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- Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Volodymyr (in holy baptism Basil), enlightener of the Rus' Land (1051)
- Though his grandmother, Queen Olha, had been a Christian, his father
Svyatoslav reverted to paganism, and Prince Volodymyr spent the early
part of his life believing and living the beliefs of the pagan Rus'
people. But he sought for something more, and sent emissaries to study
the faiths of the Jews, the Muslims, the Western Christians and the Easter Christians. After attending services in Agia Sophia in Constantinople,
they told him 'We knew not if we were on earth or in heaven,' and Prince
Volodymyr determined to embrace the Christian faith. He was baptised in
Cherson in 988, receiving the name Basil. "He came forth from the font
not only healed of a blindness lately afflicting him, but also from
being passionate and warlike, he became meek, peaceable, and exceedingly
godly." (Great Horologion). He married Princess
Anna, sister of the Emperor, and returned home with a retinue of
priests from Constantinople. He immediately set about building a
Christian nation: casting down the idols, baptizing the people, and
establishing a Christian government. His legislation for his recently
barbarian nation was modeled on the Gospel, and in its conformity to
Christ's commandments exceeded even the other Christian nations of the
time. He reposed in peace in 1015, leaving behind a kingdom that grew to
be the largest Christians nation in the world.
source: http://www.abbamoses.com
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