The establishment of Christianity in Rus' under the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir of Kiev was preceded by the reign of Grand Duchess Olga, who in ancient times was called the root of orthodoxy. During her reign, the seeds of the faith of Christ were successfully planted in Rus'. According to the chronicler, Saint Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, “throughout the entire Russian land, was the first destroyer of idolatry and the foundation of orthodoxy.”
Equal to the Apostles Olga was born in the land of Psov, her ancestry goes back to Gostomysl. The Joachim Chronicle reports that Saint Olga belonged to the family of the ancient Russian princely dynasty of Izborsky. She was born into a pagan family in the village of Vytuby, not far from Pskov, located on the Velikaya River. Already in her youth, she was impressed by her deep intelligence and moral purity, which was exceptional in a pagan environment. The ancient authors call the holy princess God-wise, the wisest of her kind, and it was purity that was the good soil on which the seeds of the Christian faith bore such rich fruit.
Saint Olga was also distinguished by her external, physical beauty. When the future Kiev prince Igor saw her while hunting in the northern forests, he was inflamed with unclean lust for her and began to incline her to carnal sin. However, the wise and chaste girl began to admonish the prince not to be a slave to his passions. “Remember and think,” she said, “that you are a prince, and a prince, as a ruler and judge, should be a bright example of good deeds for people.” She talked to Igor so wisely that the prince was ashamed.
When Igor established himself in Kyiv, he decided to choose a wife among the most beautiful girls principalities. But none of them pleased him. Then he remembered Olga and sent his guardian and relative Prince Oleg for her. In 903, Saint Olga became the wife of Prince Igor. Since 912, after the death of Prince Oleg, Igor began to rule in Kyiv as sole ruler. He successfully carried out several military campaigns. During the reign of Igor, who was loyal to Christian religion, the faith of Christ spread in Kyiv so much that Christians made up a significant part of society. That is why the peace treaty with the Greeks, concluded shortly before the death of Prince Igor, was approved by two religious communities of Kyiv: Christians and pagans. In 945, Prince Igor was killed by the Drevlyans. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Kyiv prince and wanting to strengthen their position, the Drevlyans sent ambassadors to Princess Olga, inviting her to marry their ruler Mal. But Olga, then still a pagan, rejected the offer of the Drevlyans. By cunning she lured the elders and all the noble men of the Drevlyans to Kyiv, and with a painful death she avenged them for the death of her husband. Olga repeatedly took revenge on the Drevlyans until they submitted to Kyiv, and their capital Korosten was burned to the ground. As a pagan, she could not then rise to the commandment of forgiveness and love for enemies.
After the death of Prince Igor, she successfully ruled the state and strengthened the power of the Kyiv Grand Duke. The Grand Duchess traveled around the Russian land in order to streamline the civil and economic life of the people. Under her, the Russian land was divided into regions, or volosts, in many places she set up graveyards, which became administrative and judicial centers. God-wise Olga went down in history as the great creator of the culture of Kievan Rus. She resolutely refused a second marriage, preserving the grand-ducal throne for her growing son Svyatoslav. Holy Princess Olga put a lot of effort into strengthening the country's defense. Historians attribute the establishment of the first state borders of Russia - in the west, with Poland - to the time of Olga's reign.
History has not preserved the names of Saint Olga’s first Christian mentors, probably because the blessed princess’s conversion to Christ was associated with Divine admonition. One of the ancient texts puts it this way: “Oh wonder! You yourself do not know the Scriptures, nor the Christian law, nor have you heard teachers about piety, but have diligently studied the morals of piety and loved the Christian faith with all your soul. O ineffable Providence of God! The blessed one did not learn the truth from man, but from above she had a teacher. Divine Wisdom" Saint Olga came to Christ through a search for Truth, seeking satisfaction for her inquisitive mind; the ancient author calls her “God’s chosen keeper of wisdom.” The Venerable Nestor the Chronicler narrates: “From an early age, Blessed Olga sought wisdom, which is the best in this world, and found a valuable pearl—Christ.”
In 955, the princess went to Constantinople, where she was received with honor by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (913-959) and Patriarch Theophylact (933-956). According to the chronicle, she soon accepted holy baptism with the name Helen - in honor of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Queen Helen (1327; commemorated May 21). Emperor Constantine himself became her successor. Patriarch Theophylact instructed the Russian princess in the truths Orthodox faith and gave her commandments about preserving the Church Rules, about prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and maintaining cleanliness. “She stood with her head bowed, listening to the teaching, like a sponge being watered,” writes the Monk Nestor. Saint Olga returned to Kyiv, taking with her the holy cross, icons, and liturgical books. Here her apostolic ministry began. She brought many Kievites to Christ and Holy Baptism, and made attempts to influence her son, a convinced pagan, who was cowardly afraid of the condemnation of the squad. But Prince Svyatoslav remained deaf to his mother’s calls. Without forcing her son, Saint Olga prayed with humility: “God’s will be done. If God wants to have mercy on my family and the Russian land, may He put it on their hearts to turn to God, just as God has given me a gift.” Saint Olga built in Kyiv, on the grave of Prince Askold, a temple in the name of St. Nicholas, and founded a wooden temple in the name of Saint Sophia the Wisdom of God.
Then, preaching the holy faith, the holy princess set off to the north. Along the way, she crushed idols and installed stone crosses on the sites of pagan temples, from which numerous miracles occurred to admonish the pagans. When entering the river Great River In Pskov, Saint Olga saw the “ray of the Tri-radiant Deity” - a sign of God’s care for Rus'. The blessed princess erected a cross in that place and founded a temple in the Name of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity. She prophetically announced that a “great city” would be built here. It is historically reliable that Saint Olga, Equal to the Apostles, was the founder of Pskov. Upon returning to Kyiv, she sent a lot of gold and silver for the construction of the Pskov temple.
At the end of her life, blessed Olga endured many sorrows. Svyatoslav, who did not receive holy Baptism, left his elderly mother and moved to the city of Pereyaslavets on the Danube. In addition, he interfered with her activities to establish Christianity in Rus'. In 968, Kyiv was besieged by the Pechenegs. The holy princess and her grandchildren, among whom was Prince Vladimir, found themselves in mortal danger. When news of the siege reached Svyatoslav, he rushed to the rescue, and the Pechenegs were put to flight. The holy princess, 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 did not stop preaching on her deathbed. On July 11, 969, Saint Olga reposed in the Lord, bequeathing not to hold funeral feasts for herself, but to perform a Christian burial.
After 19 years, the grandson of Saint Princess Olga, Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir received Baptism. He built a stone temple in Kyiv in honor of Holy Mother of God(Tithe Church), where the incorruptible relics of the saint were transferred Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga. A window was built above her tomb, which opened on its own if the relics were approached with faith. By faith, Christians were honored to see the luminous relics of the holy princess and receive healing from them. The Russian people honor Saint Olga Equal to the Apostles as the founder of Christianity in Rus', addressing her with the words of St. Nestor: “Rejoice, Russian knowledge of God, the beginning of our reconciliation with Him.”
In pre-Petrine Rus' there were many outstanding women- and rulers, and educators, and saints, and beautiful and faithful wives. We will tell you about seven of them.
Olga, baptized Elena, according to legend, came from Pskov. She ruled Kievan Rus after the death of her husband, Prince Igor Rurikovich, as regent from 945 to about 960. Olga proved herself to be a decisive and wise ruler. After the murder of Igor, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to his widow to invite her to marry their prince Mal. The princess cruelly punished the Drevlyan elders and brought the Drevlyans to submission.
She was the first of the Russian rulers to accept Christianity even before the baptism of Rus'. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, this happened in 955 in Constantinople, Olga was personally baptized by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus with the Patriarch (Theophylact): “And she was given the name Helen in baptism, like the ancient queen-mother of Emperor Constantine I.”
The Tale of Bygone Years and the Life decorate the circumstances of the baptism with the story of 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 appropriate for Christians to marry pagans. It was then that the king and the patriarch baptized her. When the tsar again began to harass the princess, she pointed out that she was now the tsar’s goddaughter. Then he richly presented her and sent her home.
Anna (Agnessa) Yaroslavna or Anna Kievskaya - the youngest of three daughters Prince of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise from his marriage to Ingegerda of Sweden, wife of the French king Henry I and queen of France. The young queen was visionary and energetic statesman. On French documents of that time, along with the signatures of her husband, there are also Slavic letters: “Anna Rina” (Queen Anna).
Pope Nicholas II, surprised by Anna’s remarkable political abilities, wrote to her in a letter: “The rumor about your virtues, amazing girl, has reached our ears, and with great joy we hear that you are doing very well in this.” Christian state their royal duties with commendable zeal and admirable intelligence."
In 1060, Anna moved to the castle of Senlis, 40 km from Paris, and founded convent, and church. She was the teacher of her growing son and his leader in state affairs, but nominally the guardian was Count Baudouin of Flanders (only a man could be the guardian).
In 1063, Anne married Raoul de Crepy-en-Valois. This marriage caused a scandal. Although Raoul had Carolingian blood in his veins, and his fiefs exceeded those of the French kings, he was nevertheless a vassal. After Raoul's death in 1074, Anne returned to court and was accepted as queen mother. We find the last mention of Anna in 1075 (her signature is on the document), after which nothing precise is known about her fate.
According to one version, Anna was buried in the Abbey of Villiers in the town of Cerni near La Ferte Alle. With Anna's name XVIII-XIX centuries the Church Slavonic parchment manuscript kept in the Reims Cathedral was often associated; at least since the 16th century they swore oaths on it French kings. The opinion that this manuscript (more precisely, its first part, written in Cyrillic; the second, Glagolitic, refers to XIV century) was brought to France by Anna Yaroslavna and gained great popularity.
Euphrosyne of Polotsk is the first Belarusian and, according to some sources, East Slavic educator. Her secular name- Predslava. She was born into a princely family and was the daughter youngest son Prince Vseslav Bracheslavovich. Her mother, Sophia, was the daughter of Vladimir Monomakh. Although, apparently, Predslava had a brilliant secular future, the little princess decided to live her life differently than was customary. Upon reaching adulthood - and at that time it was 12 years old - Predslava firmly decided to go to a monastery and, despite her mother’s pleas and her father’s threats, she did so. Her aunt was the abbess at the monastery, and she accepted the young nun.
In 1127-1128, Euphrosyne founded the Polotsk Spaso-Euphrosyne Monastery, where, under her influence, her sister Gordislava (in monasticism - Evdokia) and cousin Zvenislava Borisovna (in monasticism - Eupraxia). The monastery received rich contributions and Euphrosyne built a stone church of the Savior in it, which has survived to the present day.
In old age, Euphrosyne went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem (in April 1167). There she received an audience with Patriarch Luke. In Jerusalem, Euphrosyne, exhausted by the long journey, fell ill and died.
The Holy Blessed Princess Eupraxia of Ryazan is the wife of Fyodor Yuryevich, Prince of Ryazan. According to the chronicles, she was famous for her beauty. During the Mongol-Tatar invasion, Batu Khan, having heard about her beauty, wished that she would be brought to him. Prince Fedor refused to bring his wife to the Horde, for which he was killed by order of Batu. Having learned about the fate of her husband (according to other sources - after the capture of the fortress by Batu, so as not to remain to be desecrated), Eupraxia, together with her child, committed suicide by throwing herself from the roof of the prince's tower (according to other sources - from the bell tower of the Church of St. Nicholas).
Fevronia (in the world Euphrosyne) is a saint, the wife of the Murom prince David, in monasticism Peter. About Fevronia, news has reached us of a later origin, in all likelihood the 16th century, which appeared simultaneously with the canonization of the Murom miracle workers. Prince David, even before occupying the princely table in Murom, suffered for a long time from some serious illness: his body was covered with scabs.
The daughter of one “tree climber” (beekeeper), famous for her intelligence and beauty, cured the prince with some kind of ointment. The prince gave his word to marry her, but then found it indecent for his rank to marry a girl of low birth. Soon the prince was again visited by his former illness, and again he was healed by the same Euphrosyne. This time he fulfilled his promise and married her. David Yuryevich, after the death of his elder brother, took the Murom princely table. The Murom nobles were jealous of his power and they demanded that the prince either let his wife go, or leave Murom himself. David Yuryevich left the principality. The princess advised the prince not to be sad and to rely on the Lord. Soon the boyars were forced to ask David and Euphrosyne to return to Murom. The intelligent and pious princess helped her husband with advice and charitable deeds.
Having reached old age, the prince and princess took monastic vows, one with the name of Peter, the other with the name of Fevronia. Fevronia died in 1228, on the same day as her husband. Both of them, according to the will, were laid in the same coffin.
Martha, the rich and influential widow of the Novgorod mayor Isaac Boretsky, became informal leader boyar opposition to the growing influence of Moscow. She negotiated with the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Casimir IV about the entry of Novgorod into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on the basis of autonomy while maintaining the political rights of Novgorod. Martha and her son, the sedate Novgorod mayor Dmitry, in 1471 advocated the withdrawal of Novgorod from dependence on Moscow established by the Yazhelbitsky Peace (1456). Having learned about this, the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III declared war Novgorod Republic and in the Battle of Shelon (1471) he defeated the Novgorodians. Dmitry Boretsky was executed, but Novgorod retained the right to self-government in its internal affairs.
But Martha, despite the death of her son and the actions of Ivan III, continued negotiations with Casimir, who promised her support. In 1478, Ivan III finally deprived Novgorod lands privileges of self-government, extending the power of autocracy to them. As a sign of the abolition of the Novgorod veche, the veche bell was taken to Moscow, Marfa’s lands were confiscated, she and her grandson were first brought to Moscow, and then deported to Nizhny Novgorod. There Martha was tonsured into monasticism under the name of Mary in Conception Monastery, where she died in 1503. Nikolai Karamzin’s story “Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod” is dedicated to this controversial but bright woman, and her image is present on the “1000th Anniversary of Russia” monument in Veliky Novgorod.
Feodosia Morozova, nee Sokovnina, at the age of 17 married the Tsar's bedchamber Gleb Ivanovich Morozov. Having become a widow, Theodosia took care of her young son and enjoyed influence at the court of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, having the rank of riding noblewoman. Boyarina Morozova was an opponent of the reforms of Patriarch Nikon, and communicated with the apologist of the Old Believers, Archpriest Avvakum. Feodosia was involved in charity work, performed home prayers “according to ancient rites,” and her Moscow house served as a refuge for Old Believers persecuted by the authorities.
After secretly being tonsured as a nun under the name of Theodora, which took place in December 1670, Morozova began to withdraw from church and social events. Commitment to the “old faith” and refusal to attend the royal wedding caused an irreconcilable conflict with Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The noblewoman was arrested, deprived of her estate, and then exiled to the Pafnutievo-Borovsky Monastery and imprisoned in a monastery prison, in which she died of starvation. Academician A. M. Panchenko, examining Morozova’s letters to Avvakum, writes that Theodosia “is not a gloomy fanatic, but a housewife and mother, busy with her son and household chores.” Boyarina Morozova is depicted in the famous painting by Surikov (1887); she is one of the main characters in the TV movie "Split".
Since ancient times, people in the Russian land have called Saint Olga Equal to the Apostles “the head of the faith” and “the root of Orthodoxy.” Olga's baptism was marked by the prophetic words of the patriarch who baptized her: “Blessed are you among Russian women, for you left darkness and loved the Light. Russian sons will glorify you to the last generation!” At baptism, the Russian princess was honored with the name of Saint Helen, Equal to the Apostles, who worked hard to spread Christianity in the vast Roman Empire and gained 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 there can hardly be any doubt about the reliability of most of the facts of her life, brought to our time by the grateful descendants of the holy princess - the organizer of the Russian land. Let's turn to the story of her life.
Princess Olga was born in the current Pskov region, into a family ordinary people. She was the wife of Prince Igor. According to some information, Olga got married when she was less than fifteen years old. With my future wife Igor met her while hunting and was captivated by her beauty and intelligence. The chronicles indicate that Princess Olga was only wife prince, despite the polygamy permitted at that time. According to some information, the future ruler of Rus' bore the name Beautiful before her marriage. Subsequently, from Oleg she took the name Olga. As you know, in 945 Igor died at the hands of the Drevlyans. His wife ascended the throne. In the chronicles one can find enough detailed description the ruler's revenge for the death of her husband. Soon after Olga's reign, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to invite her to marry Prince Mal. The ambassadors arrived in the boat. Residents of Kyiv took her and her matchmakers to a huge hole in the courtyard of Olga’s tower and buried them alive.
Equal to the Apostles Olga. Icon with Life, 1969.
Written for the 1000th anniversary of the repose of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga
The following Drevlyan ambassadors, who arrived at the request of the ruler, were burned in the bathhouse. According to custom, Princess Olga came to the lands of the Drevlyans to celebrate a funeral feast for her husband. During the funeral feast, on her orders, the Drevlyans were drugged and then hacked to death at Igor’s grave. In 946, Olga, Princess of Kiev, marched with an army against the Drevlyans. After an unsuccessful siege during the summer of the city of Iskorosten (the Drevlyan capital), Princess Olga ordered it to be burned with the help of birds, to which incendiary mixtures were tied. After the victory, the ruler established taxes and tributes throughout the Novgorod and Pskov lands. After the conquest of the Drevlyans, the ruler returned to Kyiv. Princess Olga ruled until Svyatoslav (her and Igor's son) came of age. However, even after that she remained at the helm of the state, since her son was constantly on campaigns.
The baptism of Princess Olga (in 955) is noted in the chronicles as a “great deed.” She converted to Christianity and received the name Helen, the ruler of Constantinople. After returning to Kyiv, Olga tried to introduce Svyatoslav to the faith. But the son was adamant and did not give in to persuasion. Olga was the first ruler of Rus' to convert to Christianity. According to many researchers, it was this fact that predetermined the adoption of Orthodoxy throughout the state. According to some legends, Olga received baptism personally from Constantine. They named her Helena in honor of the emperor’s mother, the holy Queen Helena. According to some reports, Konstantin wooed Olga before baptism. However, the wise ruler pointed out that Christians should not woo pagans. After which Olga was baptized. The emperor asked her to marry again. But Olga refused the Tsar this time too, since marriage was impossible - she became his goddaughter. Other sources indicate that the princess was baptized by Roman II (co-ruler of Constantine), as well as Patriarch Polyeuctus.
Since Svyatoslav was on campaign almost all the time, his mother had to rule the state. In 968, the Pechenegs made their first raid on Russian soil. Olga and Svyatoslav’s children took refuge in Kyiv. Soon the son lifted the siege. However, Svyatoslav did not intend to stay in Kyiv for long. In 969, he prepared to go on a new campaign, but Olga stopped him. By that time she was seriously ill. Three days later, Olga died. The ruler bequeathed to bury herself according to Christian custom and not to serve a funeral feast. According to historians, Princess Olga began to be venerated as a saint during the reign of Vladimir the Baptist. According to information, in 1007 the prince transferred the relics of all the saints (including Olga) to the Church of the Holy Mother of God, which he built in Kyiv. Around that time, they began to celebrate the day of remembrance of the ruler on July 11/24. At the same time, official canonization (churchwide glorification) occurred, apparently, somewhat later - in the middle of the 13th century. In 1547, Olga (Elena) was canonized as a saint equal to the apostles.
Prayer to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Russian Olga(Elena at baptism). Princess Olga, in her baptism Elena is called “the head of the faith” and “the root of Orthodoxy” in the Russian land. Patroness of the sovereign's people. They pray to her for children, for raising them in faith and piety, for admonishing non-believing children and relatives, or those who have fallen into sects.
Holy Equal to the Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, baptized Elena (c. 890 - July 11, 969), ruled Kievan Rus after the death of her husband, Prince Igor Rurikovich from 945 to 962. The first of the Russian rulers accepted Christianity even before the baptism of Rus', the first Russian saint. The name of Princess Olga is at the source of Russian history, and is associated with greatest events the foundation of the first dynasty, with the first establishment of Christianity in Rus' and the bright features of Western civilization. The Grand Duchess went down in history as a great creator state life and culture of Kievan Rus. After her death, ordinary people called her cunning, the church - holy, history - wise.
Grand Duchess Olga (c. 890 - July 11, 969) was the wife of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Igor.
Basic information about Olga’s life, recognized as reliable, is contained in the “Tale of Bygone Years”, the Life from the Book of Degrees, the hagiographic work of the monk Jacob “Memory and Praise to the Russian Prince Volodymer” and the work of Constantine Porphyrogenitus “On the Ceremonies of the Byzantine Court”. Other sources provide additional information about Olga, but their reliability cannot be determined with certainty.
Olga came from the glorious family of Gostomysl (the ruler of Veliky Novgorod even before Prince Rurik). She was born in the Pskov land, in the village of Vybuty, 12 km from Pskov up the Velikaya River, into a pagan family from the dynasty of the Izborsky princes. Disputes about exact date Olga's birth is still ongoing - some historians insist on the date of c. 890, others - on the date of 920 (although this date is absurd due to the fact that Olga married Igor at Prophetic Oleg, who died in 912). Both dates can be questioned, so they are accepted conditionally. The names of Olga's parents have not been preserved.
When Olga was already 13 years old, she became the wife of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Igor. According to legend, Prince Igor was engaged in hunting. One day, when he was hunting in the Pskov forests, tracking down an animal, he went out to the river bank. Deciding to cross the river, he asked Olga, who was passing by on a boat, to transport him, at first mistaking her for a young man. As they swam, Igor, carefully peering into the rower’s face, saw that it was not a young man, but a girl. The girl turned out to be very beautiful, smart and pure in intentions. Olga's beauty stung Igor's heart, and he began to seduce her with words, inclining her to unclean carnal mixing. However, the chaste girl, having understood the thoughts of Igor, fueled by lust, shamed him with a wise admonition. The prince was surprised at such an outstanding intelligence and chastity of the young girl, and did not harass her.
Igor was only son Novgorod prince Rurik (+879). When his father died, the prince was still very young. Before his death, Rurik handed over the rule in Novgorod to his relative and governor Oleg and appointed him Igor’s guardian. Oleg was a successful warrior and wise ruler. People called him Prophetic. He conquered the city of Kyiv and united many Slavic tribes. Oleg loved Igor like own son and raised him to be a real warrior. And when the time came to look for a bride for him, a show of beautiful girls was organized in Kyiv in order to find among them a girl worthy of a princely palace, but none of them
the prince did not like it. For in his heart the choice of a bride had long been made: he ordered to call that beautiful boatwoman who carried him across the river. Prince Oleg with great honor he brought Olga to Kyiv, and Igor married her. Having married the young prince to Olga, the aging OlegHe began to diligently make sacrifices to the gods so that they would give Igor an heir. Over the course of nine long years, Oleg made many bloody sacrifices to idols, burned so many people and bulls alive, waited for what they would give Slavic gods Igor's son. Not wait. He died in 912 from the bite of a snake that crawled out of the skull of his former horse.
Pagan idols began to disappoint the princess: many years of sacrifices to idols did not give her the desired heir. Well, what will Igor do according to human custom and take another wife, a third? He'll start a harem. Who will she be then? And then the princess decided to pray to the Christian God. And Olga began to fervently ask Him at night for a son-heir.
And so in 942 ,twenty-fourth year life together, an heir was born to Prince Igor - Svyatoslav! The prince overwhelmed Olga with gifts. She took the most expensive ones to the church of Elijah - for Christian God. Happy years have passed. Olga began to think about the Christian faith and about its benefits for the country. Only Igor did not share such thoughts: his gods never betrayed him in battle.
According to the chronicle, in 945, Prince Igor dies at the hands of the Drevlyans after repeatedly exacting tribute from them (he became the first ruler in Russian history to die from popular indignation). Igor Rurikovich was executed , in the tract, with the help of an honorary “unlock”. They bent over two young, flexible oak trees, tied them by the arms and legs, and let them go...
F.Bruni. Igor's execution
The heir to the throne, Svyatoslav, was only 3 years old at that time, so Olga became the de facto ruler of Kievan Rus in 945 . Igor's squad obeyed her, recognizing Olga as the representative of the legitimate heir to the throne.
After the murder of Igor, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to his widow Olga to invite her to marry their prince Mal. The princess took cruel revenge on the Drevlyans, showing cunning and strong will. Olga's revenge on the Drevlyans is described in detail in The Tale of Bygone Years.
Princess Olga's Revenge
After the massacre of the Drevlyans, Olga began to rule Kievan Rus until Svyatoslav came of age, but even after that she remained the de facto ruler, since her son most was away on military campaigns for a while.
Princess Olga's foreign policy was carried out not through military methods, but through diplomacy. She strengthened international connections with Germany and Byzantium. Relations with Greece revealed to Olga how superior the Christian faith is to the pagan one.
In 954, Princess Olga went to Constantinople (Constantinople) for the purpose of a religious pilgrimage and a diplomatic mission., where she was received with honor by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. For two whole years she became acquainted with the fundamentals of the Christian faith, attending services in the St. Sophia Cathedral. She was struck by the grandeur of Christian churches and the shrines collected in them.
The sacrament of baptism was performed over her by the Patriarch of Constantinople Theophylact, and the emperor himself became the recipient. The name of the Russian princess was given in honor of the holy Queen Helena, who found the Cross of the Lord. The Patriarch blessed the newly baptized princess with a cross carved from a single piece of the Life-Giving Tree of the Lord with the inscription: “The Russian land was renewed with the Holy Cross, and Olga, the blessed princess, accepted it.”
Princess Olga became the first ruler of Rus' to be baptized , although both the squad and the Russian people under it were pagan. Olga’s son, the Grand Duke of Kiev Svyatoslav Igorevich, also remained in paganism.
Upon returning to Kyiv, Olga tried to introduce Svyatoslav to Christianity, but “he did not even think of listening to this; but if someone was going to be baptized, he did not forbid it, but only mocked him.” Moreover, Svyatoslav was angry with his mother for her persuasion, fearing to lose the respect of the squad. Svyatoslav Igorevich remained a convinced pagan.
Upon returning from Byzantium Olga zealously brought the Christian gospel to the pagans, began to erect the first Christian churches: in the name of St. Nicholas over the grave of the first Kyiv Christian prince Askold and St. Sophia in Kyiv over the grave of Prince Dir, the Church of the Annunciation in Vitebsk, the temple in the name of the Holy and Life-Giving Trinity in Pskov, the place for which, according to the chronicler, was indicated to her from above by the “Ray of the Tri-radiant Deity” - on the bank of the Velikaya River she saw “three bright rays” descending from the sky.
Holy Princess Olga died in 969, at the age of 80. and was buried in the ground according to Christian rites.
Sergey Efoshkin. Duchess Olga. Dormition
Her incorruptible relics rested in the Tithe Church in Kyiv. Her grandson Prince Vladimir I Svyatoslavich, Baptist of Rus', transferred (in 1007) the relics of saints, including Olga, to the church he founded Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kyiv (Tithe Church). More likely, During the reign of Vladimir (970-988), 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.
In 1547, Olga was canonized as Saint Equal to the Apostles. Only 5 other holy women have received this honor. Christian history(Mary Magdalene, First Martyr Thekla, Martyr Apphia, Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia Nina).
The memory of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga is celebrated by Orthodox, Catholic and other Western churches.
Princess Olga was the first of the Russian princes to officially convert to Christianity and was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church back in the pre-Mongol period. The baptism of Princess Olga did not lead to the establishment of Christianity in Rus', but she had big influence to her grandson Vladimir, who continued her work. She did not wage wars of conquest, but directed all her energy to domestic policy, therefore on for a long time the people retained a good memory of her: the princess carried out an administrative and tax reform, which eased the situation of ordinary people and streamlined life in the state.
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Holy Princess Olga is revered as the patroness of widows and Christian converts. Residents of Pskov consider Olga its founder. In Pskov there is Olginskaya embankment, Olginsky bridge, Olginsky chapel. Days of liberation of the city from fascist invaders(July 23, 1944) and the memory of Saint Olga are celebrated in Pskov as City Days.
Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK
for the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills
Troparion of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, tone 8
In you, God-wise Elena, the image of salvation was known in the Russian country, / as if, having received the bath of holy Baptism, you followed Christ, / creating and teaching, to leave idolatry’s charms, / to take care of souls, things more immortal, / also With Angels, Equal-to-the-Apostles, your spirit rejoices.
Kontakion of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, tone 4
Today the grace of all God has appeared, / having glorified Olga the God-Wise in Rus', / through her prayers, Lord, / grant to people the abandonment of sin.
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. In poverty and sorrow, give comfort to those in need, 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 blinded by heresies, bring them to their senses and ask us from the All-Bountiful God for all that is good and useful life more temporal and eternal, so that we have lived here well, let us be worthy of inheriting eternal blessings in the endless Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, befits all glory, honor and worship always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Ah min.
GRAND DUCHESS OLGA (890-969)
From the series “History of the Russian State.”
She was the first woman to become the ruler of one of the largest states at that time - Kievan Rus. This woman's revenge was terrible, and her rule was harsh. The princess was perceived ambiguously. Some considered her wise, some considered her cruel and cunning, and some considered her a real saint. Princess Olga went down in history as the creator state culture Kievan Rus, as the first ruler to be baptized, as the first Russian saint..
Princess Olga became famous after tragic death her husband
While still a very young girl, Olga became the wife of the Grand Duke of Kyiv, Igor. According to legend, their first meeting was quite unusual. One day, a young prince, who wanted to cross the river, called from the shore a man floating in a boat. He saw his companion only after they had sailed. To the prince’s surprise, a girl of incredible beauty was sitting in front of him. Succumbing to his feelings, Igor began to persuade her to commit vicious actions. Meanwhile, having understood his thoughts, the girl reminded the prince of the honor of a ruler who should be a worthy example for his subjects. Ashamed by the words of the young maiden, Igor abandoned his intentions. Noting the girl’s intelligence and chastity, he parted with her, keeping her words and image in his memory. When the time came to choose a bride, not a single one of the Kyiv beauties came to his heart. Remembering the stranger with the boat, Igor sent his guardian, Oleg, after her. So Olga became Igor’s wife and a Russian princess.
However, the princess became famous only after the tragic death of her husband. Soon after the birth of his son Svyatoslav, Prince Igor was executed. He became the first ruler in Russian history to die at the hands of the people, outraged by the repeated collection of tribute. The heir to the throne was only three years old at that time, so virtually all power passed into the hands of Olga. She ruled Kievan Rus until Svyatoslav came of age, but even after that, in reality, the princess remained the ruler, since her son was absent most of the time on military campaigns
Having gained power, Olga mercilessly took revenge on the Drevlyans
The first thing she did was to mercilessly take revenge on the Drevlyans, who were responsible for the death of her husband. Pretending that she agrees to new marriage with the prince of the Drevlyans, Olga dealt with their elders, and then subjugated the entire people. In her revenge, the princess used any methods. Luring the Drevlyans to the place she needed, on her orders, the Kievans buried them alive, burned them, and bloodthirstyly won the battle. And only after Olga finished her reprisal, she began to govern Kievan Rus.
Princess Olga is the first Russian woman to officially convert to Christianity
Princess Olga directed her main forces to domestic policy, which she tried to implement through diplomatic methods. Traveling around the Russian lands, she suppressed the revolts of small local princes and carried out a number of important reforms. The most important of them was administrative and tax reform. In other words, she established centers of trade and exchange in which taxes were collected in an orderly manner. The financial system became a strong support of princely power in lands far from Kyiv. Thanks to Olga's reign, the defensive power of Rus' increased significantly. Strong walls grew around the cities, and the first state borders of Russia were established - in the west, with Poland.
The princess strengthened international ties with Germany and Byzantium, and relations with Greece opened up Olga A New Look to the Christian faith. In 954, the princess, for the purpose of a religious pilgrimage and diplomatic mission, went to Constantinople, where she was received with honor by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus.
Before deciding to be baptized, the princess spent two years learning the basics of the Christian faith. While attending services, she was amazed at the grandeur of the temples and the shrines collected in them. Princess Olga, who received the name Elena at baptism, became the first woman to officially convert to Christianity in pagan Rus'. Upon her return, she ordered temples to be built in graveyards. During her reign, the Grand Duchess erected the churches of St. Nicholas and St. Sophia in Kyiv, and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in Vitebsk. By her decree, the city of Pskov was built, where the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity was erected. According to legend, the location of the future temple was indicated to her by rays descending from the sky.
The baptism of Princess Olga did not lead to the establishment of Christianity in Rus'
The princess tried to introduce her son to Christianity. Despite the fact that many nobles had already accepted new faith, Svyatoslav remained faithful to paganism. The baptism of Princess Olga did not lead to the establishment of Christianity in Rus'. But her grandson, the future Prince Vladimir, continued the mission of his beloved grandmother. It was he who became the baptist of Rus' and founded the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kyiv, where he transferred the relics of the saints and Olga. Under his reign, the princess began to be revered as a saint. And already in 1547 she was officially canonized as a saint, equal to the apostles. It is worth noting that only five women in Christian history have received such an honor - Mary Magdalene, the First Martyr Thekla, the Martyr Apphia, Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles and the enlightener of Georgia Nina. Today, Holy Princess Olga is revered as the patroness of widows and newly converted Christians.
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