The Baptism of Rus as a civilizational choice and the spiritual axis of the formation of Ukrainian cultural heritage

Abstract

The baptism of Rus in 988 was a key event that determined the civilizational choice of the Kyivan state and laid the foundation for the formation of Ukrainian cultural identity. The relevance of the study is due to the need for a comprehensive rethinking of this event in the context of modern challenges related to the preservation of historical memory and countering manipulative interpretations that are actively used for propaganda purposes. The purpose of the article is to study the political, socio-cultural and religious prerequisites of the baptism of Rus, analyze its impact on the formation of Ukrainian cultural heritage and identify current threats and opportunities for preserving its significance in public consciousness. The methodological basis of the study is historical-comparative, civilizational and culturological approaches, as well as methods of source analysis and critical interpretation of written and archaeological materials. An interdisciplinary analysis of historical, cultural and political factors was used, which allowed for a comprehensive disclosure of the subject of the study. Results. The study found that the baptism of Rus was a conscious political and cultural act aimed at integrating the Kyivan state into the European civilizational space. It was found that Christianization contributed to the formation of stable spiritual guidelines that determined the development of national culture, education and art within the framework of the Byzantine-European model. It was found that the historical heritage of baptism became the object of systematic Russian imperial propaganda, which requires the development of targeted measures for its protection and popularization in the domestic cultural space. Conclusions. The results obtained can be used in scientific research on history and cultural studies, educational programs, museum and monument protection activities, as well as in the development of state cultural policy strategies. The scientific novelty lies in the combination of the analysis of historical sources with modern concepts of civilizational development and the formation of national identity. Prospects for further research are related to an in-depth analysis of the impact of the baptism of Rus on intercultural interactions in Eastern Europe.