Princess Anna Porphyrogenita came to Vladimir’s palace accompanied by Bishop Michael and many priests.
Encouraged by his soldiers, who had learned and experienced the Christian faith in the Byzantine Empire, Vladimir the Great converted and was baptized a Christian in the city of Cherson, taking the name of Basil in honor of his future brother-in-law. After the wedding, Vladimir and Anna returned to Kyiv with great pomp. Inda ta, the monarch, ordered the destruction of pagan statues and the building of Christian churches.
Among the first churches built by the kings was the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, built-in 989, considered the first stone church built in Kyiv. He also helped the monasteries of Mount Athos.
Who is Vladimir in history?
Saint Vladimir was a devout pagan in the early years of his life. He was a great conqueror who had many wives and erected many pagan statues in the territory he ruled.
In history, Vladimir I (Sviatoslavich), alternatively Volodimir I, also called the Holy, the Great, the Apostle-like, the Baptist of Kievan Russia (b. 958 – d. 15 July 1015) was from 980 to 1015 the Grand Cenacious of Kyiv when Orthodoxy was introduced to the territories that today form Russia and Ukraine. He was the youngest illegitimate son of the Ruricid dynasty (of Scandinavian origin) of the kingship of Sviatoslav I.
In addition, he is the grandson of Saint Olga and the father of Saints Boris and Gleb the Tormentors (and the first saints of the Russian lands). In 988, on his marriage to Anna of Byzantium, daughter of Emperor Romanos II, he adopted Eastern Christianity for himself and Kievan Russia. The Church celebrates him on 15 July.
Key Verse related to Saint Vladimir
“Prince Vladimir was a pagan in his childhood and youth, as was most of the population under his reign. Vladimir was a great conqueror. His goal was to expand his kingdom. He had many wives, just like his predecessors.”
Saint Vladimir the Great, Baptizer of Kievan Rus’
