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children, especially infants, demanded a great deal of attention, time and work from women. Whether a woman was able to have help or took care of the household herself, virtually all her application and care was devoted to that one task. Modern progress to a great extent alle viated this burden but did not lessen the duty and responsibility, particularly toward the rearing of child ren. Today, more so than ever this task has become extremely difficult. It is this gain in modern technology, especially in communications, which makes the rearing of children arduous and the responsibility for them so much more encompassing. There are many facets to communications. Years ago, in Ukraine, children went to school in their communities and their time was spent in familiar surroundings. Even when older and sent to schools further from home, youngsters were in the company of people whom their parents knew, were taught by known teachers and associated with other students from neighboring towns or villages. Whether these young people were from vil lages or cities, they shared an upbringing common in moral and ethical values, usually patriotic in nature and with deep respect for tradition. Presently, young people attend schools which are a melting pot of various influ ences, ethical principles and viewpoints. Last but not least there is the influence of televison, radio and even the mass produced and easily accessible books, films and other vehicles of information. We live in a free country where everything is within reach and available. Thus a heavy burden of duty and responsibility is placed on parents. They must give their children the knowledge, the ideals, the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Lately there is a predominant belief that responsibility and duty of raising children is not a burden but a privi lege which should be equally shared by both parents. Frequently among younger couples fathers take an active role in the caring of their children from the day of the youngster’s birth. In no way does such activity make a man feminine, nor is a woman more masculine if she holds a professional job. Psychologists state that such an interchange of roles by parents has a very healthy influence on children. The cooperative efforts of both parents in the rearing of children as well as in sharing of household tasks has a strong bonding effect on the fam ily. This is particularly important for Ukrainian families where the parents represent the far-away native land, love and family unity. It seems that in envisioning the future the champions, particularly in America, are the father and mother — a “masculine” man and “feminine” woman. They are not identical but are equal as they guide their sons and daughters through life, tightly bound in love and united by the tides of time. Ulana Lubovych (translated from Ukrainian) THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHRISTIANIZATION OF RUS’-UKRAINE In the history of European nations it is evident that women were very influential in bringing Christianity to their people. There are many examples of women of power who helped to promote the Christian religion and insure its acceptance, such as St. Olena, mother of Emperor Constantine (4th century) or St. Ludmila, wife of the first Czech Christian prince. Although the historical data of the early beginnings of Christianity in Rus’-Ukraine is scarce, from what has been retrieved, it is apparent that women also played an important role in that process. Princess Olha became a Christian 15 years before her death. During those years she constantly implored her warrior son, Prince Svjatoslav to accept her religion and bring it to the people, but to no avail. Although she did not live to see Rus’-Ukraine baptized, her influence, wisdom and good judgement reached her grandson, Prince Wolodymyr, who twenty years after her death, in 988 decreed Christianity as the state religion. The influence of Princess Olha in the Christianiza tion of Rus’-Ukraine has been noted in numerous histor ical chronicles. Metropolitan Illarion, who lived during the reign of Prince Jaroslaw Mudryj, compared Princess Olha to the Greek St. Olena. As St. Olena found the cross in Jerusalem on which Christ died, so Princess Olha found the cross of Christianity for the Rus’-Ukraine nation. He also compares Prince Wolodymyr to Con stantine, who declared Christianity as the official reli gion of the Roman empire. In church liturgy these ancient rulers are granted the status of apostles, since they were instrumental in bringing Christianity to their nations. Without doubt Prince Wolodymyr was also influ enced by other women in his life concerning the Chris tian issue. In ancient writings which describe his life as a pagan, it is said that he had wives, several of which were Christian. Although their scope of influence is not known, one can assume they had some. The Christian influence during the upbringing of the two sons of Prince Wolodymyr, Borys and Hlib, pro vided by their Greek Christian mother, had a marked effect on their lives and their deaths. Both were killed by
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