St. Vladimir of Kiev, 958-1015, A.D.
Vladimir was the illegitimate pagan son of King Svastoslav of Kiev and his reputed prophetess & housekeeper Maluska; and grandson of St. Olga, a Chuistian.
He had been designated ruler of only Novgorod, but wrested Kiev from his legitimate half-brother Yaropolk by treachery and murder, proclaiming himself king of all Kievan Russia in 980.
After conquering Galacia, Yatirugia, and the Bulgars, this thouroughly pagan monarch finally demanded human sacrifice, causing an uprising of the citizens. Vladimir reluctantly came to pander all religions, ultimately settling on Christianity in 988, taking the Christian name of Basil.He came to greatly admire Byzantium, and married Princess Anna.
He now destroyed all the pagan monuments in his realm, and established the Church of the Tithes and Monasteries on Mt. Athos.His further reign was contentious and strife=ridden.
Upon his death of old age in l015, his dismembered body was distributed among the churches and monasteries of his realm, venerated as relics. He has been remembered as having christianized Kievan Russia, beginning its Christian period.