Around 850-860, the famous brothers Cyril and Methodius (of Cyrillic fame) made their first journey. This was through Crimea to the Khanate of Khazaria, a Jewish state in OTL Ukraine. They succeeded in converting hundreds to Christianity after several sermons. By 861 they had made their way to the Khazar capital of Itil / Astrakhan. Once there, they attempted to convert the Khazar khan Zachariah to Christianity. There was also a legendary debate between Christians, Jews, and Muslims around this time.
IOTL Cyril and Methodius failed, leading to a continued Jewish Khazaria.
But what if the brothers had been successful, converting Zachariah to Christianity? He would make it the state religion, ushering in a Christianized Khazaria tied closely to Constantinople. As the brothers devised a Slavic-based alphabet IOTL, perhaps ITTL they would use the Khazar script (or even Hebrew, widely used in Khazaria) as the liturgical language. This would have rammifications on Europe - no Cyrillian missions in Moravia, and by extension Bohemia and Poland (extensive IOTL in both). Probably Christian Rus and Volga Bulgars, etc.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
IOTL Cyril and Methodius failed, leading to a continued Jewish Khazaria.
But what if the brothers had been successful, converting Zachariah to Christianity? He would make it the state religion, ushering in a Christianized Khazaria tied closely to Constantinople. As the brothers devised a Slavic-based alphabet IOTL, perhaps ITTL they would use the Khazar script (or even Hebrew, widely used in Khazaria) as the liturgical language. This would have rammifications on Europe - no Cyrillian missions in Moravia, and by extension Bohemia and Poland (extensive IOTL in both). Probably Christian Rus and Volga Bulgars, etc.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?