Veneration of Archangel Michael in Pre-Mongolian time in Kyiv in the context of the New Jerusalem idea

Abstract

In this article, the author examines the veneration of Archangel Michael in Kyiv in the context of the idea of the capital of Rus’ as a New Jerusalem. This concept was influenced by the adoption of Christianity and was reflected in a number of written and architectural monuments. In them, the people of Rus’ realized themselves in world history in a new way and organized their living space accordingly. The author tries to show that the emergence of the Archangel Michael’s cult was one of the elements supporting this idea. His veneration was not only princely and military, which was typical of the Christian ecumene, but had its own characteristics. In the people’s mind, St Michael fought with the devil and helped them to get rid of his authority during their Baptism. These ideas were reflected in the building of churches dedicated to the Archangel: one – near the place where the idol of Perun stood, and the second – outside of Kyiv, where the idol was washed ashore and finally destroyed. The episodes associated with the victory over paganism with St Michael’s help had their parallels in biblical and church history. They are recorded in folk tradition, literary works, frescoes in St Sophia Cathedral and the specifics of the dedication of the churches. All this gave rise to an analogy between Rus’ and Israel, Kyiv and Jerusalem.