Vladimir the Great

Vladimir, grand prince of Kiev, was a pagan ruler of the Rus. The Primary Chronicle, attributed to the monk Néstor, relates that he sent envoys to examine the religions of neighbouring peoples. This translation is from Leo Wiener’s Anthology of Russian Literature (1902). The envoys returned and reported to Vladimir and his counsellors, describing in turn the worship of the Muslim Bulgars, the Germans, and the Greeks at Constantinople.

And we came to Germany, and we saw many ceremonies in their temples, but of beauty we saw none. We went to Greece, and they took us where they worship their God, and we do not know whether we were in heaven or upon earth, for there is not upon earth such sight or beauty. We were perplexed, but this much we know that there God lives among men, and their service is better than in any other country. We cannot forget that beauty, for every man that has partaken of sweetness will not afterwards accept bitterness, and thus we can no longer remain in our former condition.Envoys of Vladimir, in the Primary Chronicle (tr. Leo Wiener, 1902)

His counsellors added that his grandmother Olga, the wisest of rulers, had accepted the Greek faith. Vladimir was baptized, took the Byzantine Christianity of Constantinople, and had the people of Kiev baptized in the river Dnieper. He died in 1015.