Zinko E. The early Christian Bosporian Kingdom (III-VI centuries)

The thesis is dedicated to the actual and insufficiently explored problem in the history of the Late Ancient and Early Medieval Bosporian Kingdom (State) - penetrating and dissemination of Christianity. Chronological limits of the work - the 3rd - 6th centuries - are conditioned by the radical change in the political situation in the Bosporian Kingdom. It began after the German invasion in the middle of the 3rd century and finished with the end of the governing of the local dynasty and the beginning of the reign of Byzantine administration ascended the Bosporian throne. During the process of Christianization of the Bosporian Kingdom four chronological periods can be marked out: The 1st period (the first half of the 3rd century)- Bosporians' acquaintance with the Christian doctrine; The 2nd period (the second half of the 3rd century- the beginning of the 4th century) - the formation of Early Christian Communities; The 3rd period (the first quarter of the 4th century - the second third of the 5th century) - independent functioning of the Bosporian eparchy; The 4th period (the third of the 5th century - the 6th century) - Christianity is the state religion of the Bosporian Kingdom.