| abstract | - Lithuanians' contacts with the Christian religion have been extensive since the early period of the formation of their state. The first mention of Lithuania in 1009 (in Annals of Quedlinburg) is related to the Roman Catholic missionaries led by Bruno of Querfurt traveling not far from the border of Lithuania, when a few Yotvingian rulers were baptised. However, Lithuanians had more active contacts with the Kievan Rus' and subsequent Eastern Slavic states, which had Eastern Orthodox Christianity as their religion since the Christianization of Kievan Rus'. The dukes of Lithuania, extending their dominion eastwards, experienced an influence of more culturally advanced Slavic states. Their subordinates and the people followed their example, borrowing, for instance, many of the East Slavic versions of Christian names in the 11th - 12th centuries. This borrowing became increasingly widespread among the pagan population in Aukštaitija, though much less in Samogitia. The influence of Orthodox Christianity in the pagan Lithuanian culture is evidenced in about one third of present day Lithuanian surnames which are constructed from baptismal names are Old Church Slavonic in origin. In addition, the Lithuanian words for "church", "baptism", "Christmas" and "fast" are classed as 'loanwords from Russian rather than Polish.'
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