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Adoption of Christianity in Ancient Russia was one of the most important events in its history. A lot of scientists dedicated their researches to this event. But the point of view of the traditional historiography is one-side oriented. All the causes premises and significance of this great state changing are taken in the view of Russian-Byzantine relations.
Adoption of Christianity in the ancient Russian annals is connected only with Byzantine Empire. Though there are some indications of the existence of other trends of confessions and religions. For example western variant of Christianity, Islam, Judaism etc.
It is known that in the period of Yaroslav's regency Russian annals were edited in the spirit of Byzantine variant of Christianity as it was required by new political circumstances. But the most interesting fact is that neither Rome, nor Constantinople took notice of this important event.
All this made us think about alternatives ofthe Adoption of Christianity in Ancient Russia.The research begins with the analysis of the basic parameters which are connected with the Adoption of Christianity in Ancient Russia from the point of view of official historiography.
Among the most important causes of baptization of Ancient Russia by Byzantine Empire official historiography points to the Russian-Byzantine relations and particular to the active trade between them.There existed a trade route"FromVaryags to Greeks". But we mustn't foget that there were other routes as so-called"From Germans to Hazards" and The Great Volga Route. Deep analysis of all these trade routes shows some interesting result. There came out that the route"From Germans to Hazards" is older and more intensive than"From Varyags to Greeks" route. But The Great Volga Route beginning with the end of VII century had a transcontinental importance.
Official historiography determines premises of foreign policy as frequent military situation between Ancient Russia and Byzantine Empire. Studying other directions of military drives of Russian knyazs revealed another picture. There turned out that eastern direction of Russian military drives even prevails Byzantine.
Inner political premises have their religious context. Before the state period in Ancient Russia pagan spiritual leaders had great authority over the people.When theVaryags appeared there began to form state organization due to their impact. So new conflict between secular and spiritual leaders appeared.To obtain the absolute powerVaryags had to restrict the impact ofthe spiritual leaders -Volhvs. They were ministers of Veles' religion. In order to regulate the home policy situation in the country Vladimir had to adopt a confession which would exclude the power ofVolhvs, or to make their place disadvantageous. Christianity was the best solution ofthis problem.Veles was the God of underground world that's why he as equated to the Devil in Christianity.
Traditional historiography points to the spread of Christianity before its official adoption as to the significant religious premise. But according to the data ofwritten and archeological sources we can see that various religions and confessions were also spread in Ancient Russia. These are different variants of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and various pagan trends. We must also mention various Christian missions to Ancient Russia - the German mission of Adalbert. Mission of Kiril and Methody. They weren't of Byzantine origin at all.
So we can make a conclusion that there were a lot of alternatives to Christianity in Ancient Russia. It ia evident that Ancient Russia adopted Christianity, but we can not confidently testify that it was Byzantine variant.