How did the Byzantine Empire influence the rise of Kiev?

Russian Kiev was heavily influenced by the Byzantine
Empire.  This influence began when Prince Vladimir I decided to abandon the old Slavic
gods.  He sent emissaries to both Rome and Constantinople in order to decide which form
of Christianity he should follow.  After hearing of the beauty and splendor of Byzantine
civilization, he chose to follow the Byzantine Church.  The acceptance of this religion
brought Byzantine culture to Slavic areas.  When Vladimir married the sister of the
Byzantine emperor, the ties between the two cultures grew.  Princes of the cities and
towns of Kievan Russia began to imitate the Byzantine rulers. Christian clergy became an
important class in Kiev and opened many schools.  The Cyrillic alphabet adapted the
Greek alphabet to the Slavic language of Kievan Russia.  Slavic artists created
religious art work that imitated Byzantine styles. The Church of St. Sophia built in
Kiev reflected the Byzantine architectural style. The acceptance of the Eastern Orthodox
religion gave the east Slavs a sense of belonging to the civilized world and helped the
development of Russian society in many ways.