On July 28, the Russian Orthodox Church honors the memory of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, and the memorable date — Day of the Baptism of Rus' is dedicated to this holiday in Russia.
The baptism of Rus' took place in 988. This key historical event is associated with the name of Saint Prince Vladimir. Historians call Vladimir the Great, the church — holy Equal-to-the-Apostles, the people named him Vladimir the Red Sun.
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir the Red Sun (960—1015) was the son of Prince Svyatoslav of Kyiv and the grandson of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga. Shortly before his death, Prince Svyatoslav divided the Russian land between three sons: the eldest son, Yaropolk, received Kyiv, the middle one, Oleg, — land Drevlyanskaya, and the youngest, Vladimir, — Novgorod. Soon after Svyatoslav’s death, feuds began between the brothers, as a result of which Vladimir became the sole power prince of Rus.
In 983, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich made a successful campaign against the Yatvingians. In 987, he captured the city of Chersonesos, which belonged to the Byzantine Empire at that time, and, threatening to march on Constantinople, demanded the hand of Princess Anna, sister of the Byzantine emperors-co-rulers Basil and Constantine. The latter made Vladimir’s acceptance of the faith of Christ a condition for marriage. When Princess Anna arrived with the clergy in Chersonesos, Prince Vladimir suddenly went blind.
The princess invited him to be baptized immediately, in the hope of healing. During baptism, the prince regained his sight. In spiritual delight, he exclaimed: «Now I have seen the True God!». Some of the prince's vigilantes, amazed by this miracle, were also baptized. In Holy Baptism, Prince Vladimir was named Basil in honor of St. Basil the Great. At the same time, his marriage to Princess Anna took place in Chersonesos. As a ransom for his wife, the prince returned Chersonesos to Byzantium, building a temple in it in the name of St. John the Baptist and the Baptist of the Lord.
Prince Vladimir returned to Kiev along with Princess Anna, Constantinople and Chersonesos clergy, taking with him liturgical books, icons, church utensils, as well as the holy relics of Clement, Bishop of Rome, and his student Thebes. Thus, dynastic and interstate ties between Russia and Byzantium were strengthened.
Upon returning to Kyiv, Prince Vladimir baptized 12 of his sons. His entire house and many boyars were baptized. Then Prince Vladimir began to eradicate paganism in Rus' and exterminate pagan idols. The clergy, as well as previously baptized princes and boyars, walked around the squares and houses of the people of Kiev and instructed them in the truths of the Gospel, denouncing the vanity and futility of idolatry.
After converting to Christianity, Prince Vladimir ordered the construction of Christian churches in those places where idols used to stand.