Varangian way of the apostle Andrew
Based on well-known sources, the author proves the existence of an influential Varangian clan in Northeast Russia, who initiated the Varangian reformatting of ancient Russian history. The now-known version of Andrei's Walk, in which words about the path - “to the Varangians” along the Dvina were inserted, arose no earlier than the second half of the 13 th century. At the stage of the Varangian editing of Russian annals of the pre-Mongol period, carried out by the Rostov-Novgorod clergy of Varangian origin. An earlier dating is hindered, first of all, by the Legend of the creation of the Pechersk Church, which is attributed to one of the authors of the Kiev-Pechersk Paterik, Bishop Simon of Vladimir. This clearly pro-Varangian monument of the beginning of the 13 th century still does not contain a legend about the calling of the Varangian princes and the origin of the Russian princely dynasty from the Varangians. The Varangian editor of the second half of the 13 th century, directing the apostle along the way “from the Varangians to the Greeks”, did not set the task to describe any trade route, but, like his predecessors, sought to consecrate his native lands with the apostolic presence.