The East Slavs emerged as a recognizable group in Europe between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD. Founded and ruled by a Varangian warrior elite and their descendants, the medieval state of Rus arose in the 9th century. In 988 it adopted Orthodox Christianity from the Byzantine Empire, beginning the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures that defined Russian culture for the next millennium.
Foreign dignitaries and international leaders sometimes extend congratulations, acknowledging the importance of the holiday in Russian history and statehood. For the global audience, Russia Day serves as a reminder of the country’s vast cultural influence, scientific achievements, and contributions to world heritage. Rus ultimately disintegrated into a number of smaller states; most of the Rus’ lands were overrun by the Mongol invasion and became tributaries of the nomadic Golden Horde in the 13th century.
