1. Eastern Orthodox Church

2. The Eastern Orthodox church was centered on the Byzantine city of Constantinople, the capital of the empire.

3. Russians were originally polytheistic worshipped many gods of nature

4. Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev aka Saint Vladimir born in Kyyiv (Kiev) was originally a pagan devoted much of his early life to extending and consolidating his territories into a unified Russian state

5. Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev (continued) helped Byzantine emperor Basil II suppress a rebellion -was allowed to marry the emperor’s sister Anne -accepted Christianity in 988 A.D.

6. Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev (continued) made the Eastern Orthodox Church the official religion of Kiev -required his subjects to convert conversion strengthened ties between the Byzantine empire and Kiev

7. Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev (continued) introduced Byzantine civilization into Russia built churches suppressed paganism made social reforms

8. Acceptance of the Eastern Orthodox religion gave Russians the sense of belonging to the civilized world.

9. It also gave rise to the use of the Cyrillic alphabet developed by St. Cyril to write the Scriptures in the vernacular language.

10. Icons

11. The Old Testament Trinity prefiguring the Incarnation (circa 1410) sacred paintings were created as tools of devotion and prayer sometimes thought to cause miracles

13. Saint Basil’s Cathedral

14. Eastern Orthodox Architecture dome-shaped buildings reflect Byzantine and (possibly) Islamic influences domes are often onion-shaped and painted with fancy designs in bright colours

15. “The eggs do not teach the hen.” -Russian proverb

16. “An egg is dear on Easter Day.” -Russian proverb

17. “Let a woman into Paradise, she’ll bring her cow.” -Russian proverb