The Ukrainians received the [[Christianity|Christian]] faith through [[Eastern Roman Empire|Eastern Roman]] missionaries and their churches. Consequently, they were originally connected to the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]]. In [[988]], the [[Grand Prince of Kievan Rus|Prince]] of [[Kievan Rus|Kyiv]], [[Vladimir I of Kyiv|Volodymyr Sviatoslavych]], [[Baptism of Kyiv|proclaimed Christianity as the official religion]] throughout Ukrainian lands. This same year, almost the entire population was baptized by the Dnieper River in the [[Roman Catholic Church#Catholic Church Rites (branches)|Byzantine Rite]]. | The Ukrainians received the [[Christianity|Christian]] faith through [[Eastern Roman Empire|Eastern Roman]] missionaries and their churches. Consequently, they were originally connected to the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]]. In [[988]], the [[Grand Prince of Kievan Rus|Prince]] of [[Kievan Rus|Kyiv]], [[Vladimir I of Kyiv|Volodymyr Sviatoslavych]], [[Baptism of Kyiv|proclaimed Christianity as the official religion]] throughout Ukrainian lands. This same year, almost the entire population was baptized by the Dnieper River in the [[Roman Catholic Church#Catholic Church Rites (branches)|Byzantine Rite]]. |