Religious: alt paths for Russia

Jewish Russia through Khazar influence?

I think a number of people on this thread think of the Khazar state as being more Jewish than it was. Probably only the ruling elite had converted to Judaism by the 800s. It was a multi confessional state that embraced everything from paganism through Christianity and Islam. Sure, you could get Jewish missionaries in Rus but remembering that from the 9th century the Byzantines were actively trying to convert the Kievan state and both the Rus and the Byzantines were angling to weaken or destroy Khazaria.
Bash the Byzantines for more options. ;)
 
What about a Russian Iconoclasm, where the Orthodox Church remains in power but refuses to use depictions of God or the saints? Sort of a reformation based almost purely on aesthetics rather than ideology.
 
If Christianity is butterflied whilst the Slavs migrations have some migrate eastward like IOTL, we could have an evolved version of Slavic Paganism as their main religion! ;)
 
What about a Russian Iconoclasm, where the Orthodox Church remains in power but refuses to use depictions of God or the saints? Sort of a reformation based almost purely on aesthetics rather than ideology.

There is some evidence that "Armenian" and "Iconoclast" heretics were building churches as far as Rostov and Yaroslavl. They were condemned and such of course.

But Russia that's permanently disunited say in the 11th c. has lots of space for all sorts of heterodox Christianities.
 
There is some evidence that "Armenian" and "Iconoclast" heretics were building churches as far as Rostov and Yaroslavl. They were condemned and such of course.

But Russia that's permanently disunited say in the 11th c. has lots of space for all sorts of heterodox Christianities.

It's possible to see some group in exile, settling in modern Russia/ex-USSR lands, and converting around...
 
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