The Kievan Rus developed close ties with the Byzantines, leading early Russia to

. The first Russian empire revered the Roman and
adopt
Byzantine empires, and adopted the title of
I for its
emperors in honor of former rulers in Rome.
:: Eastern Orthodoxy
:: Greek fire
:: Roman Catholicism :: caesar

:: patriarch :: tsar

The Kievan Rus developed close ties with the Byzantines, leading early Russia to adopt Eastern Orthodoxy. The first Russian empire revered the Roman and Byzantine empires, and adopted the title of tsar for its emperors in honor of former rulers in Rome.