Baptism of Rus: the greatest bifurcation point in history
They reasoned among themselves:
if we say: "from heaven", then He will tell us:
"Why didn't you believe him?"
(Matthew 21: 25)
“It's no secret that the Governor of the Penza Region, Ivan Belozertsev, personally patronizes both construction sites, visiting each of them periodically, realizing that the spiritual unity of Russians, even if they profess different religious views, is one of the key system-forming links of Russia, making a nation a Nation , and not a geographic territory of negative centrifugal processes ”. A funny photo and an even funnier caption. That's what a good governor was. He was engaged in issues of spiritual unity of Russians. And what turned out later? So there is only one conclusion: neither people, nor peoples, nor states, nor even religions know their fate!
Hike to Constantinople of Askold and Dir from the Radziwill Chronicle, XNUMXth century.
History great events. To begin with, I really liked the cycle started by Eduard Vashchenko, dedicated to the history of Ancient Rus. But this topic is truly immense, so he tells about some events in more detail. Some only mentions. Therefore, with his kind permission, I allowed myself to wedge myself into his topic and tell a little more in detail, firstly, about the first baptism of Russia, and secondly, about the global consequences of this event, which became perhaps the most significant point of bifurcation (metamorphosis) in history of mankind.
The first baptism of Russia
Well, now you can write that Christianity in Russia became known even before the official baptism of Russia under Vladimir I Svyatoslavich in 988. We are talking about the so-called first Baptism of Rus, which took place more than 100 years before this event, namely in the XNUMXth century.
How did it happen?
It's very simple: conversion to Christianity was a traditional Byzantine practice in relations with pagan peoples who caused trouble for the empire. In the same IX century, the Byzantines tried to Christianize Great Moravia (862) and Bulgaria (864-920), so that Russia may have been the first, but not the last on this path.
The Rus attacked Constantinople in 860, after which the Patriarch of Constantinople Photius I sent his missionaries to Kiev, where they were able to christen Askold and Dir, and even a number of their entourage. However, there are reports that the first baptism of Rus took place later, during the reign of Basil I (867–886) and Patriarch Ignatius (867–877). But in any case, it was Askold's baptism that became the first in Russia, and the baptism of Vladimir was only the second, although, of course, more significant.
"Grand Duke Vladimir chooses faith." Ivan Eggink (1787-1867). 1822. State Museum of the History of Religion, St. Petersburg
The second baptism of Russia
"The Tale of Bygone Years" tells that Prince Vladimir arranged a kind of "test of faith", that first in 986 ambassadors from the Volga Bulgaria came to him, offering him Islam. Then the ambassadors from Rome, who promised Catholicism, but they were also rejected. The Jews from Khazaria also received a princely "no" for the simple reason that Khazaria was defeated by Vladimir's father Svyatoslav, moreover, the Jews did not have their own land. It is clear that such a religion was simply beyond the understanding of the Kiev prince.
It was then that the Byzantine arrived in Russia, called a philosopher for his wisdom. His words about faith sunk into the soul of Vladimir. But, being distrustful by nature, he sent the "boyars" to Constantinople to see how the rituals were performed according to the Byzantine faith. And those, having returned, made him very happy:
And so it happened that Vladimir made his choice in favor of Greek Christianity.
It was said about the consequences of what the prince did in 1930 in the book "The Church and the Idea of Autocracy in Russia":
Generations of Soviet youth were brought up on this, but then the attitude to the reform of faith in the same USSR underwent a serious change. In particular, in 1979 in the "Manual on the history of the USSR for preparatory departments of universities" it was said about this event as follows:
As you can see, time softened the mores not only of the violent warriors of Vladimir, but also of the Soviet communist propagandists from historical science.
However, there is no doubt that Russia by the act of baptism into the "Greek faith" was involved in the area of the so-called "Byzantine civilization". He provided the ancient Russian society with the opportunity to access the fruits of the millennial development of many sciences, introduced them to the hitherto unknown ancient philosophy, Roman law. And Russia, looking back at the Greeks, created its own institutions of power, focusing on the European community, starting with government and episcopate, right up to school and court.
Patriarch Photius, in his epistle to the Eastern Patriarchs (c. 867), reported earlier:
And indeed, daring and cruelty have waned. The "Tale ..." says that Vladimir became completely different after his baptism. Where did the former fornicator and rapist go? Robbers multiplied in Russia ... “Why don't you execute them? - they ask the prince. He replies: "I'm afraid of sin!"
Now it is difficult, and sometimes simply impossible, to isolate from our chronicles both the later insertions and direct borrowings from the Bible. Which, for example, even got into the description of the Battle of Kulikovo. In any case, without a doubt, the adoption of Christianity led to a softening of the mores of our ancestors and an acquaintance with the culture of peoples with whom the Russians had only had to fight before. By the way, this enrichment was mutual ...
After all, Russia subjected Constantinople to siege three times - in 860 (866), 907 and also in 941. However, after baptism, attacks from the north ceased. It is also interesting that in honor of the miraculous deliverance of their capital from the siege of the Rus in 860, the Byzantines instituted the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, who interceded the city from the enemy.
And ... if today this holiday is practically forgotten by the Greeks, then in Russia it is still revered as great and is solemnly celebrated by believers. The famous Church of the Intercession on the Nerl was also built in his honor. But the most surprising thing is that for our ancestors this battle under the walls of Constantinople ended ... in defeat. So, perhaps, only two peoples in the world (Russians and Spaniards) celebrate their military defeat as a holiday! Which, again, says only one thing - time erases a lot from human memory. Moreover, the fact that the bad can turn to good, and good - to the worst.
But let's think, so, in the order of "exercise for the brain", and what would have happened if Prince Vladimir had not succumbed to the subtle PR of the Byzantines, who brought his embassy "bolar" ("children of the forest") to the temple of St. Sophia and allowed him to attend during divine services, but would you have been a little "more literate", smarter and would have been guided by some other "dividends" from baptism? What would have happened then?
First hypothesis
First, let's see what could have been - accept the Muslim faith? Then Russia would become an outpost of the Muslim religion in Europe. The teachings of Al-Biruni, Avicenna, the poetry of Ferdowsi, the rhymed prose of Abu Bakr al-Khorezmi would have been revealed to her centuries earlier, she would have learned who Jamil and Busayna, Majnun and Leila, Qays and Lubne were. The country would be covered with beautiful mosques and comfortable caravanserais. Naturally, bridges would be built of stone, like buildings. And all because the border needs to be strengthened.
Of course, there would be violent wars with Christians. But then Spain would also be Muslim! A war on two fronts, Christian Europe would not have survived. Look at the map of the spread of the Muslim religion, if it was accepted by Vladimir. The most sparing Christians option was chosen. And yet - how much green is it?
Modern Muslims would have practically inexhaustible reserves of oil and gas in their hands. All of India with its riches, North and Central Africa - colossal reserves of coffee and tea, valuable timber, diamonds, emeralds, gold. The power of the union of Muslim countries would be extremely great. And both America, Europe and some other territories would be Christian. That is, the world would be typically bipolar, but dominated by one powerful religion.
Second hypothesis
Well, if Vladimir had chosen Catholicism, the situation would have changed to the diametrically opposite.
On this map, all Christian countries are highlighted in red. And it is clear that the power of the powers united by one faith would be extremely great. Conflicts? Yes, they would be too. But they would be between "brothers in faith." Reformation? Yes, it would start too. And it would have spread much more widely. Including Russia, which with the hard work of our people would bring fantastic results. In this case, too, the classic bipolar world would come out. That is, a fairly stable and stable social system. The huge territorial and human resources of Russia in both cases, thrown into the scales in the relationship of "brothers in faith", would undoubtedly be of decisive importance.
What happened
Not so with us today. Due to the fact that Vladimir chose the faith of Byzantium, a country rather weak, sandwiched between Catholics and Muslims, he won the independence of his throne, although he still did not escape cultural submission.
And it turned out that our allies by faith are Bulgarians, Serbs, Macedonians, Greeks ... Nations whose states are very weak. We could not and cannot count on their help.
We have become a third party in this world. The third force, which neither Western Christians nor Muslims fully trust.
Roughly speaking, for the whole world we are like “manure in an ice hole. And he doesn't drown, and he doesn't swim so fast! " This provokes countries of the same faith and culture to put constant pressure on Russia. Which, of course, does not make life easier for us.
And, in fact, we have no allies in faith in this world!
So just one decision of Prince Vladimir has changed the entire geopolitical alignment of balances and interests today. Has brought humanity to the brink of total nuclear war and complete destruction. If he knew that the consequences of his decision would be as follows, he probably would have acted differently ...
PS Beauty for the sake of faith
And now we will look at the beauty created by human hands in the name of faith. Consider the iconic buildings of different countries of the world, both outside and inside ...
All photographs in different years were taken by the author.
In some places, Gothic cathedrals were built of bricks. One of the cathedrals of the city of Wroclaw
Cathedral of st. Mary of Girona is the largest cathedral in Europe after the cathedral of St. Peter in Rome
The Episcopal Palace of Girona has now been converted into a museum for church utensils and accessories. For example, there you can see this golden reliquary.
Massive silver candlestick. You can imagine how much silver was and is in the religious buildings of the Christian religion.
But this cathedral stands on a square in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, and has a unique and very beautiful roof
And this is a very modern Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in the VII arrondissement of Paris, consecrated in 2016
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