The Previous History of the Russian Hierarchy

Abstract

In a historical science there is such concept, as Photios Christening of Russia which has taken place thanks to efforts of the Byzantium patriarch Photios (858-867, 877-886). In Russia it was time of board of the Kiev princes Askold and Dir which have made attack on capital of the Byzantium empire. In "Story of time years" under 866 we read: "Ascold and Dir on Greeks and come in 14 [summer] Michael tsar, to tsar has departed on Oharian, [and] having reached to it the Black rivers, inform eparch the message to it, as Russ on Tsargrad goes, and rotisja tsar same inside Court entered, is much murder peasants has created, and in two hundred the ships Tsargrad has stepped. Tsar has hardly entered city [and] with Patrejarch with Photios to existing Church sacred Virgin Blachernae [and] all the night long prayers have created then divine sacred Virgin the riza with songs has carried away in the river moistened silence existing [and] to sea tamed, abe the storm has risen with wind, and to waves great have risen ... Godless Russ the ships are crushed, and to coast has adhered, and have beaten me, as small [them] from such trouble to avoid and in own forces have returned ". Thus, the annals concern attack of princes Askold and Dir to 866, however in the modern historical science this event usually is dated 860.