# Baptism of Kievan Rus' (988)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/988-baptism-of-kievan-rus
Location: Kyiv, Rus'
Themes: Mission

Grand Prince Vladimir of Kyiv accepts Byzantine Christianity and has the people of Kyiv baptized. At this point in the timeline (988), the Bishop of Rome was Pope John XV (20 August 985 – 1 April 996).

## Why it matters
Baptism of Kievan Rus' mattered because it carried Christianity to new peoples and regions, changing the map of world Christianity.

Pope at the time: [Pope John XV](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-john-xv)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Christianization of Kievan Rus'](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianization_of_Kievan_Rus')
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Baptism of Kievan Rus'](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Baptism+of+Kievan+Rus%27)
- [Wikipedia — Medieval Church (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church#Middle_Ages)