Equal-to-the-Apostles · † 1015
Prince Vladimir
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles, Great Prince Vladimir (in Baptism Basil), Enlightener of Russia († 1015)
New Calendar July 15 Old Calendar July 28
Why they are a saint
Vladimir I Sviatoslavich or Volodymyr I Sviatoslavych, given the epithet "the Great", was Prince of Novgorod from 970 and Grand Prince of Kiev from 978 until his death in 1015. The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church both canonised him as Saint Vladimir. Vladimir's father was Sviatoslav I of the Rurik dynasty.
Life
Saint Vladimir, the youngest son of Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev, was born in 963 and was raised by his grandmother, Saint Olga. When he was six, Olga reposed and his father sent him to reign in Novgorod.
When the emperors Constantine and Basil asked his help against the revolt of Phokas, he asked in return for the hand of Princess Anna. When the promise was not kept, he took Korsun; his army was baptized and, according to the 'Tale of the Baptism of Russia', he himself was baptized in 988, receiving the name Basil. The Chronicle says he had become blind before his Baptism and received his sight on coming out of the water, though other early accounts differ on the details.
In Kiev he built the Church of the Tithes, dedicated to the Dormition, giving a tenth of his income for its upkeep. He reposed on July 15, 1015, at Berestov and was buried in the Church of the Tithes. He is honoured as Equal of the Apostles and Enlightener of Rus'.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Patron of rus’ / Ukraine / Russia, baptizer of Kiev, because he is linked to that land by his life and labours.
Prayer
O holy Prince Vladimir, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.