Luca Zigata wore a simple black robe, held an ordinary cane in his hand, and had a thick beard on his face. He looked no different from an ordinary missionary.
Only the cross engraved with the crucifix of Christ on his chest and the icon painting inlaid with gems held by the students behind him can indicate his extraordinary status.
Luca stood on a boulder. He was under a big tree at a crossroads. Travelers coming and going would rest and exchange news under the big tree, and merchants would sell items here.
It is estimated that if this development continues, this place will soon turn into a settlement, and then a town, but that is a long way off.
The bishop was surrounded by people who listened to the priest telling the story of the great achievements of the saint Vladimir and his conversion.
Some people listened intently to everything the bishop said, while others were just listening to the story and were even eating.
Luca didn't have any anger about all this, he still just quietly told the story of his conversion.
The bishop's storytelling skills were very high, and more and more people were attracted to listen to the bishop's stories. When the story ended with Vladimir's conversion, people even burst into applause.
Some people gave the bishop some food or furs, but the bishop always asked the students to accept them. The students were quite puzzled. Why did they accept things from the people when their supplies were so abundant?
But if the teacher tells them to do it, they have to do it.
After the crowd dispersed, some people came to the bishop and couldn't help but ask their questions:
Why do we tell stories to the people? Shouldn’t we preach? And why do we still need to collect things from the people? Don’t we have materials and money?
Looking at these students of his, Bishop Luca couldn't help but laugh. These young people were all educated at Hagia Sophia in Nuovo. They generally had superior backgrounds and excellent academic performance.
But for these young people, practice is still a bit far away.
The bishop was not angry, he just told them gently:
"People are not interested in long sermons. It is better to tell some interesting stories to at least make people interested in the Lord. As for why I still accept things from the people, do you think I can have so many supplies at any time when preaching? When
When a person walks in the wilderness to preach, he often has to rely on the charity of the people to survive."
What Luca talked about was based on experience. Although he was a Jew, he converted to God very early and preached in the wilderness. The fruitful results of his preaching earned him the appreciation of the prince of Nuozhou at that time, and he became the bishop of Nuozhou.
When the bishop talked about this, he couldn't help but recall his glorious past, but he quickly shook his head and left Nuo City. Why do he still think about those things?
The students all marveled at what the bishop said. They didn't expect that much at all. Compared to the bishop, they were really too young and needed to learn more. The bishop looked at them and just shook his head silently.
After resting for a while, the team carrying the cross started their journey again.
Bishop Luca sat on the carriage, followed by students and guards on foot. This was a team of fifty people, a support force sent by the church to Northeastern Rus, and a team to escort the new Bishop of Moscow to his inauguration.
Initially, the Kiev Church applied for the Bishop of Rostov, but because Rostislav changed his city of residence and established Moscow, the Church had no choice but to send the document to the imperial capital for revision.
It took a full year of tossing and going, but luckily it worked out in the end.
The carriage traveled on the repaired dirt road. From time to time, pedestrians and merchants driving carriages could be seen on the street. These roads were much better than the wild roads that everyone walked on before. They were all under Rostislav's order.
built.
The most important thing is that this road is very safe. The bishop can see a standing walled city every step of the way.
The walls of these walled lords were arranged on the roadside to protect the safety of the roads. At the same time, the walled lords also had the responsibility of organizing the people to maintain or repair the roads.
Luca felt that his student had done a good job. Safe roads can bring prosperous trade, and prosperous trade can bring abundant income. This child is indeed practicing what he once said.
As the bishop's team got closer to Moscow, the number of Christians obviously increased, and many villagers showed obedience and respect to God's cross, which was completely unseen before.
"My students are doing great."
Looking at this scene, Luca murmured that he originally thought he was facing a barbaric land full of pagans, but now it seems that his students have achieved a lot this year.
Suddenly, a cavalryman rode up with a sword at his waist and Rurik's trident flag in his hand.
He was a heavily armed Rus warrior, wearing long-sleeved chain mail, and he looked at passers-by with a somewhat arrogant look.
But after seeing the cross flag, his expression immediately became humble. He came to the bishop and shouted:
"Is this Bishop Luca's team?"
"yes."
The bishop naturally replied subconsciously that this was obviously the person sent by his students to pick him up.
"I am Vasily Ivanovich Hrensky of Suzdal, Your Majesty the Bishop, and the prince has entrusted me to come to greet you."
The knight said humbly in front of the bishop, as if the arrogance just now did not exist.
This Russian soldier was the prisoner who showed bravery in the Bulgar camp. His family was also a powerful person in Suzdal. However, because he was against the traitor Olaf at the time, he was thrown into the Bulgar prisoner of war camp by Olaf.
.
As for now, his family has grown even stronger after taking over a quarter of Olaf's territory - a reward for loyalty from the prince of Moscow, and Vasily was sent to Moscow to accompany the prince.
"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."
With this knight and his Rurik banner, now not only the Christians, but also the people they met on the road showed respect for this team, because now it was the authority of Moscow that protected this team.
During this period, several waves of cavalry came to greet him, but they were all sent back by Vasily, informing the prince that his teacher had arrived.
When Moscow appeared in the bishop's sight, he saw a big growing city with construction sites everywhere and newly built buildings everywhere, where people were busy and working hard for a better future.
People from all over the world gather in this city, making it more prosperous. There is no doubt that Moscow is already the largest city in Northeastern Russia, and it continues to develop rapidly.
The bishop was very happy to see that the cross of God was already standing on the city. It is only meaningful that such a great city be dedicated to God. The glory of God will surely make it stronger.
That is to say, when the bishop was looking at the city, all the bells in Moscow were ringing. This was a gift from Rostislav to his teacher, and it was also his highest courtesy. The prince thought that his teacher deserved it.
Above these.
In front of the city gate, the prince of Moscow, dressed solemnly and appropriately, and his entire court were standing there to welcome the bishop's arrival.