Religious consciousness of the first centuries after the Baptism of Rus', as exemplified by the names of the great princes

The Archangel Cathedral is the burial place of the Grand Dukes of Moscow.

The most illustrative example of how religious consciousness changed in Rus' after 988 is the names of the great princes, by which one can trace the changes in their religiosity over several centuries.

It is known that many ancient Russian princes, after accepting baptism, continued to bear pagan names, under which they entered history, and some under these names were canonized: St. Olga – Elena, St. Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko – Vasily, St. Yaroslav the Wise – George/Yuri, etc.

It is noteworthy that Yaroslav the Wise (ruled until 1054), whom his father appointed prince of Novgorod, in 1010 founded a city named after his pagan name - Yaroslavl, and being already the Grand Duke of Kyiv, in 1030 founded a city named after his Christian name - Yuryev (currently Tartu).

The Grand Princes of Kyiv, right up to Yuri Dolgoruky (ruled until 1157), who took the Kiev throne for the first time in 1149, all bore pagan names.

Moreover, among the Kyiv princes in the period from 988 to 1263, when the Kiev throne finally lost its prestige, yielding it to the Vladimir Grand Duchy, the following names are found:

Alexander - 1 time,
Vladimir - 4 times,
Vsevolod - 4 times,
Vseslav - 1 time,
Vyacheslav - 1 time,
Gleb - 1 time,
Daniel - 1 time,
Igor/Ingvar – 2 times,
Izyaslav - 4 times,
Mikhail - 2 times,
Mstislav - 3 times,
Romance - 1 time,
Rostislav - 3 times,
Rurik - 1 time,
Svyatopolk – 2 times,
Svyatoslav - 2 times,
Yuri - 1 time,
Yaroslav – 3 times.

The predominance of pagan names is obvious – 13 out of 18, and only 5 are Christian, and in total there are 6 princes out of 37 with Christian names.

It is noteworthy that even Yuri Dolgoruky still named his children with both Christian and pagan names: on the one hand, respectively, Andrei, Vasilko, Elena, Ivan, Maria and Mikhail, and on the other - Boris, Vsevolod, Gleb, Mstislav, Olga, Rostislav, Svyatoslav and Yaroslav.

The names of the Grand Princes of Vladimir, beginning with the first of them, Andrei Bogolyubsky (ruled 1157–1174), and ending with Vasily Dmitrievich (ruled 1389–1425), who became the first Grand Prince of Moscow, differ greatly from those of the Grand Princes of Kyiv. Moreover, Mikhail Yuryevich, Vsevolod the Big Nest, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, and Alexander Nevsky were only formally Grand Princes of Vladimir, being in fact Grand Princes of Vladimir.

So, the list of names of the Grand Dukes of Vladimir:

Alexander - 3 times,
Andrey - 3 times,
Vasily - 2 times,
Vsevolod - 1 time,
Dmitry - 4 times,
Ivan - 2 times,
Konstantin - 1 time,
Mikhail - 2 times,
Svyatoslav – 1 time,
Simeon - 1 time,
Yuri - 2 times,
Yaropolk – 1 time,
Yaroslav – 2 times.

The predominance of Christian names is obvious – 9 out of 13, and only 4 are pagan, and in total there are 20 princes out of 25 with Christian names.

All the children of Alexander Nevsky (ruled until 1263) had only Christian names: Andrei, Vasily, Daniil, Dmitry, Evdokia.

It is noteworthy that after Yaroslav Yaroslavich (ruled 1264–1272), pagan names are not found at all among the Grand Dukes of Vladimir.

As for the princes of Moscow, the first of whom was Daniil Alexandrovich (ruled 1271–1303), and the Grand Princes of Moscow, who bore this title from Vasily Dmitrievich (ruled 1389–1425), none of them had pagan names.

Comments

[bya965]

The word "Rod" appears in approximately 180 Russian words. The Hebrew or Greek word "Iesus" appears in only one.

Roda (parents, obsolete)
Family (relating to a family)
Priroda (literally "that which is by nature", i.e. original)
People
Breed (e.g., mountain breed, dog breed)
Harvest (historically related to "to give birth")
degenerate
Homeland

Alternation of vowels in the root -ROD- / -RAZHD- / -RASH-

Give birth
Fertility
Birth
Harvest
Age
To grow
To grow

Historically, the roots -ROD- and -RYAD- (meaning "order") have a common origin (the idea of ​​"arrangement", "bringing into order").

Order
Squad
Rite

I'm really fed up with these priests, they're always trying to ban Russian swearing (it's older than their faith by several thousand years, if not ten), and they don't need Russian names.

[Rus_battery]

Firstly, they're not priests, but priests. Secondly, no one is forcing it on anyone. If you enjoy being in the shit and cursing at your wife, children, and yourself, no one's against it.

[Gardamir]

By the way, about names. Vladimir, who baptized Rus' and was himself baptized as Vasily. So he should be called Vasily.

[paul3390]

Well, it seems that Ivan the Terrible isn't exactly Ivan, but Titus at all.... In some texts, he is mentioned by name... Smaragd. And what does it sound like, Smaragd the Terrible!

[Kote Pan Kokhanka]

Thank you Pavel for the interesting topic!
There's a curious observation regarding naming. The Norman (Varangian) tradition of naming children in the Old Russian princely house was eradicated within just three or four generations, while the Slavic tradition, parallel to the Christian (Greek) one, existed for three centuries.
It must be acknowledged that the appearance of the name Alexander (Nevsky) or Peter (the Great) in the House of Rurikovich or the Romanovs was not of a systemic (traditional) nature.
Have a nice day, everyone!

[3x3zsave]

the appearance of the name Alexander in the Rurik dynasty
I think that during his lifetime the prince's name was Oles.
Hello, Vlad!

[Edward Vashchenko]

Anton, good morning, greetings to everyone!

Aleandr Oroslavich

Laurentian Chronicle, in Novgorod - Alexander)))

[3x3zsave]

My respect, Edward!
My brother's name is Timur, he was baptized Timofey.

[Edward Vashchenko]

I wasn't Eduard at baptism either.

[Pavel Gusterin]

Vladislav, you are welcome.

[Alexander_Barsukov_2025]

Why are you suddenly equating Varangian with Norman? The Varangians are not Normans. And the name Rurik is of continental, and southern, origin: it was first mentioned in the Roman Empire. The name Iogr was known among the Slavs (and also southern ones – the Carantians) in the 8th century, as well as in the 9th century in Byzantium, the Balkans, and Bithynia (Igor was the name of the Metropolitan of Nicaea at that time).

[Kote Pan Kokhanka]

Why are you suddenly equating Varangian with Norman? The Varangians are not Normans.

I don't identify them, which is why I'm putting it in parentheses. Frankly, I don't know. There are plenty of arguments, both from the Norman and Slavic sides. Besides, we don't know whether the first Russian princes entered our history by their family or titular names. Olga (Helga) may have been a throne name. Moreover, the overlap with Scandinavians in the 8th-10th centuries is obvious. Voldemar (Vladimir) is a popular name among our northern neighbors!

[Ratimir]

As far as I know, Olga isn't necessarily Helga, but could come from the Slavic Volg, Volga. Besides, names with two roots are typical for all Slavs. So, Vladimir is ours. For almost three hundred years now, they've been trying to impose on us the stereotype that the Rus, like other Slavs, were savages, and the Germans were Scandinavians, Scandinavian bandits, those civilizers.

[Fangaro]

Simeon, Grand Duke of Vladimir.

Sounds like Valery Ioannovich Sarsenbaev.

[Edward Vashchenko]

Grand Duchy of Vladimir

If we're being scientifically accurate, no such principality existed during this period, and the word "principality" itself (first mentioned in the Northeast, early 15th century) didn't exist. It's a product of 19th-20th-century historiography.

[Senior seaman]

Quote: Eduard Vaschenko

There was no such principality during this period, and the word “principality” itself (first mentioned in the North-East, early 15th century) did not exist.

Ok, but what's the correct way?

[Edward Vashchenko]

Good afternoon Ivan,
According to the chronicles, they were named after cities or lands. This, and a number of other, more important factors, has led researchers since the 80s to conclude that the Russian lands were analogous to "city-states" from the very end of the 11th to the mid-13th centuries, up until and including the Mongol invasion. Then, principalities under the rule of a prince began to form, and this is when the great principalities began to emerge.
Sincerely.

[Boris55]

Bolshevism is the essence of Russian civilization.

There are many articles about the baptism of Rus, but there are practically none about the reasons for baptism.
Just the facts:

Andrew the First-Called (uninvited by anyone) came to Rus' in the first century. Everyone knows what missionaries do in foreign countries – they convert the natives to their faith.

The Rus' (the Magi) did not accept the foreign faith. Only by the 10th century did the foreign faith, through cunning and baseness, capture the minds of the Rus' rulers and, through them, forcefully impose the new faith, forcing the people to renounce the faith of their ancestors:
* 12 articles by Sophia;
* burning of entire villages of people who did not accept the new faith in log cabins;
* Solovetsky siege, etc.

An echo of the confrontation today is the presence in our country of both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Old Believers Church (https://rpsc.ru/).

As long as we pray to foreign gods, we will not have happiness in our native land.

[bk0010]

Quote: bya965

(How many Frenchmen are needed to defend Paris? It's unknown, they've never succeeded in doing so.

You should read something about the First World War...

[bya965]

Quote: bk0010

You should read something about the First World War...

The Battle of the Marne, 40 km from Paris, was trench warfare. Machine guns and cannons were in use, but tanks weren't around yet.

[bober1982]

Quote: bya965

Did you prohibit regular dipping in the ice hole and playing chess?

You're exaggerating, no one is stopping you from regularly diving into an ice hole. The priests, as you called them, advise against going to the extreme, or simply knowing your own strength before jumping into the hole.
Regarding chess, the ban was in all faiths, especially strict among Catholics, although the rules and regulations (the Sixth Ecumenical Council, the Hundred Chapter Council of 1551) indicated a general ban on games, primarily gambling, which was equated with drunkenness.
Chess is not a godly activity, but the Church treats this game with some patience and understanding, provided, of course, that fanaticism is absent, which is present even among chess players, and sometimes worse than among drunkards.
By the way, the Hundred Chapter Council of 1551 was held with the participation of Ivan the Terrible, and the Tsar himself was a great fan of chess.

[3x3zsave]

It’s true when Mamai began to forcibly Muslimize the Tatars
Actually, Khan Uzbek, in 1320-21.

[3x3zsave]

They've never succeeded in doing this.)
Actually, it worked two times out of four.

[mister-red]

- Andrew the First-Called (not called by anyone) came to Rus' in the first century.

I dare say that when Andrew the First-Called lived, not only did Rus' not exist, but the Slavs also lived somewhere else.

[Rus_battery]

I have never read such nonsense before)

[Boris55]

Bolshevism is the essence of Russian civilization.

Quote: Rus_battery

I have never read such nonsense before)

Do you always call new information nonsense when you encounter it? You're not alone.

[Pavel Gusterin]

Incidentally, starting with Vasily Dmitrievich, to whom Dmitry Donskoy transferred the title of “Grand Prince of Vladimir” without the Khan’s label, this title was forever and indisputably assigned to the Grand Princes of Moscow.

[Marlin]

Dmitry Donskoy wrested the Vladimir Principality from Mamai, taking advantage of his illiteracy, and made it his own fiefdom.

[Olgovich]

Alexander - 1 time,
Vladimir - 4 times,
Vsevolod - 4 times,
Vseslav - 1 time,
Vyacheslav - 1 time,
Gleb - 1 time,
Daniel - 1 time,
Igor/Ingvar – 2 times,
Izyaslav - 4 times,
Mikhail - 2 times,
Mstislav - 3 times,
Romance - 1 time,
Rostislav - 3 times,
Rurik - 1 time,
Svyatopolk – 2 times,
Svyatoslav - 2 times,
Yuri - 1 time,
Yaroslav

Even today, most of the names do not seem anachronistic, except perhaps Svyatopolk and Rurik.
And this is good, because they are beautiful.

But there were also such pagan ones-Zhdan, Nezhdan, Khoten, Goven, Zhiroslav. and so on

[Marrr]

are the names of the great princes, by which one can trace the changes in their religiosity over several centuries.

Utter nonsense - a publication for Zen readers.
You have to come up with such a phrase - "Christian names"

I look forward to the next post about kosher and non-kosher names.

The predominance of pagan names is obvious – 13 out of 18, and only 5 are Christian, and in total there are 6 princes out of 37 with Christian names.

It was also necessary to display the percentage ratio for clarity.

[Evgenijus]

Yes, this article is just like the one with nothing to do. Is religious consciousness really just about people's names? The author of this article is the new god Kuzya (remember that story about this little god who dragged people underground into caves and then took their apartments for himself), and some of the commenters are his followers.
One of the adherents:
Boris55 (Boris Leontievich)
+1
Today, 09: 37

New Bolshevism is the essence of Russian civilization.

According to him, Russian civilization arose after the October Revolution! What a stretch! This guy probably got the websites mixed up. He should have published in Aung Shinrikyo...

[Rus_battery]

Indeed, the author is seen as a "great" specialist

[Bayun]

How dashingly did Rus' triumphantly march? Long ago религия overcame faith. Afterwards, the "literates" enlightened и released "Bapotniks." Then it got to the point of "there is no God." All the praise and praise, but there are no traditions in sight...

[Alexander_Barsukov_2025]

Quote: Boris55

Andrew the First-Called (uninvited by anyone) came to Rus' in the first century. Everyone knows what missionaries do in foreign countries – they convert the natives to their faith.

- Rus' (the Magi) did not accept the foreign doctrine. Only by the 10th century did the foreign faith cunningly convert.

“If we talk about the merchants of Ar-Rus, then this is one of the varieties (jins) of the Slavs... They claim that they are Christians and pay a poll tax (jizya)” - персидский author ibn Khordabeh Book of Ways and Countries, 9 century

[Yuliy]

The idea is correct...we are pagans at heart, but we were baptized at birth and were not asked...and yes, we remained Russians

[Marlin]

Thanks to the author! I'm a keen history enthusiast myself, and I've also noticed this trend: starting in the second half of the 12th century, Christian names (of Jewish, Greek, and Roman origin) began to appear more and more frequently among princes, while by the mid-13th century, Old Russian names had virtually disappeared from the princely register.

[Pavel Gusterin]

Marlin (Sergey), you are welcome.

[Pavel Gusterin]

Quote: Marlin

Dmitry Donskoy wrested the Vladimir Principality from Mamai, taking advantage of his illiteracy, and made it his own fiefdom.

Moscow Prince Dmitry Ivanovich became Grand Prince of Vladimir under Khan Murad in 1363, i.e., at the age of 13, 17 years before Kulikovo Field. Mamai could not have been a khan or granted yarlyks, as he was not a descendant of Chingizid. He was merely a beklarbek, albeit a very influential one: he separated the Right Bank of the Volga (along with Crimea and the Northern Black Sea region) from the rest of the Golden Horde and proclaimed the young Bulak khan there.

[Churchill]

Without any historical documentation about the growth of religious consciousness, the author recounted everything by name. Now that's a specialist "historian."

[Evgenijus]

Sorry, Churchill (Alexander)I downvoted you by mistake. It's a shame you can't fix it on VO. I completely agree with your comment.
Evgenijus

[Rus_battery]

At the beginning of the article, the pagan/non-pagan name immediately catches my eye. Does such a name even exist? Maybe it's Slavic?