=111}} After returning to Kiev, the same text describes Vladimir as unleashing "a systematic destruction of pagan idols and the construction of Christian churches in their place".{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=111}} [[File:Kiev vasnetcov.jpg|thumb|upright|''The [[Baptism of Kiev]]ans'', a fresco by [[Viktor Vasnetsov]]|alt=another photo of a painting by Viktor Vasnetsov of mass baptism of Kiev's inside a chapel]] Bohemia, Poland, and Hungary had become part of western Latin Christianity, while the Rus' adopted Christianity from Byzantium, leading them down a different path.{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=101, 112}} A specific form of Rus' Christianity formed quickly.{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=111}} The Rus' dukes maintained exclusive control of the church which was financially dependent upon them.{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=111}} The prince appointed the clergy to positions in government service; satisfied their material needs; determined who would fill the higher ecclesiastical positions; and directed the synods of bishops in the Kievan metropolitanate.{{sfn|Poppe|1991|p=15}} This new Christian religious structure was imposed upon the socio-political and economic fabric of the land by the authority of the state's rulers.{{sfn|Poppe|1991|p=12}} According to Andrzej Poppe, Slavic historian, it is fully justifiable to call the Church of Rus' a state church. The Church strengthened the authority of the Prince, and helped to justifiy the expansion of Kievan empire into new territories through missionary activity.{{sfn|Poppe|1991|p=15}} Christian clergy translated religious texts into local vernacular language which introduced literacy to all members of the princely dynasty, including women and the general populace.{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=113}} Monasteries of the twelfth century became key spiritual, intellectual, art, and craft centers.{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=112}} Under Vladimir's son Yaroslav I the Wise (1016–1018, 1019–1054), a building and cultural boom took place.{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=112}} The Church of Rus' gradually developed into an independent political force in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.{{sfn|Poppe|1991|p=14}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page