Show:
The Great and the Terrible
Holy Nouns
Schisms and Controversies
Forget the Icon . . . Let's Talk Axes!
To Russia with Love . . . Non-Russian stuff
100
This Grand Prince of Kiev baptized a whole city in the Dnieper after his envoys convinced him that Orthodoxy was the prettiest religion (or that it was the most politically expedient choice, depending on who we want to believe).
Who is Vladimir? (988)
100
These objects of veneration in the Russian Orthodox Church disregard the rules of Western art in favor of symbolic items and postures, non-linear time progression, and inverse perspective.
What are icons?
100
These events in 1666-67 got really Archpriest Avvakum hot under the collar, first figuratively, then literally.
What is the Raskol (Russian Schism)?
100
What invasion force came out of nowhere and ended the Kievan period of Russian history?
What are the Mongols? (Mongol Yoke, 1240-1480)
100
Russia's connections to this empire, both culturally and politically, but especially religiously, allowed Muscovites to proclaim their city a "third Rome."
What is the Byzantine Empire?
200
This "awesome" Russian ruler became Grand Prince of Moscow when he was only three, but he crowned himself Tsar of all the Russians at age 16.
Who is Ivan IV (the Terrible)? (1547-1584)
200
These two princes could have fought for political power with their brothers, but instead imitated Christ for the good of Russia.
Who are Boris and Gleb?
200
This Byzantine religious kerfluffel caused controversy as far away as Damascus, even though Orthodoxy triumphed in the end.
What is the Iconoclastic Controversy? (8th and 9th centuries)
200
This period of interregnum (time between kings) saw the emergence of several pretenders and usurpation attempts. It was a chaotic, troubled period until Mikhail Romanov was accepted as the rightful Tsar.
What is the Smuta (Time of Troubles)? 1598-1613
200
After the death of Boris Godunov, this Catholic nation with Slavic roots sent a former monk to Moscow to pretend to be Ivan IV's son, Dmitrii. These days, this country contents itself with arguing about which country REALLY invented vodka/wodka.
What is Poland?
300
This dynasty survived a lot of change. It ended with a "slow" Tsar who loved church bells, but it began with a viking warlord who was "invited" to rule over the Rus'.
What is the Riurikid Dynasty? (862-1598)
300
These weighty instruments were an important part of Russian religious life, acting as a sort of "sonic icon" of the voice of God.
What are church bells?
300
When he tried to bring Russian ritual back in line with the old Byzantine ways, some people accused this Patriarch of being the Antichrist.
Who was Patriarch Nikon?
300
This powerful old Russian socio-economic class were once responsible for providing military and administrative support to the Grand Princes. Ivan IV tried to give them the axe because they drove him crazy (possibly in a literal sense).
Who were the Boyars?
300
This Englishman was sent to Russia on a diplomatic trade mission, but his reports back to England focus on an intense dislike of Russian religion that was very undiplomatic.
Who is Giles Fletcher? (Fedor I's reign)
400
He was the first Grand Prince of Moscow to call himself "tsar," but people thought he was really great at gathering the Russian lands under Muscovite control.
Who is Ivan III (the Great)?
400
This was a powerful role often given to people the modern society would institutionalize or ignore. These people were believed to have sacrificed human reason in order to act as conduits of divine wisdom.
What are holy fools?
400
The addition of this Latin word to the Nicene Creed precipitated the break between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
What is the filioque? (The Great Schism, 1054)
400
This brutal implement of corporal punishment, while not as brutal as an axe, was used to discipline serfs and slaves.
What is a knout?
400
Even after the threat of Mongols from the East was dealt with, invasion from the west by this bunch of knights remained a major concern for Russia. Ivan IV's ex-best friend, Kurbsky, defected to this Catholic power.
What is Livonia or the Livonian Knights (Modern day Lithuania)?
500
Even though this boyar had been the de facto ruler during the reign of Tsar Feodor I (the Bellringer), the Time of Troubles began because a lot of Russians felt his claim to the throne wasn't good enough.
Who is Boris Gudonov?
500
This massive church built by Emperor Justinian the Great was so impressive that the Turks turned it into a mosque rather then destroy it and its design influenced church building across all Orthodox territories.
What is the Hagia Sophia?
500
The Old Believers would only say this word twice before saying "glory to thee oh god." The patriarch thought it should be said three times.
What is aleluia? (Raskol, 1666-67)
500
These menacing thugs dressed all in black and carried a severed dogs head and a broom. They helped Ivan IV earn his sobriquet by sowing chaos and fear across Russia in order to bolster the Tsar's power.
What are the Oprichniki? (Oprichnina)
500
They were the group of vikings led by Riurik who came, allegedly by invitation, to rule over the Rus'. Many of the oldest Russian noble families trace their descent to them.
Who were the Varangians?