Many people did not really like history during their school years. Therefore, they are happy to make up for lost time at a more mature age. After all, it is then that the understanding comes that our country has great history, which every resident should be proud of. And since you can’t be proud of what you don’t know, many people sit down to textbooks to enrich their intellectual knowledge. In this article we will help you learn a little better about the history of Vladimir the Red Sun. Why was he called that, and also Interesting Facts from the life of the prince read below.
Childhood
The exact date of birth of Vladimir is unknown. The official year of his birth is considered to be 960, but this may not be true. He could have been born in 945, it’s just that in 960 the future one was first mentioned in the chronicle. His father was Svyatoslav, and his mother was Olga’s housekeeper. Out of sight, the grandmother sent the unnecessary child to the village of Budutino. It was there that Vladimir the Red Sun was brought up. We will find out further why it was called that.
It is unknown how long the boy lived with his mother, but, according to the chronicle, he returned to Kyiv in 969. The fate of his mother is further unknown. According to some sources, she lived her life happily in the village; other sources say that the generous son, after ascending the throne, took his mother to his palace. One way or another, you can believe in any version, because there is simply no reliable information.
Youth
Vladimir's move to his grandmother is mentioned in the chronicle in connection with the siege of Kyiv. The defense of the city was successful, but the future ruler was not destined to remain in the southern capital of the principality. At the end of the year, Svyatoslav receives a notice from Novgorod that the ruler has died and they urgently need a new one. The prince's choice fell on Vladimir the Red Sun. We’ll find out why they called him that, but for now we’ll tell you about the young man’s first independent steps.
Moving to Novgorod was the first important event in the boy’s life. Since he was too young to become a full-fledged ruler, they gave him the governor Dobrynya to help him. He was supposed to oversee the education of the young prince, and also help make important government decisions. In Novgorod, Vladimir makes friends, mostly Scandinavian neighbors. And also the young ruler will build Perun’s chapel. Thanks to this act, which was most likely prompted by Dobrynya, Vladimir was able to quickly win the favor of the residents of Novgorod.
Family and Children
Why was it called the Red Sun? Briefly about this we can say this: Vladimir became the first saint in Rus' and laid the foundation for the emergence of Christianity on Russian soil. What kind of personal life did the prince have? Vladimir was distinguished by his great love. The pagan faith encouraged this: “the more wives, concubines and children the ruler has, the stronger the state will be,” so the legend said. But whoever put forward this theory was very mistaken. Peace can only exist in monogamy. Towards the end of his life, Vladimir also came to this idea. But he could no longer change his actions. Officially he had 5 wives. He found the first - Olofi - in Scandinavia, the second - Rogneda - he took by force from Polotsk, the third - Adele - was from the Czech Republic, Manfreda - from Bulgaria. Julia, the wife of Vladimir's brother, was taken as a concubine while she was already pregnant.
Anna was the first wife of the Russian prince after baptism, and his second wife was the granddaughter of Otto I, the German ruler. In addition to official connections, Vladimir had many mistresses. The ruler had more than 20 recognized children, 11 of them were boys, and therefore heirs to the throne.
Baptism of Rus'
The year 988 is officially considered the year of the adoption of Christianity in Rus'. But, as with all distant events, it cannot be said for sure that this is reliable information. In 988, the wedding of Anna and Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko took place. Why was he called that? Precisely for the reason that the ruler introduced an official monotheistic religion. How was the baptism? Of course, it was impossible to baptize the entire state. People who believed in pagan gods all their lives could not change their beliefs overnight. Paganism lived in Rus' for at least another 50 years after its baptism. But still, the adoption of Christianity was a big step towards the unification of the country and the establishment of a new institution of power in it. Some historians believe that the Christian religion could have been imposed on Vladimir by his grandmother, Princess Olga. But this theory is unlikely, since the prince’s communication with this woman was too limited. Most likely, Vladimir the Great Red Sun took such a serious step due to foreign policy factors.
Nickname
Why was Prince Vladimir called the Red Sun? Of course, it was not the people who gave this nickname to the saint. After all, the figure of the prince did not inspire approval among his contemporaries. Many subjects did not support the transition to Christianity. And a dissolute lifestyle says little about a person’s holiness. But you still have to believe that people change. And one fateful event or, as in the case of Vladimir, a person can change them. After all, there is a version according to which the prince received baptism precisely thanks to one of his wives, namely Saint Anna. It is difficult to describe what a huge contribution Vladimir made to the development of Rus'. Yes, because our homeland has never seen as much light and peace as our fatherland received a century later.
Changes in the country
What did Vladimir significantly change in the way of life of the state? Well, of course, this is the baptism of Rus' and the expulsion of paganism. The unification of our country in the hands of one ruler is also a great achievement. Of course, then the prince made a big mistake by dividing his possessions between his sons, but we must give him his due, he did not really want to do this. Vladimir intended to hand over the reins of power to his beloved son Boris, but one can imagine how other children reacted to such an idea.
last years of life
The reign of Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko lasted 46 years. At the end of his life, the prince ruled in Kyiv and was very afraid for his life. And this is not surprising. After all, he wanted to write a will, according to which only one of his sons would become the heir. Of course, the children did not like this situation, and in 1014 Svyatopolk went to war with his father. By that time, he had managed to marry the daughter of a Polish prince, so his military detachment was assembled in a fairly quick time. In addition, many of Vladimir’s subjects supported Svyatopolk. After all, he was not the prince’s own son, but an adopted one. His real father was Yaroslav, whom Vladimir, sitting on the Kiev throne, killed in cold blood. But the military campaign was not successful. The army was defeated, and Svyatopolk was imprisoned.
In 1015, the second son, Yaroslav, opposed his father. But he didn’t go to war, he just wanted independence and stopped paying tribute. Vladimir did not like this situation, and he sent an army to resolve this issue. But to live until the end of this war to the prince of Kyiv failed, on July 15 he dies. Vladimir was buried in Kyiv in the Tithe Church next to his Christian wife Anna.
Mark on history
Prince Vladimir lived a very eventful life, and, of course, epics and legends could not ignore such a colorful figure. The Kiev ruler appears in “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign”; Feofan Prokopovich dedicated his works to him. It is no wonder that the image of Vladimir was reflected in epics, for example, he appears as main character tales of three heroes. Even today, filmmakers make their films about the Baptist of Rus'. One of the latest was released in 2016 and is called “Viking”.
But, of course, every schoolchild knows Vladimir the Red Sun precisely because the prince baptized Rus'. Our state was very backward compared even to its neighbors, not to mention European countries. That is why Christianity not only helped the people become more united, but also became an impetus for the development of literacy.
Vladimir the Red Sun, whose reign was 969-1015, was able to significantly influence the course of history. Here are the most interesting facts about the prince:
- Vladimir was canonized as a saint only in 1888. This event was timed to coincide with the 900th anniversary of Christianity in Russia.
- In 978, Vladimir killed his brother Yaropolk and thus seized the Kiev throne.
- The prince introduced. They were called gold coins and silver coins. Despite the fact that Byzantine gold was in use, minting their own money made it possible to boost the state economy.
- Thanks to the adoption of Christianity, literacy began to spread in Rus'. It was precisely because it was necessary to read at least the Bible that enlightenment primarily affected the church and monks.
- Vladimir had 11 officially recognized sons.
Vladimir Svyatoslavich went down in history as the initiator of the baptism of Rus'. This event largely determined the fate of the country and had a fundamental influence on its culture. This article is devoted to the biography of the prince, his sins, mistakes, as well as political, diplomatic and military achievements.
Family
The father of Prince Vladimir was the famous commander and at that time the ruler of Kyiv Svyatoslav Igorevich. The latter was the only son of Igor Rurikovich and Princess Olga, who was the first among Russian rulers to convert to Christianity.
Vladimir's mother, Malusha, was the housekeeper and alms distributor for Princess Olga. She yielded to the claims of Svyatoslav, who was married to the Ugric princess Predslava and had two sons from her - Yaropolk and Oleg.
Olga, angry at Malusha, who conceived a son in sin, sent her to the village of Budyatino. When the boy was 3-4 years old, he, already without his mother, was returned to Kyiv. There he was under the supervision of his grandmother Olga, since pagan laws accepted him as a princely heir. In addition, Vladimir was looked after by his maternal uncle Dobrynya, who was the Kyiv governor.
Feuds between brothers
When the sons grew up, Svyatoslav, who had previously been more interested in military campaigns than in affairs in the lands under his control, distributed them to his sons. As a result, Yaropolk received Kyiv, Oleg received the land of the Drevlyans, and Vladimir Svyatoslavich was sent as governor to Novgorod.
After the death of his father in 972 in a battle with the Pechenegs, his heirs became full rulers in their principalities. However, peaceful life soon came to an end.
For a minor reason, Oleg killed Yaropolk's comrade-in-arms. He flew into a rage and, at the instigation of the Varangian governor Sveneld - the father of the stabbed warrior - decided to take away the Drevlyan lands from his brother. A battle took place in which Oleg was crushed to death by his own retreating warriors. Having become the ruler of not only Kyiv, but also the Drevlyan lands, Yaropolk decided to remove Vladimir from the road, especially since he always considered him the son of a slave and placed him below himself.
Escape and return
Realizing the danger threatening him, Vladimir Svyatoslavich went “overseas” to the Varangians in Scandinavia. So Yaropolk began to single-handedly rule Russia.
Meanwhile, Vladimir was preparing to return to his patrimony. In 978, he, together with an army in which the majority were Varangian warriors, was able to recapture Novgorod and set out to conquer the lands of the Drevlyans. The local population, grieving for the murdered Oleg, greeted the new prince with delight.
Matchmaking
Heading to Kyiv, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich wooed the Polotsk princess Rogneda. The girl declared that she did not want to be the wife of the son of a slave, and ridiculed him in front of all the people. Then the offended Vladimir besieged Polotsk. Having destroyed the city, the prince raped the would-be bride in front of her parents, and then ordered them to be killed. He made Rogneda himself his wife against her will.
Power grab
To achieve the final victory over his brother, Vladimir Svyatoslavich resorted to bribery. He managed to win over to his side the governor Blud Iveshchey, who persuaded Prince Yaropolk to leave Kyiv and strengthen himself in the Roden fortress. Soon Vladimir's army arrived there and began a siege. The defenders of the fortress had a hard time. Yaropolk was forced to agree to negotiations. However, his brother prepared a trap for him and killed him in an ambush. In Rodin, Vladimir took a liking to his brother’s pregnant wife, a former Greek nun. Soon after this, the woman gave birth to a son, Svyatopolk, whom the prince raised as his own.
Ascension to the Kyiv throne
Yaropolk's warriors came under the command of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich. Thus he formed a fairly large army. Vladimir understood that it was time for him to part with the Varangian mercenaries, since he did not want the plunder of Kyiv. Before heading there, the prince sent the rest to Constantinople, to serve the Byzantine emperor, promising “mountains of gold.” The deal was successful for both parties, since Constantinople needed warriors to protect them from external and internal enemies.
Consolidation of power
In order to give legitimacy to his rule, Vladimir Svyatoslavovich decided to enlist the support of the priests. He liked paganism because it justified polygamy and did not condemn him for having a huge number of concubines.
To appease the idols, the prince built a temple in his capital. Rituals and sacrifices were regularly held there. Vladimir Svyatoslavich ordered the main idol Perun to be given the features of himself.
The people were impressed by the prince's worship of traditional gods, so they treated the new ruler well. In addition, the first 10 years of the reign of Vladimir Svyatoslavich were marked by numerous victories over warlike neighbors, especially in the west, which helped strengthen the borders and allowed the population not to fear raids.
In search of a new unifying ideology
The pantheon of gods among the various tribes inhabiting Vladimir's domain was quite diverse, so paganism prevented the formation of a powerful unitary state. Being a far-sighted politician, the prince understood that the country needed a more advanced religion. Then Christianity attracted his attention, especially since its adherents were increasing every day, including among nobles. Suffice it to say that Vladimir Svyatoslavich’s own grandmother professed this religion. During his childhood years spent at the court of Princess Olga, he probably had the opportunity to observe how Kyiv Christians carried out their rituals. In addition, the prince most likely could have had some idea about the salvation of the soul and resurrection after the Day of Judgment.
It was also important for Vladimir political aspect the choice of Christianity as the state religion, which promised the strengthening of allied relations with Byzantium.
Historical evidence about how and when the baptism of Vladimir Svyatoslavich took place
Oddly enough, there are no reliable records of contemporaries dedicated to this important event, was not detected. In this regard, the testimony of the Armenian chronicler Stepanos (Stephan) Taronsky is especially valuable. He lived at the same time as the prince and was creating the “Universal History” precisely during the period when Vladimir was choosing a new religion for his state.
In his work, Stepanos described the events that took place from 885 to 1004. Remembering the events that took place in the year 1000, he writes about the 6,000 foot army of the Ruzes, which was in Armenia. According to him, these were soldiers who arrived at the request of Emperor Vasily. According to Stepanos, this happened when the latter gave his sister in marriage to Vladimir. We also read there that this event coincided with the fact that the Ruz believed in Christ.
As for other sources, they confirm Stepanos’s testimony, but provide more detailed information.
In particular, many chroniclers indicate that Vladimir decided to marry the sister of the Byzantine emperors, Anna. They agreed, demanding military assistance in the fight against the rebel Varda Foka. The princess herself opposed the brothers' decision, but later agreed to become the wife of the Russian prince if he converted to Christianity. The most reliable information about this event is reported by the Syrian historian of the 11th century, Yahya of Antioch.
Capture of Korsun and baptism
The version that Vladimir captured Korsun and threatened to do the same with Constantinople if Anna was not given to him cannot be considered valid. It has been proven that at that time Russian soldiers already helped Vasily the Second in the fight against internal enemies. Most likely, military support was provided to the Byzantines in exchange for consent to the marriage between Vladimir and Anna.
According to legend, the wedding flotilla with the princess arrived in Korsun. However, the prince refused to be baptized. The Lord punished him for his violation of this word, and Vladimir went blind. Anna persuaded him not to resist, and during the ceremony the prince’s sight returned. God's grace descended on Vladimir, who took the Christian name Vasily. He ordered the boyars and squad to follow his example, and then married Princess Anna.
Baptism of Rus'
Returning to Kyiv, Vladimir Svyatoslavich (date of birth - around 960, date of death - July 15, 1015) first ordered his sons to be baptized. Then the prince gathered the inhabitants of the city on the banks of the Dnieper. On his orders, a mass baptism took place, which no one dared to oppose.
To strengthen the new faith, Vladimir ordered the construction of a temple Holy Mother of God and give a tenth of all state income to the church.
To convert residents of other cities to Christianity, the prince called priests and educators from Greece. Special educational institutions were created to train local clergy. In addition, a church charter was published, called the Helmsman's Book, and on Mount Athos Vladimir acquired a monastery for Russian monks. Mass construction of churches began in all corners of the state.
Domestic and foreign policy
Under Vladimir Svyatoslavich, the first Russian coins were minted from gold and silver. To protect the state, he built several fortified cities and appointed his sons as rulers.
In the last decade of his life, he made almost no aggressive campaigns and periodically took up arms only to repel the endless raids of the Pechenegs.
Sons of Vladimir Svyatoslavich
As already mentioned, the prince was a famous sensualist and had big number wives and concubines. Having adopted Christianity, he abandoned them and began to live only with Anna, recognizing her as his only wife before God.
However, Vladimir’s family idyll was overshadowed by the children’s feuds. The prince had 12 sons, each of whom owned his own lands. Vladimir's favorites were Boris and Gleb, born to the Bulgarian Milolika. Towards the end of his life, the prince decided to bequeath the throne to Boris, causing the indignation of Svyatopolk and Yaroslav, who hoped to inherit him by right of birthright.
The unexpected death of Vladimir in 1015 led to the fact that the senior heirs decided to usurp the throne. Svyatopolk seized power in Kyiv, but realizing that the people were on the side of Boris and Gleb, he ordered their death. His next victim was his brother Svyatoslav. Yaroslav, who took the throne, was able to stop Svyatopolk’s crimes.
Memory
For his greatest services, Vladimir Svyatoslavich (reign: 978-1015) in the creation of the Russian state was canonized by the Orthodox Church. In addition, he is revered by Catholics, since he lived before the Ecumenical Schism.
Every year on July 15 in Russia and in many other countries the day of his memory is celebrated. In Moscow, Kyiv, Sevastopol, Belgorod, etc. St. Monuments were erected to Vladimir, and a temple was built in his honor on the territory of Chersonesos.
Now you know the biography of Vladimir Svyatoslavich. To modern man It is difficult to understand many of his actions. However, it cannot be denied that it was he who laid the foundations of Russian statehood and united the nation.
Vladimir Svyatoslavich the Great Saint
Reign: 980-1015
Years of life: 947-1015
Grand Duke of Kiev, political and religious figure, who went down in the history of Orthodoxy as an “equal to the apostles” prince; gave Christianity the status of a state religion in Rus'. Also known as the “Baptist of Rus'”.
Prince Vladimir the Great - biography
Son of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Svyatoslav I Igorevich, who, during the division of his principality, put Vladimir to reign in Novgorod at the request of the Novgorodians in 969. According to legend, Vladimir’s mother is the housekeeper of Princess Olga Malusha.
During the internecine war between the two older brothers Yaropolk and Oleg, which ended with the death of Oleg, Vladimir was afraid of his older brother’s lust for power and fled “overseas” to the Varangians. He returned in 980, at the head of the Varangian squad with the goal of returning what was lost. He completed his task: having taken Kyiv, lured him out of it with the help of the traitor Yaropolk for negotiations and killed him.
Kyiv Prince Vladimir the Great
Strengthening his power with the help of the Varangians, he subjugated the Vyatichi, Radimichi and Yatvingians (tribes living in the west of present-day Belarus) to Kyiv. To more successfully resist the nomads (Pechenegs, etc.), he built fortresses and earthen ramparts on the southern borders: along the Desna, Irpen, Osetra, Sula, Trubezh rivers. The chronicles emphasize the belligerence and cruelty of Vladimir the pagan, who was not averse to human sacrifice.
In 995, Vladimir and his army were forced to flee from the Pechenegs near Vasilyev; in 997, when Vladimir went to Novgorod to gather an army, the Pechenegs attacked Belgorod (the city was saved by a miracle). Fought with Volga Bulgaria. His wars with Byzantium and Poland (campaign of 992) are also known.
It was Vladimir who established the first schools in Rus' for teaching literacy, but this was done under the influence of Christianity and in order to be able to prepare his own Russian priests.
Vladimir the Great - years of reign
Most of all, Vladimir became famous for baptizing Rus', that is, 
On his orders, many people accepted the Christian faith. He was a pagan by birth and upbringing. When he defeated his brother Yaropolk and began to reign in Kyiv, he first ordered the construction of a temple for the most important pagan gods, including the god Perun, in the city.
Gradually, it turned out that the interests of the state required everyone to accept one faith, a faith that could unite disparate tribes into one people in order to together resist enemies and earn the respect of allies. But the peoples living around Rus' prayed to different gods: Muslims - Allah, Jews - Jehovah, Christians - Christian God. And although they all recognized only one true god, their rituals and laws were different.
Therefore, choosing one of the faiths turned out to be very difficult. According to legend, in 986 he received ambassadors from Volga Bulgaria, Rome, from the Khazars and Greeks, who invited him to accept, respectively, the Muslim, “Latin” (Western Christian), Jewish or “Greek” (Eastern Christian) faith.
After listening to everyone, including the Greek “philosopher,” he next year sent his own envoys to test different religions and was captivated by the famous story of those who visited Byzantium, enchanted by the “heavenly” beauty of the local worship (along the way, the boyars and elders reminded the prince of the Christian choice of “his grandmother Olga, the wisest of all people”).
Christian Rus' under Vladimir the Great
Then he made the final decision, which, according to another, more political-pragmatic version, was due to the “Korsun issue”, i.e. campaign against Byzantium (conquering or allied, associated with the suppression of the local uprising of the commander Phocas), as a result of which Vladimir adopted Christianity, marrying the Byzantine princess Anna, the sister of Emperor Vasily II.
In 988, Vladimir took Kherson (Korsun). The baptism of the prince took place in 987/989 precisely in Kherson, while he took the new name of Vasily, in honor of the emperor as his absentee successor. (In church tradition, the year of baptism is accepted as 988.) Returning to Rus', the prince brought with him Greek priests, liturgical books and utensils.
Baptisms in Kyiv became widespread, pagan idols were destroyed, and the first Christian churches were erected (the wooden church of St. Basil and the stone church of Tithes, in honor of the Mother of God; the latter was consecrated in 996). Finally, in these same years, a special Kiev Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and a number of other bishoprics (Belgorod, Novgorod, Polotsk, etc.) were established.
According to the chronicles, upon accepting the new faith, Vladimir’s character changed: filled with the love of Philokalia, he became famous for his charity and now refused to execute even criminals, preferring to charge them a fine (viru). This did not prevent him, a skilled warrior-strategist, from successfully defending against the Pechenegs (settling the southern borders for this purpose) and confronting Poland in Galicia.
With a large number of wives and concubines, Vladimir had many children. History mentions the following sons: Vysheslav, Izyaslav, Yaroslav, Vsevolod, Svyatoslav, Stanislav, Pozvizd, Boris, Gleb, Mstislav, Sudislav and Svyatopolk.
In 995, Vladimir divided Rus' into fiefs and put them under control 
sons. Historians believe that this was the biggest mistake of all, which subsequently led to the fragmentation of Rus' into separate principalities and civil strife.
Vladimir decided to go on a campaign against Novgorod in order to punish the rebellious son of Yaroslav, the local prince, but he died in his suburban village of Berestovo (near Kyiv) on July 15, 1015 and was buried in the tithe church in Kyiv.
Favorite hero of folk epics, “Vladimir the Red Sun” O" was canonized as saint Grand Duke Vladimir. Church memory is celebrated on the day of his death, July 15 (28).
In 2017, the historical film Viking, a grandiose film, was released on Russian screens. It was dedicated to the Grand Duke.
Vladimir I Svyatoslavich (Old Russian: Volodimir Svtoslavich). Born approx. 960 - died July 15, 1015. Prince of Novgorod (970-988), Prince of Kiev (978-1015). Baptist of Rus'.
Vladimir Svyatoslavich was born around 960. Exact year Vladimir's birth is unknown.
The son of Grand Duke Svyatoslav Igorevich from the housekeeper Malusha, originally from the city of Lyubech, the benefactor of Princess Olga. The son of a slave (“robichich” in the words), according to the customs of the pagans, could succeed his father-prince.
His father Svyatoslav was born in 942 (the chronicle chronology is arbitrary in this period), and Vladimir's eldest son Vysheslav was born around 977, from which historians deduce the year of Vladimir's birth - 960, with an accuracy of several years. According to later sources of the 16th century (Nikonovskaya and Ustyug Chronicles), Vladimir Svyatoslavich was born in the village of Budutin (Budyatyn), where the angry Princess Olga exiled Malusha.
As D. Prozorovsky assumed, being a giver of alms (the occupation of a Christian woman), Malusha violated the commandment “thou shalt not commit adultery” with Svyatoslav, and this is what aroused Olga’s anger: “Volodimir was from Malka, Olzhina’s housekeeper; Malka is Dobrynya’s sister, and Dobrynya is Volodymyr’s uncle; and Volodymer’s birth was born in Budutino, because Olga sent her away in anger, the village was there before her, and dying he was given to the holy Mother of God.”, - said in the Nikon Chronicle.
Researchers have different opinions about the location of Budyatynoye Village. The most generally accepted version is that Vladimir Svyatoslavich was born near Pskov (village of Budnik), on the estate of his grandmother, Princess Olga. The nearby settlement of Vladimirets, named so in 1462, is also associated with his name: “summer 6970. Pskovites founded another town on Volodchina Mountain and named Volodymyrets”.
ABOUT future fate Malushi did not report the chronicle, but the young Vladimir returned to Kyiv, where he was under the supervision of Princess Olga. His maternal uncle Dobrynya may have been involved in his upbringing, since in the customs of Rus' it was customary to entrust the upbringing of an heir to senior warriors.
According to the Tale of Bygone Years, Vladimir was the third oldest among the sons of Svyatoslav after Yaropolk and Oleg. It was also hypothesized that he was actually the second (older than Oleg), since he received from his father, when he left for the war with Byzantium in 970, the important Novgorod, while Oleg was content with the Drevlyansky land with its center in Ovruch. Dobrynya became the mentor and governor of young Vladimir in Novgorod.
Scandinavian sagas tell how the future king of Norway, Olaf I Tryggvason, spent his childhood and youth in Novgorod. Olaf's mother, Astrid, fled from the murderers of her husband Tryggvi Olafsson to Novgorod to King Valdemar (Vladimir), for whom her brother Sigurd served, but on the way she and her child were captured by robbers in Estonia. Sigurd, collecting taxes in Estonia at the behest of Vladimir, met Olaf by chance and ransomed him from slavery. Olaf grew up under the patronage of Vladimir, and was later taken into the squad, where he was popular among the soldiers.
Vladimir the Great ( documentary)
Vladimir's seizure of the Kyiv throne
After the death of Prince Svyatoslav in 972, Yaropolk ruled Kiev. In 977, an internecine war broke out between Yaropolk and his brothers. The specific Drevlyan prince Oleg, retreating in battle with Yaropolk, was crushed in a ditch by falling horses. Vladimir fled to the Varangian lands at this news. Yaropolk Svyatoslavich began to rule all Russia.
Meanwhile, Vladimir “across the sea” recruited an army with Dobrynya and in 980 returned to Novgorod, driving out the mayor Yaropolk.
Vladimir captured Polotsk, which had sided with Kiev, killing the family of the city’s ruler, Prince Rogvolod, and on the advice of his uncle Dobrynya, Vladimir first raped Rogneda in front of her parents, and then killed her father and two brothers. He forcibly took Princess Rogneda, who had previously been betrothed to Yaropolk, as his wife. It was Rogneda’s refusal to match Vladimir that caused his revenge: the princess considered it unacceptable to marry the son of a concubine, who was Vladimir. Her words “I don’t want to rozuti robichich” (“I don’t want to take off a slave’s shoes”), according to the Slavic custom of taking off a spouse’s shoes, greatly humiliated Vladimir and Dobrynya, as they hinted at the status of Vladimir’s mother (Dobrynya’s sister).
Then, with a large Varangian army, he besieged Kyiv, where Yaropolk had locked himself up. According to the chronicle, Voivode Yaropolk Blud, bribed by Vladimir, forced Yaropolk to flee to the small town of Roden, intimidating the people of Kiev with a rebellion. In Rodna, Vladimir lured Yaropolk to negotiations, where two Varangians “raised him with their swords under their bosoms.” Vladimir took Yaropolk's pregnant wife, a former Greek nun, as a concubine.
When the Varangian army demanded tribute from the Kievites for their service, Vladimir promised them, but a month later he refused, and sent the Varangians to serve in Constantinople with advice to the Byzantine emperor to separate them to different places. Vladimir kept some of the Varangians for himself to govern the cities.
According to the chronicle, Vladimir reigned in Kyiv in 980. According to the earliest Life of Vladimir by the monk Jacob (“Memory and Praise to Prince Vladimir,” 2nd half of the 11th century), this happened on June 11, 978.
From a number of chronological considerations, the date 978 seems more likely, and the date 980 was obtained, apparently, from a secondary arrangement of the annual grid in the chronicle through incorrect recalculation. So the chronicler mentioned 37 years of Vladimir's reign, which also points to 978 as the year of Vladimir's rise to power.
The new prince of Kiev took measures to reform the pagan cult. Erected a temple with idols of the six main gods in Kyiv Slavic paganism(Perun, Khorsa, Dazhdbog, Stribog, Semargl and Mokosha, without Veles), there is also information that the prince practiced human sacrifices to the gods.
From primary sources it is known about the sacrifices of the Rus during the siege of Constantinople in 860 and during the siege of the Dorostol fortress by Byzantine troops, where Svyatoslav locked himself in 971.
Since there is indirect information about the sympathies of the former Prince Yaropolk for the Christian faith and his contacts with the Latin West, the assumption of a pagan reaction under Vladimir, that is, a struggle against Christianity, which had previously been established in Kyiv, is very likely.
Archaeological confirmation of this can be the discovery on the site of the Vladimirov Pantheon of the remains of a stone structure with traces of fresco painting - apparently, a church that existed under Yaropolk.
During the persecution in Kyiv, one of the first Christian martyrs in Rus', the Varangians Fedor and John, died.
The Tale of Bygone Years conveys Vladimir’s lifestyle before baptism as follows: “Vladimir was overcome by lust, and he had wives..., and he had 300 concubines in Vyshgorod, 300 in Belgorod and 200 in Berestovo, in the village that is now called Berestovo. And he was insatiable in fornication, bringing to himself married women and corrupting girls".
Some historians see in such a description (uncharacteristic of the lives of saints) an attempt to compare Vladimir with the biblical king Solomon. The text of The Tale of Bygone Years itself contains the following: “Before [Vladimir] is a woman-lover, just like Soloman, behold, he says, Soloman has 700 wives, and 300 concubines... But [Solomon] was wise, but in the end he perished; “Behold, be silent, but finally you will find salvation.”. In this way, the idea of saving the “woman lover” Vladimir is pursued by accepting Christianity, in contrast to Solomon, who remained a pagan.
Orthodox sources claim that after baptism, the prince released all former pagan wives from marital duties. He offered to choose a husband for Rogneda, but she refused and took monastic vows.
Baptism by Vladimir of Rus'
The chronicle story about the “choice of faiths” (“test of faiths”) by Vladimir is legendary. Preachers of Islam, Judaism, and Western “Latin” Christianity (Catholicism) were called to court, but Vladimir, after a conversation with the “Greek philosopher,” settled on Orthodoxy. Despite the hagiographical stencil, there is a historical grain in the narrative.
So, Vladimir says to the “Germans” (that is, the preachers of Catholicism): “Go again, for our fathers did not accept this.”(“Go back, for our fathers did not accept this”). In this one can see echoes of the events of 962, when the German emperor sent a bishop and priests to Kyiv at the request of Princess Olga. Not accepted in Rus', they “barely escaped.”
Information about the embassy to Khorezm of the Russian ruler of the second half of the 10th century (the name from Arabic is restored as Vladimir), who wanted his country to convert to Islam, is preserved in Arabic and Persian sources.
Thus, the Central Asian doctor and historian al-Marwazi (early 12th century) reports: “And when they converted to Christianity, religion dulled their swords, and faith closed the doors of occupation for them, and they returned to a difficult life and poverty, and their means of subsistence were reduced. Then they wanted to become Muslims so that they would be allowed to raid and holy war and return to what was before. Then they sent ambassadors to the ruler of Khorezm, four people from those close to their king, because they have an independent king and their king is called Vladimir - just as the king of the Turks is called Khakan... And their ambassadors came to Khorezm and reported their message. And Khorezmshah rejoiced at their decision to convert to Islam, and sent them to teach them the laws of Islam. And they converted to Islam".
According to the Tale of Bygone Years, in 986, ambassadors from the Volga Bulgars arrived to Prince Vladimir and invited him to convert to Islam. When they told the prince about the rituals that must be observed, including the ban on drinking wine, Vladimir responded with the famous phrase: “Rus' has joy and drink”, after which he rejected the proposal of the Bulgars.
According to the chronicle, in 987, Vladimir, at a council of boyars, decided to be baptized “according to Greek law.”
The following year, 988, he captured Korsun (Chersonese in Crimea) and demanded Anna, the sister of the Byzantine emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII, as his wife, threatening otherwise to go to Constantinople. The emperors agreed, demanding in turn that the prince be baptized so that his sister could marry a fellow believer. Having received Vladimir's consent, the Byzantines sent Anna and priests to Korsun. Vladimir, together with his retinue, underwent a baptismal ceremony, after which he performed a wedding ceremony and returned to Kyiv, where he immediately ordered the pagan idols to be overturned.
According to the monk Iakov Chernorizets, an earlier source than the Tale of Bygone Years, Prince Vladimir was baptized in 988, took Korsun in the 3rd year after baptism in order to seize Christian shrines, and only then demanded a wife from the Byzantine emperors.
The 11th century Syrian historian Yahya of Antioch tells the story of baptism differently. His military leader Bardas Phocas the Younger rebelled against the Byzantine Emperor Basil and won several victories: “and he [Emperor Vasily] was prompted by the need to send the Russians to the Tsar - and they are his enemies - to ask them to help him in his present situation. And he agreed to this. And they concluded an agreement between themselves about the property and the Tsar of the Rus married the sister of Tsar Vasily, after he set the condition for him that he and all the people of his countries should be baptized, and they are a great people... And Tsar Vasily subsequently sent metropolitans and bishops and they baptized the king...And when the matter of marriage was decided between them, the Russian troops also arrived and united with the Greek troops that Tsar Vasily had, and they all went together to fight Bardas Phocas by sea and land.”.
According to Yahya, the combined forces of the Rus and Greeks defeated the troops of Phocas near Chrysopolis at the end of 988, and in April 989, the allies in the battle of Abydos put an end to Varda Phocas. The Arab historian of the early 13th century, Ibn al-Athir, also reported on the baptism of the Rus in a version close to Yahya of Antioch, but attributing the event to 986, and in his account the king of the Rus was first baptized, then married, and then went to war with Varda Phocas.
The Armenian historian Stefan Taronsky, a contemporary of Prince Vladimir, also reports on the amount of Russian military assistance to Byzantium and baptism: “Then all the people of Ruz [Rus], who were there [in Armenia, around the year 1000] rose up to fight; there were 6,000 of them - on foot, armed with spears and shields - whom Tsar Vasily asked from Tsar Ruzov at the time when he gave his sister in marriage to the latter. At the same time, the Ruz believed in Christ.”.
Details of the chronology - at what stage of the events described, Vladimir was baptized, whether it happened in Kyiv, in the city of Vasilyiv or Korsun - were lost in Rus' at the beginning of the 12th century, at the time of the compilation of the “Tale of Bygone Years,” which the chronicler directly reports. This issue is even more controversial in modern historiography. The date of the Baptism of Rus' is traditionally considered to be the chronicle year 988, although historical evidence points to 987 as the year of the baptism of Prince Vladimir himself and 989 as the year of the Baptism of Rus'.
At baptism, Vladimir took the name Vasily, in honor of the ruling Byzantine emperor Vasily II, according to the practice of political baptisms of that time.
Vasnetsov. Baptism of Rus'
In Kyiv, the baptism of the people took place relatively peacefully, while in Novgorod, where Dobrynya led the baptism, it was accompanied by uprisings of the people and their suppression by force. In the Rostov-Suzdal land, where local Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes retained a certain autonomy due to their remoteness, Christians remained a minority even after Vladimir (until the 13th century, paganism dominated among the Vyatichi).
Baptism was accompanied by the establishment church hierarchy. Rus' became one of the metropolises (Kyiv) of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The diocese was also created in Novgorod, and according to some sources - in Belgorod of Kiev (not to be confused with modern Belgorod), Pereyaslavl and Chernigov.
Vladimir did not interfere with the activities of Western preachers. When his son Svatopluk took a wife from Poland, Reinbern, Bishop of Kolberg (Kołobrzeg), who later ended his life in prison, arrived with her around the year 1000. With the help of the German missionary Bruno of Querfurt, who personally met with Vladimir, a diocese was established among the Pechenegs in 1007, apparently short-lived.
Military campaigns of Vladimir the Great
In 981 (according to another version, based on the earlier date of Vladimir’s reign and the political situation in Poland - in 979), Vladimir fought with the Polish prince Mieszko I for the border Cherven Rus. Conquest of Cherven and Przemysl.
In 981-982, Vladimir for the first time annexed the territory of the Vyatichi, who were subject to tribute, to the Old Russian state.
In 983, Vladimir conquered the Balto-Lithuanian tribe of the Yatvingians and established control over Sudovia, which opened the way to the Baltic.
In 984, Vladimir finally conquered the Radimichi, when the local army was defeated by a Kyiv guard detachment (the Radimichi of the Wolf Tail were running).
In 985, Vladimir, in alliance with the nomadic Torques, fought against the Bulgarians. Some researchers identify them with the Danube Bulgars, however, according to “Memory and Praise”, Vladimir’s opponents were the “silver”, that is, the Volga Bulgars. Having won the victory, Vladimir made peace with the Bulgars on terms favorable to Rus'. In the same year 985, he imposed tribute on Khazaria. Vladimir was called the Khazar title Kagan.
In 988, Vladimir besieged Korsun in Crimea. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, the city surrendered after a long siege, when the Russians dug up the pipes through which water from the wells entered the city. Then the Byzantine emperors sent their sister Anna to marry Vladimir, after which he returned the city to Byzantium and, upon returning to Kyiv, began to baptize the people.
In 989, Russian troops took part in suppressing the rebellion of the Bulgarians and the military leader Varda Phocas.
In 991, a campaign was carried out in the Carpathian lands against the White Croats, which for the first time included them in the Old Russian state.
In 1000, 6 thousand Russians took part in the Byzantine campaign in Armenia.
In 1015, the death of Vladimir found the Kiev army on a campaign led by Boris Vladimirovich against the Pechenegs.
Vladimir was active foreign policy: during his reign he concluded many agreements with rulers different countries, among them: Stephen I (King of Hungary), Boleslav I the Brave (King of Poland), Boleslav II (King of the Czech Republic), Sylvester II (Pope), Basil II (Emperor of Byzantium).
The problem of Rus' remained the constant raids of the Pechenegs: in 990, 992 on Pereyaslavl, 993, in 996 there was an unsuccessful battle at Vasilev, in 997 there was an attack on Kyiv, in 1001, in 1013 there was a Polish-Pecheneg invasion of Rus'. Memories of the Pecheneg War a century later took on epic forms (the legend of the Belgorod jelly, of Nikita Kozhemyak, etc.).
For defense against the Pechenegs, a number of fortresses were built along the southern border Kievan Rus. Along the southern and southeastern borders of what was then Rus', on the right and left sides of the Dnieper, rows of earthen trenches and outposts were built to deter attacks by nomads. Along the Ros River it was the Poros defensive line, along the Sula River - Posulskaya.
According to the testimony of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, the Pechenegs roamed at a distance of one day's travel from Rus'.
In 1006-1007, the German missionary Bruno of Querfurt passed through Kyiv, heading to the Pechenegs to preach the Gospel. He stopped to stay with Prince Vladimir, whom he calls senior Ruzorum in a letter to Emperor Henry II. Prince Vladimir persuaded the missionary not to go to the Pechenegs, saying that with them he would not find souls to save, but rather would die a shameful death. The prince could not persuade Bruno and volunteered to accompany him with his squad (lat. cum exercitu) to the borders of his land, “which he fenced on all sides with a strong palisade over a very long distance due to the enemies wandering around them.” Bruno was probably talking about the Serpentine Shafts, the length of which in the Kyiv region is about 800 kilometers.
Map: Old Russian state from the time of Vladimir the Great(highlighted in light green)
Vladimir adopted all laws in agreement with his council, which consisted of his squad (military commanders) and elders, representatives of different cities. They were called together with the boyars and mayors and “elders throughout the city.”
Large cities were organized in a military way, each formed a solid organized regiment, called a thousand, which was divided into hundreds and tens. A thousand was commanded by a thousand chosen by the city, and then appointed by the prince; hundreds and tens were also commanded by elected sotskiy and ten's.
The elders, or elders, of the city appear hand in hand with the prince, together with the boyars, in matters of government, as in all court celebrations, forming, as it were, the zemstvo aristocracy next to the princely servants.
Vladimir is attributed "Church Charter", defining the competence of ecclesiastical courts. For a long time it was considered a forgery of the 13th century; now the prevailing point of view is that this is the original charter of Vladimir, but with later additions and distortions.
According to the chronicle, Vladimir initially agreed with the ideas of the Chersonesos clergy about the need death penalty, but then, after consulting with the boyars and city elders, he established the punishment of criminals according to the old custom, vira. Some researchers believe that Vladimir tried to change the order of succession to the throne.
Vladimir began minting coins- gold (“zlatnikov”) and silver (“srebrenikov”), reproducing Byzantine samples of that time. Most coins of Vladimir depict the prince sitting on a throne and the inscription: “Vladimir na stole” (Vladimir on the throne); there are options with a chest image and other text of the legend, in particular, on some versions of the silver pieces the name of St. Basil is indicated, in whose honor Vladimir was named in baptism.
Judging by the incomplete form of the words (not Volodimir, but Vladimir; not gold, but zlato), the coinmakers were Bulgarians. Zlatniks and silver coins of Vladimir became the first coins issued on the territory of Rus'. The issue of the coin was not due to actual economic needs - Rus' was well served by Byzantine and Arab gold and silver coin, - but for political purposes: the coin served as an additional sign of the sovereignty of the Christian sovereign.
Only on the coins were the lifetime symbolic images of Prince Vladimir, a man with a small beard and long mustache, preserved. The princely sign of Vladimir, adopted in the 20th century by Ukraine as the state emblem, is also known from the coins.
The times of Vladimir were marked by the beginning of the spread of literacy in Rus'- what is connected with Baptism. Like many other reforms, it was carried out by force: “He sent to collect children from the best people and send them to book education. The mothers of these children wept for them; for they were not yet established in the faith and wept over them as if they were dead.”
The teachers were not so much the Byzantines as the Bulgarians, including those who studied on Mount Athos. A generation later, remarkable wordsmiths and literary experts have grown up in Rus', such as one of the first Russian writers, Metropolitan Hilarion.
Under Vladimir, large-scale stone construction begins in Rus', although the first surviving buildings date back to the time of his son Yaroslav. The cities of Vladimir-on-Klyazma (990), Belgorod (991), Pereyaslavl (992) and many others were founded.
Vladimir generously treated the people of Kiev at feasts every Sunday, even, according to legend, he ordered food and drink to be transported on carts for the weak and sick. The chronicler notes: “And he ordered to equip carts and, putting bread, meat, fish, various vegetables on them, honey in barrels, and kvass in others, transport them around the city, asking: “Where is the sick person or the beggar who cannot walk?” And give them everything they need.".
Special attention rendered assistance to the squad, with whom he consulted about state and military affairs, did not refuse them anything, saying: “I won’t find a squad with silver and gold, but with a squad I will get silver and gold, just as my grandfather and my father with a squad found gold and silver.”.
Personal life and family of Vladimir the Great
Vladimir was known before his baptism as the “great libertine” (lat. fornicator maximus, according to the German chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg).
He was in several official pagan marriages, in particular, with the already mentioned Rogneda, with a “Czech” (according to some sources, he relied on an alliance with the Czech Republic in the fight against Yaropolk, an ally of the German emperor) and a “Bulgarian” (from the Volga or Danube Bulgarians - unknown. According to one version, she was the daughter of the king of the Danube Bulgarians Peter, and Boris and Gleb were her children).
In addition, Vladimir made the pregnant widow of his brother Yaropolk, a Greek nun abducted by Svyatoslav during one of his campaigns, his concubine. Soon she gave birth to a son, Svyatopolk, who was considered “from two fathers.” Vladimir considered him as his legal heir, while Svyatopolk himself, according to indirect evidence, considered himself the son of Yaropolk, and Vladimir a usurper.
After baptism, Vladimir was supposedly in two successive Christian marriages - with the Byzantine princess Anna and, after her death in 1011, with the unknown “stepmother of Yaroslav”, who was captured by Svyatopolk in 1018.
In total he had thirteen sons and at least ten daughters.
From "Czech"(according to the “Saga of Olava son of Tryggvi” - Allology, according to Tatishchev - the Varangian Olova, “Norwegian princess Olava”):
Vysheslav, Prince of Novgorod, eldest son of Vladimir. Died before the death of his father.
From the widow of Yaropolk Svyatoslavich(according to genealogy - “Greeks of Predislava” (wife from c. 978):
Svyatopolk the Accursed, Prince of Turov, then of Kyiv. Perhaps he was not the son of Vladimir, but of Yaropolk Svyatoslavich, but Vladimir recognized him as his son.
From Rogneda, daughter of the Polotsk prince Rogvolod (wife from c. 977):
Izyaslav, Prince of Polotsk. The chronicle contains a colorful story about how little Izyaslav stood up for his mother, who had attempted to kill Vladimir, and was sent with her to his inheritance in Polotsk. He also died during his father’s lifetime, young, in 1001. The founder of the Polotsk branch of the Rurikovichs;
Mstislav- if he is mentioned in some versions of the list of Vladimir’s sons not by mistake (Mstislav’s name is repeated twice, but in the second list of Vladimir’s sons in the “Tale of Bygone Years” under 988) then, most likely, he died in infancy;
, prince of Rostov, after the death of Vysheslav - of Novgorod, after the victory over Svyatopolk - of Kiev;
Vsevolod, Prince Vladimir-Volynsky, is sometimes identified with “Vissivald, king of Gardariki,” who died in Sweden in 993;
Predslava, made a concubine by the Polish prince Boleslav I the Brave;
Premislava(d. 1015), according to some sources, since 1000, the wife of the Hungarian prince Laszlo the Bald (d. 1029);
Mstislava, in 1018, among other daughters of Vladimir, was captured by the Polish prince Boleslav I the Brave.
From Adelya(according to later, not entirely reliable data):
Mstislav Tmutarakansky, Prince of Tmutarakan and Chernigov, after a successful war with Yaroslav, ruler of half of Rus'; died in 1036, leaving no heirs;
Stanislav, Prince of Smolensk (information about Stanislav’s inheritance is not entirely reliable). (According to some genealogies - also “from a Bulgarian”);
Sudislav, Prince of Pskov, imprisoned in 1024-1059, died in 1063, outliving all his brothers. (According to some genealogies - also “from a Bulgarian”).
According to the chronicle - “other (Chekhyn) Stagoslav.” From the "Bohemian princess" Malfrida:
Svyatoslav, (d. 1015), Prince of the Drevlyans.
From "Bulgarian", according to genealogies - “Bulgarian princess Milolika”, some historians tried to identify her with Princess Anna:
Boris, Prince of Rostov;
Gleb, Prince of Murom.
It is unknown from which wife:
Pozvizd, judging by the pagan name, he was born before Vladimir’s baptism. (According to some genealogies - also “from a Bulgarian”);
Dobronega-Maria(d. 1087) - became the wife of King Casimir I of Poland.
In addition, Vladimir had several more daughters, unknown by name. In total, at least 9 daughters of Vladimir were alive in 1018, as we know from the chronicle of Thietmar. The exact fate of all of them is unknown.
Polish historian Andrzej Poppe put forward a very plausible hypothesis that the wife of the Novgorod mayor Ostromir Feofan was the daughter of Vladimir I Svyatoslavich and Anna of Byzantium. In addition, Vladimir's daughter may have been the wife of the Margrave of the North March Bernhard II the Younger von Haldesleben (d. 1044) and the mother of the Margrave Wilhelm (d. 1056).
Prince Vladimir was going to change the principle of succession to the throne and bequeath power to his beloved son Boris.
IN last years During the life of Vladimir, Svyatopolk plotted against him, which was discovered and for some time Svyatopolk was imprisoned. Yaroslav stopped transferring tribute and church tithes from Novgorod to Kyiv, after which Vladimir decided to go with his squad against his son, but death did not allow him to do this.
When Vladimir died of illness in the country residence Berestov on July 15, 1015, those around him hid his death in order to notify Boris of the death of his father. The fact is that Svyatopolk was in Kyiv: he should not have found out about this before the townspeople, otherwise he would have tried to usurp power. The prince's body, wrapped in a carpet, was secretly taken out at night on a sleigh and brought to the Kyiv Tithe Church, where he was buried. The marble sarcophagi of Vladimir and his wife stood in the middle of the temple.
The Tithe Church was destroyed by the Mongols in 1240 and under its rubble were the sarcophagi of Prince Vladimir, his wife and others.
In 1635, in Kyiv, during the dismantling of the ruins, old sarcophagi were discovered, taken by Metropolitan Peter Mogila for the burial of Vladimir and Anna, and then, after the remains were removed, they were buried again. The identification of the tomb (or tombs) was made based on the inscription, which, however, is clearly of late origin and contains factual contradictions (dating from the Nativity of Christ, etc.).
The burial place was re-excavated by N. E. Efimov in 1826; sarcophagi were indeed found, but they did not correspond to the description of the 17th century. The remains (relics) removed from the burial were distributed to the Kyiv and Moscow cathedrals and have now been lost. Modern researchers doubt that these were really the crayfish of Vladimir and Anna.
There is no exact data about the beginning of church veneration (and formal canonization, if there was one) of Prince Vladimir. Perhaps Vladimir was originally commemorated together with his sons, Saints Boris and Gleb.
According to indirect evidence, already in the first years after his death, a hagiographic tradition arose, likening the prince to the Apostle Paul, and hagiographic stories about the conversion of Vladimir (blind and miraculously healed through the prayers of Christians) are also found in Western European monuments of this time. Already in “Praise to Kagan Vladimir,” Metropolitan Hilarion calls the prince “blessed” (“O blessed and blessed Prince Volodymer, blessed, and Christ-loving, and hospitable, your reward is many before God!”), although church historians recognize his words rather as a wish for canonization, rather than a fait accompli.
According to the Serbian Prologues of the 14th century, dating back to the Old Russian originals of the mid-12th century, the official recognition of Vladimir as a saint by the middle of the 12th century had not yet taken place. Russian chronicles are also silent about the canonization of Vladimir the Baptist.
The first reliable information about the official veneration of Vladimir as a holy equal-to-the-apostle dates back to the 14th century: all Prologues and liturgical books of that time have the memory of St. Vladimir under July 15. A number of researchers have put forward a hypothesis that the beginning of veneration could be associated with the victory of the Novgorodians in the Battle of Neva (1240), which took place on July 15, but in many ancient lists of lives, the name of Vladimir is not included in the list of saints of the day of the Neva Battle. Probably, the canonization could have taken place in the 2nd half of the 13th century, since the Prologue with an insertion from the prologue life of St. Vladimir dates back to this period.
In 1635, Metropolitan of Kiev Peter Mohyla found the relics of Vladimir from the ruins of the Church of the Tithes, which marked the beginning of the veneration of his remains.
In 1853, a monument to Saint Prince Vladimir was unveiled in Kyiv and a committee for the construction of the Vladimir Cathedral was founded (consecrated in 1896).
Particular attention to the day of memory of St. Vladimir was attracted by church and public celebrations on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus' in July 1888. By the decree of the Holy Synod of 1888, “for the purpose of imprinting forever in the reverent memory of the Orthodox children of the Russian Church named after the Enlightener of the Russian people,” the day of remembrance of St. Vladimir was determined to be included in the holidays that have in the Charter the sign of a cross in a semicircle - “on which the vigil is celebrated.” Before that, polyeleus service was relied upon. In connection with the celebration of the anniversary in Russian Empire A number of Prince Vladimir churches were erected.
In the Russian emigration of the 20th century, church veneration of the prince in the conditions of the total liquidation of organized churchism that began in 1929 in the USSR acquired a political meaning. On December 18 (31), 1929, the Synod of Bishops (Russian Church Abroad), on the report of Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), decided to “establish the day of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, the Enlightener of Rus', on July 15 (28) as a common Russian church-national holiday and ask the archpastors and pastors On this day, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad especially notes the importance of Russian Orthodox culture in the church and state life of the Russian state.”
Since Prince Vladimir lived before the schism christian church(1054), he is also revered by Catholics.
The Russian Church commemorates him on the day of his repose - July 15 according to the Julian calendar. On the same day, July 28th Gregorian calendar, Roman Catholics celebrate it. Saint Vladimir is considered the patron saint of Ukrainian and Russian Catholics.
Since 2002, Saint Vladimir has been considered the heavenly patron of the internal troops of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. His image is consecrated in the Main Icon of the Internal Troops, which is kept in the Transfiguration Church of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The initiative to acquire a particularly revered icon and patron saints of military groups by the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia was blessed by Patriarch Alexy II.
In 2008 and 2010, respectively, in Ukraine and Russia, state memorial dates were established: the Day of the Baptism of Kievan Rus - Ukraine and the Day of the Baptism of Rus', dedicated to the day of memory of Prince Vladimir.
Vladimir the Great in art
In epics he is known as Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko, “affectionate Prince Vladimir.” The exploits of three heroes date back to the time of his reign. The typical image of Prince Vladimir in epics is a collective one: it combines the features of some later rulers, and the historical accuracy may be distorted.
The paired images of Vladimir (in baptism - Vasily) and his mother Malusha are presented in the Ukrainian Christmastide folklore figures of Vasily and Malanka (Melanki, Milanki). IN church calendar St.'s day Melania completes the annual circle, St. Vasily starts it. This calendar circumstance brought together St. Basil the Great and St. Melania the Roman in the popular imagination, turning them into a persistent folklore couple, preserving not only references to real historical characters (Vladimir and Malusha), but also a number of details that reflect the legal norms of the 10th century and characterize life of that time
Feofan Prokopovich, Ya. B. Knyazhnin, F. P. Klyucharev, M. M. Kheraskov, A. S. Griboyedov and A. N. Muravyov dedicated their works to Vladimir I.
In the era of “Vladimir the Sun,” depicted according to Karamzin’s “History of the Russian State,” the action of “Ruslan and Lyudmila” takes place.
Prince Vladimir is central character a number of historical novels:
“Dove over Pontus” (“When Chersonesus fell”) by Antonin Ladinsky;
“Vladimir” by Semyon Sklyarenko;
“Prince Vladimir” by Yuri Nikitin;
“The Empress’s Daughter” by Mikhail Kazovsky (1999);
“Pagan” (2009) and “Princely Rus'” (2010) by Alexander Mazin.
In the novels “Prince” (2005) and “Hero” (2006) by Alexander Mazin, the birth and childhood of Vladimir are mentioned.
In cinema:
“Yaroslav the Wise” (1981; USSR) directed by Grigory Kokhan, in the role of Vladimir;
“The Legend of Princess Olga” (1983; USSR) directed by Yuri Ilyenko, in the role of Vladimir in his youth Ivan Ivanov, in his old age Ivan Mikolaichuk;
“Vladimir the Saint” (1993; Russia) directed by Yuri Tomoshevsky, in the role of Vladimir Vladislav Strzhelchik;
"The Saga of the Ancient Bulgars. Vladimir’s Ladder Red Sun” (2004), in the role of Andrey Sukhov;
(2016; Russia) directed by Andrey Kravchuk, in the role of Vladimir.
In cartoons:
“Vasilisa Mikulishna” (1975; USSR) director Roman Davydov;
“Prince Vladimir” (2006; Russia) directed by Yuri Kulakov, Vladimir is voiced by.
Orders:
In 1782, Empress Catherine II established the Imperial Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir in 4 degrees;
In 1957 Russian Orthodox Church established the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir in 3 degrees.
Monuments:
In 1853, a monument was erected to Prince Vladimir in Kyiv;
In 1999, a monument was unveiled in Belgorod. Sculptor Vyacheslav Klykov;
In 2007, a monument to St. Vladimir and Bishop Theodore of Suzdal by sculptor Sergei Isakov was unveiled in Vladimir;
In 2010, a monument to the young Prince Vladimir and his mother Malusha was unveiled in Korosten;
In 2013, a monument to Prince Vladimir was erected in Astrakhan on the 1025th anniversary of the baptism of Rus' and the 455th anniversary of the founding of the city. The monument is located in the park opposite the Cathedral of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir;
In 2015, a monument to Prince Vladimir was opened in the city of Bataysk ( Rostov region). Sculptor Sergey Isakov;
In 2016, a monument was unveiled on Borovitskaya Square in Moscow. Sculptor Salavat Shcherbakov, architect Igor Voskresensky.
There are many memorable dates in the church calendar dedicated to Slavic saints, ascetics and martyrs, but one of the most significant dates is the Day of St. Prince Vladimir. Vladimir not only was baptized, but also established Christianity as the new religion of Kievan Rus.
Holy Blessed Prince Vladimir
Vladimir - son of Prince Svyatoslav and grandson Grand Duchess Olga. Before his death, Svyatoslav divided his lands between his sons - Oleg, Yaropolk and Vladimir. When the father died, strife began between the three brothers, after which Vladimir became the prince of all Rus'. In 987, Vladimir captured Chersonese, which belonged to the Byzantine Empire, and demanded the hand of Anna, sister of Basil and Constantine - two Byzantine emperors. The emperors set a condition for Vladimir - acceptance of the faith of Christ. When Anna arrived in Chersonesos, Vladimir suddenly became blind. In the hope of being healed, the prince was baptized and immediately received his sight. In delight, he said: “At last I have seen the true God!” Amazed by this miracle, the prince’s warriors also were baptized. The couple got married in Chersonesos. For his beloved wife, Vladimir gave Chersonesos to Byzantium, building there the Church of the Baptist of the Lord. Returning to the capital, Vladimir baptized all his sons.
Baptism of Rus' by Holy Prince Vladimir
Soon the prince began to eradicate paganism in Rus' and destroy pagan idols. Baptized boyars and clergy walked through the streets and houses, talking about the Gospel and denouncing idolatry. Having adopted Christianity, Prince Vladimir began to erect Christian churches where idols had previously stood. happened in 988. This key event is directly connected with Prince Vladimir, whom the church calls an Equal-to-the-Apostles saint, historians call Vladimir the Great, and the people call Vladimir the “Red Sun.”
Relics of St. Vladimir
The relics of St. Vladimir, as well as the relics of the blessed Princess Olga, were originally located in the Kyiv Church of the Tithes, but in 1240 it was destroyed by the Tatars. So the remains of St. Vladimir rested under the ruins for many centuries. Only in 1635 Peter Mogila discovered a shrine with the relics of St. Vladimir. They managed to remove the right hand and head from the coffin. Subsequently, the brush was transported to the St. Sophia Cathedral, and the head -
