Day of the baptism of Rus

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Viktor Wasnetsov : The Baptism of Vladimir (1890)

The day of the baptism of Rus ( Russian День крещения Руси , scientific transliteration den 'kreščenija Rusi ), July 28, is a day of remembrance in Russia and Ukraine . The holiday was introduced in Ukraine in 2008 and in Russia in 2010 to commemorate the Kiev Grand Duke Vladimir, who was baptized according to the Byzantine rite on July 28, 988 and who declared Christianity the state religion. The Kievan Rus is the forerunner empire of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

history

Vladimir the Holy was Prince of Kiev from 980 to 1015 . The most important event of his reign was the Christianization of Kievan Rus in 988 on the occasion of his marriage to Princess Anna of Byzantium , daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos II. For this he received the nickname the saint and after his death in the state of a saint of the Orthodox Church raised.

Before his own baptism in 987, the legend of the saints describes him as a libertine with seven main wives and 800 mistresses. He had idols set up everywhere and was an avid follower of paganism . According to tradition, reason brought him to the Christian faith. Allegedly he sent scholars from all religions and chose the best.

In fact, Vladimir's baptism was a diplomatic move: the goal was to establish ties with the Byzantine imperial family.

The baptism of the prince was celebrated in Kiev as a big act: after the pagan idols had been torn down, a mass baptism took place in the Dnepr . The Church then quickly began building a network of churches and monasteries, which contributed significantly to the consolidation of the Kiev Empire. In addition, the region also developed culturally through the new faith. The orthodoxy had thus finally achieved a dominant position in the Rus. At the same time, Vladimir had become a figure of diplomatic importance through the acceptance of Christianity and the marriage connection with the Byzantine imperial family.

Ukraine

The determination of July 28th as the day of the baptism of the Rus or the day of the baptism of the Kievan Rus (Ukraine) goes back to an initiative of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2008.

As early as July 25, 2008, the then President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko , designated July 28 as the day of the baptism of the Kievan Rus ( Ukrainian День хрещення Київської Русі , wis. Transliteration Den 'chreščennja Kyjivs'ko Rusi ).

Russian Federation

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also supported this initiative and commissioned the Ministry of Culture in August 2009 to draft a corresponding bill.

The Russian parliament designated the anniversary of the country's Christianization on May 21, 2010 as a national day of remembrance. 422 of 450 MPs voted for the state to celebrate July 28th as the day of the baptism of Russia . The new day of remembrance receives an official status in addition to the eight previously established days of remembrance (including Constitution Day and Day of the October Revolution ), but is not a non-working holiday. Nevertheless, the state finances the celebrations on the day of the baptism of the Rus .

See also

Individual evidence

  1. Council of Bishops: Послание Святейшего Патриарха Алексия от имени Архиерейского Собора Русской Православной Церкви Президенту Российской Федерации Д.А. Медведеву . Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  2. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: Про День хрещення Київської Русі - України . Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2008.
  3. Русский Обозреватель: День Крещения Руси будет отмечаться в России 28 июля . Русский Обозреватель. May 21, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  4. RIA Novosti: Госдума установила новую памятную дату - День крещения Руси . RIA Novosti. May 21, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  5. KNA: "Day of the Baptism of Russia" is celebrated in Russia on July 28th . Catholic news agency KNA. May 22, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  6. ^ RIA Novosti: Russia celebrates a new religious day of remembrance . RIA Novosti. July 16, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2010.