One of the most controversial issues in the Eastern Europe, between Slavic people and countries, is the historical and cultural heritage of the first east Slavic state, Kievan Rus’ (9th to 13th century). This issue is important because new states that evolved after the collapse of Kievan Rus' (1240) and especially after the collapse of Soviet Union (1991), all of them are claiming that they are true descendent of Kievan Rus’. Both countries Russia and Ukraine are considering themselves to have the full right on Kievan Rus’ legacy. In addition to those two groups, there is another one, ancient Rusyn people who do not have a country of their own but consider themselves to be descendent of the Kievan Rus’ people.
The Russian country, mostly Orthodox Christians, 10% of the today's western region was a part of the Kievan Rus’ and two very important figures in Kievan Rus’ left a great influence on today’s Russia.
The city of Novgorod was one of the major cities back then, today one of the most important historical and cultural city in the Russia, also a World Heritage Site. Also, monarchs in Tsardom of Russia were always connected to Novgorod princes, Rurik dynasty. For instance, the Rurik dynasty was a ruling class in Kievan Rus' (after 862), successor principalities of Vladimir-Suzdal, the Grand Duchy of Moscow and the founders of the Tsardom of Russia.
Furthermore, in Novgorod is a monument "Millennium of Russia", where you can see sixteen important figures that had a great contribution to the Russian history. For example, one of the most important figures in Russian history was Vladimir the Great, prince of Novgorod. For instance, he was Baptiser of Rus', the first ruler that united people under one monotheistic religion – Christianity.
Furthermore, in Novgorod is a monument "Millennium of Russia", where you can see sixteen important figures that had a great contribution to the Russian history. For example, one of the most important figures in Russian history was Vladimir the Great, prince of Novgorod. For instance, he was Baptiser of Rus', the first ruler that united people under one monotheistic religion – Christianity.
The second most important figure was his son Yaroslav the Wise (1019–1054), Grand Prince of Novgorod. He wrote "Russkaya Pravda" (Russian truth-law) at that time Christianity was already an official religion. For instance, it is interesting that Kievan Rus’ was the first state in Europe without capital punishment in the code of law. That can mean only one thing, not only that Vladimir the Great received Christianity, but he also lived as a Christian, by Christian laws, and passed on his son Yaroslav the Wise. That fact confirms that Christian Ethics was implemented into country law. Furthermore, the Great schism of 1054 divided Christians in Europe, on Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox church. Kievan Rus’ came under Eastern Orthodox Church. Today 75% of the population in Russia are Orthodox Christian. It is interesting that, after the fall of Constantinople (1453), there were some ideas that Moscow will become "Third Rome". The idea of Muscovy as heir to Rome crystallized with a panegyric letter composed by the Russian monk Philotheus (Filofey) of Pskov in 1510 to their Grand Duke Vasili III (his mother was Sophia Palaiologina, Byzantine princes), which proclaimed, "Two Romes have fallen. The third stands. And there will be no fourth. No one shall replace your Christian Tsardom!" Contrary to the common misconception, Filofey explicitly identifies Third Rome with Muscovy (the country) rather than with Moscow (the city), although the term "Muscovy" was considered synonymous with the Russian lands at the time. Somewhat notably, Moscow is placed on seven hills, as were Rome and Constantinople.
These arguments such as, geographical, influence by the Rus’ rulers and Russia as the most numerous Orthodox (Byzantine rite) country or "Third Rome", prove that Russian country and people are the rightful descendent of Kievan Rus’ heritage, which is already in its foundation.
The Ukrainian country, more than 75% of the present territory was a part of Kievan Rus’, official and public baptism of Kievan Rus’ occurred in Kiev, ordered by the Vladimir the Great.
Kiev is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe and had a great significance for Eastern Slavic civilization. Between 9th and 13th century, Kievan Rus’ concurred huge regions and it is influence embraced over three-quarters of Ukraine present territory, principalities of Halych, Volhynia, Kiev, Chernigov and Pereyaslavl. For instance, Prince Oleg (Rurik dynasty) was the first ruler of Kievan Rus' (882–912), who extended his control from Novgorod south, moved his capital to the Kiev, in doing so, he laid the foundation of the powerful state of Kievan Rus'. Today Kiev is the capital of Ukraine.
In Kiev, there is a huge statue of St. Vladimir the Great, Grand prince of Kiev, the ruler of Kievan Rus’ (980 – 1015). During Volodymyr's reign the first schools and churches were built, notably the Church of the Tithes in Kiev, where he was buried. Furthermore, the state coat of arms of Ukraine officially referred to as the Sign of Princely State of Vladimir the Great or commonly the Tryzub, is a representation of the seal-trident of Volodymyr the Great. For instance, the design has precedents in seals of the Kievan Rus'. The first known archeological and historical evidence of this symbol can be found on the seals of the Rurik dynasty. It was stamped on the gold and silver coins issued by Prince Vladimir the Great, who might have inherited the symbol from his ancestors (such as Sviatoslav I Igorevich) as a dynastic coat of arms, and he passed it on to his sons, Svyatopolk I (1015–19) and Yaroslav the Wise. The symbol was also found on the bricks of the Church of the Tithes in Kiev, the tiles of the Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, and the stones of other churches, castles, and palaces. There are many examples of it used on ceramics, weapons, rings, medallions, seals, and manuscripts. Originally, Kievan Rus’ was a pagan country, but in the year 988, Vladimir the Great sent his envoys throughout the civilized world to judge the major religions of the time, Islam, Judaism, Roman Catholicism and Byzantine Orthodoxy (in that period still one Christian Church, yet to be divided). They were stunned with their visit to Constantinople (center of Byzantine Christianity), precisely the liturgy in Hagia Sophia (Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία). When envoys returned to Kiev they said: "We knew not whether we were in Heaven or on Earth… We only know that God dwells there among the people, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations." Vladimir was baptized at Chersonesos (Crimea, today's disputed territory between Russia and Ukraine), and proceeded to baptize his family and people in Dnieper river, Kiev. The latter events are traditionally referred to as baptism of Rus'. To commemorate the event, Vladimir set aside a tithe of his income and property to finance the construction of the first stone Church in Kiev, the capital of Kievan Rus’, called the Church of the Tithes. By Vladimir's order, the remains of his grandmother Princess Olga, the first Christian ruler of Rus', were reburied in this church.Vladimir and his wife, Princess Anna, the sister of Byzantine Emperor Basil II, were also buried in the Church of the Tithes. Today more than 70% of people in Ukraine are Christians. For example, there are many Christian Churches in Ukraine: Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Ukrainian Orthodox Church ( Kyivan Patriarchate), Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Ukrainian Greek Catholic church and others. The fact is that when Vladimir accepted and converted people to Christianity, in that period Church was one, not yet divided. Therefore, we have Ukrainian Greek Catholic church in Ukraine today, because people received Christianity and faith through one and undivided Church of Christ, that unity between Eastern and Western Church was reestablished, there were official unions regarding this issues. To conclude, facts from this paragraph object the previous, territories that overlaps, Vladimir's narrow ties with present Ukrainian territory and 70% of people being Christian majority in Byzantine rite, show that country and people of Ukraine are the rightful descendent of Kievan Rus’.
In Kiev, there is a huge statue of St. Vladimir the Great, Grand prince of Kiev, the ruler of Kievan Rus’ (980 – 1015). During Volodymyr's reign the first schools and churches were built, notably the Church of the Tithes in Kiev, where he was buried. Furthermore, the state coat of arms of Ukraine officially referred to as the Sign of Princely State of Vladimir the Great or commonly the Tryzub, is a representation of the seal-trident of Volodymyr the Great. For instance, the design has precedents in seals of the Kievan Rus'. The first known archeological and historical evidence of this symbol can be found on the seals of the Rurik dynasty. It was stamped on the gold and silver coins issued by Prince Vladimir the Great, who might have inherited the symbol from his ancestors (such as Sviatoslav I Igorevich) as a dynastic coat of arms, and he passed it on to his sons, Svyatopolk I (1015–19) and Yaroslav the Wise. The symbol was also found on the bricks of the Church of the Tithes in Kiev, the tiles of the Dormition Cathedral in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, and the stones of other churches, castles, and palaces. There are many examples of it used on ceramics, weapons, rings, medallions, seals, and manuscripts. Originally, Kievan Rus’ was a pagan country, but in the year 988, Vladimir the Great sent his envoys throughout the civilized world to judge the major religions of the time, Islam, Judaism, Roman Catholicism and Byzantine Orthodoxy (in that period still one Christian Church, yet to be divided). They were stunned with their visit to Constantinople (center of Byzantine Christianity), precisely the liturgy in Hagia Sophia (Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία). When envoys returned to Kiev they said: "We knew not whether we were in Heaven or on Earth… We only know that God dwells there among the people, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations." Vladimir was baptized at Chersonesos (Crimea, today's disputed territory between Russia and Ukraine), and proceeded to baptize his family and people in Dnieper river, Kiev. The latter events are traditionally referred to as baptism of Rus'. To commemorate the event, Vladimir set aside a tithe of his income and property to finance the construction of the first stone Church in Kiev, the capital of Kievan Rus’, called the Church of the Tithes. By Vladimir's order, the remains of his grandmother Princess Olga, the first Christian ruler of Rus', were reburied in this church.Vladimir and his wife, Princess Anna, the sister of Byzantine Emperor Basil II, were also buried in the Church of the Tithes. Today more than 70% of people in Ukraine are Christians. For example, there are many Christian Churches in Ukraine: Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Ukrainian Orthodox Church ( Kyivan Patriarchate), Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Ukrainian Greek Catholic church and others. The fact is that when Vladimir accepted and converted people to Christianity, in that period Church was one, not yet divided. Therefore, we have Ukrainian Greek Catholic church in Ukraine today, because people received Christianity and faith through one and undivided Church of Christ, that unity between Eastern and Western Church was reestablished, there were official unions regarding this issues. To conclude, facts from this paragraph object the previous, territories that overlaps, Vladimir's narrow ties with present Ukrainian territory and 70% of people being Christian majority in Byzantine rite, show that country and people of Ukraine are the rightful descendent of Kievan Rus’.
The Rusyn (Ruthenian) is actually a historical name for Ukrainians, the word Ruthenia originated as a latin rendering of the region and people of Kievan Rus'.
Firstly, in European manuscripts dating from the 13th century, "Ruthenia" was used to describe Rus': the wider area occupied by the Ancient Rus' (commonly referred to as Kievan Rus'). For instance, Kingdom of Halych-Volhynia was one of the several most important powers to emerge from the collapse of Kievan Rus’ in 1240. The Principality of Galicia–Volhynia, or Kingdom of Ruthenia (Old Ruthenian: Галицко-Волинскоє князовство, Королѣвство Русь, Ukrainian: Галицько-Волинське князівство, Королівство Русі, latin: Regnum Galiciae et Lodomeriae, Regnum Russiae). The first ruler of Galicia–Volhynia was Daniel of Galicia crowned by a papal archbishop in Dorohochyn 1253 (today city in western Poland) as the first King of Rus' (1253–1264).
Furthermore, the older Ukrainian ethnonym Ruthenian (Rus') was preserved by one smaller group of people in the south-west of Ukraine to this day. For instance, around 7 million Ukrainians declared themselves as Rusyns until the 20th century, especially those in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the 14th century, the name "Ruthenians" was accepted by today's Belarusians, and used it to the 18th century, while the Russians have accepted the title of "Russian" at the end of the 17th century after Pereyaslav agreement that is politically united Russia and Ukraine.
Secondly, as regards religious identity, after the Great schism of 1054, the formal separation of the Church of Rus' into separate Russian (Muscovite) and Ruthenian (Kievan) Metropolitan was in 1453 ( The fall of the Constantinople). There was great nostalgy in Ruthenian (Kievan) Metropolitan Church for unity with the Catholic Church ( latin catholicus, from the greek adjective καθολικός (katholikos), meaning "universal") comes from the Greek phraseκαθόλου (katholou), meaning "on the whole", "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words κατά meaning "about" and ὅλος meaning "whole". For example, there were several attempts (Church Unions) to return the Ruthenian (Kievan) Metropolitan Church under the Catholic Church, two of them were successful.
Firstly, in European manuscripts dating from the 13th century, "Ruthenia" was used to describe Rus': the wider area occupied by the Ancient Rus' (commonly referred to as Kievan Rus'). For instance, Kingdom of Halych-Volhynia was one of the several most important powers to emerge from the collapse of Kievan Rus’ in 1240. The Principality of Galicia–Volhynia, or Kingdom of Ruthenia (Old Ruthenian: Галицко-Волинскоє князовство, Королѣвство Русь, Ukrainian: Галицько-Волинське князівство, Королівство Русі, latin: Regnum Galiciae et Lodomeriae, Regnum Russiae). The first ruler of Galicia–Volhynia was Daniel of Galicia crowned by a papal archbishop in Dorohochyn 1253 (today city in western Poland) as the first King of Rus' (1253–1264).
Furthermore, the older Ukrainian ethnonym Ruthenian (Rus') was preserved by one smaller group of people in the south-west of Ukraine to this day. For instance, around 7 million Ukrainians declared themselves as Rusyns until the 20th century, especially those in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the 14th century, the name "Ruthenians" was accepted by today's Belarusians, and used it to the 18th century, while the Russians have accepted the title of "Russian" at the end of the 17th century after Pereyaslav agreement that is politically united Russia and Ukraine.
Secondly, as regards religious identity, after the Great schism of 1054, the formal separation of the Church of Rus' into separate Russian (Muscovite) and Ruthenian (Kievan) Metropolitan was in 1453 ( The fall of the Constantinople). There was great nostalgy in Ruthenian (Kievan) Metropolitan Church for unity with the Catholic Church ( latin catholicus, from the greek adjective καθολικός (katholikos), meaning "universal") comes from the Greek phraseκαθόλου (katholou), meaning "on the whole", "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words κατά meaning "about" and ὅλος meaning "whole". For example, there were several attempts (Church Unions) to return the Ruthenian (Kievan) Metropolitan Church under the Catholic Church, two of them were successful.
Such as Union of Brest 1596, when the Ruthenian Church of Rus', the "Metropolia of Kiev-Halych and all Rus'", decided to break relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church and to enter into communion with, and place itself under the authority of, the Pope of Rome. Another one was Uzhorod Union 1646, when 63 Ruthenian Orthodox priests from the south slopes of the Carpathian Mountains, then within the Kingdom of Hungary, decided to join the Catholic Church on terms similar to the Union of Brest from 1596 in the lands of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Thirdly, with an appearance of ethnonym Ukrainians in the 19th century, the use of "Ruthenia" became less common. In addition, Polish until 1939 and residents of a Transcarpathian region until today continue to use the Slavic variation of it as the Subcarpathian Rus and thus regard themselves or their neighbors as Rusyns, (Ruthenians). To be specific, Carpatho-Ruthenians are the last East Slavic people that kept the ancient historic name, because of their geographical territory they are highlanders, living in and around southwest slopes of Carpathian mountains, which was the last frontier of the Kievan Rus’. We can speculate that because it is high mountain terrain, new ideas, and reformation that occurred in Moscow and Kiev didn't reach to the people in that part of the land.Fourthly, we can draw a parallel between Eastern Slavic people and a typical family. In a family, we have parents and children, while children are young they live under one roof and under one surname (family name). It is natural that after certain age children will live their family and form their own new families. In some cases such as when a daughter is entering into marriage, she will take husband surname, this way she is losing her maiden name. Furthermore, in ancient times arranged marriages were normal between prince and princes from different countries for political reasons. For example, Vladimir the Great took a hand of Byzantine Emperor Basil II's sister, Anna. Also, spiritual values are given to the kids and material possessions are divided between them in equal shares, and in many cases that are the reason for a quarrel between them. Unfortunately, the wealth of their parents is being divided, or spend by them. In that way, something that is whole is divided into the pieces, and a piece cannot be a wholeness, yet many will claim that their piece is the one which is the most important, wholeness. Based on this parallel we can see Ruthenians as the oldest brother from a numerous family who didn't change his surname, sticking to its original roots, that didnt went through modern reformation, forming official nation and country. In this world that may be seen as a failure, but from another perspective as a release. For example, many people attach themselves to a nation, country and confine themselves within that specific group, forgeting that everything is temporarily. For instance, great empires have disintegrated, such as Roman empire and Byzantine empire, but Christianity didnt, we should learn something from our history, so that in the end we do not lose the kingdom of heaven because of the earthly kingdom. For instance, Saint Augustine said that there is two cities "City of man" and "City of God".In the end, from a personal experience, in 2014 in Ottawa (Canada) there was a 100 anniversary of the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine. For instance, on that anniversary while reading a short history of the church, it was sad that when Church was built in 1914, it was actually a St. John the Baptist Ruthenian Catholic Shrine, between the two world wars they rename the church to Ukranian. In the end, we see that new ideas will arise, names can be changed, but the truth cannot be deleted, thus Ruthenians are part of the Kievan Rus’ legacy.
To sum up, I believe that, no one, Russians, Ukrainians or Ruthenians cannot be 100% self-sufficient descendant of the Kievan Rus’, they are merely a part of the whole. We all know that something cannot come from nothing. Therefore, from one wholeness, originally Rus’ (Русь, Rus) referred to the people, regions, and medieval
state of Kievan Rus’, better known as Ruthenia, which by the seventeenth century evolved into the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian people and countries.
The parts of the wholeness that developed throughout history into the huge groups, nations, countries or as people that kept ancient name Ruthenian, that stayed on the borders of Kievan Rus’, till this day. Just as a tree that is growing from one root and expanding with it is branches toward the sun(God), with leafs that are looking the same but are all different, unique. One eastern Slavic family, with the same history and roots, culture that do not have sense one without another, once under one roof (Kievan Rus’) gathered under one father (Jesus Christ) and one mother (Theotokos). Today so distant, divided and in conflict, every child is on its own feet and putting their I (Ego) over WE, wanting to be, bigger and stronger than the other one. Our I is worth only when it is in WE. We should be careful that because of our I, we do not lose our WE. If we are only on a pro-Ukrainian, pro-Russian or pro-Ruthenian side, we will never be able to perceive the whole picture. We just want to see what we want to see, many times, intentionally, consciously and voluntarily we put a blinder, the same one that a man puts on his horse so that he do not see rear or sides. The real legacy of Kievan Rus’ is in the hands of all people that want to see that unity in diversity, people who are prepared for dialogue of love, definitely not in the hands of the people from one or another exclusive group. We all know that we should seek for things that bring as closer and not things that divide us. The things that are connecting us all to be part of that legacy are the name Rus', territory "Land of the Rus" and Christianity. Unity in diversity is one of the riches of Kievan Rus’ and that was given to all of us.
state of Kievan Rus’, better known as Ruthenia, which by the seventeenth century evolved into the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian people and countries.
The parts of the wholeness that developed throughout history into the huge groups, nations, countries or as people that kept ancient name Ruthenian, that stayed on the borders of Kievan Rus’, till this day. Just as a tree that is growing from one root and expanding with it is branches toward the sun(God), with leafs that are looking the same but are all different, unique. One eastern Slavic family, with the same history and roots, culture that do not have sense one without another, once under one roof (Kievan Rus’) gathered under one father (Jesus Christ) and one mother (Theotokos). Today so distant, divided and in conflict, every child is on its own feet and putting their I (Ego) over WE, wanting to be, bigger and stronger than the other one. Our I is worth only when it is in WE. We should be careful that because of our I, we do not lose our WE. If we are only on a pro-Ukrainian, pro-Russian or pro-Ruthenian side, we will never be able to perceive the whole picture. We just want to see what we want to see, many times, intentionally, consciously and voluntarily we put a blinder, the same one that a man puts on his horse so that he do not see rear or sides. The real legacy of Kievan Rus’ is in the hands of all people that want to see that unity in diversity, people who are prepared for dialogue of love, definitely not in the hands of the people from one or another exclusive group. We all know that we should seek for things that bring as closer and not things that divide us. The things that are connecting us all to be part of that legacy are the name Rus', territory "Land of the Rus" and Christianity. Unity in diversity is one of the riches of Kievan Rus’ and that was given to all of us.
Афоризми Київської Руси
"Якщо будете жити в любові між собою, і Бог буде з вами,
і підгорне від вас ворогів ваших, і будете мирно жити. Та коли в ненависті будете жити, в сварках і міжусобицях, то самі загинете, і землю батьків, і дідів своїх погубите, яку здобули трудом великим"
Bishops of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. St. George's Cathedral, Lviv, Lviv 12.1927. Sitting: bp.Hryhory Khomyshyn, Metropolitan ArchbishopAndrey Sheptytsky, bp. Nykyta Budka, bp. Josaphat Kotsylovsky.
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