Liturgical art in Orthodoxy is an expression of prayer, which in turn is a means of living eschatologically, ever conscious of the Revelation (Apokálypsis in Greek): the transfiguration of our everyday lives in order to prepare the coming of the heavenly Kingdom. Without bearing this in mind, it is impossible to understand the essence of Eastern Orthodox art, or to understand quite why their visit to the City (as Constantinople was traditionally known) made such an impact on the two Russian visitors that in 988 the Grand Duke of Kiev, Prince Vladimir, chose to be baptised into the Orthodox Church.