Saint Vladimir was the grandson of Saint Olga, who became a Christian at Constantinople. Vladimir's father Svyatoslav divided his kingdom among his three sons. Vladimir, at that time a fierce pagan, was granted the principality of Novgorod. He made war against his brother Yaropolk, the Christian prince of Kiev, and took the city. Vladimir ruled well, though he indulged his passions.

Vladimir assisted the Byzantine Empire in the civil unrest of the late 10th century. He asked for the hand of Anna, the Byzantine Emperor's sister, in marriage, which was agreed on the condition that Vladimir would receive baptism and send more military assistance. The Greeks initially reneged on their part of the bargain, and after Vladimir moved his forces against Constantinople, they released Anna to him and granted him the title Caesar (Tsar/Czar). He was baptized by the Patriarch of Constantinople with the Christian name of Basil, and he married Anna.