The Importance of Accepting Christianity in Russia

When at the end of winter we gladly and joyfully celebrate Shrovetide - we eat golden pancakes, burn the effigy of Winter and dance around the fire, we call Spring - very few of us think about how we mix together the customs and traditions of Russia of pagan and Russian Christianity. Last week before the Great Lent the week of the Orthodox Christian calendar is called "cheese". Meat is already impossible. But you can eat dairy products - butter, sour cream, cheese. But butter and sour cream combine with pancakes, according to pagan tradition symbolizing the sun. The ritual burning of Winter, the invocation of Spring by special song-rolls is also an echo of paganism.

But such a peaceful and benevolent unity of paganism and Christianity was far from always. 988 became a milestone in the history of Russia and split the country into supporters of the innovation and its opponents. The struggle was long and furious. Those converted into new faith destroyed the idols worshiped by the Gentiles, and those in turn burned the erected temples and killed Christians. But the progressive-minded people of that time understood the significance of the acceptance of Christianity by Russia. And it really was huge.

The main, perhaps, was the political significance of the adoption of Christianity in Russia. The reform carried out by Prince Vladimir of Kiev became the first "window to Europe". Prior to this event, Russia lived in a confined space, having an idea of strangers only as enemies. Constant defensive wars either with the eastern nomadic tribes, then with the Western invaders taught the Rusich to the idea that we are in the ring of enemies and the more reliably we isolate, the better. Isolation also led to an even greater decline in the economy and culture. After the baptism of Rus, the country began to develop and strengthen external ties. First of all, we received a stream of goods, cultural items and science from Byzantium. This country with two thousand years of culture had a huge impact on Russia. The significance of the adoption of Christianity in Rus was also manifested in the fact that a new spiritual component appeared in the governance of the country. Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church along with the princes (and later the tsars) exerted a powerful influence on the formation of public opinion, and ultimately on politics.

Along with the development of political ties, economic and trade relations were strengthened. In Russia there were overseas fabrics, dishes, other household items. The princely chambers began to be built taking into account the peculiarities of Byzantine architecture, the decoration of the interiors of churches and princely chambers with artistic painting and jewelery was used.

The cultural significance of the adoption of Christianity in Russia proves all the subsequent development of the country. Thanks to the influence of Greek culture, we have Cyrillic, the first alphabet, the first hand-written books. After all, it was the leaders of the Christian church, whom Byzantium supplied us, that became the first authors of books - chronicles, teachers of Russian church servants. They were the most enlightened people who carried the light of knowledge to a developing country. The historical significance of the adoption of Christianity is that Rus has realized itself as a part of world culture. She greedily absorbed all the new things that came to us from neighboring countries, connecting her own, original, with foreign. From this mix of cultures of different nations, a great Russian culture will later develop, which will itself have an influence on other countries.

Among other turning points in the history of our country, the importance of the adoption of Christianity in Russia can not be overemphasized. It is no accident that the people recognized Prince Vladimir, who made this step, equal to the apostles, disciples and followers of Christ, and gave him the nickname Equal to the Apostles.