The Morning herald., 1876-10-27
RCSAIA'S CONVERSION,

ttZed, and How Russia was NJ aOe a
Christian state by the Will Of One
Man-The St~ry Of a Russian March |
on ConstantinOple 900 Years Ago.
The prospect of war between Russia,
in her capacity of Christian power, and
Turkey as the leader Of MohammedaDism,
gives interest to the strange story that his
tory tells of the way in which Russia be- |
came Christian, wrestling her conversion by
force Of arms from the Emperors Basil and
Constantine in their capital, Constanti-
nople.
In the latter half of the tenth century the
Grand Prince Sviatozia managed to get his
own skull trimmed with gold, inscribed
with a legend and made more useful as a
drinking cup than it ever had been as a
skull, and his three SONS divided Russia be-
tween them. Il happened, however, that
one of the sons, Vladimir, hal ability and
courage, two useful qualities which his
brothers lacked, and having ambition also
he was not long in deprlving himself of
brothers, and providing himself with
united empire whose borders he diligently
labored to exte nd in every direction.
Failing to secure the affections Of prin-
cess whom he desired TO marry, Vladimir
made war upon her father, slew him with
his own hand, and without washing off the
blood with which his palm was stained,
compelled the lady 10 become bis wife,
Vladimir was a pagan, aud after win
ming this and other wars In which he had
been engaged. he piously resolved to give
public thanks to his gods, and especially to
Perune the god of the golden whiskers,
upon whom he conferred new and costly
beard for he occasion. He planned to sac
rifce Christian youth upon this gods
altar, aud was prevented only by the obsti-
macy of his chosen victim, VINO resisted so
| s routly that he was slain Ia the attempt to
win his cousert by force.
Pious as he was, however, Vladimir was
not by any means satisfied that bis religion
was the best that could be had, Or that his
gods were al'oce her worthy of his counte-
| nance. He listened to the missionaries OF
| var rious faiths who sought 10 convert him,
aud riel 10 choose between them 10y pro-
cess Of elimination. Judaism he rejected
as unf for great young empire, because
irs followers had been unable to preserve
heir own national existence, and were
wanderers on the face of be earth. Moham-
mechanism did not please him because is
sacred book forbade the use Of wine, and
! V.aainlir esteemed wine one Of the reces-
:arv' 'htncs OF life. The Roman Church
.-cogn'z-d in lie Pope person superior to
nims #. and therefore, he would have moth
luz 20 90 vi n l.. Thus one faith after sn-
o'uer was rejpc'r3 for cau.e, and only that
of be Greek Church seemed possible 10 him
f.. hai pursued his Studies of theology
diligently. nd NJ Il commission of learned
rn"n 10 study each fsirn IL irs home.
Finally h- determined TO become Chris
iian ul the Gree, sch".'i, and slraightway
he desired 20 b. t.pb"d, bu here GifIicul
" prrsen d ltsplf To h- baptized he must
have a prizes. There were pri SIS enough
In his capitqi, OF cOurSe,hn hey were hum
NE aud hesJisrd missionaries, belonging TO
the lower orders of tfa clergy, and Nadi-
mir posi- lively would not become u Chris
,i4u through the sEe,lty or less person
than an archbishop. AS there was 10 arch
bishop in Russia, the great pagan emperor
must of course import. one from the ByZan-
tine Etn pire 10 lOnvrrt and bapJiZe him ,and
he knew very wcl, hat that the royal heads
of the Greek Empire and Church would
gladly send hm dOzen or score of their
most exalted eccesiasGirs in regal state tog
he purpose: but the young convert to
Christianity was not accustomed to ask Ia
yors of The Byzantine empcrors, and he
WOulu Ta neT nbNe iF'"'h'Fu d" "n.
pagan than ask for The means OF CONVEX
: sion.
He bad made up his mind, however, tc
become Christian, and he determined tc
march IN army into the neiglrboring nation
+ and caprure an archbishop BY force,' TAX
lug he Kingdom of Heaven by violence, as
IL were. His followers approved this pal
right heartily, as it would give them ample
opportunity for plunder, and war was al