Russian history. Duchess Olga

In our national memory, the majestic image of a woman with an unbreakable will and high dignity, unbreakable courage and a truly state mind has been forever imprinted. Holy Blessed Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga - an unusually whole person, a truly great woman, who, by force of circumstances, stood at the head of a huge, still emerging state. Saint Olga proved to be worthy of the historical lot that fell to her. Moreover, by the Providence of God, it was she who had the honor to make a choice that determined the subsequent fate of Russia, and the princess herself defined the church veneration as equal to the apostles.

"Head of Faith" and "The root of Orthodoxy" in the Russian land from the earliest times people called Saint Olga Equal to the Apostles. It makes no sense to fall into complex, not indisputable and, in fact, senseless research about the "national" - Slavic or Varangian origin of the Equal-to-the-Apostles princess. Her name - Olga - Scandinavian, it exists to this day in Denmark and Sweden in the form of "Helga". And until St. Olga at the head of the beginning Russia, we see some Scandinavian, "Varangian" ("glorified" or distorted) names of the Vikings of Swedish, Norwegian or Danish origin - Rurik, Truvor (Swedish - Trevor), Sineus (Swedish - Senius), Askold, Dir (originals these names are difficult to establish), Oleg (Danish - Helge), Igor (Swedish Ingvar), Sveneld.

On Princess Olga, the Varangian row of names of the Rurikovichs is interrupted. Next are the Slavic names. Olga's son is Svyatoslav, her grandson is Vladimir. This is no coincidence.

The Normans and the Varangians quickly mastered the language of the ethnic majority with which they linked their destiny. And in this there is no harm to those peoples who experienced the Norman influence. This impact was felt throughout Europe, at the dawn of the formation of its nations and states. There is no damage to the dignity of Russia from the Varangian vocation, because its "Slavism" is not in ethnic "purity" (there is no such thing), but in the primacy of the Slavic language among the diversity of its peoples and ethnic groups ...

And one more not unimportant circumstance. She, St. Olga, the first of the family, from the Rurik dynasty, adopted Christianity. The liturgical language of the Christians of Russia at that time was undoubtedly already Slavic. For her, a Varangian aristocrat, the Christian faith was revealed by that deep side, which even now is not completely clear to our contemporaries.

Christian faith - this faith is noble, this is the faith of noble people. Noble in spirit, not in class origin, social status. At the heart of Christianity are all the signs of true nobility: love for one's neighbor to self-sacrifice, mercy, self-denial. Even enemies are shown mercy, condescension and forgiveness, paradoxically combined with indisputable steadfastness in adhering to the principles of faith and in upholding these principles. Honesty, rejection of lies, moral purity, high personal dignity, different from pride and not subject to it - all this was in the high perfection of the corporate manifestations of the ancient Christian community. In it, each person is invaluable and respected, since each person is unique, since each is valuable to God. After all, the Founder of this faith came to Earth and opened the gates of salvation for everyone and for every person.

This nobility, in its own way, was not alien to the ancient pilgrims of the seas, the Varangians-Vikings. Without these qualities, the squads of the Varangians could not live - merchants-robbers, harsh, cruel warriors and fearless seafarers. They - the Varangian Normans - circled Europe and reached the African shores of ancient Carthage. They, the heroes of the northern waters, reached the polar ice, inhabited Iceland and the south of Greenland, came to pre-Columbian America. They, Vikings-Varangians, passed by waterways to the Caspian Sea and to the shores of Persia. They shook the walls of the "capital of the world" Constantinople-Constantinople, where more unheard-of riches and luxury were impressed by the wonders and beauty of the "Greek" Faith, and where their fellow tribesmen had long served in the elite mercenary guard of the emperors. The Varangians were well aware that without mutual help, without the devotion of the soldiers to the squad and the prince-king, without dedication and the ability to self-sacrifice, neither their boat-drakkar on the sea-ocean, nor on land to the squad in mortal combat would not survive. And in external comparison, Christians had something akin to them, the Varangians. Even churches of Christians are built according to the principle and shape of a ship, and the life around them is the "sea of \u200b\u200blife", and the community is like the crew of a ship sailing through the storms and misfortunes of the "sea of \u200b\u200blife". And the Guide to this stormy journey is the Founder of this Faith himself, who showed an amazing, paradoxical example of the highest nobility in sacrificial love until the death of the cross.

Baptism of Olga was marked by the prophetic words of the patriarch who baptized her: “Blessed are you in the wives of the Russians, for you have left the darkness and loved the Light. Russian sons will glorify you to the last generation! "

At her baptism, the Russian princess was honored with the name of a saint who worked hard in spreading Christianity in the vast Roman Empire and acquired the Life-giving Cross on which the Lord was crucified.
Like your heavenly patroness Olga became an Equal-to-the-Apostles preacher of Christianity in the vast expanses of the Russian land.
There are many chronological inaccuracies and mysteries in the chronicles about her, but one can hardly doubt the reliability of most of the facts of her life, conveyed to our time by the grateful descendants of the holy princess - the organizer of the Russian land.

The story of the life of the noble princess Olga

The name of the future enlightener of Russia and her homeland is the oldest of the chronicles - "The Tale of Bygone Years" calls in the description of the marriage of Prince Igor of Kiev: "And they brought him a wife from Pskov named Olga"... The Joachim Chronicle specifies that she belonged to the family of the Izborsk princes - one of the ancient Russian princely dynasties.
Igor's wife was called by the Varangian name Helga, in Russian pronunciation - Olga (Volga).

Tradition calls the village of Vybuty, not far from Pskov, up the Velikaya River, Olga's homeland. The life of Saint Olga tells that here for the first time she met her future husband.
The young prince hunted "In the Pskov region" and, wanting to cross the Great River, I saw "Some sailor in a boat" and called him to the shore. Having sailed from the coast in a boat, the prince found that a girl of amazing beauty was taking him. Igor was inflamed with lust for her and began to incline her to sin.

The carrier turned out to be not only beautiful, but also chaste and intelligent. She shamed Igor by reminding him of the princely dignity of the ruler and judge, which should be "A bright example of good deeds" for their subjects. Igor parted with her, keeping in memory her words and a beautiful image.

When the time came to choose a bride, the most beautiful girls of the principality were gathered in Kiev. But none of them pleased him. And then he remembered "Marvelous in girls" Olga and sent for her a relative of his prince Oleg.

So Olga became the wife of Prince Igor, the great Russian princess. After his marriage, Igor went on a campaign against the Greeks, and returned from him as a father: his son Svyatoslav was born.
Soon Igor was killed by the Drevlyans. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Kiev prince, the Drevlyans sent ambassadors to Princess Olga, inviting her to marry their ruler Mal. Olga pretended to agree.

By cunning she lured two Drevlyan embassies to Kiev, putting them to painful death: the first was buried alive "In the courtyard of the prince", the second was burnt in the bath. After that, five thousand Drevlyansky men were killed by Olga's soldiers at a funeral service for Igor at the walls of the Drevlyansky capital Iskorosten.

The next year Olga again approached Iskorosten with an army. The city was burned with the help of birds, to whose feet a burning tow was tied. The surviving Drevlyans were captured and sold into slavery.

Along with this, the annals are full of testimonies of her relentless "Walking" across the Russian land with a view building the political and economic life of the country.
She achieved the strengthening of the power of the Kiev Grand Duke, centralized state administration using the system "Graveyards".

The chronicle notes that she with her son and retinue walked through the Drevlyansky land, "Establishing tributes and dues", marking the villages and encampments and hunting places to be included in the Kiev grand ducal possessions. She went to Novgorod, arranging churchyards along the Msta and Luga rivers. "Catching her(hunting places) were all over the earth, installed signs, its places and graveyards, - the chronicler writes, - and her sleds stand in Pskov to this day, there are places indicated by her for catching birds along the Dnieper and along the Desna; and her village Olgichi still exists today "... Pogosts (from the word "guest" - merchant) became the mainstay of the grand ducal power, centers of ethnic and cultural unification of the Russian people.

Life tells the following about Olga's works: “And Princess Olga ruled the regions of the Russian land subject to her, not as a woman, but like a strong and reasonable husband, firmly holding power in their hands and bravely defending themselves from enemies. And she was terrible for the latter. She is loved by her people, as a merciful and pious ruler, as a righteous judge and not offending anyone, imposing punishment with mercy, and rewarding the good; she instilled fear in all the evil, rewarding everyone in proportion to the dignity of his actions, but in all matters of government she showed foresight and wisdom.

At the same time Olga, merciful at heart, was generous to the poor, the poor and the poor; fair requests soon reached her heart, and she quickly fulfilled them ...
Olga combined with all this a temperate and chaste life, she did not want to remarry, but was in pure widowhood, observing his princely power to her son until the days of his age. When the latter matured, she handed over to him all the affairs of the government, and she herself, having withdrawn from rumor and care, lived outside the worries of government, indulging in works of goodness. ".

The establishment of the first state borders of Kievan Rus dates back to the time of Olga

The heroic outposts, sung in epics, guarded the peaceful life of the Kievites from the nomads of the Great Steppe, from attacks from the West. Foreigners rushed to Gardarica ( "Country of cities"), as they called Russia, with goods. The Scandinavians and the Germans willingly joined the Russian army as mercenaries. Russia was becoming a great power. As a wise ruler, Olga saw on the example of the Byzantine Empire that it was not enough to worry only about state and economic life. It was necessary to start organizing the religious, spiritual life of the people.

The author of The Book of Degrees writes: "Her feat (Olga) it was that she knew the true God. Not knowing the Christian law, she lived a pure and chaste life, and she wished to be a Christian of free will, with her heart's eyes she found the way of knowing God and followed it without hesitation. ".

The Monk Nestor the chronicler narrates: "Blessed Olga from an early age searched for wisdom, what is the best in this light, and found a precious pearl - Christ".
Having made her choice, Grand Duchess Olga, entrusting Kiev to her grown-up son, sets off with a large fleet to Constantinople. Old Russian chroniclers will call this act of Olga "walking", it combined in itself and a religious pilgrimage, and a diplomatic mission, and a demonstration of the military might of Russia. “Olga wanted to go to the Greeks herself in order to see with her own eyes the Christian service and be fully convinced of their teaching about the true God”, - tells the story of the life of St. Olga.

According to the chronicle, Olga decided to become a Christian in Constantinople. He performed the sacrament of Baptism on her patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople (933 - 956), and the successor was the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912 - 959), who left in his work "On the ceremonies of the Byzantine court" a detailed description of the ceremonies during Olga's stay in Constantinople. At one of the receptions, a golden dish decorated with precious stones was presented to the Russian Princess. Olga donated it to the sacristy of the Cathedral of St. Sophia, where he was seen and described at the beginning of the 13th century by the Russian diplomat Dobrynya Yadreykovich, later Archbishop Anthony of Novgorod: "The dish is great for Olga Russkaya's service, when she took a tribute when she went to Constantinople: in Olga's dish there is a precious stone, Christ is written on the same stones.".

The Patriarch blessed the newly-baptized Russian princess with a cross cut from a single piece of the Life-giving Tree of the Lord. There was an inscription on the cross: "The Russian land was renewed with the Holy Cross, and Olga, the blessed princess, received him."... Olga returned to Kiev with icons, service books - her apostolic ministry began.
She erected a church in the name of St. Nicholas over the grave of Askold, the first Christian prince of Kiev, and converted many Kievites to Christ. With the preaching of faith, the princess set off to the north. In the Kiev and Pskov lands, in distant lands, at the crossroads, she erected crosses, destroying pagan idols.

Saint Olga laid the foundation for a special veneration of the Most Holy Trinity in Russia

From century to century, the story of a vision that happened to her near the Velikaya River, not far from her native village, was transmitted. She saw from the east descend from the sky "Three bright rays"... Addressing her companions who had witnessed the vision, Olga said prophetically: "Let it be known to you that the will of God in this place will be a church in the name of the Most Holy and Life-giving Trinity and there will be a great and glorious city, abounding in all.".
At this place Olga erected a cross and founded a church in the name of the Holy Trinity. It became the main cathedral of Pskov - a glorious Russian city, which has since been called "House of the Holy Trinity"... Through the mysterious paths of spiritual succession, four centuries later, this veneration was transmitted to the Monk Sergius of Radonezh.

In the Prologue of the XIII century about Olga's cross it says: "That one now stands in Kiev in St. Sophia in the altar on the right side"... After the conquest of Kiev by the Lithuanians, the Holguin cross was stolen from the St. Sophia Cathedral and taken by Catholics to Lublin. His further fate is unknown to us. The princess's apostolic labors met with secret and open resistance from the pagans. Among the boyars and vigilantes in Kiev, there were many people who, according to the chroniclers "Hated Wisdom", like St. Olga, who built her temples.

The zealots of pagan antiquity raised their heads more and more boldly, looking with hope at the growing Svyatoslav, who resolutely rejected his mother's persuasions to accept Christianity. "The Tale of Bygone Years" so narrates about it: “Olga lived with her son Svyatoslav, and her mother persuaded him to be baptized, but he neglected this and plugged his ears; however, if anyone wanted to be baptized, he did not forbid him, nor mocked him ...

Olga often said: “My son, I have come to know God and I rejoice; here you too, if you learn, you will also begin to rejoice. " He, not listening to this, said: “How can I want to change my faith alone? My warriors will laugh at this! " She told him: "If you are baptized, everyone will do the same."

He, not listening to his mother, lived according to pagan customs, not knowing that if someone does not listen to his mother, he will get into trouble, as it is said: "If someone does not listen to his father or mother, then he will die." He was also angry with his mother ... But Olga loved her son Svyatoslav when she said: “Let the will of God be done. If God wants to have mercy on my descendants and the Russian land, may he command their hearts to turn to God, as it was granted to me. " And saying this, I prayed for my son and for his people all the days and nights, taking care of her son until he matured. ".

Despite the success of her trip to Constantinople, Olga was unable to persuade the emperor to agree on two important issues: on the dynastic marriage of Svyatoslav with the Byzantine princess and on the conditions for the restoration of the metropolitanate that existed under Askold in Kiev. Therefore, Saint Olga turns her gaze to the West - the Church was at that time one. The Russian princess could hardly have known about the theological differences between the Greek and Latin doctrines.

In 959, a German chronicler writes: "The ambassadors of Helena, the queen of the Russians, who was baptized in Constantinople, came to the king, and asked to consecrate a bishop and priests for this people."... King Otto, the future founder of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation, responded to Olga's request. A year later, Libucius, from the brethren of the monastery of St. Alban in Mainz, was made bishop of Russia, but he soon died (March 15, 961). In his place was dedicated Adalbert of Trier, whom Otto, "Generously providing everything you need", finally sent to Russia.

When in 962 Adalbert appeared in Kiev, he "Did not have time in anything for which he was sent, and saw his efforts in vain"... On the way back "Some of his companions were killed, and the bishop himself did not escape mortal danger", - this is how the chronicles of Adalbert's mission tell. The pagan reaction manifested itself so strongly that not only the German missionaries suffered, but also some of the Kiev Christians who were baptized with Olga. On the orders of Svyatoslav, Olga's nephew Gleb was killed and some of the temples she built were destroyed.
Saint Olga had to come to terms with what had happened and go into matters of personal piety, giving control to the pagan Svyatoslav. Of course, she was still reckoned with, her experience and wisdom were invariably referred to in all important cases. When Svyatoslav was absent from Kiev, the administration of the state was entrusted to Saint Olga.

The glorious military victories of the Russian army were also consolation for her. Svyatoslav defeated the long-standing enemy of the Russian state - the Khazar Kaganate, forever crushing the power of the Jewish rulers of the Azov region and the lower Volga region. The next blow was dealt to the Volga Bulgaria, then it was the turn of the Danube Bulgaria - eighty cities were taken by the Kiev warriors along the Danube.
Svyatoslav and his warriors personified the heroic spirit of pagan Rus. The chronicles have preserved the words of Svyatoslav, surrounded with his retinue by a huge Greek army: “We will not put the Russian land to shame, but we will lay down our bones here! The dead have no shame! "

Svyatoslav dreamed of creating a huge Russian state from the Danube to the Volga, which would unite Russia and other Slavic peoples. Saint Olga understood that with all the courage and courage of the Russian squads, they could not cope with the ancient empire of the Romans, which would not allow the strengthening of pagan Rus. But the son did not listen to his mother's warnings. Saint Olga had to endure many sorrows at the end of her life. The son finally moved to Pereyaslavets on the Danube. While in Kiev, she taught her grandchildren, the children of Svyatoslav, the Christian faith, but did not dare to baptize them, fearing the anger of her son.

In addition, he obstructed her attempts to establish Christianity in Russia. In recent years, in the midst of the triumph of paganism, she, once the revered mistress of the state, who was baptized by the Ecumenical Patriarch in the capital of Orthodoxy, had to secretly keep a priest with her so as not to cause a new outbreak of anti-Christian sentiments. In 968 Kiev was besieged by the Pechenegs. The holy princess and her grandchildren, among whom was Prince Vladimir, were in mortal danger. When the news of the siege reached Svyatoslav, he rushed to help, and the Pechenegs were put to flight.

Saint Olga, already seriously ill, asked her son not to leave until her death. She did not lose hope to turn her son's heart to God and on her deathbed did not stop preaching: “Why are you leaving me, my son, and where are you going? Looking for someone else's, whom do you entrust yours to? After all, Thy children are still small, and I am already old, and even sick, - I expect a quick death - a departure to beloved Christ, in whom I believe; I now do not worry about anything, as soon as about you: I regret that although I taught and persuaded a lot to leave the idolatrous wickedness, to believe in the true God, known by me, and you neglect this, and I know what kind of disobedience you are a bad end awaits you on earth for me, and after death - eternal torment prepared for the pagans.

Fulfill now at least this last request of mine: do not go anywhere until I am gone and am buried; then go wherever you want.
After my death, do not do anything that is required in such cases by pagan custom; but let my elder with the clergy bury my body according to the Christian custom; do not dare to pour a grave mound over me and do funerals; but send gold to Constantinople to the most holy patriarch, so that he would make a prayer and an offering to God for my soul and give alms to the poor ".
“Hearing this, Svyatoslav wept bitterly and promised to fulfill everything she bequeathed, refusing only to accept the holy faith.

After three days, blessed Olga fell into extreme exhaustion; she partook of the Divine Mysteries of the Most Pure Body and the Life-giving Blood of Christ our Savior; all the time she was in fervent prayer to God and to the Most Pure Theotokos, whom, according to God, she always had as an assistant; she called all the saints; Blessed Olga prayed with special zeal for the enlightenment of the Russian land after her death; seeing the future, she repeatedly predicted that God would enlighten the people of the Russian land and many of them would be great saints; Blessed Olga prayed for the speedy fulfillment of this prophecy at her death. And another prayer was on her lips, when her honest soul was released from the body, and, as a righteous one, was accepted by the hands of God ".

July 11 / July 24 969 St. Olga died, "And her son and grandchildren and all the people wept for her with great lamentation"... Presbyter Gregory fulfilled her will exactly. Saint Olga Equal to the Apostles was canonized at the Cathedral of 1547, which confirmed the widespread veneration of her in Russia even in the pre-Mongol era.

God glorified the "leader" of faith in the Russian land with miracles and incorruptible relics

Under the holy prince Vladimir, the relics of Saint Olga were transferred to the Tithe Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos and placed in the sarcophagus, in which it was customary to place the relics of saints in the Orthodox East. There was a window above the tomb of St. Olga in the church wall; and if anyone came to the relics with faith, he saw through the little window of relics, and some saw the radiance emanating from them, and many who were possessed by diseases received healing. The window, who came with skepticism, did not open, and he could not see the relics, but only the coffin.

So after her death, Saint Olga preached eternal life and resurrection, filling the believers with joy and admonishing the unbelievers.
Her prophecy about the evil death of her son came true. Svyatoslav, according to the chronicler, was killed by the Pechenezh prince Kurei, who cut off Svyatoslav's head and made himself a cup from the skull, bound it with gold and drank from it during feasts.

The saint's prophecy about the Russian land was also fulfilled. The prayer labors and deeds of Saint Olga confirmed the greatest deed of her grandson Saint Vladimir (Comm. 15 (28) July) - the Baptism of Rus.
The images of Saints Equal to the Apostles Olga and Vladimir, mutually complementing each other, embody the motherly and fatherly principles of Russian spiritual history.
became the spiritual mother of the Russian people, through her began his enlightenment with the light of Christ's faith.

Olga's pagan name corresponds to the male Oleg (Helgi), which means "saint." Although the pagan understanding of holiness differs from the Christian one, it presupposes in a person a special spiritual attitude, chastity and sobriety, intelligence and sagacity. Revealing the spiritual meaning of this name, the people called Oleg the Prophetic, and Olga - the Wise.

Subsequently, Saint Olga will be called God-wise, emphasizing her main gift, which became the basis of the entire ladder of holiness of Russian wives - wisdom. The Most Holy Theotokos herself - the House of the Wisdom of God - blessed Saint Olga for her apostolic labors. Her construction of the Sophia Cathedral in Kiev - the mother of Russian cities - was a sign of the participation of the Mother of God in the House-building of Holy Russia. Kiev, that is, Christian Kievan Rus, became the third Lot of the Mother of God in the Universe, and the approval of this Lot on earth began through the first of the holy wives of Rus - Saint Olga, Equal to the Apostles. The Christian name of Saint Olga - Elena (translated from the ancient Greek "Torch"), became an expression of the burning of her spirit.
Saint Olga (Elena) received the spiritual fire, which has not died out in the entire thousand-year history of Christian Russia.

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An old English proverb says, "Behind every great man is a great woman." The history of the Russian state only once again confirms the correctness of this statement.

The wife of the legendary Novgorod prince Rurik was the daughter of one of the Norwegian princes named Efanda, nicknamed Norman. Unfortunately, no historical information about her life has survived.

The wife of Kiev left a special mark on her. According to most chronicles, Olga was the daughter of a Varangian mercenary who settled in the Pskov lands, but some sources call her the daughter of Oleg the Prophet himself. While still a very young girl, Olga marries Igor, the direct heir of Rurik.

After almost forty years of a happy married life, Prince Igor is killed by the Drevlyans, from whom he wanted to collect an inordinately large tribute. Olga decides to avenge her beloved husband by committing a cruel reprisal against the murderers. After Igor's death, Olga takes power into her own hands.

During her reign, the borders of the Kiev principality expanded significantly - Volyn and a number of other territories were annexed. Crafts and trade developed intensively. It was under Princess Olga that the first stone cities began to be built. She also carried out the administrative division of the lands subject to Kiev.

The princess's foreign policy was also distinguished by wisdom and foresight - under her embassies were sent to a number of European countries, and close ties with the Byzantine Empire began to form. When her son Svyatoslav came of age, Olga handed over power to him. A few years before her death, Olga was baptized in Constantinople, in which she received the name Elena, thereby initiating the Christianization of Rus. The Orthodox Church was canonized.

Before the baptism of Russia, he had an extensive harem, however, having converted to Christianity, instead of numerous concubines, he decided to acquire a single wife. His choice fell on the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Anna. The wedding ceremony was performed immediately after Vladimir adopted the Christian faith. Princess Anna actively participated in the Christianization of Rus and, according to the assurances of the chroniclers, built many churches.

He married the daughter of the Swedish king Ingigerda. The princess took an active part in the administration of the state. Yaroslav even sent her at the head of the army against the Polotsk prince Bryachislav. Ingigerda played an important role in the foreign policy of Russia, especially in its relations with the countries of Northern Europe. The princess founded the first nunnery in Russia, and after the death of her husband, she herself tonsured into a nun under the name Anna. In the fifteenth century she was canonized.

Evdokia - wife of Dmitry Donskoy photo

Also, among the famous wives of Russian princes, it is worth noting the wife -. She was born into the family of a Suzdal prince and, at the age of thirteen, was married to Dmitry, who was only two years older than her. Evdokia in every possible way helped her husband in running the state.

When Dmitry decided to resolutely rebuff the Tatars from the Golden Horde, his wife fully supported this initiative. The speech she delivered to the troops the day before has survived. The chroniclers call the marriage of Dmitry and Evdokia extremely happy, and filled with the highest feelings.

After the death of the prince, the wife decided to take power in the state in soy hands until the children reach the age of majority. Many historians note the wisdom and justice shown by Evdokia in the management of the principality. At the end of her life, she was tonsured as a nun under the name of Euphrosyne, and soon after her death she was canonized.

She was the first woman to become the ruler of one of the largest states at that time - Kievan Rus. This woman's revenge was terrible, and the government was harsh. The princess was perceived ambiguously. Someone considered her wise, someone cruel and cunning, and someone a real saint. Princess Olga went down in history as the creator of the state culture of Kievan Rus, as the first ruler to be baptized, as the first Russian saint ..

Princess Olga became famous after the tragic death of her husband

While still a very young girl, Olga became the wife of the Grand Duke of Kiev, Igor. According to legend, their first meeting was rather unusual. One day, a young prince, wishing to cross the river, from the bank called a man sailing in a boat to him. He saw his escort only after they had sailed. To the surprise of the prince, a girl was sitting in front of him, moreover, of incredible beauty. Yielding to feelings, Igor began to persuade her to vicious actions. Meanwhile, having understood his thoughts, the girl reminded the prince of the honor of the ruler, who should be a worthy example for his subjects. Ashamed by the words of the young maiden, Igor abandoned his intentions. Noting the mind and chastity of the girl, he parted with her, keeping in memory her words and image. When the time came to choose a bride, none of the Kiev beauties suited him. Remembering the stranger with the boat, Igor sent his guardian, Oleg, for her. So Olga became the wife of Igor and the Russian princess.

However, the princess became known only after the tragic death of her husband. Soon after the birth of his son Svyatoslav, Prince Igor was executed. He became the first ruler in the history of Russia who died at the hands of the people, indignant at the repeated collection of tribute. The heir to the throne was at that time only three years old, so virtually all power passed into the hands of Olga. She ruled Kievan Rus until Svyatoslav came of age, but even after that, in reality, the princess remained the ruler, since her son was absent from military campaigns most of the time.

Having received power, Olga ruthlessly took revenge on the Drevlyans

The first thing she did was to ruthlessly take revenge on the Drevlyans, who were guilty of the death of her husband. Pretending that she agreed to a new marriage with the prince of the Drevlyans, Olga dealt with their elders, and then subdued the whole people. In her revenge, the princess used any methods. Luring the Drevlyans to the right place for her, by her order, the Kievites buried them alive, burned them, and bloodthirsty won in battle. And only after Olga finished her massacre, she began to rule Kievan Rus.

Princess Olga is the first Russian woman to officially convert to Christianity

Princess Olga directed her main forces to domestic policy, which she tried to implement through diplomatic methods. Traveling around the Russian lands, she suppressed the revolts of small local princes and carried out a number of important reforms. The most important of them was the administrative and tax reform. In other words, she established centers of trade and exchange in which the collection of taxes took place in an orderly manner. The financial system became a strong support of the princely power in the lands far from Kiev. Thanks to the reign of Olga, the defense power of Russia has grown significantly. Strong walls arose around the cities, the first state borders of Russia were established - in the west, with Poland.

The princess strengthened international ties with Germany and Byzantium, and relations with Greece opened Olga a new look at the Christian faith. In 954, the princess, for the purpose of a religious pilgrimage and a diplomatic mission, went to Constantinople, where she was honorably received by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus.

Before deciding to be baptized, the princess spent two years familiarizing herself with the basics of the Christian faith. Attending divine services, she was amazed at the grandeur of the temples and the shrines collected in them. Princess Olga, who was christened Elena, became the first woman to officially adopt Christianity in pagan Rus. Upon her return, she ordered to build churches in the churchyards. During her reign, the Grand Duchess erected the churches of St. Nicholas and St. Sophia in Kiev, the Annunciation of the Virgin in Vitebsk. By her order, the city of Pskov was built, where the temple of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity was erected. According to legend, the place of the future temple was indicated to her by rays descending from the sky.

The baptism of Princess Olga did not lead to the establishment of Christianity in Russia

The princess tried to introduce her son to Christianity. Despite the fact that many nobles had already adopted the new faith, Svyatoslav remained faithful to paganism. The baptism of Princess Olga did not lead to the establishment of Christianity in Russia. But her grandson, the future prince Vladimir, continued the mission of his beloved grandmother. It was he who became the Baptist of Rus and founded the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Kiev, where he transferred the relics of the saints and Olga. During his reign, the princess began to be revered as a saint. And already in 1547 she was officially canonized as a saint equal to the apostles. It is worth noting that only five women in Christian history were honored with such an honor - Mary Magdalene, the first martyr Thekla, the martyr Apphia, Queen Helena Equal of the Apostles and the educator of Georgia Nina. Today, the Holy Princess Olga is revered as the patroness of widows and newly converted Christians.

Since ancient times, people have called St. Olga the Equal-to-the-Apostles "the head of the faith" and "the root of Orthodoxy" in the Russian land. (Only a few of the holy women of Christian history were honored with the face of the Equal-to-the-Apostles: the holy myrrh-bearer Mary Magdalene, the holy first martyr Thekla, holy Apphia, the holy noble queen Elena, and Saint Nina, the enlightener of Georgia). Olga's baptism was marked by the prophetic words of the patriarch who baptized her: “Blessed are you in the wives of the Russians, for you left the darkness and loved the Light. Russian sons will glorify you to the last generation! " At baptism, the Russian princess was honored with the name of St. Helena, Equal to the Apostles, who worked hard in spreading Christianity in the vast Roman Empire and acquired the Life-giving Cross on which the Lord was crucified. Like her heavenly patroness, Olga became an Equal-to-the-Apostles preacher of Christianity in the vast expanses of the Russian land. There are many chronological inaccuracies and mysteries in the chronicles about her, but doubts can hardly arise about the reliability of most of the facts of her life, conveyed to our time by the grateful descendants of the holy princess - the organizer of the Russian land. Let's turn to the story of her life.

The name of the future enlightener of Russia and her homeland is the oldest of the chronicles - "The Tale of Bygone Years" in the description of the marriage of Prince Igor of Kiev:
"And they brought him a wife from Pskov named Olga." The Joachim Chronicle specifies that she belonged to the family of the Izborsk princes, one of the ancient Russian princely dynasties.

Igor's wife was called by the Varangian name Helga, in Russian pronunciation - Olga [Volga]. Tradition calls the village of Vybuty, not far from Pskov, up the Velikaya River, Olga's homeland. The life of Saint Olga tells that here for the first time she met her future husband. The young prince was hunting "in the Pskov region" and, wishing to cross the Velikaya River, he saw "a certain one floating in a boat" and called him to the shore. Having sailed from the coast in a boat, the prince discovered that a girl of amazing beauty was taking him. Igor was inflamed with lust for her and began to incline her to sin. The carrier turned out to be not only beautiful, but chaste and intelligent. She put Igor to shame, reminding him of the princely dignity of a ruler and judge, who should be a "bright example of good deeds" for his subjects. Igor parted with her, keeping in memory her words and a beautiful image. When the time came to choose a bride, the most beautiful girls of the principality were gathered in Kiev. But none of them pleased him. And then he remembered Olga, "marvelous in girls," and sent for her a relative of his prince Oleg. So Olga became the wife of Prince Igor, the great Russian princess.

After his marriage, Igor went on a campaign against the Greeks, and returned from him as a father: his son Svyatoslav was born. Soon Igor was killed by the Drevlyans. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Kiev prince, the Drevlyans sent ambassadors to Princess Olga, inviting her to marry their ruler Mal. Olga pretended to agree. By cunning she lured two embassies of the Drevlyans to Kiev, putting them to painful death: the first was buried alive "in the prince's court", the second was burnt in a bathhouse. After that, five thousand Drevlyansky men were killed by Olga's soldiers at a funeral service for Igor at the walls of the Drevlyansky capital Iskorosten. The next year Olga again approached Iskorosten with an army. The city was burned with the help of birds, to whose feet a burning tow was tied. The surviving Drevlyans were captured and sold into slavery.

Along with this, the chronicles are full of evidence of her tireless "walks" across the Russian land with the aim of organizing the political and economic life of the country. She achieved the strengthening of the power of the Kiev Grand Duke, centralized state administration with the help of a system of "graveyards". The chronicle notes that she and her son and retinue walked along the Drevlyansky land, "establishing tributes and quitrent fees", marking villages and encampments and hunting places to be included in the Kiev grand ducal possessions. She went to Novgorod, setting up churchyards along the Mete and Luga rivers. “When I caught her [hunting places] were all over the land, there were established signs, her places and graveyards,” the chronicler writes, “and her sleigh stands in Pskov to this day, there are places she indicated for catching birds along the Dnieper and along the Desna; and her village Olgichi still exists today. " Pogosts (from the word "guest" - merchant] became the mainstay of the grand ducal power, centers of ethnic and cultural unification of the Russian people.

Life tells the following about Olga's works: “And Princess Olga ruled the regions of the Russian land subject to her not as a woman, but as a strong and reasonable husband, firmly holding power in her hands and bravely defending herself from enemies. And she was terrible for the latter, loved by her own people, as a merciful and pious ruler, as a righteous judge and not offending anyone, imposing punishment with mercy, and rewarding the good; she instilled fear in all the evil, rewarding each in proportion to the dignity of his actions; in all matters of administration, she showed foresight and wisdom. At the same time Olga, merciful at heart, was generous to the poor, the poor and the poor; fair requests soon reached her heart, and she quickly fulfilled them ... With all this Olga combined a temperate and chaste life, she did not want to remarry, but was in pure widowhood, observing her son's princely power until the days of his age. When the latter matured, she handed over to him all the affairs of the government, and she herself, having withdrawn from rumor and care, lived outside the worries of government, indulging in matters of goodness. "

Russia grew and became stronger. Cities were built, surrounded by stone and oak walls. The princess herself lived behind the reliable walls of Vyshgorod, surrounded by a faithful squad. Two-thirds of the collected tribute, according to the chronicle, she gave at the disposal of the Kiev Veche, the third part went “to Olga, to Vyshgorod” - to the military building. The establishment of the first state borders of Kievan Rus dates back to the time of Olga. The heroic outposts, sung in epics, guarded the peaceful life of the Kievites from the nomads of the Great Steppe, from attacks from the West. Foreigners rushed to Gardarika ("the land of cities"], as they called Russia, with goods. Scandinavians and Germans willingly joined the Russian army as mercenaries. Russia became a great power.

As a wise ruler, Olga saw on the example of the Byzantine Empire that it was not enough to care only about state and economic life. It was necessary to start organizing the religious, spiritual life of the people.

The author of the Book of Degrees writes: “Her / Olga's feat / was that she recognized the true God. Not knowing the Christian law, she lived a pure and chaste "life, and she wished to be a Christian by free will, with her heart's eyes she found the way of knowing God and followed it without hesitation." The Monk Nestor the chronicler narrates: "Blessed Olga from an early age sought wisdom, which is the best in this light, and found a precious pearl - Christ."

Having made her choice, Grand Duchess Olga, entrusting Kiev to her grown-up son, sets off with a large fleet to Constantinople. Old Russian chroniclers will call this act of Olga "walking", it combined in itself a religious pilgrimage, and a diplomatic mission, and a demonstration of the military might of Russia. “Olga wanted to go to the Greeks herself in order to see with her own eyes the Christian service and be fully convinced of their teaching about the true God,” says the life of Saint Olga. According to the chronicle, Olga made the decision to become a Christian in Constantinople. The sacrament of Baptism was performed over her by the Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople (933–956), and the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912–959) was the successor, who left in his work "On the ceremonies of the Byzantine court" a detailed description of the ceremonies during Olga's stay in Constantinople. At one of the receptions the Russian princess was presented with a golden dish adorned with precious stones. Olga donated it to the sacristy of the Cathedral of St. Sophia, where he was seen and described at the beginning of the 13th century by the Russian diplomat Dobrynya Yadreykovich, later Archbishop Anthony of Novgorod:
"The dish is great for Olga Russian's service, when she took a tribute when she went to Constantinople: in Olga's dish there is a precious stone, on the same stones Christ is written."

The Patriarch blessed the newly-baptized Russian princess with a cross carved from a single piece of the Life-giving Tree of the Lord. On the cross was the inscription: "The Russian land was renewed with the Holy Cross, and Olga, the noble princess, received him."

Olga returned to Kiev with icons, liturgical books - her apostolic ministry began. She erected a church in the name of St. Nicholas over the grave of Askold, the first Christian prince of Kiev, and converted many Kievites to Christ. Preaching the faith, the princess set off to the north. In the Kiev and Pskov lands, in distant lands, at crossroads, she erected crosses, destroying pagan idols.

Saint Olga laid the foundation for a special veneration of the Most Holy Trinity in Russia. From century to century, the story of a vision that happened to her near the Velikaya River, not far from her native village, was transmitted. She saw that "three bright rays" descended from the sky from the east. Addressing her companions, who were witnesses of the vision, Olga said prophetically: "Let it be known to you that the will of God in this place will be a church in the name of the Most Holy and Life-giving Trinity and there will be a great and glorious city abounding in all." At this place Olga erected a cross and founded a church in the name of the Holy Trinity. It became the main cathedral of Pskov, a glorious Russian city that has since been called the House of the Holy Trinity. Through the mysterious paths of spiritual succession, four centuries later, this veneration was transmitted to the Monk Sergius of Radonezh.

On May 11, 960, the Church of St. Sophia, the Wisdom of God, was consecrated in Kiev. This day was celebrated in the Russian Church as a special holiday. The main shrine of the temple was the cross received by Olga during her baptism in Constantinople. The temple, built by Olga, burned down in 1017, and in its place Yaroslav the Wise erected the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Irina, and the relics of St. Sophia Olga's temple were transferred to the still standing stone church of St. Sophia of Kiev, founded in 1017 and consecrated around 1030. In the Prologue of the XIII century about Olga's cross it is said: "That one now stands in Kiev in St. Sophia in the altar on the right side." After the conquest of Kiev by the Lithuanians, the Holguin cross was stolen from the St. Sophia Cathedral and taken by Catholics to Lublin. His further fate is unknown to us. The princess's apostolic labors met with secret and open resistance from the pagans. Among the boyars and warriors in Kiev there were many people who, according to the chroniclers, “hated Wisdom,” like St. Olga, who built her temples. The adherents of pagan antiquity raised their heads more and more boldly, looking with hope at the growing Svyatoslav, who resolutely rejected his mother's persuasions to accept Christianity. The Tale of Bygone Years tells about it this way: “Olga lived with her son Svyatoslav, and her mother persuaded him to be baptized, but he neglected it and plugged his ears; however, if anyone wanted to be baptized, he did not oppose him, but mocked him ... Olga often said: “My son, I have come to know God and I rejoice; here you too, if you learn, you will also begin to rejoice. " He, not listening to this, said: “How can I want to change my faith alone? My warriors will laugh at this! " She told him: "If you are baptized, everyone will do the same."

He, not listening to his mother, lived according to pagan customs, not knowing that if someone does not listen to his mother, he will get into trouble, as it is said: "If someone does not listen to his father or mother, then he will die." Besides, he was angry with his mother ... But Olga loved her son Svyatoslav when she said: “Let the will of God be done. If God wants to have mercy on my descendants and the Russian land, may he command their hearts to turn to God, as it was granted to me. " And saying this, I prayed for my son and for his people all day and night, taking care of her son until he matured. "

In 959, a German chronicler writes: "The ambassadors of Helena, the queen of the Russians, who was baptized in Constantinople, came to the king and asked to consecrate a bishop and priests for this people." King Otto, the future founder of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation, responded to Olga's request. A year later, Libucius was made bishop of Russia, from the brethren of the monastery of St. Alban in Mainz, but he soon died (March 15, 961). In his place, they dedicated Adalbert of Trier, whom Otgon, "having generously supplied with everything necessary," finally sent to Russia. When, in 962, Adalberg appeared in Kiev, he "did not have time in anything for which he was sent, and saw his efforts in vain." On the way back, “some of his companions were killed, and the bishop himself did not escape mortal danger,” - this is how the chronicles of Adalbert's mission tell. (The failure of Adalbert's mission had a providential meaning for the Church of Russia, which escaped the Catholic conquest).

The pagan reaction manifested itself so strongly that not only the German missionaries suffered, but also some of the Kiev Christians who were baptized with Olga. On the orders of Svyatoslav, Olga's nephew Gleb was killed and some of the temples she built were destroyed. Saint Olga had to come to terms with what had happened and go into matters of personal piety, leaving control to the pagan Svyatoslav. Of course, she was still reckoned with, her experience and wisdom were invariably referred to in all important cases. When Svyatoslav was absent from Kiev, the administration of the state was entrusted to Saint Olga. The glorious military victories of the Russian army were consolation for her. Svyatoslav defeated the long-standing enemy of the Russian state - the Khazar Kaganate, forever crushing the power of the Jewish rulers of the Azov region and the lower Volga region. The next blow was dealt to the Volga Bulgaria, then the turn of the Danube Bulgaria came - eighty cities were taken by the Kiev warriors along the Danube. Svyatoslav and his warriors personified the heroic spirit of pagan Rus. The chronicles have preserved the words of Svyatoslav, surrounded with his retinue by a huge Greek army: “We will not shame the Russian land, but we will lie down with our bones here! The dead have no shame! " Svyatoslav dreamed of creating a huge Russian state from the Danube to the Volga, which would unite Russia and other Slavic peoples. Saint Olga understood that with all the courage and courage of the Russian squads, they could not cope with the ancient empire of the Romans, which would not allow the strengthening of pagan Rus. But the son did not listen to his mother's warnings.

Saint Olga had to endure many sorrows at the end of her life. The son finally moved to Pereyaslavets-on the Danube. While in Kiev, she taught her grandchildren, the children of Svyatoslav, the Christian faith, but did not dare to baptize them, fearing the anger of her son. In addition, he obstructed her attempts to establish Christianity in Russia. In recent years, amid the triumph of paganism, she, once the revered mistress of the state, who was baptized by the Ecumenical Patriarch in the capital of Orthodoxy, had to secretly keep a priest with her so as not to cause a new outbreak of anti-Christian sentiments. In 968 Kiev was besieged by the Pechenegs. The holy princess and her grandchildren, among whom was Prince Vladimir, found themselves in mortal danger. When the news of the siege reached Svyatoslav, he hurried to help, and the Pechenegs were put to flight. Saint Olga, already seriously ill, asked her son not to leave until her death. She did not lose hope of turning her son's heart to God and on her deathbed did not stop preaching: “Why are you leaving me, my son, and where are you going? Looking for someone else, whom do you entrust yours to? After all, your children are still small, and I am already old, and even sick, - I expect a quick death - a departure to the beloved Christ, in Whom I believe; I now do not worry about anything, but only about you: I regret that although I taught a lot and persuaded to leave the idolatrous wickedness, to believe in the true God, known by me, and you neglect this, and I know what kind of disobedience you are a bad end awaits you on earth for me, and after death - eternal torment prepared for the pagans. Fulfill now at least this last request of mine: do not go anywhere until I am gone and am buried; then go wherever you want. After my death, do not do anything that is required in such cases by pagan custom; but let my elder with the clergy bury my body according to the Christian custom; do not dare to pour a grave mound over me and do funerals; but send gold to Constantinople to the Most Holy Patriarch, so that he would make a prayer and an offering to God for my soul and give alms to the poor. "

“Hearing this, Svyatoslav wept bitterly and promised to fulfill everything she bequeathed, refusing only to accept the holy faith. After three days, blessed Olga fell into extreme exhaustion; she partook of the Divine Mysteries of the Most Pure Body and Life-giving Blood of Christ our Savior; all the time she was in fervent prayer to God and to the Most Pure Mother of God, whom, according to God, she had always had as a helper; she called all the saints; Blessed Olga prayed with special zeal for the enlightenment of the Russian land after her death; despising the future, she repeatedly predicted that God would enlighten the people of the Russian land and many of them would be great saints; Blessed Olga prayed for the speedy fulfillment of this prophecy at her death. And another prayer was on her lips, when her honest soul was released from the body, and, as a righteous one, was accepted by the hands of God. " On July 11, 969, Saint Olga died, “and her son and grandchildren and all the people wept for her with great lamentation. Presbyter Gregory fulfilled her will exactly.

Saint Olga, Equal to the Apostles, was canonized at a council in 1547, which confirmed the widespread veneration of her in Russia even in the pre-Mongol era.

God glorified the “leader” of faith in the Russian land with miracles and incorruptible relics. Under the holy prince Vladimir, the relics of Saint Olga were transferred to the Tithe Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos and placed in the sarcophagus, in which it was customary to place the relics of saints in the Orthodox East. There was a window above the tomb of St. Olga in the church wall; and if anyone came to the relics with faith, he saw through the little window of relics, and some saw the radiance emanating from them, and many who were possessed by diseases received healing. The window, who came with skepticism, did not open, and he could not see the relics, but only the coffin.

So after her death, Saint Olga preached eternal life and resurrection, filling the believers with joy and admonishing the unbelievers.

Her prophecy about the evil death of her son came true. Svyatoslav, according to the chronicler, was killed by the Pechenezh prince Kurei, who cut off Svyatoslav's head and made himself a cup from the skull, bound it with gold and drank from it during feasts.

The saint's prophecy about the Russian land was also fulfilled. The prayer works and deeds of Saint Olga confirmed the greatest deed of her grandson Saint Vladimir (Comm. 15/28) July) - the Baptism of Rus. The images of Saints Equal to the Apostles Olga and Vladimir, mutually complementing each other, embody the motherly and fatherly principles of Russian spiritual history.

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga became the spiritual mother of the Russian people, through her began their enlightenment with the light of Christ's faith.
Olga's pagan name corresponds to the male Oleg (Helgi), which means “saint.” Although the pagan understanding of holiness differs from the Christian, it presupposes in a person a special spiritual attitude, chastity and sobriety, intelligence and foresight. Prophetic, and Olga - Wise. Subsequently, Saint Olga will be called God-wise, emphasizing her main gift, which became the basis of the entire ladder of holiness of Russian women - wisdom. The Most Holy Theotokos herself - the House of the Wisdom of God - blessed Saint Olga for her apostolic labors. Kiev - the mother of Russian cities - was a sign of the participation of the Mother of God in the House-building of Holy Russia.Kiev, i.e. Christian Kievan Rus, became the third Lot of the Mother of God in the Universe, and the approval of this Lot on earth began through the first of the holy wives of Russia - the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga.

The Christian name of Saint Olga - Elena (translated from the ancient Greek "torch"), became an expression of the burning of her spirit. Saint Olga (Elena) received the spiritual fire, which has not died out in the entire thousand-year history of Christian Russia.

RURIK BEFORE DEATH TRANSFERS POWER TO OLEG AND APPOINTS HIS GUARDIAN OF SON IGOR. MINIATURE XV century.

HIKING OLEG TO TSARGRAD. MINIATURE OF THE RADZIWILL CHRONICLE

DEATH OF OLEG. ENGRAVING

Since ancient times, people have called St. Olga the Equal-to-the-Apostles "the head of faith" and "the root of Orthodoxy" in the Russian land. Olga's baptism was marked by the prophetic words of the patriarch who baptized her: "Blessed are you in the wives of the Russians, for you left the darkness and loved the Light. The sons of Russia will glorify you to the last generation!" At her baptism, the Russian princess was honored with the name of St. Helena, Equal to the Apostles, who worked hard in spreading Christianity in the vast Roman Empire and acquired the Life-giving Cross, on which the Lord was crucified. Like her heavenly patroness, Olga became an Equal-to-the-Apostles preacher of Christianity in the vast expanses of the Russian land. There are many chronological inaccuracies and mysteries in the chronicles about her, but doubts can hardly arise about the reliability of most of the facts of her life, conveyed to our time by the grateful descendants of the holy princess - the organizer of the Russian land. Let's turn to the story of her life.

Princess Olga was born in the present Pskov region, in a family of ordinary people. She was the wife of Prince Igor. According to some information, Olga got married in less than fifteen years. Igor met his future wife on the hunt and was captivated by her beauty and intelligence. The annals indicate that Princess Olga was the only wife of the prince, despite the then permitted polygamy. According to some information, the future ruler of Russia bore the name Prekras before marriage. Subsequently, she took the name Olga from Oleg. As you know, in 945, Igor died at the hands of the Drevlyans. His wife ascended the throne. In the annals you can find a fairly detailed description of the ruler's revenge for the death of her husband. Soon after the reign of Olga, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to her to call her to marry Prince Mal. The ambassadors arrived in the boat. The residents of Kiev took her, along with the matchmakers, to a huge pit in the courtyard of Olga's tower and buried them alive.

Equal to the Apostles Olga. Icon with Life, 1969.

Written for the 1000th anniversary of the death of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga

The next ambassadors of the Drevlyans, who arrived at the request of the ruler, were burned in the bathhouse. According to custom, Princess Olga came to the lands of the Drevlyans to celebrate her husband's feast. During the funeral, on her order, the Drevlyans were drunk, and then chopped off at Igor's grave. In 946 Olga, princess of Kiev, marched with an army against the Drevlyans. After an unsuccessful siege during the summer of the city of Iskorosten (the Drevlyansky capital), Princess Olga ordered to burn it with the help of birds, to which incendiary mixtures were tied. After the victory, the ruler established taxes and tributes throughout the Novgorod and Pskov lands. After the conquest of the Drevlyans, the ruler returned to Kiev. Princess Olga ruled until Svyatoslav (her son and Igor's) comes of age. However, even after she remained at the helm of the state, since her son was constantly on campaigns.

The baptism of Princess Olga (in 955) is noted in the annals as a "great deed". She adopted Christianity and received the name Helena the ruler of Constantinople. After returning to Kiev, Olga tried to introduce Svyatoslav to the faith. But the son was adamant and did not give in to persuasion. Olga was the first ruler of Russia to adopt Christianity. According to many researchers, it was this fact that predetermined the adoption of Orthodoxy throughout the state. According to some legends, Olga received baptism personally from Constantine. Helen was named after the mother of the emperor - the holy queen Helena. According to some reports, Constantine wooed Olga before baptism. However, the wise ruler pointed out that Christians should not woo pagans. Then Olga was baptized. The emperor again called her in marriage. But Olga this time too refused the tsar, since marriage was impossible - she became his goddaughter. Other sources indicate that the princess was baptized by Roman II (co-ruler of Constantine), as well as by the patriarch Polyeuct.

Since Svyatoslav was on campaigns almost all the time, his mother had to rule the state. In 968, the Pechenegs made their first foray into the Russian land. Olga and Svyatoslav's children took refuge in Kiev. Soon the son lifted the siege. However, Svyatoslav did not intend to stay in Kiev for long. In 969 he was going on a new campaign, but Olga stopped him. By that time, she was seriously ill. Olga died three days later. The ruler bequeathed to bury herself according to Christian tradition and not to serve a funeral feast. According to historians, Olga began to be worshiped as a saint during the reign of Vladimir the Baptist. According to information, in 1007, the prince transferred the relics of all saints (including Olga) to the Church of the Holy Mother of God, built by him in Kiev. Approximately from that time they began to celebrate the day of remembrance of the ruler on July 11/24. At the same time, the official canonization (glorification of the whole church) took place, most likely, somewhat later - in the middle of the 13th century. In 1547 Olga (Elena) was canonized as a saint equal to the apostles.

Prayer of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess of Russia Olga (Elena in baptism). Princess Olga, in baptism Elena is called "the head of the faith" and "the root of Orthodoxy" in the Russian land. Patroness of sovereign people. They pray to her for children, for their education in faith and piety, for the admonition of unbelieving children and relatives, or those who have fallen into sects