“May our great Church grow and prosper — the Church United with the People and the People United with the Church!” Celebration of the 900th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus in 1888 in the Russian Empire (Based on Materials from the Church Periodical Press)

The celebration of the 900th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus in 1888 became one of the most massive church-state celebrations in the entire history of the Russian Empire. The main festivities took place in Kiev with the participation of Metropolitan Platon (Gorodetsky) of Kiev and Galicia, Ober-Procurator of the Holy Synod K. P. Pobedonostsev, and other prominent church and secular figures. Solemn events on July 14 and 15 also occurred in St. Petersburg and Moscow, as well as in all major cities. According to the decree of the Holy Synod, festive services were held in all cathedrals and churches of the Russian Orthodox Church. The preparation and the celebrations themselves were described in detail on the pages of the church periodical press. This article provides a brief overview of key publications dedicated to this topic.