Rus on the Way to Christianity
The “Tale of Bygone Years” tells that the Kyivan prince Volodymyr used to be a convinced pagan believer. He made different sacrifices and worshipped idols. He even made an attempt to unite the Slavs with the help of specially built pantheon on the river Dnieper bank. But by the end of the 10th century Christian influence had approached the borders of Volodymyr's state and the prince realized that his state could only become a full-fledged member of the European community if it embraced Christianity. Under the influence of his grandma princess Olga (who was baptized in Constantinople in 955), he increasingly turned his attention towards the benefits of Christian civilization. In 980 Volodymyr was visited by representatives of the internationally developed religions: Islam from the Volga Bulga state; Judaism from Khazaria; Christianity from Germany. The prince questioned each of them about their faith. Listetning to the Moslem representative, Volodymyr was pleased to learn that Islam allowed polygamy (to have many wives), but he could not accept the prohibition on alcohol, as drinking was an enjoyment in Rus and people couldn't live without it. With great doubts what to choose, Volodymyr sent ambassadors to inspect various Having realized the necessity of adopting Christianity, Volodymyr considered it humilating to ask either the Greeks or Byzantium for baptism. He wanted to 'conquer' the faith of Chirist and accept it as a victor. In 987 Byzantine emperors appealed to the Grand Prince Volodymyr for help. He promised to lend assistance but asked for the hand of their sister Anne in exchange. They, in their turn, required his conversion to Christianity. Volodymyr agreed and was baptized in Korsun, at St.Basil's church, together with many of his warriors. It was a baptism which was to determine the religion of the Russian people for centuries to come. Back in Kyiv, Volodymyr set about baptizing his people. At a designated time, the Kyivans came to the banks of the Dnieper river. The sacrament of baptism was held in the river, with mothers holding their babies in the arms. After the baptism, Volodymyr ordered all the pagan idols to be thrown into the Dnieper. The way of Rus to Christendom was long and complicated. Often baptizing was formal and didn't change the folk beliefs and outlooks. People didn't hurry to forget their pagan gods. On the contrary, they made Christianity and pagan folk beliefs coexist together, perpetuating many archaic folk traditions. Christian feast days were approximated to the pagan ritual calendar.
Continue the sentences: 1. Volodymyr built a pagan pantheon on the Dnieper bank because... 2. Rus could become a respected member of the European community if... 3. Volodymyr had difficulty in choosing a faith because... 4. Volodymyr preferred Christianity as it... 5. Volodymyr was greatly influenced by his grandma, who... 6. Volodymyr wanted to marry Anne because... 7. It was difficult for people to forget their pagan beliefs....
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religious practices firsthand. On the return from their journeys, delegations affirmed that the divine service in Saint Sophia Cathedral of Constantinople had made an unforgettable impression on them.
