The Christianization of Russia

Theme

• How did whole nations become Christian?– Contrast China: isolated monasteries in

country– Pre-600s: Christianity spread by “diffusion”

Strategies for missionizing

• Destruction of pagan religion• Appropriation/transformation of pagan religion

– Pope Gregory I (“The Great”)• In 596, sent missionaries to England

– Christianize pagan shrines• Sprinkle with holy water• Set up altars with Christian relics (bones) of saints

– “translate” pagan religion into Christian observance of holy days, mass

• Example: Christmas on Dec. 25

• Both destruction and appropriation– St. Boniface of Germany (675-754)– Prince Vladimir of Russia (958-1015)

• With forcible conversions

Politics

• Military conquest of a region by a Christian king = Christianization– Charlemagne, HRE (800)– King Olav, Norway (995-1030)

• Previous kings of Norway were Christian• Olav brought in bishops from England and

Germany, enforced Christianity

Russia

• Russian Primary Chronicle (11/12th c.)– About events in 987-88– Take with grain of salt

• Multiple reasons for prince’s conversion– Prince converted by worship of Greeks– Like Constantine, credits God with military victory– Intermarriage also contributes to conversion

• Distinctive piety– Venerate images– Latins pray wrong (p. 313) = “unorthodox”

Kievan Rus, 11th c.

St. Basil’s Church, Moscow1555-1561

Interior, St. Basil’s, Moscow

Iconostasis,Chapel of the Glorious Resurrection

Iconostasis, Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, D.C.

Celebration of the Divine LiturgyRussian Orthodox Church in Australia

Celebration of the Divine Liturgy