Rome, Byzantium & the Slavs:  Christianizing East & Central Europe

Sts. Cyril and Methodius:  "Apostles to the Slavs"

Manuscript in "Glagolitic" script devised by St. Cyril;
precursor to Cyrillic (named after the saint)

Christianization of Russia

Reconstructed model of St. Sophia, Kiev, with its 13 domes

                            Foundation stone laid in 1037 under Yaroslav theWise.
    Until sack of Kiev by Mongols in 1240, its architechture & decoration provided most tangible evidence of  Russia's
              cultural links with Byzantium. (from Dimitri Obolensky, The Byzantine Commonwealth)

St. Sophia in Novgorod, 11th century; 5 domes.  Onion dome shape may have originated in Novgorod