EYEWITNESS’S VIEW: 900TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAPTISM OF RUS IN KYIV IN A LETTER FROM PETRO VASYLCHYKOV TO GRYGORII GALAGAN

Abstract

The archives of the Ukrainian elite are an important source for the reconstruction of various life-stages of society in the 19th century. Publication of the document form Galagan family collection, presents a private view on one of the significant events in the social and political history of the Russian Empire. This is a celebration of the 900th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus in Kyiv on summer 1888. Feasibility publication due to the fact that this year marks 130 years since the events referred to in the letter. The celebration of the 900th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus was entirely in line with the imperial power’s desire to use the past for creating ideological and spiritual myths, that would contribute to strengthening the autocratic system of government through the unification of the state and the church. In the last third of the 19 century the Russian Empire was actively involved in European practice of so called «invented tradition» (E. Gobsbaum) for a successful positioning itself as a country in the world. But the practice of imperial anniversaries had not only foreign policy but also internal tasks. It sought to neutralize national factors of life of the peoples of the multinational empire, especially Ukrainian, and strengthen the «space power» by leveling distinct. Petro Vasylchykov letter to Grygorii Galagan helps to understand the attitude to this event of the prominent politicians and public activists of the Empire at the end of the 19th century. At the same time, it contains many details for the reconstruction of everyday life of Kyiv at the time of the anniversary celebration.