988 CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Conversion of the Rus
On the timeline · around 988 CE ·
What happened
In 988 Vladimir, grand prince of Kievan Rus, adopted Christianity from Constantinople and had his people baptized in the Dnieper. The conversion was sealed by a marriage alliance with the emperor Basil II. Byzantine priests, art, and the Church Slavonic liturgy followed, and Kyiv became a great centre of Orthodox Christianity.
Why it matters
The baptism of the Rus brought Russia, Ukraine, and much of eastern Europe into the Orthodox Christian world of Byzantium — shaping their religion, art, and script for a thousand years, down to the present day.
Sources
- Christian History Institute. 988 Vladimir Adopts Christianity · Reputable source