Changes

In 999, Leif Ericsson, "most excellent to look at, and in addition wise and moderate in everything as well as highly respected," set out from Greenland and went to Norway.  According to the sagas, King Olaf received Leif with much honor and, as a  Christian ruler, converted him to Christianity. According to the Saga of Olaf, "it was easy to baptize Leif," and Olaf assigned to him the task of converting the Greenlanders to Christianity.  

In 999, Leif Ericsson, "most excellent to look at, and in addition wise and moderate in everything as well as highly respected," set out from Greenland and went to Norway.  According to the sagas, King Olaf received Leif with much honor and, as a  Christian ruler, converted him to Christianity. According to the Saga of Olaf, "it was easy to baptize Leif," and Olaf assigned to him the task of converting the Greenlanders to Christianity.  

The next spring, in the year 1000, Leif set out as a missionary to return to Greenland. He took with him a priest, as well as "other holy men to baptize the people there and teach them the right faith." The Saga of Eric the Red records that on Leif's arrival at Brattahlid, his mother, Thjodhild, was baptized, and here they built the first church in Greenland. Leif and the priest soon baptized most of the Greenlanders, and this first church was followed by some sixteen others, including a cruciform cathedral and also a monastery and a nunnery.  

The next spring, in the year 1000, Leif set out as a missionary to return to [[Greenland]]. He took with him a priest, as well as "other holy men to baptize the people there and teach them the right faith." The Saga of Eric the Red records that on Leif's arrival at Brattahlid, his mother, Thjodhild, was baptized, and here they built the first church in Greenland. Leif and the priest soon baptized most of the Greenlanders, and this first church was followed by some sixteen others, including a cruciform cathedral and also a monastery and a nunnery.  

In Greenland in 1001, Leif Ericsson first heard of Bjarni Herjolfsson's discovery of new lands to the southwest. (Bjarni had only seen them from the sea.) This story moved him to buy a ship from Bjarni, with the idea of discovering for himself these new lands. What Leif's exact motives were we cannot say, but since Leif had been entrusted with bringing Christianity to Greenland, which he had done with the aid of clergy, his purpose may have been partly missionary. Thus it was that Leif Ericsson set out from Greenland with thirty-four companions and indeed discovered the same lands as Bjarni.  Compared to Greenland it was a paradise for the Norsemen, for here they could pasture their cattle and drink fresh milk. Here they found wild grain and many berries from which they made bread and wine. They built "large houses" here and stayed the winter, seeing no snow. They called the place Vinland.  We call it Newfoundland.

In Greenland in 1001, Leif Ericsson first heard of Bjarni Herjolfsson's discovery of new lands to the southwest. (Bjarni had only seen them from the sea.) This story moved him to buy a ship from Bjarni, with the idea of discovering for himself these new lands. What Leif's exact motives were we cannot say, but since Leif had been entrusted with bringing Christianity to Greenland, which he had done with the aid of clergy, his purpose may have been partly missionary. Thus it was that Leif Ericsson set out from Greenland with thirty-four companions and indeed discovered the same lands as Bjarni.  Compared to Greenland it was a paradise for the Norsemen, for here they could pasture their cattle and drink fresh milk. Here they found wild grain and many berries from which they made bread and wine. They built "large houses" here and stayed the winter, seeing no snow. They called the place Vinland.  We call it Newfoundland.

What became of these settlers? Did they all return to Greenland? Some think that they were killed by disease or the native inhabitants. No one alive today knows. But however we may look at it, the fact is that the first Christians in North America came from Scandinavia at a time when Scandinavian Christians were Orthodox.  

What became of these settlers? Did they all return to Greenland? Some think that they were killed by disease or the native inhabitants. No one alive today knows. But however we may look at it, the fact is that the first Christians in North America came from Scandinavia at a time when Scandinavian Christians were Orthodox.

===The Russians===

===The Russians===