Buniak, Ray Text for Video Project

Understanding RussiaPart Four A: Christianity in RussiaByRaymond Buniak, Ed.D.Fullbright-Hays Seminar 2008University of Chicago, CEERESAmerican HomeVideo Essay text:

Limitations text:

This video essay was created for limited educational purposes only. It may not beused for commercial purposes or reproduced. Permission must be obtained for alladditional uses of this video.

Dedication text:

This composition is dedicated to the hospitality of the Russian people. It is acharacteristic that raises them to the forefront of humanity.

Overture text:

We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no suchsplendor or beauty anywhere upon earth. We cannot describe it to you: only this weknow, that God dwells there among men, and that their worship surpasses theworship of all other places. For we cannot forget that beauty.

(Primary Chronicle,12th century). The tenth century envoys from Rus considered the central place of beauty in worship and holiness that laid the foundation of the seven hundred yearold Byzantine culture.

Title text:

Understanding RussiaPart Four A: Christianity in RussiaUniversity of ChicagoFulbright-Hays Seminar 2008

Byzantium and Early Rus text:

Constantine I's impetus began a remaking of the Roman world according to Platonicand other theories. The foundations required the resolution of universal questions(e.g., justice, morality, correct living, happiness, etc.). The Byzantines foundanswers by fusing the State and Christianity. Christianity, in turn, reconciled its1

gospel with paganism through compromise. This foundation of dualism ultimatelyproduced the most absolute form of government ever known. Byzantium's emperorstood above the State and the Church and each upheld him as God’s representativeon the earth. No one could participate or question his authority for his will wasidentical with God's will for men. Ultimately they viewed their society as the arrivalof a God ordained eternal order.Legitimacy stemmed from Christian and pagan relics which were buried underConstantine I's pillar in the new city. Icons were later produced and disseminated tofurther this authority. There were 88 emperors from Constantine I to Constantine XIbut only the strong survived (13 entered monasteries and 30 others died violently). Justinian once survived by filling the Hippodrome with blood. Constantine I killedboth his son and wife. The Empress Irene blinded her son and took his title.Perhaps it was because of this precariousness that only certain kinds of characteristics were cultivated. Innovation might become incompatible withsecurity and, so, deviation might become a heretical abnormality and a civil crime. Thus the conservators of Orthodoxy's essential timelessness became themonasteries. The Rus were Vikings (from Birka?) who traded along axis rivers from northernEurope to Constantinople. Ryurik was the quasi-legendary founder of Rus. Arabchroniclers described them as a warlike nation predisposed to trade. The Viking Rusruled over Slavic tribes (e.g., Drevlians, Radomichi, Severians, and Vyatichi).Intermingling led to the adoption of the Slavic language and translation of Scandinavian customs and military ideas. Valdamar became Vladimir, Helgabecame Olga, and Ingvar became Igor. The characteristic of importing things andideas through trade or raiding was established.

Christianity in Rus text:

As in the rest of medieval Europe, bells regulated daily life and rituals of worship.Ultimately Moscow had 5,000 church bells.Christianity was known in Rus at a very early date. One legend says that St. Andrewvisited the future site of Kiev. Most significant, however, was the 9th centuryevangelization of the Balkans, Moravia and Bohemia by Cyril and Methodius. Afundamental aspect of Eastern Christianity was now established: the faith wasdisseminated according to the culture and language of the local people. TheGlagolithic alphabet was devised for translating service books and essential Biblesections. This yielded to the Cyrillic alphabet and eventually worship texts wereexported to Rus. The Primary Chronicle suggests that Askold and Dir, two 9th century Vikingwarlords, were baptized for a church was built on their burial mound. Kiev's nextruler, Prince Oleg, however, was a pagan. Christians, Jews, and Muslims,nevertheless, seem to have been tolerated in Kievan Rus.2

During Prince Igor's 10th century reign, Christians were active in the army andadministration of the state. Igor's widow Olga was baptized in Byzantium in 946 asa part of a trade agreement with Constantine VII. Later her son, Prince Svyatoslav,initiated a pagan revival which was continued by her grandson Vladimir. Therefore,it is interesting that Prince Vladimir adopted Christianity for Kievian Rus in 988 AD.His people were baptized in theDneiper Riverunder the threat of the sword andstruggles with paganism ensued. It is thought that Christianity won out over Islambecause,

drinking was the joy of Rus

. Contemporary thought favors politicalmotives for Rus joined the Byzantine commonwealth on equal terms. Byzantiumacquired an ally and peace on its northern frontiers. Vladimir married the ByzantinePrincess Anna to seal the understanding.Another stream of thought is simply that Vladimir completed a process that hadbegun centuries before. He may have found himself to be an ever more isolatedpagan ruler in a spiritually and culturally Christian Rus and, so, found it expedient tofollow in Constantine I’s footprints. Prince Vladimir was baptized according to therites of the Byzantine Church in 988 at the southern Greek town of Chersones onthe Black Sea. The consequences were monumental. Rus became an interpretedreplica of the Byzantine philosophical State with a strong resistance from paganelements. This experience cemented a resistance to religious tolerance afterOrthodoxy was established. Pagan symbolic elements, however, persist until thepresent time. The nature of the new church in Rus is vague. Its basis was the Byzantine form of worship together with elements like the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and ChurchSlavonic texts. Vladimir built a church next to his palace and pledged a tithe. Atfirst, Greek prelates were appointed from Constantinople for this new ecclesiasticalprovince. Six dioceses were organized around important centers like Novgorod and Turov. Monasteries did not exist in 10th century Rus. Vladimir instituted regulationsfor tithes and the appointment of clergy, and worked towards an autonomousChurch of Rus. Evidence suggests that there was no hostility between the Latin andByzantine species. The 16th century Nikon Chronicle records an exchange of envoys between Kiev and Rome circa 1000. Bishop St. Bruno of Querfurt wasreceived in 1007 by Vladimir.After 1015 a time of violence ensued. Vladimir's sons, Boris and Gleb, weremartyred by their half brother Svyatopolk. In this they established a peculiar kind of Russian spirituality whereby evil is conquered by a serene, self-emptyingmartyrdommodeledafter Christ’s passion and self-sacrifice on the cross. Yaroslav “the Wise”(1015-1054) emerged as Vladimir's successor. During his reign over 600 churcheswere established. The Cathedral of St. Sophia was modeled after Byzantium's HagiaSophia and Kievian Rus saw itself as a spiritual rival to Constantinople. Masterchurch architects were engaged, monasteries were organized, iconography, Russianspiritual literature, hymnography and the Znamenny chant all developed.Relationships between the Princes of Rus and Western Europeans developed. Oaths3

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Upload Date:	05/28/2009
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