Acceptance of Christianity in Russia.

Many states in the process of their formation passed through polytheism - polytheism. Ancient Greece gave the world gods, each of which was the patron of a certain sphere of activity of earthly people. So Hera helped the farmers, Athena - the soldiers, Hermes - the merchants ... In ancient Egypt, the god of the Sun Ra was revered, Reshep the defender of the pharaohs, Anat - the goddess of the hunt. All this was caused by the disunity of people engaged in various trades: each one prayed to his god, hoping for his help and protection.

To the highest degree, this disunity manifested itself in Ancient Rus. A huge territory with different natural conditions, underdeveloped means of communication led to the formation of various communities. Each of them was engaged mainly in that activity that allowed people to survive: the population of the coasts of the seas and rivers caught fish, in the steppe they were engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture, living in the woods - hunting. Before the adoption of Christianity in Russia, each of these communities created for themselves a god who was close to them. So appeared Dazhdbog, the sun god, who, it was believed, especially helped farmers; Patron of the military Perun, assistant in the crafts of the god Svarog, the inspirer of poets and singers-storytellers Veles and many others.

Faith in different gods further divided Russia, which led to the formation of independent, often hostile, principalities-states. The internecine wars were a disaster for the ancient Russian people and led to the general weakness of Rus, the inability to resist the external enemy. This was experienced, in particular, by Prince Igor, who was defeated in the battles with nomads, because even his relatives, the heads of neighboring principalities, did not support him. After the death of the prince at the hands of the Drevlyans, his widow Princess Olga came to power, thanks to which the adoption of Christianity in Russia began its advance. Olga was very educated for her time and wise ruler. She was interested in the life of the neighboring southern country of Byzantium, which actively traded with Rus. Underdeveloped Rus supplied the neighbors with raw materials - timber, furs. And from the enlightened Byzantium to us came the tools of production, weapons, fabrics, books, jewelry, works of art. Princess Olga made a trip to Constantinople and, shocked by the beauty and grandeur of the city, its temples, solemnity of the divine service, immediately adopted Christianity. This was in the year 857. She realized that a common faith can rally the nations and give strength to the development of the country. It was then that the idea arose that the introduction of Christianity in Russia was necessary. But, taking the first step, Olga could not overcome the resistance of idolaters on her land. And only her grandson, Prince Vladimir of Kiev, managed to finish the business begun by his grandmother to the end.

The adoption of Christianity in Russia was a matter of slow and difficult. First, an attempt was made to conquer Christianity and its achievements by force. Vladimir and his squad went to Korsun, the Greek port, and seized it. Threatening Constantinople, he demanded to give him a Byzantine princess, Christian Anna. In response, the Russian prince was required to accept the Christian faith and baptism, since it is not proper to give a baptized girl for a pagan. Vladimir was baptized and with his young Orthodox wife returned to his homeland.

A lot of mystical events, proving the truth and strength of the Christian faith, happened to Vladimir. One of them happened just before his baptism. The prince suddenly lost his sight, but Anna assured him that faith in Christ will heal him. As the chronicles say, it happened: immediately after baptism, sight returned to Vladimir. And, undoubtedly, the brilliance, luxury, power and power of enlightenment and culture, which his principality lacked so much, made a huge impression on the Russian ruler. Convinced that the adoption of Christianity in Russia will strengthen and uplift the Russian state, he embarked on reforms. In 988, Christianity was accepted as the only state religion, and thousands of Rusichs acquired a single god, which became the basis for further unification of the country. The consequences of the adoption of Christianity in Rus appeared not immediately. Centuries passed, and Russia fully entered the community of Christian states of Europe, enriched its culture with the achievements of neighboring nations, became a single and powerful power.