Calendar: 1927-1928 Page 476

SOME DEBTS TO BYZANTINISM Vll influence upon Russian ecclesiastical literature The translation from Greek works continued in the Bulgaria which revived after the con- quests of Basil Bulgaroctonus Architecture and painting under Simeon were directed by Byzantine artists The relations between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire were further cemented by the marriage of Simeon's son Peter to Maria granddaughter of Romanus Lecapenus and the name of the bride was changed to Irene This is why Bulgarian envoys had precedence at the Court of Byzantium in the tenth century as Liutprand Bishop of Cremona found to his chagrin Greek ecclesiastical literature penetrated into Russia through Bulgaria and Byzantine civilization was destined to exercise great influence upon Russia Cyril's translations opened the way and in the tenth century Christianity made great progress in the country It is possible that the story of Queen Olga's baptism in 956-7 is legendary but such doubt does not attach to the baptism of Prince Vladimir in 989 and his marriage to the Byzantine princess Anna marked the close union between the peoples It is said that forty churches were built in Kiev in this century and the architecture was Byzantine The ecclesiastical organization was Greek and the Metropolitan of the Russian Church was at first appointed by the Patriarch The monastic system of the Byzantine Empire was also taken over and the Pechersky monastery at Kiev was conducted on the rule of Theodore of Studion It has often been remarked that much of the ceremony of the Tsarist Court of Russia was Byzantine and certain festivals such as that of the Blessing of the Waters were conducted on lines closely resembling those of festivals described in the Ceremonies of Constantine Porphyrogenitus Byzantine trade also had considerable effect in familiarizing the Russians with the manners and luxury of the Empire We have interesting accounts of the annual Russian trade expeditions which set out from Kiev down the Dnieper bound for Constantinople by way of the Black Sea The Russians made the voyage rendered difficult and dangerous by the rapids and the hostility of the Patzinaks and Khazars through whose territory they had to pass in boats hollowed out of single tree trunk monoxylons and were accorded free quarters at St Mamas at the bottom of the Golden Horn From there they were allowed to pass into the city through one gate only and not more than fifty at time They were exempted from tolls and their wares were principally slaves skins honey and wax For their voyage home they were furnished with the tackle necessary for the repair of their boats In return for these favours they were bound by treaty to protect the Empire against the incursions of barbarian tribes and carried away with them the silks and other articles of luxury which Constantinople could supply But numerous Russians served in the Imperial armies and supplied crews for its fleets The Scandinavian Ros who had established them- selves in Russia sometimes made expeditions against the Byzantine