Hello! Welcome to Kiev and Me, a hopefully educational blog about Rus’ and Slav personas in the SCA. I’ve never ran a blog before and computers and I have a love hate relationship (heavy on the hate) so I ask that you are lenient with me for the mistakes I will inevitably make. It literally took me three days just to figure out wordpress. I’m doing great… I wanted to make this blog because even though there is information out there, it isn’t streamlined, it’s often hard to find and it is also exceptionally dry and often outdated.

But, before we get started on all the history and stuff I wanted to give you a little background on myself; why you should listen to me, why you shouldn’t, why I am in love with Rus’ and Slav personas, why you should be too and what I hope to convey here.

First, my background and why you should listen to me.

In the Knowne World my name is Akilina Ianikitova. I have been playing in the SCA with a Rus’ persona for 11 years now in the Kingdom of the Outlands and I have the honor of being the premier Argent Fleece (a

grant award for excellence in persona). In addition to the fancy SCA stuff I also hold a bachelors degree in Russian studies with an emphasis in medieval Russia. I was lucky enough to gain this education from an instructor who was also quite passionate about medieval Russia and I actually spent the last two years doing extensive research on medieval Russian culture, including translating several pieces to include church documents that minutely detailed daily life. Because I am able to read Cyrillic I also have access to more information on digs as Russia and Ukraine typically do not translate their findings. I have had the opportunity to visit Rus’, Slav and Byzantine exhibits at the Met in New York as well as several when I was in the Czech republic. I’m constantly looking up new information and am happy to change my opinions when presented with new evidence (women did wear leather belts, what?!)

Next, why you shouldn’t listen to me.

My experience, my knowledge, what I find important are all my own. No one can have every ounce of information and I am no different. I do my best but I promise I don’t know it all. Sadly, I’ve yet to actually go to Russia or Ukraine where all the best bits are kept and so I can only go off pictures and information on the internet and in books. There are definitely some Slav tribes I have little info on because I just don’t find them that interesting. However, if you have questions on them or something that they did, I’m happy to try and find someone that does know. They are out there, I promise.

Now, the fun stuff. Why I’m in love with medieval Russia and why you should be too.

It’s just so damned cool! The End.

No, really, it is so versatile. Live in a cold climate? Live in a warm climate? Live in a dry climate? Live in a wet climate? Live in a climate that can’t make up its damned mind like the Outlands? Rus’ has got you covered. Even in the medieval era, the territory was huge. Slavs were everywhere. They also traded with everyone so really, there are very few materials you can’t use. (diadems were never silver though… that story later). You also get to be as simple or fancy as you want. Many burials were very simple affairs and many Ukraine and Russian re-creationists will be seen with just a one layer dress or a simple pair of pants and a lightly colored tunic with a penannular brooch and maybe an additional piece or two of jewelry. Then, you have this guy. )  But there are also levels in between. Their art was superb, whether you are talking about jewelry or embroidery or carving, they were immensely creative.  They danced, they brewed they made some delicious food.  Definitely blows Englands food out of the water, mostly because they had better access to spices from all over the world. They were also one of the most literate populations in the middle ages with people keeping personal journals and writing grocery lists on birch bark among other things. Sadly, most of the writings were destroyed because they were kept in churches that the soviets burned down. Just typing it makes me angry…
This list could go on forever so we’ll move on.

Finally, What I hope to convey with this blog.

I hope to make you a little excited about Rus’, about Slavs, about Byzantium. If you are already excited, I want you to feel like you CAN do it, not that you can’t do it or can’t do it right. Rus’ is so easy and when you know where to look for stuff it isn’t very expensive. If you already have some garb, with a couple of touches, you can make what you already have look Rus’ no problem. If you’re ready to do THE right fabrics and THE right metals, etc, etc, we’ll talk about that too.  Hopefully it is very clear that this is about finding new ways to do and create what we love. No re-creation outfit or kit or armour is going to be exactly right, there is just no way to make everything the way they did back then. Sure, we can get close but perfection isn’t the goal here, so don’t worry. The goal here is to have fun and to learn something in the mix. So, lets learn some stuff!