A. N. Mouravieff
Introduction of Christianity into Russia (A.D. 988-1015)
Conversion of Vladimir the Great

Part of Constantinoupolis on the web section of Elpenor's history resources

Page 12

    The pious Prince wished to see in his own capital a magnificent temple in honor of the birth of the most holy Virgin, to be a likeness and memorial of that at Cherson, in which he himself had been baptized; and the year after his conversion he sent to Greece for builders, and laid the foundation of the first stone cathedral in Russia, on the very same spot where the Varangian martyrs had suffered. But the first metropolitan was not to live to its completion; only his holy remains were buried in it, and were thence translated afterward to the Pechersky Lavra. Another metropolitan, Leontius, a Greek by birth, sent by the same patriarch Nicholas, consecrated the new temple, to the great satisfaction of Vladimir, who made a vow to endow it with the tenth part of all his revenues; and from hence it was called "the Cathedral of the Tithes."

    These tithes, according to the ordinance ascribed to Prince Vladimir, consisted of the fixed quota of corn, cattle, and the profits of trade, for the support of the clergy and the poor; and besides this there was a further tithe collected from every cause which was tried; for the right of judging causes was granted to the bishops and the metropolitan, and they judged according to the Nomocanon. The canons of the holy councils and the Greek ecclesiastical laws, together with the Holy Scriptures, were taken, from the very first, as the basis of all ecclesiastical administration in Russia; and together with them there came into use some portions also of the civil law of the Greeks, through the influence of the Church. The care of the new temple and the collection of tithes for its support were intrusted to a native of Cherson named Anastasius, who enjoyed the confidence of Vladimir and his successors.

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     Cf. Al. Vasilief, A History of the Byzantine Empire * Pavle of Serbia, 550 years since the Fall of Constantinople * Constantelos, Greek Orthodoxy - From Apostolic Times to the Present Day * Dostoyefsky, Constantinople can not but belong to Russia! * Meyendorff, Christ as Word Gospel and Culture * George Majeska, Russian Pilgrims in Constantinople (pdf) * Pan. Christou, The Missionary Task of the Byzantine Emperor  * Toynbee, Christianity and Civilization * Gogol, We recognise in them the divine origin of man * Saint Silouan the Athonite * Papacy : The Plague of Christianity  * The Orthodox Church

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