The Viking Roots of the Rus and the Shared Legacy of Faith and Civilization

By Bobby Darvish 

In a world increasingly dominated by globalist propaganda and historical revisionism, it is imperative that we revisit and reclaim the truths of our Christian heritage and the foundational role that European civilization played in shaping the modern world. One such truth, often overlooked or distorted by the liberal West, is the noble origin of Russia—rooted not in tyranny or despotism, as the mainstream media would have us believe, but in the valiant, adventurous spirit of the Vikings, and in the light of Orthodox Christianity.

Around A.D. 800, Scandinavian Vikings known as the Varangians began opening crucial trade routes through the rivers of Eastern Europe, navigating the Dnieper and Volga to connect the Baltic with the Black and Caspian Seas. These weren’t merely marauders as Hollywood would suggest—they were skilled merchants, explorers, and warriors who forged relationships with the local Slavic tribes. They dominated the region, eventually establishing rule over key cities like Novgorod and Kiev. This led to the birth of a great and enduring civilization: Kievan Rus.

According to the Primary Chronicle, a medieval Slavic text, the Eastern Slavs invited the Varangians to restore order and justice to their warring lands. The Chronicle recounts how in 862 A.D., Rurik, a Norse chieftain, was invited to rule over Novgorod, becoming the founding figure of what would evolve into the Russian state:

"Our land is great and rich, but there is no order in it. Come to rule and reign over us" (Primary Chronicle, trans. Cross & Sherbowitz-Wetzor, 1953).

Rurik's dynasty continued with his kinsman Oleg, who moved south to Kiev and established the city as the capital of the emerging state. By the 10th century, Kievan Rus became one of the most influential powers in Eastern Europe. Significantly, it was under Prince Vladimir the Great—a direct descendant of the Norse rulers—that Christianity was officially adopted in 988 A.D., uniting the diverse tribes of the region under the cross of Christ and aligning Kievan Rus with the Christian civilization of Byzantium.

Thus, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus—modern nations often pitted against each other by foreign interests—can all trace their roots back to this common Viking and Christian heritage. This fact undermines the false narratives of artificial division and "Western superiority" that seek to fracture Eastern Christian nations. Instead of viewing Russia as a rogue state, we should recognize her as an heir to the same Indo-European, Christian, and noble traditions that shaped Europe itself.

The Orthodox Church, established through this Christianization, has endured centuries of Mongol invasions, Islamic pressures, Communist persecution, and now liberal atheism and NATO aggression. Yet Russia remains a bulwark of Christian tradition, standing against globalist agendas that seek to erase faith, family, and national identity.

It is no surprise that the Western liberal elite despise Russia today. For in Russia they see a nation unwilling to abandon Christian morals, traditional families, and historical truth. The same spirit that led Norsemen like Rurik to build and defend a civilization of law, order, and faith is alive today in the Russian heartland.

In conclusion, to understand Russia is to understand the Vikings who first forged her, the Orthodox faith that baptized her, and the eternal Christian spirit that sustains her. As conservative Christians, we should stand with our fellow believers in Russia, honor our shared heritage, and reject the lies that seek to divide us.

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Citations:

1. Cross, Samuel H., and Olgerd P. Sherbowitz-Wetzor, trans. The Russian Primary Chronicle: Laurentian Text. Medieval Academy of America, 1953.
   https://www.medievalacademy.org/Publications/Books/PRChronicle.htm

2. Franklin, Simon, and Shepard, Jonathan. The Emergence of Rus 750–1200. Longman, 1996.

3. Duczko, Wladyslaw. Viking Rus: Studies on the Presence of Scandinavians in Eastern Europe. Brill, 2004.

4. Vernadsky, George. Kievan Russia. Yale University Press, 1973.

5. Billington, James H. The Icon and the Axe: An Interpretive History of Russian Culture. Vintage Books, 1970.

6. Christian, David. A History of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia. Wiley-Blackwell, 1998.

7. Pipes, Richard. Russia Under the Old Regime. Penguin Books, 1997.