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History of Christianity essay
Importance of religion
Christian history essay
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The adoption of Eastern Orthodoxy by the Slavs marked a new era for the culture of Russia. In the Primary Chronicle we come across many tales that illustrate the transformation from staunch paganism to strict Orthodox Christianity that was adopted by the state. The tale “Vladimir Christianizes Russia” is one such story that glorifies Vladimir’s great triumph in choosing Eastern Orthodoxy and delivering the Slavs to salvation. Through justifying the adoption of Christianity, emphasizing the importance of aestheticism in ceremony, and illustrating the overwhelming Slavic transition from paganism to Christianity we are able to glean the importance of Vladimir’s success in transitioning the Slavs to Eastern Orthodoxy.
The story “Vladimir Christianizes Russia” seeks to justify the Slavic adoption of Christianity by portraying it as God’s will. Through this we are able to see the importance of Vladimir’s transition to Christianity because the writers of the Chronicle portray the act of moving from paganism to Christianity as one of divine will rather than desires of the flesh. This justification of conversion allows the reader to understand the importance of statewide adaptation in the world of Christian Slavs. To further our understanding of the deep rooted awe felt towards Vladimir’s Christianization of Russia the Chronicle allows the reader specific examples of divine miracles which illustrate the admiration Slavs felt towards the conversion of Russia. When Vladimir attacks the Greek city of Kherson, he and his armies are unsuccessful and become exhausted by the constant charge on the cities walls. Relief finally comes in the form of man set on aiding the ever-persistent Vladimir:
Then a man of Kherson, ...
... middle of paper ...
...avic conversion from paganism to Christianity, stressing the prominence of aestheticism in ritual, and validating the adoption of Christianity we are able to come to the conclusion that Vladimir’s successes in altering the Slavs to Eastern Orthodoxy. “Vladimir Christianizes Russia” effectively illuminates the supposedly positive sentiments felt towards the Slavic Christianization. This tale allows for the reader to see the glorification of Vladimir’s grand triumph in choosing Eastern Orthodoxy and delivering the Slavs to redemption. The success in demonstrating Vladimir’s achievement in delivering Russia to salvation allows for us to comprehend the importance of Christianity in the culture of Russia.
Works Cited
Zenkovsky, Serge A. "Vladimir Christianizes Russia." Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, and Tales. New York: Dutton, 1963. 65-71. Print.
With the coinciding of a revolution on the brink of eruption and the impacts of the First World War beginning to take hold of Russia, considered analysis of the factors that may have contributed to the fall of the Romanov Dynasty is imperative, as a combination of several factors were evidently lethal. With the final collapse of the 300 year old Romanov Dynasty in 1917, as well as the fall of Nicholas II, a key reality was apparent; the impact that WWI had on autocratic obliteration was undeniable. However, reflection of Russia’s critical decisions prior is essential in the assessment of the cause of the fall of the Romanov Dynasty.
Sarah Davies*2(P11) observes that “there was little notion of what Russianness meant for ordinary workers and peasants.”(P23) What was missing from most Russian people was their sense of heritage, the pride in knowing where they came from and where they were going. They needed history a...
Grigory Rasputin was born into a Russian Orthodox family and grew up in a mainly Russian Orthodox town named Pokrovskoye, Siberia. In the late 1890’s Rasputin went on a religious journey to the Verkhoturye Monastery in Siberia. At Verkhoturye Monastery, Rasputin was introduced to a fellow Russian monk who greatly influenced Rasputin’s ways and convinced Rasputin to stop drinking, smoking, and stop his carnivorous habits. After his visit to the monastery, Rasputin was officially considered a strannik, which is a Russian religious pilgrim. After returning home from Verkhoturye, Rasputin was noticed by his fellow peers and family as a changed man with holy and or mystical powers. Around 1898, Rasputin claimed to see Our Lady of Kazan (also called the Theotokos of Kazan) who is the Russian Orthodox version of the Virgin Mary whom is supposed to protect the city of Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. Rasputin had supposedly witnessed a theophany of the Virgin Mary as the Russian Orthodox Church views the Virgin Mary as a holy being. After seeing Our Lady of Kazan, Rasputin then began his journey of religious mysticism.
The Byzantine Empire plays a major role in many different societies to this day. Some of the things that impact other civilizations from them include their religion and laws. According to Mr. Gray, Russia went so far as to adopt Orthodox Christianity which makes them view themselves as the
(6) K. D. Kavelin, "Vzgliad na iuridichevkii byt drevnei Rossii," in Nash umstvennyi stroi: stat. i po filosofii russkoi istorii i kul. tury ["A View of the Legal Life of Old Russia," in Our State of Mind. Articles on the Philosophy of Russian History and Culture] (Moscow: Pravda, 1989) 15.
The Slavophile and westernizer conflict is an inherent cultural question that Russians must answer about their country. Russian thinkers have long been fragmented between the Westernizer and the Slavophile viewpoint. Both disagreed about the true nature of the country as well as its relation with the West. It is a problem that has plagued Russia for centuries, and continues to do so to this day. Adopting the mindset of recognizing this conflict is essential to better understanding Russian history as well as the motives and thought processes of Russian leaders today.
Limber, T. Peter. “The Iakovian Era.” In Stephanopoulos, Iakovos: The Making of an Archbishop, 72-87.
The problem with the origin of the Russian State is that it is exceedingly complex and many theories are based on circumstantial evidence. A good example of this is the early history of the plains above the Black Sea. This region compromises the center of the Kievan State, yet much is unknown about these parts due to the lack of resources. Archaeological finds suggest many ideas, all of which are unconfirmed. The simplest and most accepted belief is that this area was inhabited thousands of years before the Christian era, and played a part as the center for cultural exchanges between groups of nomadic tribes. These tribes led to the beginning of Slavic history.
Wood, A. (1986). The Russian Revolution. Seminar Studies in History. (2) Longman, p 1-98. ISBSN 0582355591, 9780582355590
Ultimately, by the time of Peter Romanov in the late seventeenth century, Russia had done little to keep up with the modernizing European continent. Technologically and culturally, it fell centuries behind. It had no Renaissance, no Reformation, no Scientific Revolution. It’s as if Russia was stuck in the European Middle Ages. Its army and navy lagged miserably behind, its Orthodox clergy govern education, there was no quality literature or art of which to tell, and even no emphasis on maths or science. In Western Europe, the seventeenth century was the time of Galileo and Newton, Descartes and Locke. It was a century of a growing merchant division. Rural peasants moved to growing cities for new work. As serfhood faded off in the West, it was growing in the Russia inherited by Peter Romanov. And while Western Europe, with its numerous warm-water passageways, sailed the seas and brought in unprecedented profits from subjugated colonies, Russia pushed eastward, finding nothing but frigid shore, cold taiga, and the remnants of a deformed Mongolian Empire that had depended more on plunder than infrastructure.
In the 34 years of her rule, Catherine accomplished necessary tasks to improve the nation for its prosperity and for the development of her people. However, her place as a female ruler overturning the nation this drastically led to divisiveness regarding her actions while in power. Those who looked up to her were compelled to keep her deserved name alive and well, a mere exchange with the empress said to leave an impression on her subjects (Dixon 649-653). Moreover, the Nakaz not only revised and improved numerous aspects of Russian life and politics, but it was often seen as a symbol of what Catherine’s time on the throne meant—a representation of her autocracy (Dixon 670). On the other hand, the criticisms centering around Catherine’s rule brought up exactly how much she had changed in Russia, and certain reforms, such as the judiciary’s alterations, were a result of acute feminization influencing how the nation would be operated (Dixon 678). Although these praises and criticisms are justifiable, the impact Catherine the Great had on Russia is inarguable. Her application of western thought on a nation that remained isolated from the advancements of its European neighbors set Russia on a path to become one of the great powers of the world. In short, Catherine the Great was the face of Russian modernization, and it is this accomplishment that empowers her reputation long after her time as empress has
Historically, Russia has repeatedly relied on rapid and drastic reforms to catch up to the modern Western world. Sometimes these reforms were successful, and sometimes they failed. Peter the Great’s reign is an example of successful reform, while Alexander II’s is an example of failed reform. The success of Peter’s reforms led to Russia’s rise as an imperial power, and player on the international stage, especially in Eastern Europe. On the other hand, the failure of Alexander II’s reforms eventually led to Tsarist Russia’s collapse, and the rise of the Soviet Union. Clearly, Russian reforms had an impact on world history, and must be studied as a result. This paper will seek to explain why Alexander II’s reforms failed. This will be done
A medieval European state, Kievan Rus was founded in 882 AD by Prince Oleg. He then united local Slavic and Finnish tribes, defeated the Khazars, and, in 911, arranged trade agreements with Constantinople. In 989 their principles came under influence of the Byzantine Empire, and ended up adoption Christianity. “The Patriarch of Constantinople appointed a metropolitan to organize the see of Kiev and all Rus, and in 988, Byzantine clergy baptized the population of Kiev in the Dnieper River”(1). It took a very long time for christianity to spread to all principalities. However, The adoption of Christianity was followed by boom in the Old Russian culture. Church had an extremely fruitful influence on the cultural construction.
While some Christians feel as if they are being held back by the American government and fellow citizens, it may be better for them to invest their time and energy into acknowledging their own public personas, and address whether their own behavior is what is ultimately harming Christianity. If they compare their actions to Christian priests in the former Soviet Union who faced intense religious persecution at times, they might have a better chance of bringing new members into their flock, or at least gaining respect and support from those outside of their faith. For instance, in 1972 Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote a public letter to Patriarch Pimen regarding the state of the Russian Orthodox Church. As being a new member of the faith, Solzhenitsyn
Another aspect of religious life that widened the gap between the Russian Orthodox Church and the peasantry was the incompetence and corruption of the clergy. The local parish priest had the interesting position of living in close contact with the peasantry. In many ways, the parish priest was a peasant—he was poor and had to live off the land, the only difference was that he gave sermons and could, supposedly read. Despite the closeness of the priests in both physical proximity and way of life to the peasantry, folktales often portrayed them as “greedy, drunken, rowdy, and lusty.” The clergy received “the most profound scorn and infinite disgust.’” This perception of priests did not appear out of myth. The reason that the stereotype