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The Christianization of Russia
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Theme
• How did whole nations become Christian?– Contrast China: isolated monasteries in
country– Pre-600s: Christianity spread by “diffusion”
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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
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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
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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”
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Kievan Rus, 11th c.
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St. Basil’s Church, Moscow1555-1561
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Interior, St. Basil’s, Moscow
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Iconostasis,Chapel of the Glorious Resurrection
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Iconostasis, Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, D.C.
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Celebration of the Divine LiturgyRussian Orthodox Church in Australia
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Celebration of the Divine Liturgy