Holy Resurrection Cathedral - St. Nikolai(2)

After the missionary of the Volga Bulgarians, who were followers of Islam, introduced the faith to Vladimir, he concluded that given the harsh, cold climate of Rus', it was impossible to abstain from alcohol and pork, so he rejected Islam. 🕌❄️ When the missionary from the Khazar Khaganate, who followed Judaism, explained their faith, Vladimir responded by saying that they had been abandoned by their own God. 🕍 The final missionary was from the Byzantine Empire, which was still part of the Orthodox Church (since the Great Schism had not yet occurred) This missionary, with the eloquence of a philosopher, truly impressed Vladimir. 🕍🌟 Already intrigued, Vladimir sent envoys to investigate these religions firsthand. When the envoys returned, they reported that the mosques of Islam smelled of body odor, and the churches of the Germans (Roman Catholic) were unremarkable. However, the Hagia Sophia in Byzantium was like a glimpse of heaven itself. 🕍✨ #Tokyo 🌇