Древняя Русь и Скандинавия: Избранные труды

In the year of 6491 (983). Vladimir marched on the Jatvjagians[1431], conquered them, and seized their territory. He returned to Kiev, and together with his people made sacrifice to the idols. The elders and the boyars then proposed that they should cast lots for a youth and a maiden, and sacrifice to the gods whomsoever the lot should fall upon.

Now there was a certain Varangian whose house was situated at the spot where now stands the Church of the Holy Virgin, which Vladimir built. This Varangian had come from Greece. He adhered to the Christian faith[1432], and he had a son, fair in face and in heart, on whom, through the devil’s hatred, the lot fell. For the devil, though he had dominion over all the rest, could not suffer this youth. He was like a thorn in the devil’s heart, and the accursed one was eager to destroy him, and even aroused the people thereto. Messengers thus came and said to the father, «Since the lot has fallen upon your son, the gods have claimed him as their own. Let us therefore make sacrifice to the gods». But the Varangian replied, «These are not gods, but only idols of wood. Today it is, and tomorrow it will rot away. These gods do not eat, or drink, or speak; they are fashioned by hand out of wood. But the God whom the Greeks serve and worship is one; it is he who has made heaven and earth, the stars, the moon, the sun, and mankind, and has granted him life upon earth. But what have these gods created? They are themselves made. I will not give up my son to devils».

So the messengers went back and reported to the people. The latter took up arms, attacked the Varangian and his son, and on braking down the stockade about his house, found him standing upon the porch. They then called upon him to surrender his son that they might offer him to the gods. But he replied, «If they be gods, they will send one of their number to take my son. What need have you of him?» They straightway raised a shout, and broke up the structure under them. Thus the people killed them, and no one knows where they are buried.

For at that time the Russes were ignorant pagans. The devil rejoiced thereat, for he did not know that his ruin was approaching.. [1433].

After Christianization of Rus’ the two Varangians became the first Russian martyrs and their vita was composed not later than 1113 when its shortened version was included in the «Primary Chronicle»[1434]. It has many common features with the narration about the Christianization of Rus’ by St. Vladimir in the «Primary Chronicle» and it is believed to belong to the same author[1435]. The chronicle narration preserves some clearly hagiographic features and is considered to render the original vita.