The historian explained the significance of the Day of the Baptism of Rus for modern Russia

The Day of the Baptism of Rus, established in Russia in 2010, is not just a memorable date, but also an occasion to reflect on the historical heritage of the country and recall the origins of Russian culture and statehood. Philip Ilyashenko, vice-rector of St. Tikhon's Orthodox University for the Humanities and Candidate of Historical Sciences, told Izvestia about this.

"The holiday highlights the continuity of Russia's historical development and helps to better understand the origins of its statehood, culture and spiritual values," Ilyashenko said.

He stressed that it was thanks to this event that the Slavs entered the Christian world and began to perceive themselves as a single people.

"Thanks to Christianity, common values, cultural traditions and a system of spiritual guidelines were formed, which became the basis of the national identity of the Russian people," the historian noted.

He added that the civilizational choice made by Prince Vladimir in 988 continues to define the cultural code of Russia after more than a thousand years.

"Even despite difficult periods in the country's history, including the 20th century, many cultural and moral ideas continue to be based on the legacy of that period," the historian said.

Read more in the Izvestia article:

The Day of the Baptism of Rus 2026: how Prince Vladimir changed the history of the Russian state.