The Legacy of St. Vladimir

Since the first centuries of the Christian era, Eastern Christianity has expanded through the various cultures of the Middle East and Eastern Europe, using a variety of languages in its worship and thus allowing native peoples to accept Christianity as their own. Most significant in this expansion was the "Baptism of Rus'" which occurred in 988 A.D., as St. Vladimir, prince of Kiev, made Byzantine Orthodox Christianity the official religion of his realm. From Russia, through Alaska, Orthodox Christianity came to North America as well. The missionary dimension of this entire development inspired the dedication of an Orthodox graduate school of theology to St. Vladimir in 1938. These twenty papers, written by a diverse group of internationally known theologians, historians, pastors and musicologists, were presented at an academic symposium held in September 1988 in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of St. Vladimir's Seminary. They provide a fascinating picture of the historical, theological, social and spiritual developments which led Orthodox Christians from Byzantium to the modern world. Book jacket.