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The Ethnology Notebooks. 2026. № 4 (190), 1256—1266

UDK 94(477)”09″:27-9:321.01

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

  • Received: 15.07.2026
  • Accepted: 27.07.2026
  • Published: ??.??.2026

THE CHRISTIANIZATION OF RUS‘ AS A CIVILIZATIONAL CHOICE: FROM PRINCESS OLHA TO PRINCE VOLODYMYR THE GREAT

SHAKHRAI Tetiana

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7496-1735
  • Candidate of Historical Sciences (= Ph.D. in history),
  • Senior Researcher,
  • Head of the Laboratory of National-Patriotic Education
  • and International Relations,
  • Separate Subdivision of the National University of Life and
  • Environmental Sciences of Ukraine «Nizhyn Agrotechnical Institute»,
  • 10, Shevchenko Str., 16600, Nizhyn, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: e-mail: tata4-10@ukr.net

Abstract. The article examines the Christianization of Rus as a long-term historical, political, and cultural process, culminating in the official Baptism of Rus in 988 under Prince Volodymyr the Great. Particular attention is paid to the activities of Princess Olha as the first ruler of Rus to embrace Christianity and lay the foundations for the establishment of the new faith as the state religion. The political, diplomatic, cultural, and spiritual factors of this process are analyzed, as well as its impact on state-building, the development of education, literacy, law, architecture, and the international prestige of Rus.

Object of the study is the process of the establishment of Christianity as the state religion of Rus and its influence on the development of statehood, society, and culture.

Subject of the study is the political, diplomatic, spiritual, and cultural aspects of the activities of Princess Olga and Prince Volodymyr the Great in the process of the Christianization of Rus, as well as their influence on the development of Ukrainian statehood.

Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the comprehensive interpretation of the Christianization of Rus as an essential component of state-building, in substantiating the role of Princess Olga in creating the spiritual, political, and diplomatic preconditions for the official adoption of Christianity, and in examining the reformative activities of Prince Volodymyr the Great through the lens of the contemporary concept of sustainable development.

Research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, systematicity, comprehensiveness, and scientific reliability, employing historical-comparative, historical-genetic, historical-systemic, problem-chronological, source-critical, and historiographical research methods.

Practical significance of the research lies in the possibility of applying its findings in teaching the history of Ukraine, the history of state-building, cultural studies, and religious studies, as well as in the preparation of educational and methodological materials and further scholarly research devoted to the history of Rus’, Ukrainian statehood, and European civilizational integration.

Keywords: Baptism of Rus’; Rus’-Ukraine; Princess Olha; Prince Volodymyr the Great; Christianity; state-building; culture; education; sustainable development.

REFERENCES

  • (2021, August 24). President of Ukraine. On the Day of Ukrainian Statehood: Decree of the President of Ukraine № 423/2021. Zakonodavstvo Ukrainy. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/423/2021#Text [in Ukrainian].
  • Kurze, F. (Ed.). (1890). Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Writers on German History, published separately for use in schools: The Chronicle of Regino, Abbot of Prüm, with the Trier Continuation. Published by the Hahn Bookshop. [in Latin].
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  • Reiske, J.J. (Ed.). (1829—1830). Constantinus VII Porphyrogenitus. De ceremoniis aulae Byzantinae libri duo (Vol. 1—2). Weber [in Latin].
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  • Voloshinskii, Ya.Ya. (1853). Description of Ancient Rus’ Coins Belonging to the Coin Cabinet of St. Vladimir University Found near Nizhyn in May 1852. In: Trudy Komissii, Vysochaishe utverzhdennoi pri Universitete Sv. Vladimira dlia opisaniia gubernii Kievskogo Uchebnogo Okruga [in Ukrainian].
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  • (2015). United Nations. Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Retrieved from: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda [in Ukrainian].
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