St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. Name Olga

Many historical figures are significant for believers and for their actions during their lifetime they were canonized. These include Princess Olga, who is a significant figure in the formation of Rus'. The church honors her memory on July 24 according to the new style.

Saint Olga in Orthodoxy

Many churches have an icon of Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, who is considered the mother of the clergy in Rus'. Together with her husband, she drove out paganism and baptized the people. For many, information is unknown about why Olga is a saint and why she was canonized. The clergy give a clear explanation that equal to the apostles means equal to the apostles. The church gives this title to those people who affirmed faith in the Lord and helped people come to faith.

Saint Olga - biography

Marry Prince of Kyiv Igor's girlfriend left at a young age. After his death, the rule of the Kyiv state passed into the hands of Olga, since their common son Svyatoslav was only three years old. Until the end of her days, the princess studied internal affairs Rus'. There are several facts about her life:

1. Disputes regarding the origin of the princess have not subsided for many years, and there are several versions. Normanists believe that Varangian blood flowed in her veins, and there is also an assumption that she was a Slav.
2. It is believed that Saint Olga was responsible for the death of her husband because she increased the amount of tribute and people refused to pay. She long time took revenge on the Drevlyans for depriving her husband of her life.
3. She was the first of the rulers of Rus' to become a Christian and during the baptismal ceremony she was given the name Elena.
4. Holy Princess Olga tried to persuade her son to believe, but he refused, believing that the squad would not accept him.
5. Known exact date death - July 24 and buried her according to Christian customs, and her grandson, Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, transferred her incorruptible relics to the church in Kyiv.
6. Church-wide glorification took place in 1547.
7. The saint is considered the patron saint of women who have lost their husbands and newly converted Christians.
8. Olga is revered in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

How does the icon of St. Olga help?

The image of the princess for Orthodox believers has great importance because she contributed to an entire people. Saint Olga, whose icon is in many churches, helps people in different situations:

1. Mothers turn to her for help in order to protect their children from wrong decisions and various problems.
2. Saint Olga will help you get through difficult periods in life, when you give up and faith begins to fade.
3. The image can serve as a powerful amulet for the home and the whole family, which will “repel” evil forces, various negativity and troubles.
4. Prayers before the face of the saint help a believer gain worldly wisdom and learn to make the right decisions in life.
5. The saint helps strengthen faith in a person’s heart.
6. There is evidence that Olga helped solve problems in personal life and, and also find the right way out in confusing situations.

Prayer to Saint Olga

There are several features that must be taken into account when contacting Equal-to-the-Apostles. In order for the holy Grand Duchess Olga to respond, it is recommended to contact her before the image, which can be purchased at church shop. People pray to her so that she will convey a request to the Lord and assist in providing help. It is important to recite the prayer text from a pure heart and with unshakable faith.

Prayer to Saint Olga for help

IN difficult situations people often turn to people for help To higher powers, Saint Olga also helps. She provides assistance in various situations, as evidenced by reviews from believers. It is important that the request is meaningful and has only good intentions. A prayer to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga can be said every morning or before some important events, when the need for invisible support is felt.

Prayer to Saint Olga for marriage

Since the princess is considered the patroness and intercessor of the entire Russian people, all believers can turn to her with their problems. Saint Olga, Equal to the Apostles, helps women find their soulmate, get married successfully and maintain feelings for a long time. It is important to read the prayer with full responsibility, and not for the sake of interest, and not to have bad intentions.

The veneration of Princess Olga is closely connected with the name of her husband; their grandson, Prince Vladimir, who spread Christianity throughout the country, is also canonized. The icon of St. Olga is a reminder of who Rus' owes for becoming Holy. After all, it was the grandmother’s Christian upbringing that made itself felt when Vladimir was deciding what faith his subjects would accept.

The life story of St. Olga

During her long life, Olga was destined to learn not only the privileges of the princely title, but also the sorrows of an ordinary woman. But the Russian people have always been distinguished by patience and strong will, which among the best over time became sacred. The princess became the first Christian ruler that the country recognized.

Tradition has preserved interesting story about the meeting of young Olga with Prince Igor, who later became her husband. He was crossing the river in a boat when he suddenly noticed that the driver was not a guy, but a girl in men's clothing. The girls' wise speeches kept him from attacking his maiden honor. And when the time came to choose a wife, Igor remembered a friend who struck him with wisdom.

The exact date and place of birth of St. Olga has not been identified; it is believed that she was born near Pskov at the end of the 9th century. After marriage, nothing was written about Olga for a long time, from this we can conclude that there were no special shocks during that period. The crisis in her life begins with the insidious murder of her husband.

• On the icons, Saint Olga is depicted already in the status of the ruler of the Russian lands, as evidenced by the corresponding clothes. IN right hand she holds Orthodox cross(it has 8 ends, the Catholic one has only 4). The cross on many icons is raised high - the ruler, as it were, shows her enemies that her subjects are under the protection of Christ. In her right hand she often holds small image temple.

The mass baptism of Rus' became a significant milestone in the history of the country. But Princess Olga was baptized much earlier, so it is wrong to present the fact of accepting Christianity as something unexpected. Prince Vladimir knew about him from early childhood, thanks to his grandmother.

According to legend, Olga was baptized by Emperor Constantine himself in the mid-10th century. That is, she was already aged (50-60 years old). Byzantine sources mention the only visit of the princess. However, her faith was strong enough to survive in a pagan environment.

On the icons, Princess Olga is called Equal-to-the-Apostles. Very rarely were women celebrated with such a title. It is given only for the spread of the Christian faith. Princely status alone is not enough here - you must have patience, show with your life what a Christian should be. At the time of her baptism, Olga had already established herself as a successful, wise ruler:

• Established the western and southern borders of the country.

• Developed trade relations with neighboring countries.

• Stopped internecine wars.

Upon returning to her homeland, the saint began to preach Christ and build churches throughout the country. Son Svyatoslav remained a pagan - although he did not interfere with his mother, he made everyone who was baptized laugh. Olga patiently prayed for him, raised her grandchildren in Orthodox faith. During her life, most of those around her retained the pagan faith, but the saint died in the hope that the light of Christ would shine over the entire country. They buried her herself Christian rite, in the ground.

The meaning of the holy image

Olga began to be revered as a saint only during the reign of her grandson, Prince Vladimir. There is a joint icon of Vladimir and Olga - they are facing each other, Prince Vladimir holds a cross in his hand. In another open scroll with a prayer - it asks for a blessing for the people, this prayer is read by the priest during the blessing of the cross (the rite of serving the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great). The princess holds the church in her hands, as in her personal icons.

The cross is the center of the composition as a sign that both made a lot of effort to spread Christianity. Details may change:

• St. Vladimir is holding a scroll in his hands, and the cross is in Olga’s hands.
• Everyone holds a small cross in their hands, the figures are frontal.
• Prince Vladimir leans on his sword.
• Both saints are depicted in years; the prince has a long thick beard, sometimes gray.

If you have any doubts, you can always check with the seller in the church shop - who is depicted in the image.

The significance of the activities of St. Olga’s contribution to Russian history cannot be overestimated. The icons show the image of a determined woman. How much courage you need to have to radically change your life, to remain faithful to your chosen path until the very end. It is difficult to say how the fate of the fatherland would have developed if Vladimir had chosen a different faith. Largely thanks to his grandmother’s instructions, he formed an opinion about Christianity and a desire to be baptized. The prince continued the work of his Equal-to-the-Apostles relative.

Few people know about this, but the princess herself composed prayers. It is appropriate to read them in front of the icon of St. Olga. She helps widows protect themselves from offenders (the saint herself was like that), and softens the hearts of enemies. You can ask for help in trade, raising children and grandchildren, or in any other worthy cause.

The story of the baptism of Rus' is known to everyone, but the grandchildren have not forgotten about their deceased grandmother. He built a special temple to house her body. When the relics were raised, they turned out to be undamaged by time, although two decades had passed. A stone tomb was made for them. According to legend, there was a window in the sarcophagus that itself opened to those who had enough faith.

This is the first discovery and veneration of relics in the history of Russian Christianity. Unfortunately, the shrine has not survived to this day. In the 13th century they were hidden from the Tatars and found again only 4 centuries later. The relics of St. were completely lost. Olga at the beginning of the 18th century. But the churches of St. There are many Olgas all over Russia - from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. Each one contains an icon of a preacher of Orthodoxy. Although the saint was called Elena at baptism, she is remembered under her own Russian name, which thanks to her was included in the calendar.

• Particularly instructive is the story of the princess’s relationship with her son, who never accepted Christ. The Lord, of course, hears the prayers of parents for their children. But He does not bring anyone to Himself by force. The first step must be taken by the person himself, open his heart, express a desire, if not to be baptized, then at least to get to know God better. Unfortunately, one’s own prayer cannot convert anyone to faith. Of course, you can pray for your loved ones, hoping for God’s mercy.

Which image is better

Icons of St. Olgas today are distinguished by great diversity. Most inexpensive ones are made by printing. The base can be cardboard or wood. If you want to make a unique christening gift, you can contact an icon painting workshop, but the price will be tens of times higher. Today images are made according to ancient technology, decorate precious stones, are placed in expensive salaries. Thanks to the manufacturing method, the image will be preserved for many years.

But what makes the icon of Princess Olga a shrine is not its price. It becomes dear to the human heart because it makes you think about eternal things - the fate of your soul in eternity, about loved ones, and teaches you to turn to the Lord in all matters. Therefore, it is not the cost that is important, but attention to the person, his faith, and the prayers that will be said in front of the image.

Prayer to Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

O Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olgo, the first Russian saint, a warm intercessor and prayer book for us before God. We resort to you with faith and pray with love: be your helper and accomplice in everything for our good, and just as in temporal life you tried to enlighten our forefathers with the light of the holy faith and instruct me to do the will of the Lord, so now, in the 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 may advance in faith, piety and love of Christ. In poverty and sorrow, give comfort to the needy, give a helping hand to those in need, stand up for those who are offended and mistreated, those who have gone astray from the right faith and are blinded by heresies, and ask us from the all-generous God for all that is good and useful in temporal and eternal life, so that having lived well here, we will be worthy of an inheritance eternal blessings in the endless Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, belongs all glory, honor and worship, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, accept praise from us, unworthy servants of God (names), before your honest icon, praying and humbly asking: protect us with your prayers and intercession from misfortunes and troubles, and sorrows, and fierce sins; We will also be delivered from future torment by honestly keeping your holy memory and glorifying God who glorified you, in Holy Trinity glorified, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Widow's prayer for protection, for help, for illumination and softening of offenders (compiled by the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga)

O most merciful Lord my God Jesus Christ, my soul clings to You, and Your right hand has accepted me: incline Your ear to me and hear my prayer. And give me a way to find, so that I may please You: for I thirst for the source of salvation.

Be my helper and do not leave me. God my Savior, for my Father and my mother abandoned me, and deprived me of a spouse; He fathered only one son, and he is disobedient and unfaithful, and people are also unfaithful. You, Lord, have called me alone to hope.

But, Lord, I have placed my hope in Thy mercy and in the abyss of Thy bounties, and, running to You, I pray: teach me to do Thy will and save me from this obstinate generation, the multitude of unfaithful people. Even if they have gone astray from Thy grace, but Thou, Master, for the sake of Thy love for mankind, do not despise them, but visit them and call them to reason, and bring them to their knowledge. Just as you have appropriated from me what was anciently cherished to Your heritage, so, Lord, heal this people, who are sick with unbelief, with good faith and, turning to Yourself, attract them, and they, who were once enlightened by You, will glorify your name The Most Holy of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit to generation, and to generations, and forever.

Many facts from the life of one of the greatest rulers of Rus' are unknown to this day. Princess Olga, whose short biography has many “blank spots”, is still one of the most odious people today

Origin of Princess Olga

Historians and researchers of Olga’s life and work even today have not come to a consensus about her origin. Several sources of those years give different information about the origin of the future wife of Grand Duke Igor.

Thus, one of the recognized sources of those times - “The Tale of Bygone Years” - indicates that the future Princess Olga, whose short biography does not provide accurate information about her parents, was brought from Pskov.

Another source - “The Life of Princess Olga” - claims that she was born on Pskov land, in the village of Vybuty. a commoner, which is why the names of her parents remained unknown.

The Jokimov Chronicle mentions that the future wife of the Prince of Kyiv was from the noble Izborsky family, and her roots go back to the Varangians.

Another version: Olga is a daughter

Marriage

Igor's acquaintance with his future wife is also shrouded in a lot of inaccuracies and mysteries. The “Life” says that the future Princess Olga, whose brief biography is sometimes contradictory in different sources, met her future husband in Pskov, where the prince was hunting. He needed to get across the river, and when he saw the boat, Igor got into it. Afterwards the prince discovered that his ferryman was a beautiful girl. She refused all of her passenger's advances. And when the time came to choose a bride for the prince, he remembered the girl in the boat and sent messengers for her with a marriage proposal. This is how Olga became the wife of a Russian. The Princess of Kiev, whose brief biography has since been traced more clearly, was a good and wise wife. Soon she gave birth to Igor’s son, Svyatoslav.

Murder of Prince Igor

Prince Igor was a great conqueror; he constantly raided neighboring lands with his squad, collecting tribute from weak tribes. One of these campaigns became fatal for the Russian prince. In 945, Igor and his retinue went to the neighboring Drevlyans for the due tribute. Having taken a lot of wealth, destroyed villages and abused the local population, the Russians went home. However, on the way back, the prince with a small number of soldiers decided to return and again plunder the Drevlyan lands. But the local men, making sure that the prince was coming with a small army, attacked him and killed him.

Revenge on the Drevlyans

Having learned about the death of her husband at the hands of the Drevlyans, Olga grieved for a long time. The Princess of Kiev, whose brief biography is described in The Tale of Bygone Years, turned out to be a wise wife and ruler. According to the customs of that time, it was acceptable. Naturally, Olga could not get around this tradition. Having gathered a squad, She began to wait. Soon, ambassadors from the Drevlyans came with a wedding proposal for the sake of uniting the Russian and Drevlyan lands. The princess agreed - this was her revenge.

The gullible Drevlyans believed her, entered the capital, but were captured, thrown into a hole and covered with earth. Thus, some of the bravest and bravest Drevlyans were destroyed. The second batch of ambassadors was also killed by cunning - they were burned in a bathhouse. When Olga and her squad approached the gates of Iskorosten, the main city of the Drevlyans, under the pretext of holding a funeral feast (funeral) for the prince, she drugged her enemies, and the squad chopped them up. According to chroniclers, about five thousand Drevlyans died then.

In 946, the princess and her army went to the Drevlyan lands, destroyed them, collected taxes and established a mandatory, fixed tax, but she never managed to occupy Iskorosten. The city was impregnable. Then Olga burned the city to the ground with the help of pigeons and sparrows, tying burning cloth to their legs. Schoolchildren are told who Princess Olga is. Brief biography for elementary school children omits full story to sweep. Mainly attention is paid to the years of her reign and the adoption of the Christian faith.

Princess Olga: brief biography, years of reign

After Igor's death, their son Svyatoslav became the successor, but virtually all power was concentrated in the hands of his mother, both while he was young and after he came of age. Svyatoslav was a warrior, and spent most of his time on campaigns. Princess Olga was engaged in the improvement of lands and controlled territories. A short biography of the ruler indicates that this woman founded several cities, including Pskov. Everywhere she improved her lands, erected walls around large villages, and built churches in honor of Christian saints. During Olga's reign, excessive taxes were replaced by fixed fees.

The princess's foreign policy also deserves attention. Olga strengthened ties with Germany and Byzantium. This was facilitated, first of all, by her acceptance of the Christian faith.

Princess Olga's baptism

Princess Olga is called the first sign of Christianity on Russian soil. Brief biography for 4th grade Special attention devotes to this event. In written sources of past years there is no single date for the princess’s adoption of Christianity. Some say 955, others say 957.

Having visited Constantinople, Olga not only was baptized in Christian faith, but also renewed trade agreements signed by her late husband. The princess was baptized by VII himself and the priest Theophylact. They named her Elena (according to Christian custom).

Returning home, Olga tried in every possible way to introduce her son Svyatoslav to the new faith, but the prince was not inspired by this idea and remained a pagan, fearing the condemnation of the squad. And yet, he did not forbid his mother to build cathedrals and churches. Olga remained in Kyiv and actively participated in raising her grandchildren. Perhaps it was this fact that led Svyatoslav’s son, Vladimir, to baptize Rus' in 988, thereby uniting it.

In 968, the Pechenegs attacked Russian land. Olga was in the besieged capital with her grandchildren. She sent a messenger for Svyatoslav, who at that time was on another campaign. The prince arrived home, defeated the Pechenegs, but Olga asked her son not to plan another campaign, since she was seriously ill and foresaw the end was near. In 969, Princess Olga died and was buried according to Christian rites. Legend says that the relics of the Grand Duchess were incorruptible.

In the 16th century, Olga was canonized.

For those who want to briefly learn about the adoption of Christianity on ancient Rus', we will talk about the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, we will tell her short biography, let us remind you of the icon of St. Olga and the prayer to her. “The Root of Orthodoxy”, “The Head of the Faith”, “Olga the Wise”, this is how the Grand Duchess, Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint Olga (in baptism - Elena) was called.

When Prince Igor decided to get married, they sent him the most beautiful beauties to the palace, but the prince’s heart did not waver, not a single girl made him want to take her as his wife. And the prince remembered the meeting during a hunt in Pskov province with the wondrously beautiful maiden Olga, who proved her chastity and remarkable intelligence, and delighted the prince. And he sent Prince Oleg for her, and they brought the girl to the palace, and she became the prince’s wife, and subsequently performed many feats in the name of the Russian land, and she brought Orthodoxy to a hitherto pagan country, and she is glorified forever and ever for her feat.

Having married, Igor went on a campaign against the Greeks, and upon his return he learned that he was now a father, and a son was born to him, they named him Svyatoslav. But the prince did not rejoice at the heir for long. Soon he was killed by the Drevlyans, who suffered punishment from Princess Olga with many killed and cities defeated.

Years of reign of Princess Olga

Olga took over the reins of government until Svyatoslav came of age, ruling the Russian land wisely, not as a woman, but as a strong and far-sighted man, for which everyone respected Olga and worshiped her wisdom, determination and strength. Olga strengthened Rus', established borders, was engaged in the arrangement of economic and political life in the country, firmly holding power in her women's hands, and reliably defending the country from enemies who trembled when they heard her name.

The enemies were afraid of Olga, but the Russian people loved her, because she was kind, fair and merciful, she helped the poor, and she easily responded to tearful and fair requests. At the same time, the princess protected her chastity, and after the death of the prince she did not marry, she lived in pure widowhood. When Svyatoslav came of age, the princess withdrew from power and took refuge in Vyshgorod, indulging in charitable works, replacing only her son when he went on campaigns.

Rus' grew, became strong, cities were built, borders were strengthened, warriors from other nationalities eagerly joined the Russian army, Rus' became a great power under Olga. Olga understood that economic development was not enough; it was necessary to take up the organization of the religious life of the people and put an end to paganism.

You can watch a cartoon about Olga’s reign, everything is clearly illustrated and interestingly shown.

Olga's baptism

Not yet knowing the Christian faith, the Grand Duchess already lived according to the Orthodox commandments by inspiration, and she wanted to learn more about the Christian faith, and for this purpose, connecting it with a diplomatic mission, gathering a navy to demonstrate the greatness of her power, she went to Constantinople.
There Olga went to a service in order to see and feel the true God, and immediately agreed to be baptized, which she received there. Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople, who baptized her, said prophetic words:

“Blessed are you among Russian women, for you left darkness and loved the Light. The Russian sons will glorify you to the last generation!”

Olga has already returned to Kyiv, bringing with her icons and liturgical books, firmly intending to bring Christianity to pagan Rus', delivering them from idols, and bringing the Divine Light to the Russians mired in sins. Thus began her apostolic ministry. She began to erect churches and established the veneration of the Holy Trinity in Rus'. But everything was not as smooth as the princess wanted - pagan Rus' resisted wildly, not wanting to leave her cruel and riotous ways of life. Svyatoslav also did not support his mother, and from pagan roots I didn’t want to get rid of it. True, he didn’t interfere much with his mother at first, but then he began to burn churches and the persecution of Christians who had been baptized through the prayers of Olga intensified. Even the princess herself had to keep secret Orthodox priest, so as not to cause even greater unrest among the pagan people.

You can watch the cartoon from “The Tale of Bygone Years” about the baptism of Princess Olga, everything is shown very interestingly.

Paganism wildly resists Christianity

On her deathbed, the Grand Duchess also preached until her death, trying to turn her son, Svyatoslav, to Orthodoxy. He cried, grieved for his mother, but did not want to leave paganism, it sat firmly in him. But by the will of God, the princess nurtured the Orthodox faith in her grandson, Vladimir, and Saint Vladimir continued the work of his grandmother, and baptized pagan Rus' after the death of the Equal-to-the-Apostles princess, as blessed Olga predicted that God would enlighten the Russian people, and many saints would shine on her .

Miracles after the death of the princess

The princess died on July 11, 969 (July 24 in our style), and all the people cried for her with bitter tears. And in 1547, the Equal-to-the-Apostles princess was canonized. And God glorified her with miracles and the incorruption of the relics, which were transferred under Vladimir to the Church of the Assumption Holy Mother of God, who helped and enlightened the Grand Duchess a lot throughout her life. There was a window above the tomb of Saint Olga, and when someone came to her with faith, the window opened, and the person could see the radiance emanating from her relics and receive healing. And whoever came without faith, the window did not open, he could not even see the relics, but only one coffin.

The Great Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga became the spiritual mother of the entire Christian people, laying the foundation for the enlightenment of the Russian people with the Light of Christ.

Prayer to Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olgo, the First Lady of Russia, warm intercessor and prayer book for us before God! We resort to you with faith and pray with love: be your helper and accomplice in everything for our good, and just as in temporal life you tried to enlighten our forefathers with the light of the holy faith and instruct me to do the will of the Lord, so now, in heavenly grace, you are 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 may advance in faith, piety and love of Christ.

Princess Olga is undoubtedly an outstanding personality. She went down in history as the creator of statehood and culture in Kievan Rus. During the times of paganism, she ruled the principality with a firm hand and united the Russian lands. Having received baptism at the age of 60, she put all the strength of her soul into spreading the faith of Christ throughout Rus'. For this feat, people considered her a saint immediately after her death, and in 1547 she was officially canonized. What does Olga's icon look like? The photo can be seen below.

So who was this great woman and what was her life path?

Olga's ancestors were Varangians, immigrants from Scandinavia. At birth she received the name Helga, only after marrying a Russian prince did she begin to be called Olga in the Russian way. The exact date of her birth is unknown, just as there is no information about her childhood. It is only known that she lived in the village of Vybutovskaya near the Velikaya River. In those years, Prince Oleg, known from history as the Prophetic, ruled. One day his young nephew Igor was hunting in the Pskov lands and saw rich hunting grounds on the other side of the river. He asked the one sitting in the boat young man transport him to the other side. Sailing away from the shore, the young prince saw that a girl of marvelous beauty was sitting in front of him. The young prince began to pester the beauty with obscene proposals. But she showed fortitude and shamed the prince. She even promised to drown herself if he did not stop his obscene advances. This sobered Igor and cooled his ardor. When the time came for Igor to get married, many noble girls from different places arrived at the court, but then he remembered the unapproachable beauty and sent matchmakers to her parents’ house.

The young people got married, but the exact date is unknown. Olga gave birth to her first and only son, Svyatoslav, in 942. Little is known about Olga’s life with her husband. He was a warrior, a pagan, and conquered the surrounding lands. In 945, Igor and his retinue went to the Drevlyan land to collect tribute. But upon arriving at the place, he announced that the tax rate was doubling. The angry inhabitants of the Drevlyan land killed the prince and his retinue. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Prince of Kyiv, they invited the young princess to marry their ruler Malom. Olga turned out to be a skilled strategist. She gave her consent. But as soon as the Drevlyan embassy arrived in Kyiv, it was given a painful execution - buried alive. The second embassy was burned alive in a bathhouse. Afterwards, Olga gathered a squad and led a campaign against the Drevlyans. She took with her her young son Svyatoslav, who was then barely 5 years old. No persuasion or promises from enemies softened the heart of the young widow. More than 5 thousand men were killed in that battle under the walls of the capital of the Drevlyan lands, Iskorosten. A year later, Olga again approached this city with her army and burned it to the ground. All surviving residents were sold into slavery. Cruel times, cruel morals!

Life without a husband

The care of her son and the principality fell on the shoulders of the young woman. Olga, merciless to her enemies, was very kind and fair to her subjects. The people loved her for her kind heart. She traveled across Russian land, organizing political and economic life young state. It was she who centralized the power of the Kyiv prince. She ruled the state not as a weak woman, but as a strong and reasonable man. She firmly held power in her hands and courageously defended herself from enemies.

Until the end of her days, Olga lived as an honest widow, not wanting to get married again. Her chaste lifestyle became an example for posterity. Olga reigned until Svyatoslav grew up. After that, she gave up the throne to him without dispute, and she herself moved away from governing the state and lived in Vyshgorod. She established that two-thirds of city taxes should be given to Kyiv, and a third should be left for the needs of her city and court. It was under Olga that the first borders of Kievan Rus were determined, outposts appeared where heroes glorified in epics served, guarding the peace of the Russian land. Under Olga, Rus' began to become a great power.

Searching for God

Olga was a pagan from birth. But she was looking for God. Looking at Byzantium, she understood that power alone was not enough for the state; it was also necessary for the spiritual life of the people to be organized. Princess with large fleet I went with my squad to Constantinople to see with my own eyes the services in christian church and learn the teachings of Christ. History is silent about the reasons that prompted Olga to take such a step. Perhaps she wanted to enter into an alliance with a strong neighbor, or she was motivated by other thoughts. Historians agree on one thing - the decision to be baptized was voluntary and desired. But if Olga just wanted to be baptized, she could do it in her homeland. By that time, Christian priests were already in Rus'.

She went to Constantinople with great pomp to not only learn about Christ, but also to show the greatness of Kievan Rus. Seeing the beauty of the churches, attending services, hearing the Gospel, Olga believed with all her heart in the Savior of the world. The sacrament of baptism was performed by the Patriarch of Constantinople Theophylact himself (933-956). Her godfather became Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912-959). At baptism, she received the name Elena in honor of the first Christian queen who devoted her life to the search for the Cross of the Lord. According to legend, the patriarch blessed Olga with the words: “Blessed are you among Russian wives, because you loved the light and left the darkness.”

In addition to baptism, Olga’s “going to the Greeks” also had diplomatic significance. While at the emperor's court, she held several negotiations and business meetings.

Returning to Kyiv, she took with her icons and holy books. Thus began her apostolic ministry. Under her leadership, the first temple was erected in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which was built over the burial place of the first Kyiv Christian prince Askold. Saint Olga converted many Kievites to Christianity, and tirelessly traveled throughout the lands, spreading the Orthodox faith and erecting churches throughout the Russian land. It was she who laid the foundation for the special veneration of the Holy Trinity, which still distinguishes the Orthodox faith in Rus'.

Relationship with son

Despite missionary activity and many converts to the Orthodox faith, Olga was never able to convert her only son Svyatoslav to Christianity. Although she did not give up trying to do this until her last breath. The son stubbornly insisted that if he renounced paganism, the whole squad would make fun of him. Although he did not interfere with others in their choice of faith and did not create obstacles for his mother in her activities. At the same time, many opponents of Orthodoxy tried to win Svyatoslav over to their side.

Olga raised her grandchildren in the Orthodox faith. But she did not dare to baptize them without her son’s permission. In this way, Olga showed an example of great humility, worthy of respect and admiration. The woman, who brutally avenged the death of her husband and spread the Orthodox faith throughout Rus', did not dare to contradict her own son, showing respect for his feelings. However, her influence on her grandson, Prince Vladimir, was enormous. It was he who became another pillar of Orthodoxy and the baptizer of Rus'.

Olga more than once prophesied a bad end for her son, and her prophecy came true. Svyatoslav fell in battle with the Pecheneg prince Kurei, who made a cup from his skull. Having inserted it into a gold frame, Kurya used it during feasts, boasting of his victory over the Russian prince. But this was after Olga’s death.

last years of life

At the end life path Many sorrows befell Princess Olga. When she was old, there was a triumph of paganism in Rus'. The princess, a zealot of Orthodoxy, had to secretly keep a priest in her house to perform services and requirements. But she raised her grandchildren in Orthodoxy at her own peril and risk.

In 969, the Pechenegs attacked Kyiv. At this time, Svyatoslav’s squad was far from the capital city, but Princess Olga was able to repel the invaders with the help of a small army commanded by Governor Pretich. By this time, Olga was already elderly and seriously ill. Feeling the approach of death, she began to pray earnestly, calling on God, praying for the arrangement of the fate of the state and the entire people. She did not leave prayer until the last hour. Svyatoslav was with his mother until her death. On July 11, 969, the princess died. According to the will, she was buried according to Christian traditions.

Honoring Olga

In 1007, her grandson Prince Vladimir transferred her relics to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kyiv. The princess began to be revered as a saint almost immediately after her death. Her relics were like an icon for believers. Even after her death, Olga gave hope and healing to those who asked her for intercession. Her relics miraculously did not decay. Even a thousand years ago, believers who approached the shrine with hope in their hearts saw light emanating from the relics. Those who approached without faith in their hearts did not get what they wanted.

Canonization and day of veneration of Saint Olga

In 1547, Saint Olga was canonized. An icon with her image can be executed in various options. They will be discussed below. The icon of Olga Equal to the Apostles is venerated on July 24 (July 11, old style). For her work in spreading the faith, the princess is especially revered by the church as equal to the apostles, as having brought the Orthodox faith to Rus'.

What to pray for in front of the icon of St. Olga

Every believer has many icons in their home, but the icon of Princess Olga takes pride of place. And this is not surprising. After all, the icon Olga admonishes and strengthens believers, bestows wisdom, fills hearts with light and love. During her life, Olga was a supporter of a strong state, and put all her strength into strengthening Rus', and even after her death, she does not leave those who trust in her. The icon of Saint Olga, Equal to the Apostles, helps those praying for the strengthening of the country. Also about softening the hearts of offenders, about enlightenment. The relics and icon of Olga in the Desyatinny Church heal the sick. Pilgrims from all over the world are drawn to them. This icon named Olga will bring good luck and protection, so all owners of this sonorous name must certainly have with them the image of their patroness.

Cross of Princess Olga

At baptism, Olga received from the hands of the patriarch a cross carved from whole piece Life-giving Tree of the Lord. The inscription was carved on it: “The Russian land was renewed with the Holy Cross, and Olga, the blessed princess, accepted it.” This cross became the main shrine of the Church of St. Sophia, which was consecrated in 960, during Olga’s lifetime. Later this cross was moved to another Kiev temple. But after the capture of Kyiv by the Lithuanians in the 13th century, the cross from the temple was stolen, and its fate is still unknown.

Iconography

The icon of Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is depicted according to tradition for Equal-to-the-Apostles saints. More often she is depicted standing, holding a cross in her right hand, symbolizing the preaching of Christ. In her left hand she holds a symbolic image of the temple. Often there is another icon. Olga is depicted with Prince Vladimir, the baptist of Rus'.

Order of Princess Olga

In 1988, Patriarch Pimen established the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. This order is awarded to women who have made a special contribution to the service of the Church.

Duchess Olga most I lived my life as a pagan. Not knowing the laws of Christianity, she strove with her heart to observe them, leading a righteous life. Having been baptized at the age of 60, she brought enlightenment to the Russian land for 15 years, becoming the godmother of all Christians in Rus'. The icon of Olga supports the worshipers. The meaning of her name is “wise,” and the princess justified it to the fullest. A woman with an unbending will, a courageous warrior, intelligent and diplomatic - this is how she went down in history.