(980 — 1015)
The first years of the reign of Vladimir were overshadowed by his cruelty of character: his inclination for polygamy and zealous worship of idols.
He conquered Chervonnaya Rus or Galicia, defeated the Yatvingians, fought with the Kama Bulgarians.
The most important thing of his reign was the assertion of Christianity in Russia. Vladimir decided to be a Christian.
After a successful campaign against the Yatvingians, he decided to bring Perun human sacrifice, the lot fell on the son of a Varangian Christian: the father did not give his son and before the whole people said that their gods are not gods, but made by people, and God alone, whom the Greeks worship. Father and son were killed by a furious mob of pagans.
After this incident, Vladimir decided to accept a new faith. He considered it humiliating for him to confess to the Greeks in his delusions and to ask the emperors for baptism. He decided to win the faith of Christ and accept it with the hand of the conqueror.
After gathering a large army, Vladimir went to the Greek city of Korsun, conquered it and sent him to ask the Greek emperors Vasily and Constantine to give their sister Anna for him, threatening, if they refused, to go to Constantinople.
The emperors agreed, but on the condition that he accept Christianity. And then Vladimir was baptized in Korsun in the church of St. Basil in 988 year. Many of his squads also were baptized for him.
The Grand Duke married Anna, and on his return to Kiev baptized his people. Kiev at the appointed time came to the bank of the Dnieper, where he arrived and Vladimir, accompanied by priests. Solemnly the rite of baptism was performed.
After baptism, a great change took place in Vladimir’s character: he became pious, affectionate, generously distributed alms, created schools of the temple (the Virgin’s Tithes Church in Kiev).
He became in the fullest sense the father of his subjects. To protect the Russian limits from external enemies, especially the Pechenegs, he built new cities.
Vladimir lived to his old age and died in the village of Berestov near Kiev. He is buried in the Virgin’s Tithe temple. The church is ranked among the saints and is called “Equal to the Apostles”.