[ Derived from _The Russian Orthodox Church, 10th to 20th Centuries_ ]

The Russian Church originated from the Byzantine variety of
Christianity.  In the thirteen century, it is a metropolinate of the
Church of Constantinople headed by Byzantine metropolitans appointed
by the Ecunemical patriarch.

It was not uncommon for the Church to own land, and, in fact, this
relationship was more or less like the standard feudal relationship,
with a monastery or see serving as the Lord. Such ownership included
the peasants living on the lands as well, and the circumstances of
transfer of the land to the church was normally accompanied by a ban
on sale for several generations.

Churchmen often participated in local politics. In Novgorod, the archbishop
was often a creature of the Prince and the boyar parties; he generally
occupied the see only as long as the Prince with whom he was connected
managed to stay in power. Churchmen generally participated in the
administration of justice and in other public services; Novgorodian
law generally required the cross to be kissed during judicial proceedings.

Due to the crusades, and, particularly, the Swedish and Danish knights
who took part in the Livonian Order's crusade against the unchristianised
peoples of the Eastern Baltic region in the thirteen century, publicly
supported by the Pope, which was repelled by volunteer corps of Novgorod
and Pskov, during this time, there is considerable antipathy towards the
Western Church and everything connected with it.

The Khan exempted the Church from the heavy tribute collected from the
rest of the conquered territories. At the same time, Christianity
spread amongst the population, with the numbers of magicians declining
sharply; the last burning at the stake (of four magicians) in Novgorod
was in 1227. Burial in burial mounds also became obsolete, with the
rites becoming Christian in both rural and urban areas.

[ Derived from _The Russian Orthodox Church_ ]

Outward signs of Christianity, particularly the wearing of the cross,
were quite common. Baptism usually occurred on the ninth day after
birth, and the child was given a cross; this cross was usually kept
forever. Children received Holy Communion without confession until the
age of seven. After the age of seven, they bear responsibility for
their actions.