#rurikovich

[roehenstart]

The Wedding of Alexander Nevsky and Alexandra Polotskaya. By Fyodor Moller.

[dreamconsumer]

1. Rurik, Prince of Novgorod (862-879).

[countvonreutern]

His Serene Highness The Count of Munnich and Reutern expresses his profound regret over the decision of the state leadership of Turkey to revoke the museum status for Hagia Sophia and once again convert it into a Mosque for public worship.

That decision has hurt the feelings of millions of Christians all over the world.

Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century in honour of Christ the Saviour - this cathedral is a special place of historical and spiritual importance for the Christian world.

His Serene Highness hopes that the Turkish authorities will take all necessary steps to preserve the priceless Christian mosaics and frescoes which have miraculously survived to this day and will ensure access to them for the Christian pilgrims.

In the 950s, the Count’s 28th great grandmother, Grand Princess Olga of Kiev traveled to Constantinople - the capital of the Byzantine Empire, to visit Emperor Constantine VII. During that visit, she converted to Christianity and was baptised by the Emperor and the Patriarch at the Saint Sophia cathedral.

At the time of Olga’s death, it seemed that her attempt to make then pagan Kievan Rus' a Christian territory had been a failure. Nonetheless, her Christianising mission would be brought to fruition by her grandson, Prince Vladimir, who received baptism and baptised Rus’ in 988.

Prince Vladimir stands as a central figure in Russian history as well as in the Orthodox Church who named him a saint for the introduction of Christianity to the country. Among people, he earned the name "Vladimir the Great" for his rulership.

In 1547, nearly 600 years after Olga’s death in 969, she was named a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church.

[bliss-spring]

Рю́рик (862-879) — по древнерусской летописной традиции варяг, новгородский князь и родоначальник княжеской, ставшей впоследствии царской, династии Рюриковичей на Руси.

[glitterofthepast]

The rulers of the Rurikid Dynasty who ruled over Russia for over than six centuries.

[roehenstart]

Lev Danilovich. Unknown artist.

Leo I of Galicia (or Lev Danilovich; c. 1228 - c. 1301) Kniaz of Belz (1245-1264), Kniaz of Peremyshl, Prince of Hálych (1264-1269) and King of Rus (1269-1301), Grand Prince of Kievan Rus (1271-1301), Prince of Galicia-Volynia (1264 - 1301). He was the son of King Daniel of Galicia and his first wife Anna of Novgorod (or Anna Mstislavna). His maternal grandfather was Mstislav the Brave. He was therefore a first cousin of Alexander Nevsky as his mother, Anna Mstislavna, was the sister of Rostislava Mstislavna, Alexander's mother, both being daughters of Mstislav Mstislav Mstislavich.

[roehenstart]

Oleg at his horse's remains. Illustration to "Lay of the wise Oleg" by Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov.

[roehenstart]

Sviatoslav I of Kiev. By Volodymyr Kireyev.