Prayer to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. The meaning of the holy image

Princess Olga, baptized - Elena. Born approx. 920 - died on July 11, 969. The princess who ruled the Old Russian state from 945 to 960 after the death of her husband, Prince of Kiev Igor Rurikovich. The first of the rulers of Russia adopted Christianity even before the baptism of Russia. Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Russian Orthodox Church.

Princess Olga was born approx. 920 years.

The chronicles do not tell Olga's year of birth, but the later Book of Degrees reports that she died at the age of about 80, which puts her date of birth at the end of the 9th century. The approximate date of her birth is reported by the late "Arkhangelsk Chronicler", who reports that Olga was 10 years old at the time of her marriage. Based on this, many scientists (M. Karamzin, L. Morozova, L. Voytovich) calculated the date of her birth - 893.

The prosperous life of the princess asserts her age at the time of her death - 75 years. Thus, Olga was born in 894. True, this date is questioned by the date of birth of Olga's eldest son, Svyatoslav (about 938-943), since Olga at the time of the birth of her son should have been 45-50 years old, which seems incredible.

Looking at the fact that Svyatoslav Igorevich was Olga's eldest son, Boris Rybakov, taking 942 as the date of the prince's birth, considered the year 927-928 as the last point of Olga's birth. Andrey Bogdanov adhered to a similar opinion (925-928) in his book “Princess Olga. Holy warrior. "

Alexei Karpov in his monograph "Princess Olga" makes Olga older, claiming that the princess was born around 920. Consequently, the date around 925 looks more accurate than the year 890, since Olga herself in the annals for 946-955 appears young and energetic, and gives birth to her eldest son around 940.

According to the earliest Old Russian chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years", Olga was from Pskov (Old Russian. Pleskov, Plskov). The Life of the Holy Grand Duchess Olga specifies that she was born in the village of Vybuty, Pskov land, 12 km from Pskov up the Velikaya River. The names of Olga's parents have not survived; according to Life, they were of an ignorant family. According to scientists, the Varangian origin is confirmed by her name, which has a correspondence in Old Norse as Helga... The presence of presumably Scandinavians in those places is marked by a number of archaeological finds, possibly dating back to the first half of the 10th century. Old Bohemian name is also known Olha.

The typographic chronicle (end of the 15th century) and the later Piskarevsky chronicler convey a rumor that Olga was the daughter of Prophetic Oleg, who began to rule Russia as the guardian of the young Igor, the son of Rurik: "Nѣtsi zhє verbolut, ѩko ѻlgova dshєri bѣѣlga." Oleg married Igor and Olga.

The so-called Joachim Chronicle, the reliability of which is questioned by historians, reports about Olga's noble Slavic origin: “When Igor matured, Oleg married him, gave him his wife from Izborsk, the Gostomyslov clan, which was called Prekrasa, and Oleg renamed her and named Olga in his name. Igor later had other wives, but Olga, because of her wisdom, honored her more than others. ".

If you believe this source, it turns out that the princess was renamed from Beautiful to Olga, taking a new name in honor of Prince Oleg (Olga is the female version of this name).

Bulgarian historians also put forward a version of Princess Olga's Bulgarian roots, relying mainly on the message of the "New Vladimir Chronicler": "Igorѧ zhє burn [Ѻlg] vъ Българѣхъ, sing zhє for nєgo knѧzhnu Ѻlgu"... And translating the chronicle name Pleskov not as Pskov, but as Pliska - the Bulgarian capital of that time. The names of both cities really coincide in the Old Slavic transcription of some texts, which served as the basis for the author of the "New Vladimir Chronicler" to translate the message "The Tale of Bygone Years" about Olga from Pskov as about Olga from the Bulgarians, since the spelling of Pleskov to designate Pskov has long been out of use ...

Local legends are based on statements about Olga's origin from the annalistic Carpathian Plesnesk, a huge settlement (7th-8th centuries - 10-12 hectares, up to the 10th century - 160 hectares, up to the 13th century - 300 hectares) with Scandinavian and West Slavic materials.

Marriage with Igor

According to The Tale of Bygone Years, Prophetic Oleg married Igor Rurikovich, who began to rule independently in 912, to Olga in 903, that is, when she was already 12 years old. This date is being questioned, since, according to the Ipatiev list of the same "Tale", their son Svyatoslav was born only in 942.

Perhaps to resolve this contradiction, the later Ustyug Chronicle and the Novgorod Chronicle according to the list of P.P.Dubrovsky report that Olga was ten years old at the time of the wedding. This message contradicts the legend set forth in the Book of Degrees (second half of the 16th century), about a chance meeting with Igor at the crossing near Pskov. The prince hunted in those places. Crossing the river by boat, he noticed that the carrier was a young girl dressed in men's clothes. Igor at once “flared up with zhulaniem” and began to pester her, but received a worthy reprimand in response: “Why are you embarrassing me, prince, with immodest words? I may be young and ignorant, and alone here, but know: it is better for me to throw myself into the river than to endure the reproach. " Igor remembered about a chance acquaintance when it was time to look for a bride for himself, and sent Oleg for his beloved girl, not wanting any other wife.

The Novgorod First Chronicle of the younger version, which contains in the most unchanged form information from the Primary Code of the XI century, leaves the message about Igor's marriage to Olga not dated, that is, the earliest Old Russian chroniclers did not have information about the date of the wedding. It is likely that 903 in the PVL text arose at a later time, when the monk Nestor tried to bring the initial Old Russian history into chronological order... After the wedding, Olga's name was mentioned again only 40 years later, in the Russian-Byzantine treaty of 944.

According to the chronicle, in 945, Prince Igor died at the hands of the Drevlyans after repeatedly collecting tribute from them. The heir to the throne Svyatoslav was then only three years old, so Olga became the actual ruler of Russia in 945. Igor's squad obeyed her, recognizing Olga as the representative of the legitimate heir to the throne. The princess's decisive course of action in relation to the Drevlyans could also persuade the warriors in her favor.

After the murder of Igor, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to his widow Olga to call her to marry their prince Mal. The princess consistently dealt with the elders of the Drevlyans, and then led their people to obedience. An ancient Russian chronicler sets out in detail Olga's revenge for the death of her husband:

First revenge:

Matchmakers, 20 Drevlyans, arrived in a boat, which the Kievites carried and threw into a deep hole in the courtyard of Olga's tower. The matchmakers-ambassadors were buried alive along with the boat.

“And, bowing to the pit, Olga asked them:“ Is your honor good? ” They answered: "We are more bitter than Igor's death." And she commanded them to fall asleep alive; and covered them up, ”says the chronicler.

Second revenge:

Olga asked for respect to send new ambassadors from the best husbands to her, which was eagerly performed by the Drevlyans. The embassy of the noble Drevlyans was burned in the bathhouse, while they washed, preparing for a meeting with the princess.

Third revenge:

The princess with a small retinue arrived in the lands of the Drevlyans to celebrate a funeral feast at her husband's grave, according to custom. Having drunk the Drevlyans during the funeral feast, Olga ordered to chop them down. The chronicle reports about five thousand killed Drevlyans.

Fourth revenge:

In 946, Olga went out with an army on a campaign against the Drevlyans. According to the Novgorod First Chronicle, the Kiev squad defeated the Drevlyans in battle. Olga walked along the Drevlyansky land, established tributes and taxes, after which she returned to Kiev. In the Tale of Bygone Years (PVL), the chronicler made an insert into the text of the Primary Code on the siege of the Drevlyansk capital of Iskorosten. On PVL, after an unsuccessful siege during the summer, Olga burned the city with the help of birds, to whose feet she ordered to tie a lighted tow with sulfur. Some of Iskorosten's defenders were killed, the rest obeyed. A similar legend about the burning of the city with the help of birds is also set forth by Saxon Grammaticus (XII century) in his compilation of oral Danish legends about the exploits of the Vikings and Snorri Sturluson's skald.

After the reprisal against the Drevlyans, Olga began to rule Russia until Svyatoslav came of age, but even after that she remained the de facto ruler, since her son spent most of his time on military campaigns and did not pay attention to managing the state.

Olga's board

Having conquered the Drevlyans, Olga in 947 went to the Novgorod and Pskov lands, appointing lessons (tribute) there, after which she returned to her son Svyatoslav in Kiev.

Olga established a system of "graveyards" - centers of trade and exchange, in which the collection of taxes took place in a more orderly manner; then temples began to be built along the churchyards. Olga's journey to the Novgorod land was questioned by Archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin), A. Shakhmatov (in particular, he pointed out the confusion of the Drevlyansk land with the Derevskaya pyatina), M. Grushevsky, D. Likhachev. The attempts of the Novgorod chroniclers to attract unusual events to the Novgorod land were also noted by V. Tatishchev. The testimony of the chronicle about Olga's sleigh, allegedly kept in Pleskov (Pskov) after Olga's trip to Novgorod land, is also critically evaluated.

Princess Olga laid the foundation for stone urban planning in Russia (the first stone buildings in Kiev - the city palace and Olga's country house), paid attention to the improvement of the lands subject to Kiev - Novgorod, Pskov, located along the Desna River, etc.

In 945 Olga established the size of "polyudya" - taxes in favor of Kiev, the timing and frequency of their payment - "quitrent" and "statutes". The lands subject to Kiev were divided into administrative units, in each of which a princely administrator, a tiun, was appointed.

Constantine Porphyrogenitus in his essay "On the Administration of the Empire", written in 949, mentions that "the monoxyls coming from outer Russia to Constantinople are one of Nemogard, in which Sfendoslav, the son of Ingor, Archon of Russia, was sitting." From this short message it follows that by 949 Igor held power in Kiev, or, which looks unlikely, Olga left her son to represent power in the northern part of her state. It is also possible that Constantine had information from unreliable or outdated sources.

Olga's next deed, noted in the PVL, is her baptism in 955 in Constantinople. Upon her return to Kiev, Olga, who was baptized as Helen, tried to introduce Svyatoslav to Christianity, but “he did not even think to listen to this. But if someone was going to be baptized, then he did not forbid, but only mocked him. " Moreover, Svyatoslav was angry with his mother for her persuasion, fearing to lose the respect of the squad.

In 957, Olga paid an official visit to Constantinople with a large embassy, ​​known from the description of court ceremonies by Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus in the essay On Ceremonies. The emperor calls Olga the ruler (archontissa) of Russia, the name of Svyatoslav (in the listing of the retinue, “the people of Svyatoslav” are indicated) is mentioned without a title. Apparently, the visit to Byzantium did not bring the desired results, since the PVL reports Olga's cold attitude towards the Byzantine ambassadors in Kiev shortly after the visit. On the other hand, the Successor of Theophanes in the story of the conquest of Crete from the Arabs under the Emperor Roman II (959-963) mentioned the Rus as part of the Byzantine army.

It is not known exactly when Svyatoslav began to rule on his own. The PVL reports on his first military campaign in 964. The Western European chronicle of the Continuer of Reginon reports under the year 959: "They came to the king (Otto I the Great), as it turned out later in a deceitful way, the ambassadors of Helena, Queen of Rugov, who was baptized in Constantinople under the Emperor of Constantinople Romanus, and asked to consecrate a bishop and priests for this people.".

Thus, in 959 Olga, baptized - Elena, was officially considered as the ruler of Russia. The remains of the 10th century rotunda discovered by archaeologists within the so-called “city of Kiya” are considered material evidence of the stay of Adalbert's mission in Kiev.

The convinced pagan Svyatoslav Igorevich turned 18 in 960, and the mission sent by Otto I to Kiev failed, as the Successor of Reginon reports: “The year 962. In this year, Adalbert returned back, made bishop of Rugam, for he did not succeed in anything for which he was sent, and saw his efforts in vain; on the way back, some of his companions were killed, but he himself, with great difficulty, barely escaped. ".

The date of the beginning of the independent rule of Svyatoslav is rather arbitrary, the Russian chronicles consider him to be his successor to the throne immediately after the murder of his father Igor by the Drevlyans. Svyatoslav was all the time on military campaigns against the neighbors of Russia, entrusting the government with the mother. When in 968 the Pechenegs first raided the Russian lands, Olga and Svyatoslav's children locked themselves in Kiev.

Svyatoslav, who returned from a campaign against Bulgaria, lifted the siege, but did not want to stay in Kiev for a long time. When the next year he was about to go back to Pereyaslavets, Olga held him back: “You see, I'm sick; where do you want to get away from me? " - for she was already sick. And she said, "When you bury me, go wherever you want.".

Three days later Olga died, and her son and her grandchildren, and all the people cried for her with great lamentation, and carried her and buried her in the chosen place, Olga bequeathed not to perform funeral feasts on her, since she had a priest with her. and buried blessed Olga.

Monk Jacob in the 11th century essay "Memory and Praise to Prince Volodimer of Rus" reports the exact date of Olga's death: July 11, 969.

Baptism of Olga

Princess Olga became the first ruler of Russia to be baptized, although both the squad and the Russian people were pagan with her. The son of Olga, the Grand Duke of Kiev Svyatoslav Igorevich, also stayed in paganism.

The date and circumstances of the baptism remain unclear. According to the PVL, this happened in 955 in Constantinople, Olga was personally baptized by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus with the patriarch (Theophylact): "And she was named in baptism the name Helen, as well as the ancient queen-mother of Emperor Constantine I".

PVL and Life adorn the circumstances of baptism with a story about how the wise Olga outwitted the Byzantine king. He, marveling at her intelligence and beauty, wanted to take Olga as his wife, but the princess rejected the claims, noting that it was not proper for Christians to marry pagans. It was then that the tsar and the patriarch baptized her. When the king again began to solicit the princess, she pointed out that she was now the goddaughter of the king. Then he richly presented her and sent her home.

Only one visit of Olga to Constantinople is known from Byzantine sources. Konstantin Porphyrogenitus described it in detail in the essay On Ceremonies, without indicating the year of the event. But he indicated the dates of official receptions: Wednesday 9 September (on the occasion of Olga's arrival) and Sunday 18 October. This combination corresponds to 957 and 946 years. Olga's long stay in Constantinople is noteworthy. When describing the technique, they are called basileus (Konstantin Porphyrogenitus himself) and Roman - purplish basileus. It is known that Roman II the Younger, the son of Constantine, became a formal co-ruler of his father in 945. The mention of Roman’s children at the reception testifies in favor of 957, which is considered the generally accepted date of Olga’s visit and her baptism.

However, Konstantin never mentioned Olga's baptism, as well as the purpose of her visit. In the princess's retinue, a certain priest Gregory was named, on the basis of which some historians (in particular, academician Rybakov Boris Alexandrovich) suggest that Olga visited Constantinople already baptized. In this case, the question arises why Constantine calls the princess by her pagan name, and not Helen, as the Successor of Reginon did. Another, later Byzantine source (XI century) reports on baptism precisely in the 950s: “And the wife of a Russian archon who once set out on a voyage against the Romans, named Elga, when her husband died, arrived in Constantinople. Baptized and openly made a choice in favor of the true faith, she, having received the great honor of this choice, returned home ".

Baptism in Constantinople is also mentioned by the above-cited Successor of Reginon, and the mention of the name of the Emperor Roman testifies in favor of baptism in 957. The evidence of the Continuer of Reginon can be considered reliable, since, as historians believe, Bishop Adalbert of Magdeburg wrote under this name, who led an unsuccessful mission to Kiev (961) and had first-hand information.

According to most sources, Princess Olga was baptized in Constantinople in the fall of 957, and was probably baptized by Roman II, the son and co-ruler of Emperor Constantine VII, and Patriarch Polyeuctus. Olga made the decision to accept the faith in advance, although the chronicle legend presents this decision as spontaneous. Nothing is known about those people who spread Christianity in Russia. Perhaps these were the Bulgarian Slavs (Bulgaria was baptized in 865), since the influence of the Bulgarian vocabulary can be traced in the early Old Russian chronicle texts. The penetration of Christianity into Kievan Rus is evidenced by the mention of the cathedral church of Elijah the Prophet in Kiev in the Russian-Byzantine treaty (944).

Olga was buried in the ground (969) according to the Christian rite. Her grandson Prince Vladimir I Svyatoslavich transferred (1007) the relics of saints, including Olga, to the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Kiev, which he founded. According to the Life and the monk Jacob, the body of the blessed princess was preserved from decay. Her "light like suns" body could be observed through a window in a stone tomb, which was slightly opened for any true believing Christian, and many found healing there. All the others saw only the coffin.

Most likely, during the reign of Yaropolk (972-978), Princess Olga began to be revered as a saint. This is evidenced by the transfer of her relics to the church and the description of miracles given by the monk Jacob in the 11th century. Since that time, the day of remembrance of St. Olga (Helena) began to be celebrated on July 11, at least in the Church of the Tithes itself. However, the official canonization (general church glorification) took place, apparently, later - until the middle of the 13th century. Her name early becomes baptismal, in particular among the Czechs.

In 1547 Olga was canonized as a saint equal to the apostles. Only five other holy women in Christian history have received such an honor (Mary Magdalene, the first martyr Thekla, martyr Apphia, Queen Helena Equal of the Apostles and the enlightener of Georgia Nina).

The memory of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga is celebrated by the Orthodox churches of the Russian tradition on July 11 according to the Julian calendar; Catholic and other Western churches - July 24 Gregorian.

Revered as the patroness of widows and newly converted Christians.

Princess Olga (documentary)

Memory of Olga

In Pskov there is the Olginskaya embankment, the Olginsky bridge, the Olginskaya chapel, as well as two monuments to the princess.

From the time of Olga until 1944, there was a graveyard and the village of Holguin Krest on the Narva River.

Monuments to Princess Olga have been erected in Kiev, Pskov and in the city of Korosten. The figure of Princess Olga is present at the Millennium of Russia monument in Veliky Novgorod.

In honor of Princess Olga, the Olga Bay of the Sea of ​​Japan is named.

In honor of Princess Olga, the urban-type settlement Olga of the Primorsky Territory is named.

Olginskaya street in Kiev.

Princess Olga Street in Lviv.

In Vitebsk, in the center of the city at the Holy Spirit nunnery, there is the St. Olginsky Church.

In the Cathedral of St. Peter in the Vatican, to the right of the altar in the northern (Russian) transept, there is a portrait image of Princess Olga.

St. Olginsky Cathedral in Kiev.

Orders:

The insignia of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga - established by Emperor Nicholas II in 1915;
"Order of Princess Olga" - a state award of Ukraine since 1997;
The Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga (ROC) is an award of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Olga's image in art

In fiction:

Antonov A. I. Princess Olga;
Boris Vasiliev. Olga, Queen of the Rus;
Victor Gretskov. "Princess Olga - Bulgarian princess";
Mikhail Kazovsky. "The Empress's Daughter";
Alexey Karpov. "Princess Olga" (series ZhZL);
Svetlana Kaydash-Lakshina (novel). "Duchess Olga";
Alekseev S. T. I know God!;
Nikolay Gumilyov. Olga (poem);
Simone Vilar. Svetorada (trilogy);
Simone Vilar. "The Witch" (4 books);
Elizaveta Dvoretskaya "Olga, the forest princess";
Oleg Panus "Shields at the Gates";
Oleg Panus "United Power."

In cinema:

The Legend of Princess Olga (1983; USSR) directed by Yuri Ilyenko, in the role of Olga Lyudmila Efimenko;
“Saga of the ancient Bulgars. The Legend of Olga the Saint "(2005; Russia) directed by Bulat Mansurov, in the role of Olga.;
“Saga of the ancient Bulgars. Ladder of Vladimir Red Sun ", Russia, 2005. Elina Bystritskaya as Olga.

In cartoons:

Prince Vladimir (2006; Russia) directed by Yuri Kulakov, voiced by Olga.

Ballet:

Olga, music by Evgeny Stankovich, 1981. He went to the Kiev Opera and Ballet Theater from 1981 to 1988, and in 2010 he was staged at the Dnepropetrovsk Academic Opera and Ballet Theater.

Rurik is considered the founder of the Old Russian state; he was the first prince of Novgorod. It is the Varangian Rurik who is the ancestor of the whole dynasty ruling in Russia. How did it happen that he became a prince, before ...

Rurik is considered the founder of the Old Russian state; he was the first prince of Novgorod. It is the Varangian Rurik who is the ancestor of the whole dynasty ruling in Russia. How it happened that it was he who became the prince, it will not be possible to find out until the end. There are several versions, according to one of them, he was invited to rule in order to prevent endless civil strife in the land of the Slavs and Finns. The Slavs and Varangians were pagans, they believed in the gods of water and earth, in brownies and goblin, worshiped Perun (the god of thunder and lightning), Svarog (the master of the universe) and other gods and goddesses. Rurik built the city of Novgorod and gradually began to rule alone, expanding his lands. When he died, his young son Igor remained.

Igor Rurikovich was only 4 years old, and needed a guardian and a new prince. Rurik entrusted this task to Oleg, whose origin is unclear, it is believed that he was a distant relative of Rurik. Known to us as Prince Oleg the Prophet, he ruled Ancient Rus from 879 to 912. During this time, he captured Kiev and increased the size of the Old Russian state. Therefore, sometimes he is considered its founder. Prince Oleg annexed many tribes to Russia and went to fight Constantinople.

After it sudden death all power passed into the hands of Prince Igor, the son of Rurik. In the annals he is called Igor Stary. He was a young man brought up in a palace in Kiev. He was a cruel warrior, a Varangian by education. Almost continuously he led military operations, raided neighbors, conquered various tribes and levied tribute to them. Prince Oleg, Igor's regent, chose a bride for him, with whom Igor fell in love. According to some sources, she was 10 or 13 years old, and her name was beautiful - Prekrasa. However, she was renamed Olga, presumably because she was a relative or even a daughter of Prophetic Oleg. According to another version, she was from the Gostomysl clan that ruled before Rurik. There are other versions of its origin.

This woman went down in history under the name of Princess Olga. Ancient weddings were extremely colorful and original. Red was used for wedding dresses. The wedding was performed according to a pagan ceremony. Prince Igor had other wives, because he was a pagan, but Olga was always a beloved wife. In the marriage of Olga and Igor, a son, Svyatoslav, was born, who would later rule the state. Olga loved her Varangian.

Prince Igor relied on strength in everything, and constantly fought for power. In 945, he traveled around the captured lands and collected tribute, having received tribute from the Drevlyans, he left. On the way, he decided that he had received too little, returned to the Drevlyans and demanded a new tribute. The Drevlyans were outraged by such a demand, they rebelled, seized Prince Igor, tied him to the bent trees and released them. The Grand Duchess Olga grieved at the death of her husband. But it was she who began to rule Ancient Russia after his death. Earlier, when he was on campaigns, she also ruled the state in his absence. Judging by the chronicles, Olga is the first woman - the ruler of the state of Ancient Russia. She began a military campaign against the Drevlyans, destroying their settlements, and laid siege to the capital of the Drevlyans. Then she demanded a pigeon from each yard. And then they were eaten, and no one suspected anything bad, considering it a tribute. A burnt tow was tied to the leg of each pigeon, and the pigeons flew to their homes, and the capital of the Drevlyans burned down.

Prince Svyatoslav

Baptism of Olga

Princess Olga twice traveled to Constantinople. In 957, she was baptized and became a Christian, her godfather was the Emperor Constantine himself. Olga ruled Ancient Rus from 945 to 962. At baptism, she took the name Elena. She was the first to build Christian churches and spread Christianity in Russia. Olga tried to introduce her son Svyatoslav to the Christian faith, but he remained a pagan and after the death of his mother oppressed Christians. Olga's son, the grandson of the great Rurik, tragically died in an ambush of the Pechenegs.

Icon of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

Princess Olga, baptized by Elena, died on July 11, 969. She was buried according to Christian tradition, and her son did not forbid this. She was the first Russian sovereign to convert to Christianity even before her baptism. Ancient Rus, this is the first Russian saint. The name of Princess Olga is associated with the Rurik dynasty, with the appearance of Christianity in Russia, this great woman stood at the origins of the state and culture of Ancient Russia. The people revered her for wisdom and holiness. The reign of Princess Olga was filled with important events: the restoration of the unity of the state, tax reform, administrative reform, stone construction of cities, strengthening the international authority of Russia, strengthening ties with Byzantium and Germany, strengthening the princely power. They buried this extraordinary woman in Kiev.

Her grandson, Grand Duke Vladimir, ordered to transfer her relics to the New Church. Most likely, it was during the reign of Vladimir (970-988) that Princess Olga began to be revered as a saint. In 1547, Princess Olga (Elena) was canonized as a saint equal to the apostles. There were only six such women in the entire history of Christianity. In addition to Olga, these are Mary Magdalene, the first martyr Thekla, the martyr Apphia, Queen Helena Equal to the Apostles and the enlightener of Georgia Nina. The memory of the Grand Duchess Olga is celebrated with a holiday, both among Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Saint Equal to the Apostles Olga was the wife of the Grand Duke of Kiev Igor. The struggle between Christianity and paganism under Igor and Olga, who reigned after Oleg (+ 912), entered a new period. The Church of Christ in the last years of Igor's reign (+ 945) becomes a significant spiritual and state force in the Russian state. This is evidenced by the preserved text of Igor's treaty with the Greeks in 944, which was included by the chronicler in the "Tale of Bygone Years", in an article describing the events of 6453 (945).

The peace treaty with Constantinople was to be approved by both religious communities of Kiev: "Baptized Rus", that is, Christians, were sworn in in the cathedral church of the holy prophet of God Elijah; "Unbaptized Rus", pagans, swore on weapons in the sanctuary of Perun the Thunderer. The fact that Christians are placed in the first place in the document speaks of their predominant spiritual significance in the life of Kievan Rus.

Obviously, at the time when the treaty of 944 was drawn up in Constantinople, people who sympathized with Christianity, who realized the historical necessity of introducing Russia to the life-giving Christian culture, were in power in Kiev. Perhaps Prince Igor himself belonged to this direction, whose official position did not allow him to personally go to new faith without resolving the issue of the Baptism of the entire country and the establishment of the Orthodox Church hierarchy in it. Therefore, the treaty was drawn up in careful terms that would not prevent the prince from approving it both in the form of a pagan oath and in the form of a Christian oath.

But while the Byzantine ambassadors arrived in Kiev, the situation on the Dnieper changed significantly. The pagan opposition was clearly defined, at the head of which were the Varangian governors Sveneld and his son Mstislav (Mstisha), to whom Igor gave the Drevlyansky land to hold.

The influence of the Khazar Jews was also strong in Kiev, who could not like the idea of ​​the triumph of Orthodoxy in the Russian land.

Unable to overcome the inertia of custom, Igor remained a pagan and sealed the treaty according to a pagan model - an oath on swords. He rejected the grace of Baptism and was punished for unbelief. A year later, in 945, the rebellious pagans killed him in the Drevlyansky land, tearing him between two trees. But the days of paganism and the lifestyle of the Slavic tribes based on it were already numbered. The burden of public service was laid upon herself, under her three-year-old son Svyatoslav, by Igor's widow, the Grand Duchess of Kiev Olga.

The Tale of Bygone Years first names the name of the future enlightener of the Russian Territory and her homeland in an article about Igor's marriage: "and they brought him a wife from Pskov, named Olga." She belonged, says the Joachim Chronicle, to the family of the Izborsk princes, one of the forgotten ancient Russian princely dynasties, which existed in Russia in the X-XI centuries. not less than twenty, but which were all supplanted over time by the Rurikovichs or merged with them through marriages. Some of them were local Slavic origin, others are alien, Varangian. It is known that the Scandinavian kings, invited to reign in Russian cities, invariably adopted the Russian language, often Russian names, and quickly became real Russians both in their way of life and in their outlook and even in physical appearance.

So Igor's wife was called by the Varangian name Helga, in the Russian "okayusche" pronunciation - Olga, Volga. The female name Olga corresponds to the male Oleg (Helgi), which means "saint". Although the pagan understanding of holiness is completely different from the Christian, it also presupposes in a person a special spiritual attitude, chastity and sobriety, intelligence and foresight. Revealing the spiritual meaning of the name, the people called Oleg the Prophetic, Olga - the Wise.

Later legends called her the family estate the village of Vybuty, a few kilometers from Pskov up the Velikaya River. Until recently, they showed a bridge on the Olgin River - at the ancient crossing, where Olga met with Igor. The Pskov toponymy has retained many names associated with the memory of the great Pskovite woman: the villages of Olzhenets and Olgino Pole, Olginy Vorota - one of the branches of the Velikaya River, Olgina Gora and Olgin Krest - near Lake Pskov, Olgin Kamen - near the village of Vybuty.

The beginning of the independent reign of Princess Olga is associated in the annals with the story of a formidable retribution to the Drevlyans, Igor's murderers. Swearing on swords and believing "only in their own sword", the pagans were doomed by God's judgment from the sword and perish (). Those who worshiped fire, among other deified elements, found their revenge in fire. The Lord chose Olga to be the performer of the fiery punishment.

The struggle for the unity of Rus, for the subordination to the Kiev center of tribes and principalities torn by mutual enmity paved the way for the final victory of Christianity in the Russian land. Behind Olga, still a pagan, stood the Kiev Christian Church and its heavenly patron, the holy prophet of God Elijah, who with fiery faith and prayer brought down fire from heaven, and her victory over the Drevlyans, despite the severity of the victor, was a victory of the Christian, creative forces in the Russian state over the forces pagan, dark and destructive.

Olga God-wise went down in history as a great creator of state life and culture of Kievan Rus. The chronicles are full of evidence of her tireless "walks" across the Russian land with the aim of improving and streamlining the civil and economic life of her subjects. Having achieved the internal strengthening of the power of the Kiev Grand Duke, weakening the influence of the small local princes who hindered the gathering of Rus, Olga centralized all state administration with the help of a system of "graveyards". In 946, she walked along the Drevlyansky land with her son and retinue, "establishing tributes and dues," marking villages, encampments and hunting grounds that were to be included in the Kiev grand princely possessions. The next year I went to Novgorod, setting up churchyards along the Msta and Luga rivers, leaving visible traces of my activities everywhere. "Her catches (hunting grounds) were all over the land, signs established, her places and churchyards," the chronicler wrote, "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 the village her Olzhychi still exists today. "

The churchyards arranged by Olga, being financial, administrative and judicial centers, represented a solid support of the grand ducal power in the localities.

Being, first of all, by the very meaning of the word, centers of trade and exchange ("guest" is a merchant), collecting and organizing the population around him (instead of the former "polyudia", the collection of tribute and taxes was now carried out evenly and orderly across the churchyards), Olga's churchyards became the most important a cell of the ethnic and cultural association of the Russian people.

Later, when Olga became a Christian, the first churches began to be erected around the graveyards; since the time of the Baptism of Rus under St. Vladimir, the churchyard and the temple (parish) have become inseparable concepts. (Only later, from the cemeteries that existed near the temples, the word usage "graveyard" in the sense of "cemetery" developed.)

Princess Olga put in a lot of work to strengthen the country's defensive power. Cities were built up and fortified, Vyshgorods (or Detintsy, Kromy) were overgrown with stone and oak walls (visors), bristled with ramparts and palisades. The princess herself, knowing how hostile many were to the idea of ​​strengthening the princely power and the unification of Rus, lived constantly "on the mountain", above the Dnieper, behind the reliable visors of the Kiev Vyshgorod (Upper City), 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 Olza, to Vyshgorod" - for the needs of the military building. Historians attribute the establishment of the first state borders of Russia to the time of Olga - in the west, with Poland. The heroic outposts in the south guarded the peaceful fields of Kiev from the peoples of the Wild Field. Foreigners hurried to Gardarika ("the land of cities"), as they called Russia, with goods and handicrafts. Swedes, Danes, Germans willingly joined the Russian army as mercenaries. Foreign relations of Kiev are expanding. This contributes to the development of stone construction in the city, which was initiated by Princess Olga. The first stone buildings of Kiev - the city palace and Olga's country house - were found by archaeologists only in our century. (The palace, or rather its foundation and the remains of the walls were found and excavated in 1971-1972.)

But it was not only the strengthening of statehood and the development of economic forms of people's life that attracted the attention of the wise princess. Even more urgent was the radical transformation of the religious life of Rus, the spiritual transformation of the Russian people. Russia was becoming a great power. Only two European states in those years could compete with it in value and power: in the east of Europe - the ancient Byzantine Empire, in the west - the kingdom of the Saxons.

The experience of both empires, which owed their rise to the spirit of Christian teaching and the religious foundations of life, clearly showed that the path to the future greatness of Russia lies not only through the military, but primarily and primarily through spiritual conquests and achievements. Having entrusted Kiev to her grown-up son Svyatoslav, the Grand Duchess Olga in the summer of 954, after seeking grace and truth, departs from large fleet to Constantinople. It was a peaceful "walk", combining the tasks of a religious pilgrimage and a diplomatic mission, but political considerations demanded that it simultaneously become a manifestation of the military power of Russia in the Black Sea, reminded the proud "Romans" of the victorious campaigns of Askold and Oleg, who nailed his shield in 907 "at the gates of Constantinople".

The result has been achieved. The appearance of the Russian fleet on the Bosphorus created the necessary prerequisites for the development of a friendly Russian-Byzantine dialogue. In turn, the southern capital amazed the harsh daughter of the North with a variety of colors, splendor of architecture, a mixture of languages ​​and peoples of the world. But the richness of Christian churches and the shrines collected in them made a special impression. Constantinople, the "reigning city" of the Greek Empire, even at the very foundation (more precisely, renewal) in 330, dedicated (Comm. 21 May) to the Most Holy Theotokos (this event was celebrated in the Greek Church on May 11 and passed from there to worthy of his Heavenly Patroness. The Russian princess was present at the divine service in the best churches of Constantinople - St. Sophia, Our Lady of Blachernae and others.

The heart of the wise Olga opened to holy Orthodoxy, she decides to become a Christian. The sacrament of Baptism was performed on her by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople (933-956), and the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912-959) himself was the recipient. At Baptism she was given the name Helena in honor (Comm. 21 May), the mother of St. Constantine, who acquired the Honorable Tree of the Cross of the Lord. In an edifying word spoken after the ceremony, the Patriarch said: "Blessed are you in the wives of the Russians, for you have left the darkness and loved the Light. The Russian people will bless you in all future generations, from grandchildren and great-grandchildren to your distant descendants." He instructed her in the truths of faith, church statutes and prayer rules, explained the commandments about fasting, chastity and charity. “She,” she says, “bowed her head and stood like a lip soldered, listening to the teachings, and bowing to the Patriarch, said:“ Through your prayers, Master, may I be saved from the enemy's nets ”.

This is exactly how, with a slightly bowed head, St. Olga is depicted on one of the frescoes of the Kiev Sophia Cathedral, as well as on her contemporary Byzantine miniature, in the obverse manuscript of the Chronicle of John Skilitsa from the Madrid National Library. The Greek inscription accompanying the miniature calls Olga "the archontess (that is, the mistress) of the Russ", "his wife, Elgo by name, who came to Tsar Constantine and was baptized." The princess is depicted in a special headdress, "as a newly baptized Christian and an honorary deaconess of the Russian Church." Next to her, in the same attire, a newly baptized woman is Malusha (+ 1001), later her mother (Comm. 15 July).

It was not easy to force such a hater of the Russians as the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus to become the godfather of the "Archontess of Russia." In the Russian chronicle, stories have been preserved about how Olga spoke with the emperor decisively and on an equal footing, surprising the Greeks with spiritual maturity and state wisdom, showing that the Russian people are just able to perceive and multiply the highest achievements of the Greek religious genius, the best fruits of Byzantine spirituality and culture. ... Thus, Saint Olga succeeded in "taking Constantinople" in a peaceful way, which no general had been able to do before her. According to the chronicle, the emperor himself was forced to admit that Olga had "outwitted" (outwitted) him, and the national memory, combining the legends about the Prophetic Oleg and the Wise Olga, captured this spiritual victory in the epic tale "About the capture of Tsaryagrad by Princess Olga".

Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in his work "On the Ceremonies of the Byzantine Court," which has come down to us in the only list, left a detailed description of the ceremonies that accompanied Saint Olga's stay in Constantinople. He describes a ceremonial reception in the famous Chamber of Magnavre, accompanied by the singing of bronze birds and the roar of copper lions, where Olga appeared with a huge retinue of 108 people (not counting people from Svyatoslav's retinue), and negotiations in a narrower circle in the Empress's chambers, and a ceremonial dinner at the Justinian Hall, where, by coincidence, four "ladies of state" met at the same table providentially: the grandmother and mother of St. Vladimir Equal to the Apostles (St. Olga and her companion Malusha) with the grandmother and mother of his future wife Anna (Empress Elena and her daughter-in-law Feofano) ... A little more than half a century will pass, and the marble tombs of St. Olga, St. Vladimir and the blessed "Queen Anna" will stand side by side in the Tithes Church of the Holy Mother of God in Kiev.

During one of the receptions, says Konstantin Porphyrogenitus, a golden dish decorated with stones was presented to the Russian princess. Saint Olga donated it to the sacristy of the Sophia Cathedral, where he was seen and described at the beginning of the thirteenth century by the Russian diplomat Dobrynya Yadreikovich, later Archbishop Anthony of Novgorod: “The dish is great for Olga Russian’s service gold when she took tribute by going to Constantinople; in Olga’s dish there is a precious stone , Christ is written on the same stone. "

However, the crafty emperor, having reported so many details, as if in revenge for the fact that Olga had "switched him", posed a difficult riddle to the historians of the Russian Church. The fact is that the Monk Nestor the Chronicler tells in the "Tale of Bygone Years" about Olga's Baptism under the year 6463 (955 or 954), and this corresponds to the testimony of the Byzantine chronicle of Kedrin. Another Russian church writer of the eleventh century, Jacob Mnikh, in the word "Memory and praise for Vladimir ... and how Vladimir's grandmother Olga was baptized", speaking of the death of the holy princess (+ 969), notes that she lived as a Christian for fifteen years, and ascribes that the very time of Baptism in 954, which also coincides with an accuracy of several months with the indication of Nestor. Meanwhile, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, describing Olga's stay in Constantinople and naming the exact dates of the receptions arranged by him in her honor, makes it clear that all this took place in 957. To reconcile the data from the chronicle, on the one hand, and the testimony of Constantine, on the other, Russian church historians had to assume one of two things: either Saint Olga came to Constantinople for the second time in 957 to continue negotiations with the emperor, or she was not baptized at all. Constantinople, and in Kiev in 954 and made her only pilgrimage to Byzantium, already being a Christian. The first guess is more likely.

As far as the diplomatic outcome of the negotiations is concerned, Saint Olga had reason to remain dissatisfied with them. Having achieved success in matters of Russian trade within the empire and the confirmation of the peace treaty with Byzantium, concluded by Igor in 944, she could not, however, persuade the emperor to agree to two important agreements for Russia: on the dynastic marriage of Svyatoslav with a Byzantine princess and on the conditions for the restoration of the existing one. under Askold of the Orthodox Metropolis in Kiev. Her dissatisfaction with the outcome of the mission clearly sounds in the answer that she gave, already upon her return to her homeland, sent by the emperor to the ambassadors. To the emperor's request regarding the promised military assistance, Saint Olga through the ambassadors answered sharply: "If you stand with me in Pochayna as well as I do in the Court, then I will give you warriors to help you."

At the same time, despite the failure of her efforts to establish a church hierarchy in Russia, Saint Olga, having become a Christian, zealously devoted herself to the exploits of Christian evangelism among the pagans and church building: "Demons crush the demons and begin life about Christ Jesus." She erects churches: St. Nicholas and St. Sophia in Kiev, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - in Vitebsk, the Holy Life-Giving Trinity - in Pskov. Since that time, Pskov has been called the House of the Holy Trinity in the annals. The temple, built by Olga over the Velikaya River, at the place indicated to her, according to the chronicler, from above by the "Ray of the Trisly Divine", stood for more than a century and a half. In 1137 (+ 1138, Comm. 11 February) he replaced the wooden church with a stone one, which was rebuilt in turn in 1363 and finally replaced by the still existing Trinity Cathedral.

And another most important monument of Russian "monumental Theology", as church architecture is often called, is associated with the name of St. Olga Equal to the Apostles - the Temple of Sophia the Wisdom of God in Kiev, founded shortly after her return from Constantinople and consecrated on May 11, 960. This day was subsequently celebrated in the Russian Church as a special church holiday.

In the month of the parchment Apostle of 1307, on May 11, it is written: "On the same day, the consecration of St. Sophia in Kiev in the summer of 6460". The date of commemoration, according to church historians, is indicated according to the so-called "Antioch", and not according to the generally accepted Constantinople chronology, and corresponds to the year 960 from the birth of Christ.

It was not for nothing that Saint Olga received in Baptism the name of Saint Helena, Equal to the Apostles, who acquired the Honorable Tree of the Cross of Christ in Jerusalem. The main shrine of the newly created St. Sophia Church was the Holy Cross, brought by the new Helena from Constantinople, and received by her as a blessing from the Patriarch of Constantinople. The cross, according to legend, was carved from whole piece Of the Life-giving Tree of the Lord. On the cross was the inscription: "The Russian land was renewed with the Holy Cross, Olga, the noble princess, received him."

Saint Olga did a lot to perpetuate the memory of the first Russian confessors of the name of Christ: over the grave of Askold she erected St. Nicholas Church, where, according to some reports, she was later buried, over the grave of Dir - the aforementioned St. Sophia Cathedral, which, after standing for half a century, burned down in 1017. Yaroslav the Wise built on this place later, in 1050, the Church of St. Irene, and transferred the relics of St. Sophia Holguin's temple to a stone temple of the same name - the still standing St. Sophia of Kiev, founded in 1017 and consecrated around 1030. In the Prologue of the 13th century, it is said about Olga's cross: "his ilk now stands in Kiev in St. Sophia in the altar on the right side." The plundering of Kiev shrines, continued after the Mongols by the Lithuanians, who got the city in 1341, did not spare him either. Under Jagaila during the Union of Lublin, which united Poland and Lithuania into one state in 1384, Holguin's cross was stolen from the Sophia Cathedral and taken by Catholics to Lublin. Further destiny its unknown.

But among the boyars and warriors in Kiev there were many people who, according to Solomon's words, “hated Wisdom,” like the holy princess 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 and was even angry with her for it. It was necessary to hurry with the planned business of the Baptism of Rus. The insidiousness of Byzantium, which did not want to give Russia Christianity, played into the hands of the pagans. In search of a solution, Saint Olga turns her gaze to the west. There is no contradiction here. Saint Olga (+ 969) still belonged to the undivided Church and hardly had the opportunity to delve into the theological subtleties of the Greek and Latin doctrines. The confrontation between the West and the East seemed to her primarily as political rivalry, secondary in comparison with the urgent task - the creation of the Russian Church, the Christian enlightenment of Russia.

Under the year 959, a German chronicler called the "successor of Reginon" writes: "The ambassadors of Helen, 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 German Empire, willingly responded to Olga's request, but he did it slowly, with purely German thoroughness. Only on Christmas Day of the following year, 960, Libucius, from the brethren of the monastery of St. Alban in Mainz, was appointed bishop of Russia. But he died soon after (March 15, 961). In his place was dedicated Adalbert of Trier, whom Otto, “having generously supplied with everything necessary,” finally sent to Russia. It is difficult to say what would have happened if the king had not delayed for so long, but 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." Worse, on the way back, "some of his companions were killed, and the bishop himself did not escape mortal danger."

It turned out that over the past two years, as Olga had foreseen, in Kiev a final coup took place in favor of the supporters of paganism and, having become neither Orthodox nor Catholic, Russia generally changed its mind to accept Christianity. The pagan reaction manifested itself so strongly that not only German missionaries suffered, but also some of the Kiev Christians who were baptized with Olga in Constantinople. By order of Svyatoslav, the nephew of Saint Olga Gleb was killed and some of the churches she had built were destroyed. Of course, this was not without Byzantine secret diplomacy: opposed to Olga and alarmed by the possibility of strengthening Russia at the expense of an alliance with Otto, the Greeks preferred to support the pagans.

The failure of Adalbert's mission had a providential meaning for the future of the Russian Orthodox Church, which escaped papal captivity. Saint Olga had to come to terms with what had happened and completely withdraw into the affairs of personal piety, leaving the reins of government to the pagan Svyatoslav. She was still reckoned with, her statesmanship was invariably turned to in all difficult cases. When Svyatoslav was absent from Kiev, and he spent most of his time in campaigns and wars, the administration of the state was again entrusted to the princess-mother. But the question of the Baptism of Rus was temporarily removed from the agenda, and this, of course, grieved Saint Olga, who considered the gospel of Christ to be the main work of her life.

She meekly endured sorrows and grief, tried to help her son in state and military concerns, to guide him in heroic plans. The victories of the Russian army were a consolation for her, especially the defeat of the old enemy of the Russian state - the Khazar Kaganate. Twice, in 965 and in 969, Svyatoslav's troops marched through the lands of the "unreasonable Khazars", forever crushing the power of the Jewish rulers of the Azov and Lower Volga regions. The next powerful blow was dealt to the Muslim Volga Bulgaria, then it was the turn of the Danube Bulgaria. Eighty cities along the Danube were taken by the Kiev squads. One thing worried Olga: as if, carried away by the war in the Balkans, Svyatoslav did not forget about Kiev.

In the spring of 969 Kiev was besieged by the Pechenegs: “and it was impossible to bring the horse out to drink, the Pechenegs were standing on the Lybed”. The Russian army was far away, on the Danube. Having sent messengers to her son, Saint Olga herself led the defense of the capital. Svyatoslav, having received the news, soon galloped to Kiev, "greeted his mother and children and lamented what happened to them from the Pechenegs." But, having defeated the nomads, the militant prince again began to tell his mother: "I don’t like to sit in Kiev, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube - there is the middle of my land." Svyatoslav dreamed of creating a huge Russian state from the Danube to the Volga, which would unite Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Black Sea region and the Azov region and stretch its borders to Constantinople itself. Wise Olga understood that with all the courage and courage of the Russian squads, they could not cope with the ancient empire of the Romans, Svyatoslav was in for a failure. But the son did not listen to his mother's warnings. Then Saint Olga said: "You see, I am sick. Where do you want to leave me? When you bury me, go wherever you want."

Her days were numbered, her labors and sorrows undermined her strength. On July 11, 969, Saint Olga died, "and her son, and her grandchildren, and all the people wept for her with great lamentation." In recent years, amid the triumph of paganism, she, once a proud mistress who was baptized by the 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 fanaticism. But before her death, having regained her former firmness and determination, she forbade pagan feasts to be performed on her and bequeathed to openly bury her according to the Orthodox rite. Presbyter Gregory, who was with her in 957 in Constantinople, exactly fulfilled her will.

Saint Olga lived, died, and was buried as a Christian. "And thus having lived and glorified God in the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, rest in the blazia of faith, ending your life in peace in Christ Jesus, our Lord." As her prophetic covenant to subsequent generations, she confessed her faith about her people with deep Christian humility: "The will of God be done! If God delights in mercy on the family of my Land of Ruski, may he put it on their hearts to turn to God, as God gave me this gift." ...

God glorified the holy toiler of Orthodoxy, the "chief of faith" in the Russian land with miracles and incorruptible relics. Jacob Mnich (+ 1072), a hundred years after her death, wrote in his "Memory and Praise to Vladimir": "God glorify the body of His servant Olena, and her body is honest in the grave, and remains indestructible to this day.

Blessed Princess Olga glorified God with all her good deeds, and God glorified her. "Under the holy prince Vladimir, according to some sources in 1007, the relics of St. Olga were transferred to the Tithe Temple of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos and placed in a special sarcophagus, in which it was customary to lay relics of saints in the Orthodox East. "And you hear a miracle about her: the grave of stones is small in the Church of the Holy Mother of God, that church was created by the blessed prince Vladimir, and there is the coffin of blessed Olga. And at the top of the coffin a little window was created - so you see the body of blessed Olga lying intact. "But not everyone saw the miracle of the incorruptible relics of the Equal-to-the-Apostles princess: a coffin lying to an unbroken body. Worth the praise of every body is that honest: in the coffin intact, as if sleeping, resting. And to others who do not come with faith, the little window of the grave will not open, and he does not see the body of that honest one, but only the grave. "

So after her death, Saint Olga preached eternal life and resurrection, filling believers with joy and admonishing unbelievers. She was, in the words of the Monk Nestor the Chronicler, "the forerunner of the Christian land, like the day before the sun and like the dawn before the light."

The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, offering his thanks to God on the day of the Baptism of Rus, testified on behalf of his contemporaries about the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga with the significant words: "They want the son of Rustia to bless you, and your grandson to the last race."

Iconographic original
	Moscow. 1950-70. Equal to the Apostles Vladimir, Olga and Martyr Lyudmila. Nun Juliana (Sokolova). Icon. Sergiev Posad. 1950s-70s. Private collection.
A new consolidated icon painting original prepared by the Icon Painting School at

"Na-chal-ni-tsei ve-ry" and "kor-nem pra-vo-slavia" in the Russian land from-ancient-le na-zy-va-li saint equal-noap -o-so-so-no Ol-gu people. The baptism of Olga was-lo meaning-me-no-va-but pro-ro-che-ski-mi words pat-ri-ar-ha, baptism of her : “Bla-th-word-ve-na you are in the same-nah Russian, for left-la-darkness and love-bi-la Light. The Russian sons will pro-glorify those-bya until the next generation! " At the Baptism of the Russian princess, the Russian princess won the name of the holy equal-noap-oh-so-so Helena, a lot of labor-divine - in the race-pro-passion-no-christi-an-stva in the huge Roman im-peria and in -that-rum was rac-toe Gos-pod. Like her own heavenly blood-tel-ni-tse, Ol-ga became a rav-noap-o-so-no-so-pro-ved-ni-tsei christi -an-stva on immense spaces of the Russian land. There are a lot of chro-but-lo-gi-chesky inaccuracies and inaccuracies about her, but they can hardly carry -not-have-no-opinion in the accuracy of most of the facts of her life, prior to this time blah-go-dar-ny-mi-th-ka-mi saint princess-no - the organizer-and-tel-ni-tsy of the Russian land. About her life.

The name of the future pro-light-tel-ni-tsy Rus-si and ro-di-nu her ancient from the le-to-pi-sei - "News of the times years "n-zy-va-et in the description of the same-thread-to-ki-ev-sko-prince Igor: the name of Olga. " Joaki-Mov's le-to-writing clarifies that she came-nad-le-zha-la to the family of the princes Iz-bor-skikh - one of the ancient non-Russian of the princely princes.

Su-pru-gu Igo-rya was called the va-ryazh-name of Hel-ga, in Russian pro-iz-no-she-nii - Ol-ga (Vol-ga). Pre-give-n-zy-va-et ro-di-noy Ol-gi-se-lo You-bu-you notpo-da-le-ku from Psko-va, up the river Ve-li-koi ... The life of Saint Olga says that it was here for the first time that I met her with a future su-pru-g. The young prince hunted "in the Pskov region" and, wishing to cross the river Ve-li-kuyu, saw-affairs "some th-th ply-woo-sh-go in the boat ”and called him to the shore. From-sailing from the be-re-ga in the boat, the prince ob-na-ru-lived that his ve-zet de-vush-ka udi-wit-tel-noy beauty. Igor shouted to her and began to incline her to sin. Pe-re-how-chi-tsa was-for-la-las not only to the beauty, but to the whole-wise-ren-na and mind-na. She lips-di-la Igo-rya, remembering him about the princely dignity of pra-vi-te-la and su-dii, who should be "A bright example of good deeds" for their own data. Igor broke up with her, storing her words in her memory and a beautiful red image. When the time has come for you to take a fiend, in Ki-ev we have gathered the most beautiful de-woo-shek of the principality. But none of them suited him to heart. And then he remembered the "wondrous in girls" Olga and sent for her a relative of his prince Ole-g. So Olga became the same prince Igor, the great Russian princess.

After the same thread, Igor would go from the right to the Greeks, and from him it was already the father: the son of Holy Glory was born. Soon Igor was killed by the tree-la-na-mi. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Ki-ev-prince, the trees from-pra-vi-li in words to the princess Ol-ge, inviting her to to drink in marriage with his great-wee-te-lem Mal. Ol-ha made-la-la look that agreed. Hit-ro-styu for-ma-ni-la she in Ki-ev is two in-salt-of-trees, betraying them to mu-clever death: the first was life in a gray-be-but "for two prince-same", the second - so-zhzhe-but in the bath. After this, five thousand old men of the ancient Llyansky were-you killed in-and-na-mi Olga at the funeral according to Igo-ryu at the walls of the ancient Llyansk table -cy Is-ko-ro-ste-nya. On the next year, Olga once again went up to-go with the army to Is-ko-ro-ste-nyu. The city was burned with the help of birds, to the but-gums of some-ryh, when-vya-za-li-rya-shi-pak-lyu. Remaining in the living trees of the scum-ni-li and sold-li into slavery.

Along with this, the le-to-pi-si are full of testimonies about her tireless "walks" around the Russian land with a purpose in mind -niy-nia-li-ti-che-sk and economic life of the country. She reached the strengthening of the power of the Ki-ev-sko-ve-li-to-prince, the center-tra-li-zo-va-la state-of-the-art management with the help of the system "by-go-stov". Le-to-letter notes that she with her son and friend walked along the Old-Lian land, “usta-nav-li-vaya da-no and ob-ro-ki ", from-me-cha-la and a hundred-but-vi-shcha and a place of hunts, under-le-za-shi-th-ni -ko-prince-same-ownership. Ho-di-la she is in the New-rod, arranging-and-wai-go-sts along the rivers Msta and Lu-ge. “Lo-see-shcha (the place of the hunt-you) were all over the earth, established-new-ley-ki, place of her and in-go-st, - writes le-to-pi-set, - and her sa-ni stand in Psko-ve to this day, there are places indicated by her for catching birds along the Dnieper River and along the Desna; and her se-lo Ol-gi-chi is still there today. " By-go-st (from the word "guest" - ku-pets) have become the support of the great-to-prince-same power, ocha-ha-mi et-ni-che- sko-go and cultural-no-go-unity of the Russian-go-ro-da.

Life is like that about the work of Olga: “And the manager-la-la princess-gi-nya Ol-ga is under the power of her ob-la-stya-mi Rus -skoy earth-whether not as a woman, but as a strong and reasonable husband, firmly holding power in their hands and ro-nya-yas from enemies. And she was scary for the trail. its-and-mi people lu-bi-ma, as a great-witness-ni-tsa cute and bla-d-t-vaya, as a su-diya pra-ved and no-one does not offend, na-la-ha-yu-shi-na-ka-za-za with mi-lo-ser-di-em and na-grazh-da-yu- good-ryh; she instilled fear in all the evil, giving each-to-every-one according to-measure-but-to-a-hundred-in-stature, but all affairs of niya she ob-na-ru-zhi-va-la distance-but-vis-ness and wisdom. At the same time, Olga, sweet-hearted in her heart, was-la generous-ro-da-tel-na-n-n-n-g, ub-gim and little-to-n; to her heart, soon, do-ho-di-whether the right-ved-whether-asked requests, and she quickly used them-half-nya-la ... With all this, Olga co- one-nya-la car-der-jean-ny and whole-wise-renowned life, she didn’t want wa-la in pure widowhood, keeping his own princely power until the days of his princely power. When the last thing is, she told him all the de-la rights-le-niya, and herself, got rid of the say-you and -pe-che-nii, lived out of the worries of management, pre-da-va-yas de-lam blah-go-to-re-nia. "

Russia grew-la and strengthened-la-las. Straw-and-fox-ro-da, surrounded by ka-men-n-mi and do-bo-you-mi ste-na-mi. Sa-ma princess-gi-nya lived for n-dezh-ny-mi ste-na-mi You-sh-go-ro-da, surrounded by a faithful friend. Two-thirds co-scolded yes-no, according to the de-tel-ts le-to-pi-si, she is from-da-va-la to the ras-po-ry-zh-nie ki-ev -sko-th ve-cha, the third part went "to Ol-ge, to Vy-sh-th-rod" - to the military structure. By the time of Olga-gi, the establishment of the first state-of-the-state borders of the Ki-ev-skaya Rus-si is related to. Bo-ga-tyr-sta-you, who-sing-in by-li-nah, a hundred-ro-li-whether the peaceful life of ki-ev-lian from ko-chev-nikov Ve -li-coy Ste-pi, from na-pa-de-nii with Za-pa-da. Chu-same-zem-tsy rushed to Gar-da-ri-ku ("country-well-go-ro-dov"), as na-zy-va-whether they are Rus, from to-va-ra -th. Scan-di-na-you, Germans willingly get in-pa-li na-em-no-ka-mi in the Russian voy-sko. Russia a hundred-but-was-las great der-zha-howl.

As the wise paradise of the great-vi-tel-ni-tsa, Ol-ga vi-de-la on the example of the Vi-zan-tii im-peria, which is not a hundred-exactly-but for -bot only about the state and economic life. Needed-ho-di-mo was-lo-nyat-Xia arrangement-e-no-re-li-gi-oz-noy, spiritual life-no-ro-da.

The author of “Step-pen-noy kni-gi” writes: “What helped her / Olga-gi / was that she recognized the true God. Not knowing for-ko-na christi-an-sko, she lived a pure and whole-wise life, and she wished to be christi- an-coy in a free will, in heart-de-cynical eyes, the path of knowledge of God ob-re-la and walked along it without ko-le-ba niya ". Pre-kind-of-west-woo-em: "Blah-wen-naya Ol-ga from a young age is-ka-la mud-ro-sti, which is the best -That, and there was a lot-valuable zhem-chug - Hri-hundred. "

I made my choice, great prince-gi-nya Ol-ga, by-ru-chiv Ki-ev under-grow-she-son-well, from-right-la-et-sy with a large float in Kon-stan-ti-no-pol. Old-not-Russian-le-to-scribes n-zo-vut is Olga-gi's de-ni-em, it is co-uni-nya-lo in se-be and re-li-gi-oz-noe pa-lom-no-thing, and di-plo-ma-ti-mission, and de-mon-stra-tion in-en-no- th may-g-shche-stva Rus-si. “Ol-ha za-ho-te-la sa-ma go to the greeks, so that with their eyes-for-mi they look at the service-boo christi-an to be completely convinced in their doctrine of the true God, "- according to the West, the life of Saint Olga. According to the testimony of le-to-pi-si, in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le Ol-ga accepts the decision to become christi-an- coy. The ta-in-state of the Baptism was co-wired over it by the patri-arch Kon-stan-ti-polish Fe-o-fi-lact (933-956), and -we-no-one was im-pe-ra-tor Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-but-kin (912-959), who left in his own mind "About the tse-re-mon-ni-yah vi-zan-tiy-sko-go-ra" a detailed description of the tse-re-mo-niy in the time of pre-by-va -niya Olga-gi in Kon-stan-ti-no-le. At one of the receptions of the Russian princess, there was under-not-se-but gold-lo-toe, adorned with precious stones mi blue-do. Ol-ha in-sacrifice-in-wa-la him in the riz-ni-tsu of the so-bo-ra of St. Sophia, where he was seen and described in the na-cha-le of the XIII century Russian di-plo-mat Do-ry-nya Yad-rei-ko-vich, after-ar-hi-epi-scop New-go-rod-skiy An-to-ny: “Blu-do there is no evil, the servant of Olga Russian, when she took tribute, ho-div-shi in Tsar-grad: in the blue-de-Ol-guine ka- less dra-giy, on the same stone-ni-na-pi-san Chri-stos. "

Pat-ri-arkh bla-go-slo-vil-in-cross-ny Russian princess-nyu with a cross, cut out of a goal-no-go kus-ka Zhi -you-you-rya-shche-go Dre-va Gos-pod-nya. On the cross there was an inscription: “About-but-see-Xia Russian land by the Holy Cross, his own pri-nya-la Ol-ga, blah-lo-ver-naya prince-gi-nya ".

In Ki-ev, Ol-ga came back with iko-na-mi, more-of-the-ser-us-kni-ha-mi - her apo-so-so servant began -nie. She lifted a temple in the name of saint-te-la Ni-ko-lai over mo-g-la As-kol-da - the first ki-ev-sko-prince-zya-hri -sti-a-ni-na and many ki-ev-lian ob-ra-ti-la to Christ. With pro-in-ve-dyu ve-ry, the princess came to the north. In Ki-ev -sky and Pskov lands, in the distant lands, on the cross-roads of the roads what are the linguistic idols.

Holy Ol-ga in-lo-zhi-la na-cha-lo oso-ben-no-go in-chi-ta-nia on Rus-si Pre-holy Tro-i-tsy. From century to century pe-re-da-va-los on-v-va-va-va-va-va-va-va-va-va-va-va-va-va-va-nii, the former to her about the river Ve-li-koi, not-yes -le-ku from kind-no-go se-la. She saw de la that "three pre-bright rays" descended from the sky from the sky. Referring to your companions, the former svy-de-te-la-mi vi-de-nia, Ol-ga ska-za-la pro-ro-che-ski : “Yes, you will be-d-mo, that because of-le-no-em God-d-im in this place there will be a church in the name of the Pre-holy and Zh-in -there will be a great and glorious city that will beat everyone here. " At this place, Ol-ga carried a cross and an os-no-va-la temple in the name of the Holy Trinity. He became the main co-bo-rom of Psko-va - the glorious city of Russian, named after -and-tsy ". Ta-in-is-ny-mi pu-cha-mi du-hov-no-succession through four-you-re hundred-years this is in-chi-ta-nie pe-re-da -but it was pre-add-on to Ser-gy Ra-to-nezh-ko-mu.

May 11, 960 in Ki-e-ve consecrate the temple of St. Sophia Pre-mud-ro-sti to God. This day was celebrated in the Russian Church as a special holiday. The main saint of the temple was the cross, received by Olga at the Baptism in Kon-stan-ti-no-pole. The temple, built by Olga, burned down in 1017, and in its place Yaroslaw Wise mobilized the church of the holy ve-li-ko-mu -che-no-tsy Irina, and saint-you-no Sophia-sko Ol-gi-na temple-ma-re-carried to the still-standing stone the temple of St. Sophia Ki-ev-skoy, closed in 1017 and consecrated around 1030. In Pro-lo-ge of the XIII century about Olga-gin cross-st ska-za-but: “Nowadays he stands in Ki-e-ve in Holy Sophia in al-ta-re on the right side". After the Ki-e-wa li-tov-tsa-mi Ol-gin, the cross was picked up from the Sophia so-bo-ra and you- ve-zen ka-li-ka-mi in Lyub-lin. His further fate is unknown to us. Apo-so-skie works of the princes-no-met-cha-li secret and open co-opposition of the pagans. Among-di bo-yar and friend-zhin-nikov in Ki-e-ve there were a lot of people, who, in the words of le-to-pis-tsev, “cart -not-na-vi-de-li Pre-wisdom ”, as well as the holy Olga-gu, who built her temples. The roar-no-te-whether of the lingual-old-age-we are all more daring under-no-ma-whether to-lo-wu, with a hopeful gaze at the under-ras-ta- yu-shche-go Holy-to-sla-va, decision-shi-tel-but from-clo-niv-th-th ugo-th-ry ma-te-ri to accept chrism-an-stvo. "Tidings of the times of the year" so on-west-woo-em about it: "Zhi-la Ol-ga with her son's Holy Glory, and ugo-va-ri - for his mother to be baptized, but he didn’t break his ears with that; but if someone wanted to be baptized, didn’t take that, nor from de-wal-Xia over him ... Ol-ha often -ri-la: “My son, I knew-la God and I am happy; here you are, if you know, then you start to work on it. " But he, not listening to this, said: “How can I want one faith per-re-me-thread? My friends-ni-ki will dare to do this! " She said to him: "If you are baptized, they will do the same."

He, not listening to ma-te-ri, lived according to the pagan customs, not knowing that if someone ma-te-ri does not hear, in-pa- children in trouble, as they say, but: "If someone is father or mother, does not listen, then death will take place." He’s also angry at his mother ... But Ol-ha lu-bi-la of his own son ri-la: “Yes, I will be with God. If God wants-to-be-lovable about my-and-land Russian, yes, he-tells their hearts to turn to Bo-gu, how would it be to me yes-ro-va-but. " And speaking like that, I prayed for his son and for his people all the days and nights, worrying about his son until he could. " ...

Despite the success of his trip to Kon-stan-ti-no-pol, Olga could not bend the thread of im-pe-ra-to-ra to the co- niyu on two important questions: about the di-na-sti-che-ku of the Holy-to-glory with the Vi-zan-ti tsar-rev-noy and about the condition -vi-yah re-sta-nov-le-niya s-shche-stvo-vav-shey at As-kol-de mit-ro-po-lii in Ki-e-ve. That is why Saint Olga is looking at the West - the Church was at that time united. It is unlikely that the Russian princess could know about the God-word-of-the-li-chi-yah of the Greek and the latin-ve-ro niya.

In 959, the German chronist for-pi-sy-va-et: “We came to the co-ro-lu for the message of Elena, the co-ro-you of the rus-owls, for -that cross-shch-na in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le, and about-si-whether to-bind for this na-ro-da epi-sko-pa and saint- no-kov ". Co-role Ot-tone, the future of the Holy Roman im-peria of the German nation, from-click-zero to the request -bu Olga-gi. A year later, the epi-sko-pom Rus-sky was installed Li-bu-tsiy, from the brotherhood of mon-na-st-rya saint Al-ba-na in Main-tse, but he Soon it ended (March 15, 961). In his place is Adal-ber-ta of Trier, who-ro-go Ot-ton, "generously supplied with everything you need", from-pra-vil , finally, to Russia. When, in 962, Adal-bert appeared in Ki-e-ve, he “did not have time for anything that he was sent for, and saw his efforts for -was-us-mi ". On the reverse path, "some of his companions would have been killed, and the bishop himself did not escape mortal danger", - so the West-woo-yut le-to-pi-si about the mission of Adal-ber-ta.

The linguistic re-action was so strong that not only German mis-si-o-ne-ry, but also some -rye from the Ki-ev-sky chris-sti-an, cross-stew-shih together with Olga. At the behest of Svyato-Slav, Olga's plebeian-nickname Gleb was killed, and some temples that she had built up were destroyed. Saint Ol-ge had to put up with the pro-ex-shim and go to de la personal goodness, providing le-nie pagan-ni-ku Holy-to-glory. Of course, they still considered her, her experience and wisdom were invariably treated in all important cases -cha-yah. When the Holy Glory came out of Ki-e-va, the management of the go-su-dar-ist according to the holy Ol-ge. The consolation for her was the glorious military troubles of the Russian war. Holy-glory raz-gro-mil gave-no-enemy-ga Rus-go-go-su-dar-stva - Ha-zar-ka-gan-nat, always so-kru - sewing a lot of Jewish pra-vi-te-lei Pri-azo-vya and Lower Vol-zhya. The next blow was na-ne-sen of the Volga Bol-gary, so it came to the Dunai Bol-gary - eight-seven-de-sit go-ro-dov took the ki-ev-sky friends along the Du-nai. Holy-glory and his war-and-us oli-tse-thy-rya-whether the bo-ga-tyr-sky spirit of the pagan Rus-si. Le-to-pi-si so-hr-ni-li-va Holy-to-sla-va, surrounded by feminine with his friend a huge Greek howl -skom: “Not like a Russian land, but let's go here! They don’t have a dead shit! ” Holy glory dreamed of the creation of a huge Russian dess-ya from the Danube to the Volga, some paradise would unite Russia and other -gie Slavic peoples. Holy Ol-ga in-no-ma-la, that with all the manhood and from-va-ge of Russian friends, they cannot get along with the ancient im-per-ri -ey ro-me-ev, which-that-paradise does not allow the intensification of the pagan Rus-si. But the son did not listen to the pre-mother-te-ri.

A lot of sorrow-bei had to re-live Saint Ol-ge at the end of his life. Son of windows-cha-tel-but-re-se-lil-sya in Pe-re-i-s-la-vets on Du-na. Staying in Ki-e-ve, she taught her grandchildren, children of Svyato-sla-va, christi-an-skoi ve-re, but not re-sha -was to baptize them, fearing the anger of sy-na. In addition, he prevented her from trying to assert Christianity on Rus-si. The last years amidst the torment of the language -you, cross-stev-she-Xia from All-len-sko-pat-ri-ar-ha in the capital of pra-v-slavia, pri-ho-di-moos tai-no der - to squeeze the priest with you, so as not to evoke a new outbreak of anti-chris-sti-an-sky tunes. In 968 Ki-ev wasps-di-li pe-che-ne-gi. The holy princess with her grandson, among whom was Prince Vla-di-mir, found herself in a deadly danger. When the news of the wasp-de reached the stig-la of the Holy-to-sla-va, he hurried to help, and he-che-not-gi-were-we-were-us on the run. Holy Olga, if you are already very sick, don't leave until her end. She didn’t wipe out her son’s heart to God and on her deathbed didn’t pre-shit-la pro-in-ve-di : “For what will you leave me, my son, and where are you going? Looking for chu-jo-go, who-mu-ru-cha-eat yours? After all, Your children are still small, and I am already old, and I’m sick, - I look forward to the end of the day - a journey to all -mu Christ, in some-ro-th I believe; I’m now not devil-of-mind about anything, but only about you: I’m sorry about the fact that at least I taught a lot and convinced la to leave idol wickedness, to convince in the truth of God, as I know it, and you do not prevent this, and I know that for your disobedience to me, a bad end awaits you on earth, and by death - eternal torment, huh-to-wan- naya pagan-ni-kam. Is-half-not now at least this my next-ny request-bu: do not leave, do not, until I don’t quit and I won’t be be-na; then go somewhere. By my end, I don’t do anything that is required in such cases by the linguistic custom; but let my pre-sweeter with cle-ri-ka-mi in-gre-but, according to custom-tea, chr-sti-an-sko-mo, my body; do not dare to na-sy-pat on-to me mo-gil-no-go hol-ma and do triz-nas; but they went to Tsar-r-grad zo-lo, to the saint-she-pat-ri-ar-hu, so that he co-ver-sewed the mo-lit-wu and pri-no-she- nie Bo-gu for my soul-shu and gave me-lo-st-nyu to the poor. "

“Sly-sha this, Holy-glory bitterly cried and promised to use up everything for her, from -ya-tya of the holy faith. After the expiration of three days, the blessed Ol-ga fell into an extreme out-of-wickedness; she part-las the Divine Secrets of the Pre-chi-hundred-th Te-la and Zh-in-thy-ry-ry-ry Blood Christ Spa-sa our ; all the time she was-was-wa-la in zealous prayer to God and to Pre-chi-stand Bo-go-ro-di-tse, who-to-rush all the time according to Bo-ge had-la se-be-power-ni-tsei; she pri-zy-wa-la all the saints; with special diligence, the blissful Olga prayed about the announcement of her death by the Russian land; pro-zi-paradise will-be-coming, she is not-a-time-but-a-say-zy-wa-la that God pro-light the people of the earth-whether Russian and many of they will be great saints; about soon-re-shim use-half-not of this pro-ro-cess and prayed the blissful Olga at her end. And still a prayer was on her lips, when her honest soul was dis-solved from the body and as the right-ved-naya would-la-nya-ta ru-ka-mi Bo-zhi-i-mi ". On July 11, 969, Saint Ol-ga con-cha-las, "and la-ka-li over her we-l-kim her son and grandchildren and all the people." Pre-svit-ter Gri-go-ri, exactly you-fulfilled her statement.

Holy equal-noap-oh-so-naya Ol-ga was-la ka-no-ni-zi-ro-va-na on so-bo-re 1547, yes -deal in all-local-ni-chi-ta-ting her in Rus-si even in the pre-Mongol era.

God said "na-chal-ni-tsu" of faith in the Russian land chu-de-sa-mi and incorruptible power. During the reign of the holy prince Vla-di-mi-re, the power of Saint Olga was-were-re-not-se-ny to the De-sy-tin-ny temple of the Assumption of the Pre-saint -that Bo-go-ro-di-tsy and in-lo-z-us in sar-ko-fa-ge, in which it was taken-nya-to-place the power of the s- tykh on the right-in-glorious V-sto-ke. There was a window above the coffin of St. Olga in the church wall; and if someone with faith came to the power, see through the window of the power, moreover, some kind of see-de-whether is-good from them si-i-nye, and many supported by the sick-ny-mi for-lo-cha-if-cure. When-ho-div-she-mu with little-ve-ri-it windows-tse but opened, and he could not see the mighty, but only the coffin.

So, in the end, Saint Olga pro-in-ve-do-va-la eternal life and resurrection, on-full ra-to-do ve-ru- yu-yu-yu-yu-yu-yu-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi

Her prophecy about the evil end of her son came true. Svyato-glory, as a so-general-is-le-to-pi-set, was killed by the Pe-Che-Nezh-prince Ku-rei, who was wu Holy-to-glory and from che-re-pa I made se-be cha-shu, an eye-shaft of gold and during a feast he drank from it.

Is-full-no-moose and pro-ro-th-th of the saint about the Russian land. Mo-lit-ven-th works and de-la-saint Olga-gi pod-firm-di-li ve-li-chai-nee de-i-nie her grandson saint Vlah- di-mi-ra (memory of July 15 (28)) - Baptism of Rus-si. The images of the saints equal to the so-so Olga and Vla-di-mi-ra, mutually complementing each other, in-area there are ma-terin and paternal na-cha-lo of the Russian spiritual history.

Holy equal-noap-oh-so-naya Ol-ga became a du-hov-noy mother of the Russian-ro-da, through her he started his -the light of the Christian faith.

The linguistic name of Olga co-answers to the man's Oleg (Hel-gi), which means “saint”. Although the lingual understanding of the sanctity is from the christi-an-sko, but it is pre-la-ha- There is a special spiritual mood in man, whole-wisdom and sobriety, intelligence and pro-zo-l-vost. Revealing the spiritual meaning of this name, the people called Ole-ga Veshim, and Ol-gu - Wise. Subsequently, Saint Ol-gu will be called Bo-go-wise, highlighting her main gift, which has become os-no-va-ni -with all the ladyship of the sanctity of Russian wives - pre-wisdom. Sa-ma Pre-saint Bo-go-ro-di-tsa - House of Pre-mud-ro-sti Bo-zhi-her - blah-go-word-vi-la-saint Olga-gu on her apo -so much work. The construction of her Sophia co-bo-ra in Ki-e-ve - ma-te-ri of the Russian go-ro-dov - was a sign of participation God-dad-ma-te-ri in the Do-mo-strut-and-tity of the Holy Rus-si. Ki-ev, i.e. christi-an-sky Ki-ev-sky Russia, became the third priest-bi-em of God Ma-te-ri in the All-Lena, and the statement is his priest-biya on the earth began through the first of the holy wives of Rus-si - the holy equal-noap-oh-so-so Olga.

The christi-an-sky name of Saint Olga is Yele-na (in the re-in-de from the ancient Greek “fa-kel”) - became-lo you -ra-same-no-em g-re-niya her spirit-ha. Holy Olga (Yele-na) pri-nya-la spiritual fire, which did not go out in all the thousand-year-old history of Christ An-skoy Russia.

Complete Life of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, Grand Duchess of Russia

Holy equal-noap-oh-so-naya Ol-ga was-la su-sprung ve-li-k-th prince Ki-ev-sko-go Igor. The struggle-ba of christi-an-stva with paganism under Igor and Ol-ge, princes after Ole-g (+ 912), is entering a new period. The Church of Christ in the aftermath of the years of Prince Igor (+ 945) is a hundred-but-vit-sya significant spiritual and go -sudar-noy power in the Russian go-su-dar-tstvo. This is evidenced by the co-stored text of Igor with the Greek 944, which is included le-to-pis-tsem in "Tidings of the Times", in an article, describing the events of 6453 (945).

Peaceful do-go-thief from Kon-stan-ti-no-pole-wives had to approve-wait-for both-and-mi re-li-gi-oz-ny-mi communities -mi Ki-e-va: "Rus' cross-naya", that is, chr-sti-ane, came to pri-sy-ge in the so-bor-nom temple-me holy th pro-ro-ka of God Elijah; "Russia is necro-naya", pagans-ni-ki, swore on weapons in the saint-li-shche Per-ru-na Gro-mo-lord. The fact that christi-ane came-to-le-na in do-ku-men-te in the first place, speaks of their pre-imperative spirit in the life of Ki-ev -sky Rus-si.

Obviously, at the moment, when until the thief in 944, he co-became-lal in Tsar-r-gra-de, at the power in Ki-e-ve one hundred -I-li-di, co-feeling-vav-vav-chr-sti-an-stu, co-knowing-vav-sh-to-r-ch-a need-need society of Rus-si to living-creative Christ-sti-an-sky culture-re. Prince Igor himself, ofi-tsi-al-neo-lo-zh-zh-so-ro- do not allow him to personally switch to a new faith, without deciding on the Baptism of the whole country and the new le-nii in it the most glorious church hierarchy. Therefore, the thief was made up in the cautious you, who would not be in the way of the prince. - to drink it both in the form of a pagan oath, and in the form of pri-sya-gi hri-sti-an-skoy.

But until the vi-zan-ti-sky messages arrived in Ki-ev, the ob-stanov-ka on the Dnieper essentially changed. Clearly determined-de-l-las pagan op-po-zi-tion, in the head of which-swarm-I-l-v-ryazh-skie vo-e-water-dy Sve -neld and his son Msti-slav (Msti-sha), whom Igor gave to the holding of the ancient land.

Strongly there was in Ki-e-ve and the influence of the ha-zar-sky Jews, who could not come according to their liking, the thought of the triumph pra-in-slavia in the Russian land.

Do not su-mev overcome the inadequacy of everyday life, Igor remained a lingual-no-one and grabbed a thief in a lingual manner - oath-howl at the sword. He rejected the blessing of the Baptism and was punished for disbelief. A year later, in 945, the rebellious pagans killed him in the Ancient Land, tearing between two trees. But the days of paganism and the os-but-van-no-go on it of the life-style of the Slavic tribes were already co-read. The burden of the state-of-the-art ministry was on oneself with a three-year-old son Holy-to-glory in the direction of Igo-rya - ve -li-kaya princess-gi-nya Ki-ev-sky Olga-ga.

The name of the future pro-light of the Russian Territory and its ro-di-well, "Tidings of the times," for the first time There is an article about Igor's same thread: "and he sent him to his wife from Psko-va, whose name is Ol-gu." When-over-le-zha-la she, specifies-nya-em Joaki-movskaya le-to-writing, to the family of the princes Iz-bor-skikh, one of the old trees -non-Russian-princely di-nations, who were-lo-lo on Rus-si in the X-X1 centuries. not less than two-ds-ti, but somehow all would be-whether you-do-not-us with time Ryu-ri-ko-vi-cha-mi or merged with none by-means of marriages. Some of them were local, Slavic pro-origin, others were newcomers, Varyazh-sky. It is known that the scan-di-nav-sky kon-nung-gi, invited to the princess in the Russian cities, invariably come ni-ma-li Russian-language, often - Russian names and quickly a hundred-but-we-were-a-n-n-s-mi Russian-ski-mi as in-ra -for life, and for the world-as-vision and even for the physical ob-li-ku.

So the su-pru-gu of Igo-rya was called the Varyazh-name of Hel-ga, in the Russian "oka-yu-shch" pro-iz-no-she-nii - Ol-ga, Vol-ha. The female name Olga is the same as the male Oleg (Hel-gi), which means “saint”. Although the lingual understanding of the sanctity is so-utterly different from the christi-an-sko, but it is also pre- la-ga-et in man-ve-ke a special spiritual mood, whole-wisdom and sobriety, mind and pro-zo-li-vost. Revealing the spiritual meaning of the name, the people called Ole-ga Veshim, Ol-gu - Wise-roy.

Late dedication to the name of her ro-do-name se-lo va up the river Ve-li-koy. More recently, on the river Ol-gin, the bridge is near the ancient pe-re-pra-va, where Olga met with Igorem. Pskov to-ni-mi-ka so-khra-ni-la-n-names connected with the pa-ni-tyu ve-li-koi psko-vi-tyan- ki: de-rev-ni Ol-ze-nets and Ol-gi-no Po-le, Ol-gi-ny Vo-ro-ta - one of the ru-ka-vows of the river Ve-li-koi, Ol -gi-na Go-ra and Ol-gin Krest - near Lake Pskov, Ol-gin Ka-men - at the village of You-bu-you.

Na-cha-lo sa-mo-sto-i-tel-no-right-le-niya princess-gi-ni Ol-gi is connected-za-but in le-to-pi-syah with ras-ska-z about the formidable possibility-mez-diy of the ancient-la-us, the killers of Igor. Curse-shi-e-sya on the sword and ve-ro-vav-shi "only in your sword" house from the sword and perish-nut (). By-klo-nyav-shi-e-sya, among other deities-f-chi-chi-chi-chi-nyu - they took revenge in the fire. A half-ni-tel-ni-tsey of fire-noy ka-ry The Lord took Ol-gu.

Struggle-ba for the unity of Rus-si, for the subordination of Ki-ev-sko-mu center-trues-di-ra-e-my mutually hostile tribes and principalities pro-kla-dy-va-la the way to the windows-cha-tel-noy in the Russian land. For Olga, still a pagan-ni-tsey, there is a stand-I-la Ki-ev-sky christi-an-sky Church and her heavenly blood-tel, holy pro the fate of God Elijah, a fiery faith and a prayer of his own divine fire from heaven, and by-yes her over the tree-la-na-mi, despite the su -rnost of be-di-tel-ni-tsy, there was-la-be-doy christi-an-sky, co-zi-da-tel-tel forces in the Russian go-su- the gift of over si-la-mi pagan-si-mi, dark-ny and dis-ru-si-tel-ny.

Olga Bo-go-wise-paradise entered history as a great co-zi-da-tel-ni-tsa of the sovereign life and cult -ry Ki-ev-skoy Rus-si. Le-to-pi-si are full of testimonies about her tireless "walk-de-ni-yahs" on the Russian land for the purpose of good perk-rya-do-ti-civ-dansko-go and ho-zyay-n-th life-that under-data. Reached the internal fortification of the power of the Ki-ev-sky-of-the-prince, weakening the influence of the me-shav- shikh co-bi-ra-niu Rus-si of small local princes, Ol-ga center-tra-li-zo-va-la all state-state management from to -with-my-sy-ste-we "go-stov". In 946, with her son and a friend, she walked along the ancient land, "usta-nav-li-vaya da-no and ob-ro-ki", from- me-chaa se-la, hundred-but-see-shcha and places of hunts, which are included in the ki-ev-skie ve-li-ko-prince-zhe-skie vl -deniya. The next year, I went to New-rod, arranging for-and-vaya along the rivers Msta and Lu-ge, leaving visible traces everywhere -hey de-i-tel-no-sti. "Lo-vi-shcha (the place of the hunt) were all over the earth, established-new-ley-ki, her place and in-go-st, - pi-sal le-to-pi-set, - and her sa-ni stand in Psko-ve to this day, there are places indicated by her for catching birds along the Dnieper River and along the Desna; and se-lo her Ol-zhi-chi exists and is now. "

Arranged by Olga in-go-sts, being a financial co-in-administrator-ni-strategic and su-deb-ny-mi center-mi, represented a strong support of the venerable princely power on the ground.

Boo-duchi first of all, according to the very meaning of the word, the center-tra-mi of the trade-gov-li and ob-me-na ("guest" - ku-pets), with -bi-paradise and or-ga-ni-zuya around you-by-se-le-ni (instead of the previous "by-people-dya" collection of da-ni and na-lo- gov carried out now equally and well-to-do-chen-but according to the - the most-neat cell of ethnic and cultural integration of the Russian nation.

Later, when Ol-ga became-la-christi-an-coy, the first temples began to move along the way; since the time of the Baptism of Rus-si with Saint Vla-di-mi-re, the temple (arrival) has become indissoluble in nya -i-mi. (Only in the wake of the existence of cemeteries near the temples of cemeteries did the word-in-up-to-demand "go-gost" develop in the sense of le "treasure-bi-shche".)

A lot of work has been applied by Prince Olga to strengthen the defense power of the country. Go-ro-da for-fear-and-wa-lied and strengthened-la-lied, you-sh-go-ro-dy (or de-tintsy, cro-we) ob-ras-ta-li ka -men-us-mi and do-bo-you-mi ste-na-mi (for-bra-la-mi), really-ti-ni-wa-lis wa-la-mi, cha-sto-ko- la-mi. Sa-ma princess-gi-nya, knowing how hostile-deb-but-but-si-were many to the idea of ​​strengthening the prince's power and unification Rus-si, lived in a hundred-yan-but "on the go-re", over the Day-prom, behind the-dezh-ny-mi for-la-mi ki-ev-sko-th w-go-ro-da (Top-not-go-ro-da), surrounded by a loyal friend. Two-thirds co-scolded yes-no, according to the de-tel-ts le-to-pi-si, she is from-da-va-la to the ras-po-ry-zh-nie ki-ev -sko-th ve-cha, the third part went "to Ol-ze, to you-sh-th-rod" - for the needs of the military-th-th structure. At the time of Olga-gi is-to-ri-ki, the regulations of the first state-of-the-state borders of Russia - on the de, with Paul. Bo-ga-tyr-sta-you in the south, a hundred-ro-zhi-whether peaceful no-you ki-ev-lyan from the peoples of Di-ko-go Po-la. Chu-same-zem-tsy spe-shi-whether in Gar-da-ri-ku ("country-well-go-ro-dov"), as na-zy-va-whether they are Rus, from to-va-ra -mi and ru-co-de-lya-mi. Shwe-dy, dan-chane, the Germans willingly get into the Russian army. Shi-ryat-Xia for-ru-bez-nye connections Ki-e-va. This is the way to develop a ka-men-no-strut-and-tel-state in go-ro-de, na-cha-lo co-that-ro-mo in-lo- zhi-la prince-gi-nya Ol-ga. The first stone buildings of Ki-e-va - the town-palace and Olga-gi’s town-house - only in our whether you are looking for ar-heo-lo-ha-mi. (Dvorets, more precisely, his foundation-da-ment and the remnants of the walls, were there-de-nas and ras-co-pa-nas in 1971-1972.)

But not only the strengthening of the state-of-the-state and the development of economic forms of the nation's life attracted attention man-nie wise-swarm prin-gi-ni. Even more-more-n-n-n-nn-ny-ny-ny-ny-ny-r-si, du -khovy pre-ob-ra-ze-ness of the Russian na-ro-da. Russia a hundred-but-was-las great der-zha-howl. Only two ev-ro-pei-go-su-darties could in those years co-per-no-chat with her in knowledge and power: in the east Ev-ro-py - the ancient Vi-zan-tiy im-peria, on the za-pas de - the role of the Sak-owls.

The experience of both-their-im-peri, obliged to their-to-them-higher-ni-doo-hu hr-sti-an-sko-doctrine, re-li-gi-oz to the main-but-you of life, as-ka-zy-val-but it is clear that the path to the bu-du-shch-mu-li-chiy Ru-si does not only go through en-nye, but first of all and pre-eminently-but through the spiritual for-in-e-va-nia and attainments. Po-ru-chiv Ki-ev under-grew-she-mu son-well Holy-to-glory, ve-li-kaya prince-gi-nya Ol-ga let-tom 954 th-yes, vys-kav blah-go-da-ti and is-ti-ny, from-right-la-e-sy with a large float in Tsar-r-grad. It was a peaceful "walk-de-nie", with-tav-neck for-da-chi re-li-gi-oz-no-go pa-lom-no-thing and di- a plo-ma-ti-che-mission, but pol-ti-ti-ti-s-ob-ra-w-li, so that it becomes the same time -but about-y-le-ni-em in-en-no-th-th-power-rus-si on the Black Sea, on-pom-ni-lo mountains-smoke "ro-me -yam "about in-be-up-to-no-nos-dah-dahs As-kol-da and Ole-ga, having brought his shield in 907" on the gates of Tsar-re -gra-yes ".

Re-dhul-tat was reached-stig-nut. The appearance of the Russian fleet on the Bos-for-re so-zda-va-lo the necessary pre-dispatches for the development of other same-sko-sko-sko-vi-zan-tii-sko-go dia-lo-ga. In turn, the southern capital po-ra-zi-la su-ro-vu daughter Se-ve-ra once-but-ob-ra-zi-em red-juice, ve-whether -co-le-pi-em ar-hi-tek-tu-ry, mixing languages ​​and na-rods of the world. But a special imprint is about the richness of the Christian temples and the holy ones gathered in them. Tsar-r'-grad, "tsar-yu-yu-yuh-yuh city" of the Greek im-peria, even during the very os-no-va-nii (more precisely, who-about-new- le-nii) in 330-du-saint-saint equal-noap-about-so-ny Kon-stan-ty-nom Ve-li-kim (memory of May 21) Pre-svyat -th Bo-go-ro-di-tse (this is an occasion of idle-no-va-mo in the Greek Church on May 11 and went from-to-yes to Russian skie me-sy-tse-words), strive to be worthy of your Heavenly Blood in everything. Russian princess pri-sut-va-la for God-servant in the best temples Kon-stan-ti-no-la - Holy that Sophia, Blachernae Bo-go-ma-te-ri and others.

The heart of wise-swarm Olga was opened to holy pra-in-glory, she made the decision to become chr-sti-an-coy. The ta-in-state of the Baptism was co-versed over it by the patri-arch Kon-stan-ti-no-polish Fe-o-phi-lact (933-956), and - he-no-one was himself im-pe-ra-tor Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-no-native (912-959). She was-lo na-re-che-but in the Baptism-nii the name Hele-na in honor of the holy equal-noap-oh-so-so Helena (memory of May 21), ma-te ri saint Kon-stan-ti-na, ob-ret-shei Honest Tree of the Cross of the State under-nya. In the n-zi-da-tel-ve, said according to the co-top of the order, pat-ri-arch said: "Blah-th-slo-ven - you are in the same Russian, for the darkness has remained and the Light has remained. from grandchildren and great-grandchildren to from-da-len-ne-shikh on-to-theirs. " He instructed her in the is-ti-nah of faith, the church-mouth-ve and the prayer-ven-pra-vi-le, iz-yas-nil for-in-ve- di about in-st, ts-lo-mud-ry and mi-lo-coldness. "She, - go-vo-rit pre-like, - slo-no-la go-lo-wu and a hundred-ya-la, word-but-gu-ba na-pa-i-e- May, in-May to the study, and, in-to-niv-sis Pat-ri-ar-hu, pro-mol-vi-la: "Mo-lit-va-mi thy-i-mi, Vla- dy-ko, yes, so-hu-hu-no-na will-do from the networks of enemies. "

Namely, from a little bit on a head-on-head, from-bra-same-to-holy Olga on one of the frescoes Ki-ev-sko-go So-fiy-sko-so-bo-ra, as well as on the modern vi-zan-ti-mi-ni-a-tu-re, in the face of the ru-ko -pi-si Chro-ni-ki Ioan-na Ski-faces from the Mad-ridd -skoy na-tsio-nal-noy bib-lio-te-ki. Greek lettering, co-leading-da-yu-min-ni-a-tu-ru, na-zy-va-et Ol-gu "ar-hon-tes-soyu (that there is a vl-dy-chi-tsei) rus-owls "," same-noy, El-goy by name, who-that-paradise came to tsar-ryu Kon-stan-ti-well and was-la cr-sch-na ". Knya-gi-nya iso-bra-zhe-na in a special head-dress-re, "as a no-in-a-cross-shch-naya christi-an-ka and an even dia -co-nissa of the Russian Church-vi ". Next to her in the same headdress but-in-cross-noy - Malusha († 1001), following the mother of the holy equal no-go Vla-di-mi-ra (memory of July 15).

So-ko-nena-vist-ni-ka russkikh, what was the im-pe-ra-tor Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-but-native, it was not easy to become the godfather of "ar-khon-tes-sy Ru-si". In the Russian le-to-pi-si, there were ras-tales about how the decision was made and on an equal footing Ol-ha with im-pe-ra-to-rum, surprising the Greeks with their spiritual maturity and state-of-the-art wisdom, by-ka-zy- vowing that the Russian-sko-mu na-ro-du is just under si-lu to perceive and intelligently live the highest achievements of the Greek re-li-gi-oz -go geniya, the best fruits of the vi-zan-tiy spirit-hov-ness and culture. So Saint Ol-ge managed to "take Tsar-grad" in a peaceful way, something that not a single half of the dets could do before her. According to the le-to-pi-si, im-pe-ra-tor you-need-den himself was aware that "pe-re-klu-ka-la" (pe-re -hit-ri-la) his Ol-ha, and the native memory, co-single-niv of the message about the thing Ole-ge and the wise-roy Ol-ge, za-pe -chat-le-la this spirit-hov-nyu-be-du in the be-lin-nn-n-n-za-za-nii "On the taking of Tsa-rya-gra-da of the princess Ol-goy."

Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-no-kindred in his own co-chi-ne-nii "On the tse-re-mo-ni-yah vi-zan-tii-sko-ra-ra", reached us in the only list, left a detailed description of the tse-re-mony, with the - the name of Saint Olga in Kon-stan-ti-no-le. He describes the grand reception in the famous pa-la-te Magnavre, under the singing of bronze birds and roaring honey lions, ku-da Ol-ga appeared with a huge suite of 108 people (not counting people from a friend of Svyato-sla-va), and pe-re-go-thie-ry in a more narrow circle in po-ko-yah im-pe-ra-tsy, and a pa-rad-ny lunch in the hall of Yus-ti -ni-but-na, where, by the way, about-a-hundred-i-telstv, thought-li-tel-but met at one hundred-four-you-re " Sudar-nykh yes-we ": b-bush-ka and the mother of the saintly equal-noap-o-so-n-th Vla-di-mi-ra (saint Olga and her companion -ni-tsa Ma-lusha) with ba-bush-coy and mother-ryu of his bu-du-shu-prru-gi An-ny (im-pe-ra-tri-tsa Yele-na and her brides -ka Fe-o-fa-no). Go through a little more gim for a little more, and in the De-sy-tin-nom temple of the Holy Bo-go-ro-di-tsy in Ki-e-ve will be-dut next to each other, there are dark-sea-tomb-coffins of St. Olga, the holy Vla-di-mi-ra and the blissful "tsar-ri-tsy Anna ".

At the time of one of the primes, ras-ska-zy-va-et Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-but-native, the Russian princess was under -not-se-but gold-lo-toe, ornamental stone-nya-mi blue-do. Holy Ol-ga in-sacrifice-in-wa-la him in the riz-ni-tsu of Sophia-so-bo-ra, where he was seen and described in na-cha-le XIII century Russian di-plo-mat Do-ry-nya Yad-rei-ko-vich, after-ar-hi-epi-skop New-go-rod-skiy An-to-ny: "Blue-to-ve-whether-to-evil-something is the servant of Olga Russian, when he took a tribute, ho-div-shi in Tsar-grad; in the blue-de same Ol -zhine ka-menn dra-giy, on the same ka-me-ni na-pi-san Chri-stos. "

Anyway, well-ka-vy im-pe-ra-tor, co-communicating so much detail, as if in a ot-place for the fact that key-ka-la of his Ol-ga ", gave the hard-for-bastard-ku is-to-ri-kam of the Russian Church. The thing is that the pre-like Nestor Le-to-pi-setz ras-ska-zy-va-et in "Possibility of the time years" about the Cross nii Ol-gi under 6463 (955 or 954) go-home, and this is the answer to the testimony of the Wi-zan-ti chronicle of the Ked-ri-na ... Another Russian church pi-sa-tel of the 11th century, Ia-kov Mnikh, in the word "Memory and praise-la Vla-di-mi-ru ... and how the grandmother of Vla-di-mi-ra Ol-g was baptized, "talking about the death of the holy princess (+ 969), it is that she has been living christi-an-coy for five-to-twenty years, and at that very time of the Baptism to 954, which is the same ow-pa-da-et with precision up to several months with the indication of Nestor. Meanwhile, Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-no-native, describing Olga-gi's pre-va-va-va in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le and na-zy -the exact yes-you arranged by him in her honor the pri-e-m, with no doubt it gives to understand that all this is pro-is-ho-di-lo in 957. For the acceptance of these le-to-pi-si, on one side, and on-ka-z-niy Kon-stan-ti-na, on the other, The Russian church is-to-ri-kam had to pre-lay one of two things: either Saint Olga for pro-long re-go-moat with im-pe-ra-to-rum in 957 pri-e-ha-la in Kon-stan-ti-no-pol for the second time, or is she baptized in general not in Tsar-r-gra-de, but in Ki-e-ve in 954 and his only pa-lom-no-thing in Vi -zan-tiyu co-ver-shi-la, already being-duchi christi-an-coy. The first pre-po-lo-ze-nie is more ve-ro-yat-no.

That ka-sa-et-sya is not mediocre, but di-plo-ma-ti-che-sko-go-da pe-re-go-ditch, at Saint Olga were-no-va-nia to remain dissatisfied with them. Do-beat-shi-ha in in-pro-sakh about the Russian trade-gov-le in the pre-de-lah im-peria and the confirmation of peace-no-go do-go -vo-ra with Vi-zan-ti, for-key-chen-no-go Igorem in 944 go-do, she could not, however, skip a thread to im-ne- ra-to-ra to two important agreements for Rus-si: about the di-na-sti-che-mate of Svyato-sla-va with vi-zan -skoy tsar-rev-noy and about the conditions for the restoration of the essence-of-vav-shey at As-kol-de pra-in-glorious mit-ro-po -liy in Ki-e-ve. Her dissatisfaction, the outcome of the mission, clearly sounds-cheat in the answer, to which she gave-la already upon her return to birth. di-well pri-slan-nym from im-pe-ra-to-ra in-slam. At the request of im-pe-ra-to-ra from-but-s-tel-but-promiscuous, holy Olga-ga through the words sharply from-ve-ti-la: "If you stay with me in Po-chayna as well as I do in Su-du, then I will give you in power".

At the same time, despite the failure of the efforts to establish a church hierarch in Russia, Saint Olga, becoming a Christian -koy, zealously, but pre-da-wa-las in-move-gam chr-sti-an-sko-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-th-di pagans-nik-kov and tser-kov-no th construction: "tre-bi-scha bes-sov-s-kru-shi and na-cha zhi-ti about Christ Jesus." She lifts the temples-we: saints-te-la Ni-ko-lai and St. Sophia in Ki-e-ve, Bla-go-message of Pre-saint -th Bo-go-ro-di-tsy - in Wi-teb-sk, Holy Zhi-in-na-chal-noy Tro-i-tsy - in Psko-ve. Pskov since then-me-ni-zy-va-is in the le-to-pi-sih Home of the Holy Trinity-and-tsy. The temple, built by Olga over the river Ve-li-ka, at the place indicated by her, according to the testimony of the le-to-pis-tsa, overwhelmingly "Lu-chom Three-si-i-tel-no-God", simply-yal more in-lu-to-ra centuries. In 1137, the holy prince Vse-vo-lod-Gav-ri-il (+ 1138, memory 11 Feb-ra-la) replaced-me-nil de-vyan-ny temple kamen one, who was re-built, in turn, in 1Z63, and replaced, finally, to-now the essence of shim Tro-itz-kim co-bo-rum.

And another important memory-nickname of the Russian "mon-nu-men-tal-no-god-words", as they say, are often to the church architecture, associated with the name of the holy equal-noap-oh-so-noy Olga - the temple of Sophia Pre-mud-growth of God-life her in Ki-e-ve, soon after her arrival from Tsar-r-grad and consecrated on May 11, 960. This day was celebrated afterwards in the Russian Church as a special church holiday.

In the month of the first-ha-men-no-go Apo-sto-la 1307 on May 11, for-pi-sa-no: "On the same day, the consecration of Holy -th Sophia in Ki-e-ve in le-then 6460 ". Yes-that pa-my-ti, in the opinion of the church-iss-to-ri-kov, indicate-za-na for so na-zy-va-e-mo-mu "an-thio-hiy -sco-mu ", and not in general-pri-nya-that-mu con-stan-ti-no-pol-sko-le-to-is-number-le-nii and co-answer -that is 960 years from the birth of Christ.

Saint Ol-ga nedar-rom-lu-chi-la in the Baptism the name of the saint equal-noap-o-so-so Helena, ob-ret-shi Honest Dre-vo Cross-hundred of Christ-va in Jeru-sa-li-me. The main saint-you-her but-in-the-created-no-Sophia-temple-ma became the Holy Cross, which was brought by the new Hele-noy from Tsa -r-gra-da and received by her in the bla-th-th-ve-ness from Kon-stan-ti-no-pol-sko pat-ri-ar-ha. The cross, according to pre-yes-ny, was cut out of the goal-but-go piece of Life-in-your-rya-shche-go Dre-va Gos-pod-nya. On the cross there was an inscription: "About-but-see-Xia Russian land by the Holy Cross, his pri-ya-la Ol-ha, blah-lo-ver-naya prince-gi-nya ".

Saint Olga made a lot of things for the uve-ko-ve-nia of the pa-me-ti of the first Russian is-po-ved-niks named after Khri-hundred -wa: above the mo-g-la As-kol-da voz-dvig-la Ni-kol-sky temple, where, according to some rym light-de-ni-yam, sa-ma was in- traces in-ho-ro-not-na, over the mo-g-loy Di-ra - the above-called Sophia so-bor, which-ry, just - half a century, burned down in 1017. Yaro-Slav the Wise at this place in-str-silt poz-the same, in 1050, the church of St. Irene, and St. -gi-na temple-ma carried the same name to the stone temple-to-now the standing Sophia Ki-ev-skuyu, for-lo-wives- ny in 1017 and consecrated around 1030. In Pro-lo-ge of the XIII century about Olga-gin cross-st ska-za-no: "who like now stands in Ki-e-ve in Holy Sophia in al-ta-re on the right side". Disintegration-rob-le-tion of ki-ev-skikh saints, pro-long-feminine after mon-go-lov li-tov-tsa-mi, to-that-ry-kind of - in 1341, do not care for him. Under Yagai-le in the period-od of the Lyub-ling union, united-niv-shey in 1384, Pol-shu and Lit-wu in one-but-su-dar-stvo, Ol- gin cross was po-khi-shchen from Sofiy-sko-so-bo-ra and you-ve-zen ka-li-ka-mi in Lyub-lin. The farther fate of his is unknown.

But amid-di bo-yar and friends-zhin-nikov in Ki-e-ve there were a lot of people, who-rye, in the word So-lo-mo-na, " no-na-vi-de-li Pre-wisdom ", as well as the holy prince-gi-nyu Ol-gu, who built her temples. The roar-no-te-whether of the lingual-old-age-we are more and more daring under-no-ma-whether to-lo-wu, with a hopeful gaze at the under-ras-tav- she-th Holy-that-glory, the decision-shi-tel-but from-clo-niv-she-go-th-th-ry ma-te-ri-accept christi-an-stvo and yes- the same anger-vav-she-go-Xia at her for it. It would have been necessary to hurry with the za-do-man-de-la of the Baptism of Rus-si. Co-var-stvo Vi-zan-tii, not in the same lav-shey give Rus-si christi-an-stvo, was-lo on the hands of the tongues-ni-kam. In the search for a solution, Saint Olga looks at the west. There is no question here. Saint Olga (+ 969) came to the undisturbed Church and hardly had the opportunity to understand God the word tones of the Greek and la-ting ve-ro-teachings. For-a-a-a-a-I-a-a-a-a-a-yes and A-a-hundred-ka presented to her first of all in-li-ti-che-per-no -things, second-ro-ste-pen-ny in comparison with n-n-n-n-no-da-whose - with-the-creation of the Russian Church, chris- an-skim about-light-shch-no-em Ru-si.

Under the 959th house, a German chronist, named "pro-long-tel Re-gi-no-na", for-pi-sy-va-et: "came to ko-ro-lyu send Helena, ko-role-you rus-owls, some-paradise cross-shch-na in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le, and about-si- whether to bind for this na-ro-da epi-sko-pa and priests-nikov ". Co-role Ot-tone, the future os-no-va-tel of the German im-peria, willingly responded to Olga's request, but by -wel de-lo not hurry, with a lot of German wasps. Only on Christmas Day following, 960, was the Epi-sko-Pom Rus-skim installed Li-bu-ttsiy, from the brotherhood of mo-na- st-rya of holy Al-ba-na in Main-tse. But he died soon after (March 15, 961). In his place, Adal-bert of Trier was consecrated, who-ro-go Ot-ton, "generously supplied with everything you need," nets, to Russia. It’s hard to say that it would have happened if it hadn’t been about the co-role for so long, but when, in 962, Adal-bert appeared in Ki-e -we, he "did not have time for anything that he was sent for, and he saw his efforts on-pras-ny-mi." Huh, then, on the return path, "some of his companions would have been killed, and the bishop himself was not out of mortal danger-but-sti ".

It turned out that for the past two years, like the pre-vi-de-la Ol-ga, in Ki-e-ve there was a window-cha-tel- ny pe-re-in-mouth in favor of the sides-no-kov of the language and, without becoming neither right-in-glorious, nor ka-to-li-che, Russia in -general once-do-ma-la pri-ni-mother chris-sti-an-stvo. The linguistic re-ac-tion pro-appeared so strongly that it was not only German mis-si-o-ne-ry, but and some of the Ki-ev-sky chris-sti-an, who were baptized with Olga in Tsar-r-gra-de. At the command of St. Olga, Gleb, the plebeian-nickname of St. Olga, was killed, and some of the buildings she kept were destroyed. we. Ra-zu-me-et-sya, here it was not without Wi-zan-ti-secret di-plo-ma-tia: set up against Olga and met the feminine possibilities of strengthening Rus-si at the expense of co-u-for with Ot-to-n, the Greeks pre-po-chli to support the pagan -kov.

The pro-shaft of the mission Adal-ber-ta had a promising meaning for the future Russian Pra-glorious Church, from be-zhav-shey of the dad's spitting. Saint Ol-ge was left to reconcile with pro-ex-shim and completely leave in de la personal bliss, giving the reins of rights to the pagan-ni-ku Holy-to-glory. They still didn’t count with her, they didn’t change their minds to her state-of-the-art wisdom in all difficult cases. I. When the Holy Glory came out of Ki-e-va, and he spent most of the time in the ups and downs, -de-nie go-su-dar-tstm again lied to the princess-guine-ma-te-ri. But the question of the Baptism of Rus-si was temporarily removed from the news of the day, and this, of course, grieved Saint Ol-gu, count -tav-shuyu Chri-sto-in the bliss of the main thing of his life.

She is meek-to-pe-re-no-s-la-sor-bi and grief, she tried to help her son in state and military for-bo-tah, ru-co-lead them in ge-ro-and-che-skikh-lakhs. The bewilderment of the Russian howl-ska was a consolation for her, especially the thunder-thunder of the Russian-goo-su -difference - Ha-zar-sko-ka-ga-na-ta. Two-waited, in 965 and in 969, the troops of Svyato-sla-va marched across the lands of "unreasonable ha-zar", always with cru-shiv the power of the Jewish authorities-te-lei Pri-azo-vya and Lower Vol-zhya. The next powerful blow was on-ne-sen on the Mu-Sul-Man Volga Bol-gary, so it came in turn Bol-gary Du- nai-skoy. Eight-seven-ten go-ro-dov along the Du-nay were-lo-ki-ev-ski-mi friends-na-mi. One-but-de-in-to-and-lo Ol-gu: as if, carried away by the war at the Bal-ka-nah, Holy-glory did not forget about Ki-e-ve.

In the spring of 969 go-da Ki-ev wasp-di-li pe-che-not-gi: "and it was not-zya-lo you-ve-si to-nya na-po-it, sto-i-li pe-che-not-gi on Ly-be-di ". Russian howl was-lo yes-le-ko, on the Du-na. Glory to the son of the gon-ts, saint Ol-ga sa-ma car-head-vi-la about-ro-well, a hundred-person. Holy-glory, having received from-the-thing, soon came to Ki-ev, "welcomed his mother and children and co-cru-shal -that happened to them from the pe-not-govs. " But, once-thundering ko-chev-nikov, the prince again began to speak to ma-te-ri: e-ve, I want to live in Pe-re-i-s-lav-tse on Du-na - there is se-re-di-on earth-whether my-ee. " Holy glory dreamed of the creation of a huge Russian der-zha-you from the Danube to the Volga, some paradise would be united-no-la Rus, Bol -ha-riu, Ser-biy, Pri-black-no-sea-rye and Pri-azo-vie and erased their pre-de-la to the very Tsar-gra-da. Wise-paradise Ol-ga in-ni-ma-la, that with all the courage and from-va-ge of Russian friends, they cannot get along with the ancient im-per-ri -ey ro-me-ev, Svyato-sla-va waited-la failure-cha. But the son did not listen to the pre-mother-te-ri. Then the saint Olga ska-za-la: "You see, I am painful. Do you want to get away from me? -ya, from-right-lay-Xia ku-da for-ho-cheesh. "

Her days were honored, labor and sorrow to-tear her strength. On July 11, 969, Saint Ol-ga sat down, "and her son, and grandchildren, and all the people lapped over her." The last years, amidst the torment of the paganism, she, when the proud vlady-chi-tse, baptized from the stalemate -ri-ar-ha in the hundred-person-tse of pra-v-glory, pri-ho-di-moos tai-but hold the priest-no-ka with her, so as not to call new flash-ki anti-christi-an-sko-go fa-na-tiz-ma. But before death, again about the former firmness and determination, she for-passed-la to-top her with pagan triz-nas and for-ve-shcha-la open-something in-ho-ro-her thread in the right-in-glorious-but-moo-rya-du. Pre-swi-ter Gri-go-ri, who was with her in 957 in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le, exactly you-fulfilled her for -broadcasting.

Holy Olga lived, died, and was like a chris-sti-an-ka. "And so-to-live and do-re-glorify God in Tro-and-tse, the Father and the Son and the Holy One Du-ha, in blah-zii ve-re, con-cha life with the world about Christ Jesus, God-for-de-us. " Like her pro-ro-ro-che-vet after-do-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y, she with deep-bo-kim christi-an-skim smi-re-ni - we use-by-ve-da-la our faith about our-ro-de: "If God wants, yes I will! va-ti ro-du mo-e-go Earth-whether Rus-kiya, yes, it is in their hearts that they turn to God, like this is God for me yes-ro-va ".

God prophesied the holy labor-same-no-tsu pra-in-glory, "na-chal-ni-tsu ve-ry" in the Russian land, chu-de-sa- mi and incorruptible power. Iakov Mnikh († 1072) a hundred years after her death, he wrote in his "Pa-my-ti and praise Vla-di-mi-ru": "God pro glory to the body of her-to-her Olena, and there is her honest body in the thunder, and the indissolubility of my pre-va-is to this day. Bla-wen-naya prince-gi-nya Ol-ga pro-sla-vi-la Bo-ga all-mi de-la-mi his-and-mi good-mi, and God pro-glorified her ". Under the holy prince Vla-di-mi-re, according to some-ry data, in 1007, the power of Saint Olga would be pe-re-not-se -we are in the De-sya-tin-ny temple of the Assumption of the Pre-Saint Bo-go-ro-di-tsy and in the special-tsi-al-nom sar-ko-fa- ge, in which it was supposed to put the power of the saints on the right-of-the-glorious East. "And ino chu-do hear-shi-te about her: the coffin is small in the church of Holy Bo-go-ro-di-tsy, that church was created by the blissful prince Vla -di-peace, and there is a coffin of bla-wives-nyya Olga. And on top of the gro-ba ok-tse so-your-re-but - yes vi-de-ti te-lo bla-wives-nyya Ol-gi le-zha-shche-lo ". But not all were-lo-so-le-but-chu-before the incorruption of the powerful equal-noap-o-so-no princess-no: " -there is a window, and it sees an honest body that is a whole be le-zha-shche te-lu nez-ru-shiv-she-mu-sya. as if asleep, in-chi-wa-et. And others, who do not come with faith, do not come from the window of the grave, and do not see this is honest, but only a coffin. "

So, in the end, Saint Olga pro-in-ve-do-va-la eternal life and resurrection, on-full ra-to-do ve-ru- yu-yu-yu-yu-yu-yu-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi She was, according to the words of pre-do-but-go Nestor Le-to-pis-tsa, -nice before the sun and like the dawn before the light. "

Holy equal-noap-oh-so-ny great prince Vla-di-mir, may his blah-go-da-re-ness to God on the day of the Baptism of Ru -si, wit-de-tel-stv-shaft from the face of their modern-men-nikov about the holy equal-noap-about-so-no-ol-ge zn-me-na-tel- us-words-va-mi: "Bla-th-th-th-ti-ti-ti want si-no-ve ru-sti, and in the last generation your grandson is theirs."

See also: "" in the translation of St. Di-mit-rya Rostov.

Prayers

Troparion to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism to Elena

Kpilami bogopazumiya vpepivshi your mind, / Thou vozletela ppevyshe visible tvapi, / seek God and every Tvoptsa, / and Togo obpetshi, packs Academician Kpescheniem ppiyala art Thou, O / dpeva zhivotnago enjoying, imperishable forever ppebyvaeshi // Olga ppisnoslavnaya.

Translation: Having winged your mind with the wings of knowledge of God, you soared above the visible creation, seeking God and the Creator of everything and, having found Him, received a new birth in Baptism, enjoying the Tree of Life, you remain incorruptible forever, Olga is always glorified.

Having left Idol's flattery, / afterwards she followed Christ, the Immortal Bridegroom, Olga Bogomadra, / in His devil rejoicing, / incessantly praying // for those who honor your faith and love for your holy pa.

Translation: Leaving deception, you followed Christ, the Immortal Bridegroom, Olga God-wise, rejoicing in His palace, without ceasing to pray for those who honor your holy memory with faith and love.

In troparion to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism to Helen

In you, God-wise Helen, salvation is known, the image was in Russia, and with an angel rejoices, equal to the apostles, your spirit.

Translation: In you, God-wise Elena, the exact image of salvation was for the Russian country, since you, having accepted the font of Holy Baptism, followed Christ, teaching in deed to leave the idolatrous deception and take care of the soul, the immortal creation, therefore, with the Angels, your spirit, Equal to the Apostles, rejoices ...

In troparion to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Helen, Hellenic

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles, the chosen one of Christ, Princess Olgo, / your people with the verbal and pure Milk of Christ gave to drink, / I prayed to the Merciful God, / let us leave sin for our souls.

Translation: Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Christ's chosen one, Princess Olga, who gave thy people the verbal and pure milk of Christ to drink (), pray to the Merciful God, that he will give forgiveness to our souls of sins.

Kontakion to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism to Elena

Let us commemorate this day, the Benefactor of all God, / glorified in Russia Olga the God of God: / yes with her prayers / will give our souls // sin forgiveness.

Translation: Let us sing today to the Benefactor of all God, who glorified God-wise Olga in Russia, and through her prayers he will give our souls the forgiveness of sins.

In Kontakion to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism to Helen

Appear this day, thanks to all God, / glorified in Russia Olga Bogomadru, / with her prayers, Lord, / people give // ​​sin forgiveness.

Translation: Today the grace of God of all has appeared, having glorified God-wise Olga in Russia, through her prayers, Lord, give people the forgiveness of sins.

Exaltation of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism to Elena

We magnify thee, / Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, / as the morning dawn in our land that has risen / and the light of Orthodox faith // foreshadowed her people.

First Prayer to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism to Elena

Oh, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olgo, the first goddess of Russia, warm for us before God, the Hodtaice and the prayer room! Upon thee with faith and pray with love: wake us around for the good helper and spospeshnitsa and, As the lifetimes tschalasya Thou enlighten forefathers our light holy faith and nastaviti I tvoriti will of the Lord, tacos, and now in the Heavenly prebyvaeshi Grace favorable With your prayers to God, help us in enlightening our mind and heart with the light of the Gospel of Christ, so that we may prosper in faith, piety and love in Christ. The misery and grief suschiya comforted, distressed podazhd helping hand obidimyya and napastvuemyya atonement, erring on of true faith and eresmi osleplennyya instruct and asked us to have Vseschedrago God all the good and useful life of temporal and eternal, but tacos are pleasing in zde pozhivshe, be worthy heritage wealth eternal in the infinite Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit all glory, honor and worship always befits, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Second Prayer to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism to Elena

Oh, the great delight of God, chosen and glorified by God, Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olgo! You rejected the evil wickedness and wickedness of the heathen, you believed in the One True Trinitarian God, and received the Holy Baptism, and laid the light of the beginning of the enlightenment of the earth and Russia. You are our spiritual ancestor, you are, according to Christ our Savior, the first culprit of the enlightenment and salvation of our generation. You are a warm prayer-girl and a hunter for the Fatherland of the All-Russia, the host and all people. For this sake, we humbly pray to thee: behold our weakness and pray to Premiloceardo the King of Heaven, so that he will not be angry with us, for we will sin against us all the days, let us sin, but let us not die. His own, let his saving fear enter into our hearts, let our mind enlighten with his grace, let us understand the ways of the Lord, keep the paths of wickedness and delusion. Prayer, blessed Olgo, the Thorn-Man of God, may he taste us his great mercy, may he save us from our aliens, from internal weakness, rebellion and strife, from the eyes of the earth, and all death , may he keep our country from all the scoundrels and bring the enemy, may he observe righteousness and mercy in the judges and rulers, may he give the flock the reality of the salvation of the flock, all people will be able to do it, so that I have love for the good of the fatherland and the Holy Church, to fight faithfully, may the light of saving faith shine in our country at all ends of it, may they turn to the faith of unbelievers, may all eresi and repentance be abolished. Yes, so having lived in the world on earth, let us be made worthy with you of eternal blessedness in Heaven, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen.

Canons and Akathists

Canon of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

Song 1

Irmos: The majestic Pharaoh in the sea was drowned with weapons and horsemen, but Israel gloriously saved and spent the dry land, we sing Christ, as if glorified.

Our greatness and praise are you, Olga God-wise: you are free from idolatrous flattery. Now you are praying for family and birth, you brought them to God, singing Christ, as if you were glorified.

Thou hast drove out the great devil from Russia, by no means crushed the wicked idols, thou hast freed all people from lawlessness, teaching Christ to petition with wisdom, as if glorified.

The blackness of the sinful bath of Baptism by no means washed out you, you loved Christ, you are coming to Him, praying for your servants, faithfully glorifying you.

Theotokos: Isaiah calls the rod, the Most Pure One, but David thee is the throne of the Lord, Habakkuk is the mounted mountain, the bush of thee is Moses, we are the mother of God we call.

Song 3

Irmos: With a mighty hand and a strong word you created Heaven and the earth, you have redeemed the earth with your blood, your Church, it is also affirmed about you, they call: as if it is holy, is it not for you, Lord.

With a sovereign hand, and wise words, and with a strong word you taught your son the law of Christ, and with people you forbade you to eat with an idol, Olga glorious, in your memory now we have come together, we glorify you.

You, like a bee, you have sought for a good reason far from the flowering of Christ's faith, and, like a generic honey, you have found Baptism in the Reigning City, you have given your city and people, and all the sorrows of sin run away from it.

We bring all the praiseworthy voice and entreaty to you, Olga, that you know God for you, come to Him now, ask for peace for the fatherland, and for filthy victories, and for our souls for the remission of sins, singing thee, ever-blessed.

Theotokos: Thou didst appear, Virgo, of the Inaccessible God, so the angels sing incessantly to Thee, obeying the Master, Thou didst give birth to the Word of the Father, Sobeznachalny, without a father: oh, miracle! Holy Bo Spirit of Autumn Ty.

Sedalen, voice 3

We honor your feat, blessed, wondrous is the strength of your spirit, manifested in the weakness of the body; despising pagan flattery, you boldly preached the faith to Christ, the image that gives us zeal for the Lord.

Song 4

Irmos: By the Spirit of God, the prophet breathing in him, the Divine Habakkuk, was cleansed, fearing, you say: always approaching the summer, you will be known, God, for the salvation of men.

The Spirit of God rests on you, as on the ancient prophetess on Devvor, Imzhe enlightened, strengthening the reasonable Vladimir, Sisera the devil put you in his net with Baptism, as with Barak in the Kissov pot before.

Beholden to the swiftness, God-wise Olga, with a broken heart of a hundred, praying to God, you delivered your race of people from the insult of the idol and freed you from the captivity of the enemy, calling Christ for our help.

On the deliberate day of your holy repose, we joyfully celebrate, sending out a prayer song to Christ, who crowned you with an imperishable crown, God-wise Olga: ask us for the remission of sins that praise you faithfully.

Theotokos: Thy, prosperous from the root of Jesse, Isaiah as a prophecy, Christ - a vegetated color, and wearing the Original flesh, and the Rod of the Spirit of God, we praise Thee, like the Mother of God and the Pure Virgin.

Song 5

Irmos: The Word of God is Almighty, send peace to the whole world and illuminate and enlighten everything with true light, glorifying Thee from the night.

Like a chaste dove, you have ascended on the date of virtues, have krill with sacred silver and silver, flying up in your image, you, glorious Olga, nestled in food heaven.

Solomon girdle about you first: outside of the grapes the royal olive tree flourishes; you have planted the holy dream of baptism in Russia, creating the fruit of repentance, about whom Christ Himself rejoices.

Have mercy, Vladyka, on Your newly enlightened people, do not betray us into the hands of the filthy for the multitude of our iniquities, but with the prayers of our mentor Olga save us from all misfortune.

Theotokos: Sprinkle everything, as it is written, clouds of joy, earthly: God is the Child of Christ, cleanse the world from sins, incarnate from the Virgin and was given to us.

Song 6

Irmos: To Thy Heavenly Church, may my prayer come, cry Ty, like Jonah, from the depths of the sea's heart: from my sins, erect me, I pray to Thee, Lord.

You received the zeal of the Holy Spirit into your hearts, you hated the paternal wickedness, and, having sought Christ the true God, the child of the light appeared, and from the first-borns of the saints you rejoice in Heaven.

The new disciple of Christ in Russia appeared you, bypassing the towns and villages, crushing idols and people teaching the one God to worship, pray for him who sings thee.

Oh God-blessed Olga, pray for your children to God: peace not moved by our fatherland, ask for forgiveness for us, too, who always glorify thee.

Theotokos: Having cognized by You the indescribable Word of God, the Son of the Only Begotten Almighty, cry to Ty, earthly: rejoice, blessed Mother of God, hope of our souls.

Kontakion, voice 4

Let us sing this day to the Benefactor of all God, who glorified Olga God-wise in Russia, and through her prayers she will give our souls forgiveness of sins.

Ikos

You see the life of Christians and pagan obscenities are comprehensible, advertize yourself to the face, God-wise Olga: oh, the abyss of the wisdom and goodness of all the Creator! How did you hide from me until now? How can I honor idols from now on? Nobody bo, having tasted sweet, will delight the bitter, for this sake, even in old age, call on me, the Holy Trinity, and grant me forgiveness of sins.

Canto 7

Irmos: The fire of the cave, enslaving the piety, the youths, so overwhelm me, they are ready to burn by nature, but more than the nature of manly poyahu: blessed be you, Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Your Kingdom.

Like Judith you did, when you entered among the idols, you crushed those chiefs and you shamed the demon-bearers, but all people taught you to cry out to Christ in purity: blessed are you, Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Your Kingdom.

Praiseworthy flowers, like a royal crown, wisdom to your head in your memory we bring, even Christ the incorruptible crown, Olga, the all-wise, praying for your flock, will get rid of all evil to those crying: blessed are you, Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Your Kingdom.

Shall we call the Lebanese mountain cha? Heavenly dew is on thee. Or the Pison River, the kindest sapphire, the honest stone, possessing Vladimir, and the Russian land also enlightened? But pray for us, crying out: blessed art thou, Lord, on the Throne of the Glory of Thy Kingdom.

Theotokos: The kivot is gilded by Thee, we call the Spirit, who saved the world from the intelligent flood, Virgin, save us, we hope for Thee and run to You, rescue desperate in the abyss from sin and misfortune, crying: blessed be you, Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Your Kingdom.

Canto 8

Irmos: The fortress and youths are a trio of creatures who, by the power of the Holy Trinity, enveloped themselves, caught and conquered the Chaldeans, and their nature was marvelously changed: what kind of fire did it turn into dew? Without tightness, I preserve, as if in swaddling clothes, O shedding wisdom in all Thy affairs, God, We exalt Thee for ever.

Strong, like a lioness, she was sheltered by the power of the Holy Spirit, as one strive to torment idols everywhere, and marvelously to Heaven and on earth: how does a wife know God before, she has the same fall from the whole family? To the same now salvation, we sing: O shedding wisdom in all Thy works, God, We exalt thee for ever.

The wisdom of God first wrote about you: behold, you are my good and beautiful, and there is no blemish in you. The shine of your face, as if the sense of smell of the world, your designation, Olga, baptism, in the midst of idolized flattery, the smell of Christ on you and all of us from the demonic stench to repentance by His mercy, brought us to eat.

Remember me, Mrs. Olga, your wretched slave, tainted from the enemy and sinning more than a man, and pray to Christ forgiveness for all sins, even insensitive deeds, accursed, but with repentance crying: O shedding wisdom on all affairs of Thy God, in Thee eyelids.

Theotokos: Do not despise, Virgin, Thy servant of prayer, we boast about You, Thy little flock we are, sweeping for our intercession and changing us from our enemies, bless those who know You, Mother of God and Thy Son, crying: O shedding wisdom on all Thy affairs, God, We exalt you forever.

Canto 9

Irmos: Out of Eden, our ancestors are for Eve's sake, but called by You, giving birth to us a new Adam - Christ, in two nature, Virgin Virgin. Adam, great-grandfather, leaped up, as if we had given up the first oaths, but we are boasting of You, as we know You for the sake of God, and we magnify You.

Rejoice, Evo progenitor, who is like, having deceived you, bring it out of Eden, now it is trampled down by your fiend. Behold Olga, an animal tree, the Cross of Christ, erect in Russia, and have opened paradise to all the faithful, while we are boasting, as if for God's sake we know, with Vladimir we magnify this.

By nature, we call the wife thee, but more than the strength of the woman you moved. You have exhausted your darkness by gold, yes you have acquired the law of Christ and teachers, you have enlightened the Russian land, but we are boasting of you, as if we know you for the sake of God, we magnify you as martyrs.

As a pure teacher and teacher of the faith of Christ, accept the praise from the servants of the unworthy and create a prayer for us to God, honestly making your memory, so that we will be free from misfortunes, and troubles, and sorrows, and cruel sins; also, deliver the torment that awaits us. , we pray to you, who are ceaselessly magnifying you.

Theotokos: Behold the Church, behold the door, behold the holy mountain of God, behold the rod and the vessel of gold, behold the spring printed, behold the holy paradise of the new Adam, behold the terrible throne, behold the Mother of God, the Most Pure, Intercessor of all of us singing Yu.

Svetilen

Enlightened by the light of the grace of God, you kindled the lamp of true faith in your fatherland, God-wise Olga, and you gave the image to our father Vladimir, who we were brought from the darkness of ignorance to the Light of Christ.

Akathist to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess of Russia Olga

Kontakion 1

The first chosen of the entire Russian family, more glorious and equal to the apostles, the saint of God Olga, let us praise, like the dawn, in the darkness of idolatry with the light of faith that has shone forth and showed the way to Christ by all Russians. But you, as if you have boldness to the Lord who glorified you, protect us from all troubles with your prayers, but we call you:

Ikos 1

The Creator, the Creator, who laid down the times and years in His power and govern the destinies of kingdoms and peoples according to Your will, whenever the Russian race is enlightened by Holy Baptism, then, seeing the good will of your heart, call you first to the knowledge of Yourself, may you be all Russian image and a mentor in the Christian faith. For this, we praise thee sitice:

Rejoice, morning star of the Russian heavens, from the First-Called Apostle on the mountains of Kiev, foreshadowed; Rejoice, dawn, in the gloom of ignorance, agitated light.

Rejoice, good vine of Christ's grape, rooted from the divine * pagan root; Rejoice, wonderful summer, from the negligible greatness of orthodoxy is a tree on the earth of our age.

Rejoice, our first teacher and enlightener; Rejoice, for by thee knowingly worship the Creator in the Trinity.

Rejoice, for for your sake the Most Holy Name of the Lord is glorified from all the Russians; Rejoice, for your glorious name, together with the Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, is praised throughout the world.

Rejoice, our country is a Russian spiritual treasure; Rejoice, all Christ's Church is a glorious adornment.

Rejoice, a fair amount of kindness from the cities of Kiev and Pskov; Rejoice, good helper to our people against enemies.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 2

Seeing you, Saint Olga, as if you were a thorn in thorns: you are more and more born of paganism, both the law of God was written in your heart and you always had and your chastity like the apple of your eye you bloated; gratefully sing the wondrous thing in our saints to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

With your mind all good knowledge, you know, God-wise Olga, like idols, the hands of human creation, are not the essence of Bozi; nevertheless, having rejected you, you pledged to know the true God. For this reason, praising your natural prudence, cry out to you:

Rejoice, good wife, who first of all recognized the delusion of the Russians and understood the futility of idolatry; Rejoice, you who diligently sought the true knowledge of God and the right faith.

Rejoice, do not yet guide the true God, like Cornelius the centurion, who pleased Him with good deeds; Rejoice, living righteously before the understanding of the law of God according to the law of conscience.

Rejoice, before accepting the Christian faith, the deeds that were proper as a Christian, you did; Rejoice, gifted with wisdom from God.

Rejoice, for bravely defended your power from the invasion of the adversary; Rejoice, for you did the righteous judgments in your subordinates.

Rejoice, honored with royal glory on earth and in Heaven; Rejoice, as an equal to the apostles glorified by God.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 3

By the power of the grace of God, you are moved, you, God-wise Olga, pouted to reach Constantinople, where you see the beauty of church splendor and listen to the teachings of the words of the Divine, you burned with all your heart into the love of Christ, gratefully crying to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having a heart like a good earth, you perceived comfort, Olga, the seed of holy faith, having come to know Christ the true God. The same and holy baptism you received from the hand of the patriarch of Constantinople, others like and prophesy, as if from now on, blessed thee are Russian sons. Fulfill this ubo at least this saying, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, for you forsaken the darkness of idolatry; Rejoice, you who sought the light of knowledge of God.

Rejoice, having escaped endless harm by faith; Rejoice, you who have acquired eternal life in Christ.

Rejoice, in the font of holy baptism you were washed from sinful filth; Rejoice, spiritually born by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, intelligent turtledove, flew away from the clutches of the soul-destroying lie; Rejoice, who flew under the krill of the Heavenly Eagle.

Rejoice, having brought many souls with baptism with you to Christ; Rejoice, for this sake you have received a deep reward from God.

Rejoice, shining light from your honest relics with unknowing faith; Rejoice, souls and bodies of those who are also for the good, giving.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 4

How we are not amazed at your prudence, Olga, blessed, for you reasonably rejected the offer of the king of the Greeks about a marriage with him, rekshi that: not for marriage for the sake of this came and not to reign with you, but let me be dismayed by the Baptism of the Immortal Bridegroom Christ to God: my soul, and from now on to Him, I will never cease to chant: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing from the patriarch who baptized you the parting word about purity, fasting, prayer and about all the virtues that should be Christian, you put this in your hearts, all that promise to fulfill. We also sing this song out of duty:

Rejoice, zealous hearer of the words of the Divine; Rejoice, zealous executor of the Christian law.

Rejoice, thou who didst cleanse the cornfield of thy heart from the thorns of soul-harming passions; rejoice, you have irrigated yu with tears of repentance.

Rejoice, for the seed of the word of God is in your heart, for it is good on earth, take root; Rejoice, for you will bring this seed to vegetation and a hundredfold fruit of good deeds.

Rejoice, for you have kept your widowed purity immaculately; Rejoice, having pleased God by abstinence and prayer.

Rejoice, having propitiated the Creator by the mercy of the Creator; Rejoice, you who supplied the poor and poor with necessities.

Rejoice, you who foresaw the enlightenment of the Russian land by the light of Christ's teaching.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 5

You have clothed yourself with the baptism of God-woven clothes, and you were spiritually strengthened with the incorruptible food of the Most Pure Body and Blood of Christ, Olga, blessed, you were not afraid to beckon to your unfaithful compatriot, our ancestor, to preach to them the One True Enlightened God, to Him now all Russia.

Ikos 5

Seeing, Saint Olga, all the people of the Russian land in the darkness of idolatry immersed, you zealously tried to enlighten you with the light of Christ's faith and create the sons of the day and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. Reminiscent of your care for them, we gratefully call you:

Rejoice, wise ruler of the Russian people; Rejoice, good teacher of the entrusted flock.

Rejoice, the first Christians to Queen Helena, who imitated more Divine zeal; rejoice, and you received your name in holy baptism.

Rejoice, honest cross of Christ and holy icons brought from Constantinople to the city of Kiev; Rejoice, you brought the priests and clergy with you to Russia.

Rejoice, with your wise words you taught people to leave the darkness of pagan wickedness and perceive the light of Christian piety; Rejoice, you who have enlightened many of the Rossians with the light of the faith of Christ.

Rejoice, you who laid the foundation for the enlightenment of all the land of Russia; Rejoice, thou who didst proclaim the cities of Russia by the preaching of the teachings of Christ.

Rejoice, the first from the earth to be reckoned with the face of the saints of Russia.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 6

As a spirit-bearing preacher, an Apostle, imitating, God-wise Olga, she bypassed the cities and powers of your power, leading, very powerfully, people to the faith of Christ and teaching them to chant to the One glorified God in the Trinity: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Establishing the rudimentary Christian faith in your power, you created the temples of God in the city of Kiev and in your country of birth, under the river Velitsa near the city of Pskov. And so the Rossians began to glorify Christ our God everywhere, and to you, your enlightener, praiseworthy chant:

Rejoice, for you have received pure teaching from the pure source of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; rejoice, for you have taught us to cognize the One true God.

Rejoice, dethroner of idols and idols; rejoice, creator of the holy temples of God.

Rejoice, as the First-Called Apostle, who went around the Russian land with the preaching of the Gospel; Rejoice, Great Novugrad and other Russian city of Christ, preaching the gospel to the world.

Rejoice, in the place of your preaching, your honest crosses have erected, from them many signs and wonders, assurances for the sake of the unbelievers, by the power of God I have done.

Rejoice, for through you the All-Merciful Lord, as a son of Russia, has revealed His knowledge; Rejoice, for through them and many other peoples have enlightened with the light of faith.

Rejoice, for from the root of your honest Lord the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir showed us to eat; Rejoice, for in the manner of your life, the holy prince Vladimir moved forward to accept the Christian faith.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 7

Wanting to save your son Svyatoslav from eternal harm, you diligently exhorted him to abandon the worship of idols and faith in the true God. But they do not heed your motherly punishment and do not delight in their wickedness to substitute for piety. The same, as an unfaithful one, alienate eternal life and not be honored with you in the Heavenly Kingdom to chant: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

The Lord has shown you a new sign of His grace, when, in the image of the Most Holy Trinity, three bright rays from heaven lavish on the place of the grove, they are not exactly one you ripened, but you saw all the people there, and together with you glorified the Triune God. We, who are leading the sale of your prophecy about the creation of a temple of the Life-Giving Trinity and a city on its place, please thee:

Rejoice, great saint of God, worthy of the gift of prophecy.

Rejoice, spectator of the Trisian of Heavenly Light; Rejoice, the all-good will of God for the enlightenment of the Russian people according to the Apostle Andrew, the first performer.

Rejoice, the initial founder of the city of Pskov; Rejoice, intercessor and patroness of all Russian powers.

Rejoice, for by the will of God, the Russian state has spread from sea to sea now; Rejoice, for you will adorn all the cities and weigh it with many temples of God.

Rejoice, for in these churches the saints and priests bring the Bloodless Sacrifice to God for people; Rejoice, for the hosts of monks throughout the entire face of the Russian land are unanimously singing the praise of the Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, for the inhabitants of the city of Kiev and Pskov are especially exalted and pleasing thee; Rejoice, as all Orthodox Russians have been honoring and glorifying thee since the ancients.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 8

Dying earthly wanderings, you prayed for the warmth of the Lord, Olga blessed, may He not leave the Russian land after your retirement in the darkness of ignorance, but may he enlighten with the light of the holy faith and teach all the sons of Russia to chant: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Whole was embraced by the former Divine grace, praiseworthy Olga, the enlightenment of all your people was ripening in mental hair and you prophetically predicted that many of the great saints of God, like bright stars, will shine in the lands of Russia, hedgehog and come true by the will and grace of the almighty God. For this, for the sake of duty, we sing this song:

Rejoice, our spiritual mother, who asked God for the enlightenment of our forefather; Rejoice, like the All-Merciful Lord, in vain the kindness of your soul, for the sake of all Russian people, love you.

Rejoice, for Christ is worthy of thee, a vessel is worthy, through worthless begin to pour out the grace of His land of Russia; Rejoice, for you have prepared your people for the acceptance of the faith and grace of Christ.

Rejoice, for you have foreseen the greatness and glory of your power; Rejoice, as you rejoiced in the piety of the sons of Russia foreseen by you.

Rejoice, for according to your prophecy, many of the sanctuaries from our generation have shone forth; Rejoice, home of the Life-Giving Trinity, the organizer.

Rejoice, for you intercede in our sorrows and misfortunes with your prayers; Rejoice, in the conditions of evil, our Fatherland preserves and delivers from enemies.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 9

She was filled with all the virtues of the former, Olga blessed, with prayer in the mouth you gave thy spirit into the hand of God, Whoever instilled thee into the Heavenly monastery and the first from the Russians to confront the face of His equal-to-the-apostles. Also, ask the Lord for a peaceful Christian end for us, so let us surrender our souls in the hand of Christ our God, singing a song of praise to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Vitya multi-message cannot adequately praise thee, God-wise Olga: how are you, you are taught and admonished by no one from a person, you have known the futility of idolatry, you have sought the right faith and, like the Equal-to-the-Apostles Helen, found you a priceless bead, in Heaven, in His face now, do not forget us, who are darkened by the delights of this world and forget about the eternal blessings, yes, we instruct you on the right path, we cry out to you with joy:

Rejoice, for your good deeds and your righteous mind and heart, you have prepared for yourself Divine grace in your dwelling; rejoice, for the Holy Spirit Himself is your teacher, quick to know Christ the Son of God.

Rejoice, you who have seen no other signs and wonders and believed in Christ; Rejoice, by such your faith, many persecutors and tormentors, who saw signs and wonders and did not believe, shaming them.

Rejoice, for you gave yourself up to the guidance of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, for you have shown perfect obedience to the will of God.

Rejoice, for the voice of grace that has called you is obedient; Rejoice, since the eleventh hour in the helipad of the Lord you have labored and received bribes with the first.

Rejoice, for the Lord has wisdom to combine royal honor, wealth and glory with Christian humility; Rejoice, for in this way you have shown us that the blessings of the earth are not the essence of the oppression of the more God-loving soul to the achievement of the blessings of Heaven.

Rejoice, glorified by the goodness of chastity and the grace of understanding; Rejoice, for the strength of faith and the chaste purity of the life of your prophecy, you received the gift from God.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 10

By arranging the path of salvation for the son of Russia and fulfilling your dying petition, the All-Merciful Lord will grow in your grandson Vladimir the seed of faith you have given you and through him enlighten the entire Russian land with Holy Baptism. Even so, we glorify thee, Blessed Olga, as the first culprit of our enlightenment with the light of the holy faith, and we tenderly sing to Christ our Savior: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Having received Holy Baptism, your grandson Vladimir, striving to remove from the earth your incorruptible relics, filled with a wonderful fragrance, and with Saint Leonty and all the multitude of the people, put me in the Church of the Most Pure Mother of God, and start pouring out of them celibacy with every ailment flowing in with faith. For this, we praise thee sitice:

Rejoice, for the grace of the Holy Spirit, having infiltrated you, grant incorruption with your relics and create in your bosoms a source of celibacy for all ailments; Rejoice, with little faith I did not allow the coming to see them.

Rejoice, by the manifestation of your relics you have rejoiced the infant Church of Russia; Rejoice, for the glorification of their grandson your Vladimir has greatly delighted.

Rejoice, for even to the present day piety the people of the land of Russia enjoy your glorious memory; Rejoice, for by your intercession of faithfulness to God, the Russians are vouchsafed many blessings from the Lord.

Rejoice, for you prayed for the enlightenment of the land of Russia to God; Rejoice, soon many great saints will appear on the lands of Russia, prophesying.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 11

We bring tender singing to thee, the saint of God, and humbly pray to thee: pray for us the One Human-lover God, may he not turn his face away from us, unworthy, ever sinning and bitterness of his goodness, but may he punish us here, as the Father loving child, he, in in the future, may he save and have mercy, as a righteous Judge and Creator, so that, having escaped eternal torment, let us be vouchsafed with you in the heavenly dwellings to sing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Illuminated with a trisian light, with all the saints stand now in Heaven to the Throne of the Tsar of reigning, Olga all blessed, and from there, like a radiant light, enlighten the entire Russian country, dispelling the darkness of delusions and showing the way to true enlightenment to Heavenly bliss. For this, glorifying thee, with the verb:

Rejoice, illuminated by the moon from the impending Sun of Truth; Rejoice, guide, showing us the right path to eternal salvation.

Rejoice, powerful henchman and strengthener of the preachers of the Orthodox faith; Rejoice, inherent in the patroness of the good mentors of youth and all who work for the common good.

Rejoice, tutor and patroness of the legislators of the Russian country; Rejoice, wise and kind counselor of the rulers and leaders of the country.

Rejoice, consumer of sedition and strife; Rejoice, intercessor of all who are offended and unrighteously persecuted.

Rejoice, speedy comforter of grieving; Rejoice, merciful healer of the sick.

Rejoice, giving help to our people through your prayers from God; Rejoice, all the countries of the Russian patroness and intercessor.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 12

Ask the grace of the Most Holy Spirit to us, our mentor, from the All-Blessed God and our Savior, who will enlighten and strengthen us in the work of salvation, so that the seed of the holy faith that you have poured into us will not be fruitless in us, but may it vegetate and create fruit, if you could help us to nourish our souls in the future eternal life, where all the saints sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your many and glorious blessings, shown to the country of Russia in the enlightenment of that light of the faith of Christ, we bring thanksgiving to thee, with love calling out the nest:

Rejoice, God-chosen and God-glorified autocrat of the Russian land, its invincible protection, cover and protection.

Rejoice, virgins of the Russian image of a chaste life; Rejoice, mother, mentor of legal marriage and good children of upbringing.

Rejoice, for widows the rule of a godly life; Rejoice, teacher of all Russians and the image of all virtues.

Rejoice, partner in Heaven in the lot of the preachers of the faith of Christ; Rejoice, partaker of the eternal bliss of the righteous.

Rejoice, warm prayer book for us before God; Rejoice, zealous for the salvation of our intercessor.

Rejoice, at the hour of our death I am an intercessor for us to God; Rejoice, for our departure from this mortal body gives help and consolation.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kontakion 13

O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, graciously accept from us this laudatory thanksgiving for all, even by you, the Lord is rewarding us, our father and forefather and all the power of Russia, and pray to the All-good God to multiply His mercy on us and on our generations, confirm us in faith and piety, keep from all misfortunes, troubles and evils, let us be honored with you, like a child with matter, to sing to God forever: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos "Creator of Angels and Men ..." and the 1st kontakion "The first chosen of everything ...".

First prayer

About the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, the first pleasing of Russia, warm intercessor and prayer book for us before God. We run to you with faith and pray with love: wake us in everything for the good of a helper and a henchman and, as in our temporary life you tried to enlighten our forefathers with the light of holy faith and instruct me to do the will of the Lord, so it is now, staying in heavenly lordship, favorable with your prayers to God, help us in enlightening our minds and hearts with the light of the Gospel of Christ, so that we flourish in faith, piety and the love of Christ. In poverty and sorrow of present comfort, give the needy a helping hand, offended and assaulted to intercede, delusions from the right faith and blinded by heresies with reason, and ask us from the All-Blessed God all that is good and useful in temporal and eternal life, so that we will be pleased with the inheritance here. eternal blessings in the endless Kingdom of Christ our God, all glory, honor and worship befitting Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer

O great saint of God, chosen and glorified by God, Equal to the Apostles Grand Duchess Olga! You rejected Thou pagan wickedness and wickedness, Thou hast believed in the One True Trinitarian God, and Thou art received Holy Baptism, and Thou hast laid the foundation for the enlightenment of the Russian land with the light of faith and piety. You are our spiritual ancestor, you are, according to Christ our Savior, the first culprit of the enlightenment and salvation of our race. You are a warm prayer book and intercessor for the Fatherland of All Russia, the army and all people. For this reason, we humbly pray to you: look at our weakness and beg the Most-hearted King of Heaven, may he not be angry with us, as for our weakness we sin all the days, may he not destroy us with our iniquities, but may he have mercy and save us by His mercy, let His saving fear instill in our hearts, let our minds enlighten with His grace, wow, hedgehog understand us the ways of the Lord, leave the paths of wickedness and error, cling to the paths of salvation and truth, the unswerving fulfillment of the commandments of God and the sacred ordinances of the Church. Pray, blessed Olga, the Lord's Man-lover, may he add to us His great mercy, may he save us from the invasion of aliens, from internal disorders, rebellions and strife, from hunger, deadly diseases and from all evil, may he give us the goodness of the air and the fruitfulness of the earth, yes He will save our country from all the intrigues and slander of the enemy, may he observe truth and mercy in judges and rulers, may he give the pastor zeal for the salvation of the flock, all people have haste, to fulfill their services diligently, have love among themselves and like-mindedness, for the good of the fatherland and the Holy Church will fight faithfully, may the light of saving faith shine in our country at all ends of it, may the unbelievers turn to faith, may all heresies and schisms be abolished. Yes, tako lived in peace on earth, let us be vouchsafed with you eternal bliss in Heaven, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen.

This day in history

1904 year. Consecrated bronze statue of Christ on the Chilean-Argentine border.

1881 year. Alexander II was mortally wounded on the embankment of the Catherine Canal in St. Petersburg by a bomb thrown by the People's Will Ignatiy Grinevitsky.

1989 year. The World Wide Web (WWW), better known as the Internet, was invented.

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. 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 her baptism, the Russian princess was honored with the name of St. Helena, Equal to the Apostles, who labored a lot 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 her meeting with her future husband took place. 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 found that he was being carried by a girl of amazing beauty. Igor was inflamed with lust for her and began to persuade 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 the ruler and judge, who should be a "bright example of good deeds" for his subjects. Igor broke up with her, keeping in his memory her words and 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 in order to build 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 through the Drevlyansky land, "establishing tributes and quitrent fees", marking villages and encampments and hunting grounds that should be included in the Kiev grand ducal possessions. She went to Novgorod, arranging graveyards along the Msta and Luga rivers. “She (hunting grounds) 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 by her own people, loved, 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, but in all matters of government she showed foresight and wisdom. At the same time Olga, merciful by 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. The Scandinavians, 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 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, the 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 of Constantinople Theophylact (933 - 956), and the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912 - 959) was the recipient, who left in his essay "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 the Russian 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. With the preaching of 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 passed on. She saw that "three bright rays" were descending 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, which 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 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 tells about it this way: “Olga lived with her son Svyatoslav, and her mother tried to persuade him to be baptized, but he neglected it 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 vigilantes 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 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 day and night, 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 critical 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 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 Otton, “having generously supplied with everything necessary,” 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 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 on all important occasions. 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 soldiers personified the heroic spirit of pagan Rus. The chronicles have preserved the words of Svyatoslav, surrounded by a huge Greek army with his retinue: “We will not shame the Russian land, but we will lay 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 others 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 hastened 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's, whom do you entrust yours to? After all, Thy children are still small, and I am already old, and even sick, - I expect an imminent death - a departure to 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, which I have known, 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 dead and 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 presbyter with the clergy bury my body according to the Christian custom; do not dare to pour a grave mound over me and do funeral feasts; but send gold to Constantinople to the 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 had always been her helper; she called all the saints; Blessed Olga prayed with special zeal for the enlightenment of the Russian land after her death; foreseeing 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 people wept for her with great lamentation." Presbyter Gregory fulfilled her will exactly.

Saint Olga, Equal to the Apostles, was canonized at the Council 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 Dormition 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 in the church wall above the tomb of St. Olga; and if anyone came to the relics with faith, he saw through the window of the relics, and some saw the radiance emanating from them, and many who were possessed by diseases received healing. For those who came with disbelief, the window was opened, and he could not see the relics, but only the coffin.

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

Her prophecy about the evil death of her son came true. Svyatoslav, as the chronicler reports, 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 maternal and paternal principles of Russian spiritual history.

Saint Olga, Equal to the Apostles, 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 one, it presupposes in a person a special spiritual attitude, chastity and sobriety, intelligence and foresight. 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 has become 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, 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 Rus - St. 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.