Saint Olga - prayers for help in business. Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga: who patronizes and what they pray for

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

The peace treaty with Constantinople had to be approved by both religious communities of Kyiv: "Baptized Russia", that is, Christians, were sworn in in the cathedral church of the holy prophet of God Elijah; "Unbaptized Russia", the 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 moment when the treaty of 944 was drawn up in Constantinople, people in power in Kyiv were sympathetic to Christianity, aware of the historical necessity of introducing Russia to the life-giving Christian culture. Perhaps Prince Igor himself belonged to this trend, whose official position did not allow him to personally convert to a new faith without resolving the issue of the Baptism of the entire country and the establishment of an Orthodox church hierarchy in it. Therefore, the contract was drawn up in cautious terms that would not prevent the prince from confirming it both in the form of a pagan oath and in the form of a Christian oath.

But while the Byzantine ambassadors arrived in Kyiv, the situation on the Dnieper changed significantly. The pagan opposition was clearly defined, headed by the Varangian governors Sveneld and his son Mstislav (Mstisha), to whom Igor gave the Drevlyane land to hold.

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

Unable to overcome the inertia of custom, Igor remained a pagan and sealed the contract 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 Drevlyane land, tearing him between two trees. But the days of paganism and the way of life of the Slavic tribes based on it were already numbered. The burden of public service was assumed by the widow of Igor, Grand Duchess Olga of Kyiv, with her three-year-old son Svyatoslav.

The Tale of Bygone Years names the name of the future enlightener of the Russian region and her homeland for the first time in an article about Igor's marriage: "and they brought him a wife from Pskov, named Olga." It belonged, the Joachim Chronicle clarifies, to the family of the princes of Izborsk, one of the forgotten ancient Russian princely dynasties that existed in Russia in the 10th-11th centuries. not less than twenty, but which were all forced out over time by the Rurikovichs or merged with them through marriages. Some of them were of local, Slavic origin, others were 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 worldview, and even in physical appearance.

So Igor's wife was called the Varangian name Helga, in the Russian "round" 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 one, it also presupposes a special spiritual attitude in a person, chastity and sobriety, intelligence and insight. Revealing the spiritual meaning of the name, the people called Oleg Prophetic, Olga - Wise.

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

The beginning of the independent reign of Princess Olga is connected in the chronicles with a story about the terrible retribution against the Drevlyans, the murderers of Igor. Those who swore on swords and believed "only in their sword", the pagans were doomed by God's judgment from the sword and perish (). Those who worshiped, among other deified elements, fire, found their revenge in fire. The Lord chose Olga as the executor of the fiery punishment.

The struggle for the unity of Russia, for the subordination of the tribes and principalities torn apart by mutual hostility to the Kyiv center, paved the way for the final victory of Christianity in the Russian land. Behind Olga, still a pagan, stood Kyiv Christian church and her 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 winner, was the victory of Christian, creative forces in the Russian state over pagan, dark and destructive forces.

Olga Bogomudraya went down in history as a great creator of the state life and culture of Kievan Rus. The chronicles are full of evidence of her tireless "walking" on the Russian land in order to improve and streamline the civil and economic life of her subjects. Having achieved an internal strengthening of the power of the Kyiv Grand Duke, weakening the influence of the petty local princes that interfered with the gathering of Russia, Olga centralized everything public administration with the help of the system of "graveyards". In 946, with her son and retinue, she passed through the Drevlyansk land, "setting tributes and dues", marking villages, camps and hunting grounds to be included in the Kyiv grand-princely possessions. The next year she went to Novgorod, setting up churchyards along the Msta and Luga rivers, leaving visible traces of her activities everywhere. “Her traps (hunting places) were all over the earth, established signs, her places and graveyards,” wrote the chronicler, “and her sleigh stands in Pskov to this day, there are places indicated by her for catching birds along the Dnieper and along the Desna; and the village her Olzhichi exists to this day."

The graveyards arranged by Olga, being financial, administrative and judicial centers, represented a strong support for the grand ducal power in the field.

Being, first of all, by the very meaning of the word, centers of trade and exchange ("guest" - merchant), gathering and organizing the population around itself (instead of the former "polyudya", the collection of tribute and taxes was now carried out evenly and in an orderly manner according to churchyards), Olga's churchyards became the most important 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 churchyards; since the time of the Baptism of Russia under St. Vladimir, the churchyard and the temple (parish) have become inseparable concepts. (It was only later that the term "graveyard" in the sense of "cemetery" developed from the cemeteries that existed near the temples.)

Princess Olga put a lot of work to strengthen the defense power of the country. Cities were built up and fortified, Vyshgorods (or Detintsy, Kromy) were overgrown with stone and oak walls (visors), bristling with ramparts, palisades. The princess herself, knowing how hostile many were to the idea of ​​strengthening the princely power and uniting Russia, lived constantly "on the mountain", above the Dnieper, behind the reliable visors of Kyiv's Vyshgorod (Upper City), surrounded by a faithful retinue. Two-thirds of the tribute collected, according to the chronicle, she gave at the disposal of the Kyiv Council, the third part went "to Olza, to Vyshgorod" - for the needs of the military structure. By the time of Olga, historians attribute the establishment of the first state borders of Russia - in the west, with Poland. Bogatyr outposts in the south guarded the peaceful fields of Kiev from the peoples of the Wild Field. Foreigners hurried to Gardarika ("country of cities"), as they called Russia, with goods and handicrafts. The Swedes, Danes, Germans willingly joined the Russian army as mercenaries. Foreign relations of Kyiv are expanding. This contributes to the development of stone construction in the city, which was initiated by Princess Olga. The first stone buildings of Kyiv - 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 not only the strengthening of statehood and the development of economic forms of folk life attracted the attention of the wise princess. Even more urgent was the radical transformation of the religious life of Russia, the spiritual transformation of the Russian people. Russia became a great power. Only two European states could compete with it in importance and power in those years: 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, the religious foundations of life, clearly showed that the path to the future greatness of Russia lies not only through military, but primarily and mainly through spiritual conquests and achievements. Having entrusted Kyiv to her grown-up son Svyatoslav, Grand Duchess Olga in the summer of 954, seeking grace and truth, sets off with a large fleet to Tsargrad. It was a peaceful “walking”, combining the tasks of a religious pilgrimage and a diplomatic mission, but political considerations demanded that it become at the same time a manifestation of the military power of Russia on 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 Tsaregrad".

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 struck the harsh daughter of the North with a variety of colors, magnificence of architecture, a mixture of languages ​​and peoples of the world. But a special impression was made by the wealth of Christian churches and the shrines collected in them. Constantinople, the "reigning city" of the Greek empire, even at the very foundation (more precisely, renewal) in 330, dedicated (commemorated May 21) to the Most Holy Theotokos (this event was celebrated in the Greek Church on May 11 and passed from there to the Russian menologions), strove to be in everything worthy of his Heavenly Protectress. The Russian princess attended Divine services in the best churches of Constantinople - Hagia 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 over her by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople (933-956), and the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912-959) himself was the recipient. She was given the name Elena in baptism in honor (Comm. 21 May), the mother of St. Constantine, who had found the Holy Tree of the Cross of the Lord. In the instructive word spoken after the ceremony, the Patriarch said: "Blessed are you in the wives of Russians, for you left the darkness and loved the Light. The Russian people will bless you in all future generations, from grandchildren and great-grandchildren to your most distant descendants." He instructed her in the truths of the faith, the church charter and prayer rule, explained the commandments about fasting, chastity and almsgiving. “She,” she says, “bowed her head and stood like a soldered lip, listening to the teachings, and, bowing to the Patriarch, she said: “By your prayers, Vladyka, may I be saved from enemy networks.”

That is how, with a slightly bowed head, St. Olga is depicted on one of the frescoes of the Kyiv Sophia Cathedral, as well as on a contemporary Byzantine miniature, in the obverse manuscript of the Chronicle of John Skylitzes from the National Library of Madrid. The Greek inscription accompanying the miniature calls Olga "archontess (that is, mistress) of the Russes", "wife, Elga 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 dress of the newly baptized is Malusha († 1001), later her mother (Comm. 15 July).

It was not easy to force such a hater of the Russians as Emperor Konstantin Porphyrogenitus to become the godfather of the "archon of Russia." In the Russian chronicle, stories have been preserved about how Olga spoke decisively and on an equal footing with the emperor, surprising the Greeks with spiritual maturity and statesmanship, showing that the Russian people are just able to perceive and multiply the highest accomplishments of the Greek religious genius, the best fruits of Byzantine spirituality and culture. . So St. Olga managed to peacefully "take Tsargrad", which no commander before her could do. According to the chronicle, the emperor himself was forced to admit that Olga "switched" (outwitted) him, and the people's memory, combining the legends about the Prophetic Oleg and the Wise Olga, captured this spiritual victory in the epic legend "On 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 a single list, left a detailed description of the ceremonies that accompanied the stay of St. Olga in Constantinople. He describes a solemn reception in the famous chamber of Magnavre, to 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 squad), and negotiations in a narrower circle in the chambers of the empress, and a ceremonial dinner in Justinian's Hall, where, by coincidence, four "state ladies" providentially met at the same table: 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 in the Church of the Tithes of the Holy Mother of God in Kyiv, the marble tombs of St. Olga, St. Vladimir and the blessed "Queen Anna" will stand side by side.

During one of the receptions, says Konstantin Porphyrogenitus, a golden dish decorated with stones was brought to the Russian princess. Saint Olga donated it to the sacristy of St. Sophia Cathedral, where he was seen and described at the beginning of the 13th century by Russian diplomat Dobrynya Yadreykovich, later Archbishop Anthony of Novgorod: Christ is written on the same stone.

However, the cunning emperor, having reported so many details, as if in retaliation for the fact that "Olga 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 the Baptism of Olga 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 11th century, Jacob Mnikh, in the word "Memory and praise to 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 relates that the very time of Baptism to 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 receptions arranged by him in her honor, makes it clear with certainty that all this took place in 957. To reconcile the data of 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 in 957 to continue negotiations with the emperor for the second time, or she was baptized not at all in Constantinople, and in Kyiv in 954 she made her only pilgrimage to Byzantium, already being a Christian. The first guess is more likely.

As for the directly diplomatic outcome of the negotiations, St. 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 two agreements important for Russia: on the dynastic marriage of Svyatoslav with the Byzantine princess and on the conditions for restoring the existing under Askold of the Orthodox Metropolis in Kyiv. Her dissatisfaction with the outcome of the mission clearly sounds in the answer she gave, already on her return to her homeland, to the ambassadors sent from the emperor. To the emperor’s request for the promised military assistance, Saint Olga, through the ambassadors, sharply replied: “If you stand with me in Pochaina as I do in the Court, then I will give you soldiers to help.”

At the same time, despite the failure of efforts to establish a church hierarchy in Russia, Saint Olga, having become a Christian, zealously indulged in the exploits of Christian evangelism among the pagans and church building: “crush the demonic tremblings and begin to live in Christ Jesus.” She erects churches: St. Nicholas and St. Sophia in Kyiv, the Annunciation Holy Mother of God- in Vitebsk, St. Life-Giving Trinity- in Pskov. Since that time, Pskov has been called in the annals the House of the Holy Trinity. 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 Thrice-radiant Deity", stood for more than a century and a half. In 1137 († 1138, commemorated February 11) 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 Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga - the temple of Sophia the Wisdom of God in Kyiv, 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 Monthly Word of the parchment Apostle of 1307, under May 11, it is written: "On the same day, the consecration of Hagia Sophia in Kyiv in the summer of 6460." The date of memory, according to church historians, is indicated according to the so-called "Antiochian", and not according to the generally accepted Constantinopolitan calendar, 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 Equal-to-the-Apostles Helena, who found the Holy 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 Helen from Constantinople, and received by her as a blessing from the Patriarch of Constantinople. The cross, according to legend, was carved from a single piece of the Life-Giving Tree of the Lord. There was an inscription on the cross: "Renew the Russian land with the Holy Cross, it was accepted by Olga, the blessed princess."

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 the St. Nicholas Church, where, according to some information, she herself was later buried, over the grave of Dir - the aforementioned St. Sophia Cathedral, which, having stood for half a century, burned down in 1017. Yaroslav the Wise built on this site later, in 1050, the church of St. Irina, and transferred the shrines of the St. Sophia Olgin church to the stone church of the same name - the still standing St. Sophia of Kyiv, founded in 1017 and consecrated around 1030. In the Prologue of the 13th century, it is said about Olga's cross: "which now stands in Kyiv in Hagia Sophia in the altar on the right side." The looting of the Kyiv shrines, continued after the Mongols by the Lithuanians, who inherited the city in 1341, did not spare him either. Under Jogaila, during the period of the Union of Lublin, which united Poland and Lithuania into one state in 1384, Holguin's cross was stolen from St. Sophia Cathedral and taken by Catholics to Lublin. His further fate is unknown.

But among the boyars and warriors in Kyiv there were quite a few people who, according to Solomon, “hated Wisdom,” like the holy princess Olga, who built temples for Her. 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 persuasion to accept Christianity and even became angry with her for it. It was necessary to hasten with the conceived work of the Baptism of Russia. The cunning of Byzantium, which did not want to give Christianity to Russia, played into the hands of the pagans. In search of a solution, Saint Olga turns her eyes 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 Greek and Latin doctrine. The confrontation between the West and the East seemed to her primarily a 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, referred to as "the successor of Reginon," writes: "The ambassadors of Helen, the queen of the Russians, who was baptized in Constantinople, came to the king and asked him to consecrate a bishop and priests for this people." King Otto, the future founder of the German Empire, readily responded to Olga's request, but took the matter slowly, with purely German thoroughness. Only on Christmas of the following year, 960, Libutius, from the brethren of the monastery of St. Alban in Mainz, was appointed Bishop of Russia. But he soon died (March 15, 961). Adalbert of Trier was consecrated in his place, whom Otto, "generously supplying with everything necessary," finally sent to Russia. It is difficult to say what would have happened if the king had not delayed so long, but when Adalbert appeared in Kyiv in 962, he "did not succeed in anything he was sent for, 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, a final coup had taken place in Kyiv in favor of the supporters of paganism, and, having become neither Orthodox nor Catholic, Russia generally changed its mind about accepting Christianity. The pagan reaction manifested itself so strongly that not only the German missionaries suffered, but also some of the Kyiv Christians who were baptized with Olga in Constantinople. By order of Svyatoslav, the nephew of St. Olga Gleb was killed and some churches built by her were destroyed. Of course, this was not without Byzantine secret diplomacy: opposed to Olga and alarmed by the possibility of strengthening Russia through an alliance with Otto, the Greeks preferred to support the pagans.

The failure of Adalbert's mission was of providential significance for the future of the Russian Orthodox Church, which had escaped papal captivity. Saint Olga had to come to terms with what had happened and completely go into matters of personal piety, leaving the reins of government to the pagan Svyatoslav. She was still reckoned with, her statesmanship was invariably addressed in all difficult cases. When Svyatoslav left Kyiv, and he most spent time in campaigns and wars, the government was again handed over to the princess-mother. But the question of the Baptism of Russia was temporarily removed from the agenda, and this, of course, upset Saint Olga, who considered the gospel of Christ to be the main work of her life.

She meekly endured sorrows and sorrows, 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 Khaganate. Twice, in 965 and in 969, Svyatoslav's troops passed through the lands of the "foolish Khazars", forever crushing the power of the Jewish rulers of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and the Lower Volga region. The next powerful blow was inflicted on Muslim Volga Bulgaria, then the turn of Danube Bulgaria came. Eighty cities along the Danube were taken by the Kyiv squads. One thing bothered Olga: as if, carried away by the war in the Balkans, Svyatoslav did not forget about Kyiv.

In the spring of 969 Kyiv was besieged by the Pechenegs: "and it was impossible to bring the horse to drink, the Pechenegs stood on Lybid". 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 rode to Kyiv, "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 say to his mother: "It is not pleasant for me to sit in Kyiv, 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 and the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and stretch its borders to Constantinople itself. The 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 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 go from 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 grandchildren, and all the people wept for her with great weeping." In recent years, in the midst of 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 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 so having lived and glorified God in the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, rest in good faith, end your life in peace in Christ Jesus our Lord." As her prophetic testament to subsequent generations, she confessed her faith about her people with deep Christian humility: “God’s will be done! .

God glorified the holy worker of Orthodoxy, "the head of the faith" in the Russian land, with miracles and the incorruptibility of her 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 honest body is in the tomb, and indestructible remains 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 Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos and placed in a special sarcophagus, in which it was customary to put the relics of saints in the Orthodox East." And you hear a different miracle about her: a small stone coffin 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 on top of the coffin, a window was created - yes, to see the body of blessed Olga lying whole. "But not everyone was shown the miracle of the incorruption of the relics of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess:" Even with faith, he will come, the window will open, and he sees the honest body lying whole and marvels at such a miracle - only a few years in coffin lying undestroyed body. Worthy of praise is every honest body: in the coffin it is whole, as if sleeping, resting. And to others, who do not come with faith, the tomb's window will not open, and they will not see the body of that honest one, but only the tomb.

So, after her death, Saint Olga preached eternal life and resurrection, filling the believers with joy and admonishing the unbelievers. She was, according to the words of the Monk Nestor the Chronicler, "the forerunner of the Christian land, like a day before the sun and like a 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 Russia, testified on behalf of his contemporaries about the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga with significant words: “The sons of Russia want to bless you, and your grandson to the last generation.”

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

Life of the Holy Princess Olga

This time the princely hunt was near Pskov. The young Prince Igor, a pupil of the Prophetic Oleg, went to the bank of the river. Here it was possible to cross to the other side, there was a boat below, in which a local boy transported travelers. "Take us, but quickly!" - the prince ordered him and settled himself on the bow. Something made Igor pay attention to his carrier. Suddenly the young man realized that before him was not a boy, but a girl dressed in men's clothes. He immediately forgot about hunting. But the beauty sharply rebuked him, saying that she would rather throw herself into the water than dishonor herself. Then she added: “You, the prince, should serve as an example for your subjects, if you yourself commit atrocities, then how will you judge ordinary people how can you rule them?" The prince thought. When the boat landed, he stepped ashore and left without another word.

Bride

Time has passed. When Prince Oleg decided to marry his pupil, Igor remembered the girl he met on the river. Then she struck him not so much with her beauty, but with her wisdom and fortitude. It didn’t matter to him whether she was from a noble family or from a simple one, from Pskov or from the Varangians. He did not want to hear anything about other brides. The girl was found, her name was Olga.

There is really no exact information about its origin. The Tale of Bygone Years says that she was born in Pskov. According to some sources, she was from Bulgaria, others claim that she was from Scandinavia. It is even suggested that Olga is the daughter of Prophetic Oleg, who married her to Igor. The only thing that all researchers agree on is that St. Olga was an extraordinary person.

Wife

The princess was young. Nevertheless, preparing for the wedding, she understood that it was not necessary to wait for a quiet life, when the princes fought each other every now and then. Later, her feelings were confirmed. Her husband, Prince Igor, spent most of his time on military campaigns. Saint Olga did not approve of his policy, she believed that the princes should not fight, but unite in order for the country to be strong.

After the birth of their son Svyatoslav, the couple began to see each other less often. The princess and her son ruled in Vyshgorod, and Igor ruled in Kyiv. Saint Olga was both a loving mother and a strict but fair ruler. People respected her.

The measured life of the princess was disturbed by terrible news: the squad of Prince Igor is standing near the city, a disaster happened. Grabbing Svyatoslav in her arms, the princess rushed to run. Outside the gates of the city wall on a hillock, she stopped. Opposite her stood the warriors with their heads bowed. On the ground in front of them lay the body of Prince Igor. Saint Olga embraced her son and pressed him to her. It seemed to her that time had stopped, a moment turned into an eternity. But at the same moment she asked to take Svyatoslav away, and only then knelt down in front of her murdered husband. It was the first and last time she allowed herself to cry.

For the sake of her beloved son and the people for whom she was responsible, the princess remained strong. Svyatoslav was too small, Saint Olga took power into her own hands, becoming regent.

Widow

She had to take cruel, but “understandable” measures for everyone in the vast expanses of Russia to avenge the death of Prince Igor, in order to preserve the unifying principle of the state, the authority of princely power, and prevent bloody inter-tribal strife. The news that the Dowager Princess holds power with a “strong hand” spread throughout the land, and during the reign of Princess Olga there were no civil strife, which means that the authorities could calmly deal with the vital affairs of the young state.

And Princess Olga selflessly took up the creation of the state life and culture of Kievan Rus, while raising her young son, Svyatoslav. Chronicles testify to her tireless "walking" on the Russian land in order to improve and streamline the civil and economic life of her subjects.

During the reign of Olga, the first state borders of Russia were established - in the west with Poland, in the south with the peoples of the Wild Field (Black Sea-Azov region). In young Russia (Gardarik, as foreigners called it), trade with other countries began to actively develop. The expansion of Kyiv's foreign relations contributed to the development of stone construction in the city.

In her reign, Princess Olga showed herself as a person with an unbending will and high dignity, invincible courage and a truly statesmanlike mind. She had the honor to make a choice that determined the subsequent fate of Russia, and the princess herself defined church veneration as equal to the apostles.

Conversion

She was a good ruler. Saint Olga did not want to fight anymore, and there was no need for this. She took up the arrangement of the country. She personally introduced new laws and orders, traveling around all the lands subject to her. The princess established fixed amounts of tribute, which other princes could not increase at will, thereby preventing arbitrariness. For this, the common people fell in love with their ruler. Her policy contributed to the strengthening of the power of Kyiv on the way to the unification of all of Russia.

The princess's decisions were rational and far-sighted. In government she acted like a man, but in dealing with her people she was a gentle, understanding and merciful woman. She turned her gaze to the West, wishing that Byzantium began to reckon with Russia. With her mind and heart, she realized what a significant role Christianity plays in uniting the people. Initially being a pagan, she became acquainted with the ideas of Christianity. It turned her life around. She took a different look at her actions, repenting for her cruelty towards the Drevlyans. So Saint Olga, having recognized the true God, wanted to be baptized.

She made this decision in Byzantium, where she arrived with a large fleet. Emperor Constantine at first took her visit as a demonstration of the military power of Russia, so he did not give the princess an audience for several days. Saint Olga patiently waited on the ship. When she finally entered the palace, the emperor was surprised. In front of him stood, though not young, but surprisingly beautiful woman. Jokingly or seriously, the ruler began to call her in marriage. Then the Russian princess said that she was a pagan, let the emperor baptize her, and then she would receive an answer. He agreed, and Saint Olga received the blessing of the Patriarch. When Konstantin again started talking about marriage, the woman replied: “I am now your goddaughter, marriage between us is impossible.” The emperor laughed, saying that the princess outwitted him.

In the Russian chronicle, stories have been preserved about how Olga spoke decisively and on an equal footing with the emperor, surprising the Greeks with spiritual maturity and statesmanship, showing that the Russian people were just able to perceive and multiply the best fruits of Byzantine spirituality and culture. So St. Olga managed to "take Tsargrad" peacefully, which no commander could do before her.

At her baptism, Princess Olga was given the name Elena in honor of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Elena, mother of Saint Constantine, who had found the Holy Tree of the Holy Cross. 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: "Renew the Russian land with the Holy Cross, it was also received by Olga, the noble princess."

She returned home with icons and liturgical books.

apostolic ministry

Returning, Saint Olga built the Church of Saint Nicholas on Askold's grave. The princess converted many people of Kiev to Christianity. Then she went to the North of Russia. Instead of pagan temples, she put up crosses.

Once, when she was driving to her native village near Pskov, she had a vision on the banks of the Velikaya River. In the east, three rays shone from the sky. After that, the princess said that a temple in the name of the Most Holy and Life-Giving Trinity would stand on this land, and a large, rich city would appear around it. And so it happened, where she founded the church, Pskov arose, which for a long time and today is called the “House of the Holy Trinity”.

In Kyiv, the princess built another church of Hagia Sophia - the Wisdom of God, founded shortly after her return from Constantinople and consecrated on May 11, 960. The main shrine of the newly created St. Sophia Church was the Holy Cross, brought by Grand Duchess Olga from Constantinople and received by her as a blessing from the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Unfortunately, the apostolic ministry of the Russian ruler was not supported by her son and many boyars. Svyatoslav remained a pagan until the end of his life, referring to the fact that, having become a Christian, he would lose authority with the squad. He was inextricably linked with the squad, as he spent most of his time in campaigns and battles. For his large-scale military projects, Prince Svyatoslav is called "the ancient Alexander of Macedon." Nevertheless, the chronicle notes Svyatoslav's tolerance for faith: he did not interfere with anyone to be baptized, he only mocked. In response to this, Olga answered that everything was the will of God, she continued to love Svyatoslav with all her heart and prayed every day for him and all the people.

Zealots of pagan antiquity, looking with hope at Svyatoslav, more and more often showed their dissatisfaction with Princess Olga, who was building Christian churches and preaching a new faith. The apostolic activity of Grand Duchess Olga expanded, the dissatisfaction of the Russian pagans grew, and then the moment came when a final coup took place in Kyiv in favor of the supporters of paganism. The question of the Baptism of Russia was closed.

Saint Olga resigned herself to what had happened, and went into matters of personal piety. In Kyiv, she raised her grandchildren: Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir. The princess tried to instill in them faith in Christ, but without the consent of her son, she did not dare to baptize them.

In 968, Svyatoslav and his retinue went on a military campaign against Bulgaria. Kyiv was left without protection, and at that moment it was attacked by nomadic Pechenegs. The inhabitants took refuge behind the city walls. Enemies kept the siege, the people of Kiev suffered from hunger and thirst. One boy managed to get past the Pechenegs and call for help. Kyiv was liberated, Svyatoslav returned and defeated the invaders.

Anxiety for her grandchildren undermined the health of St. Olga. She was already 77 years old, she began to rapidly lose strength. Before her death, she asked her son to be with her until the end. Saint Olga bequeathed to bury her according to Christian custom and not to arrange a pagan feast. Her request was granted. Svyatoslav and his three sons wept bitterly over the grave of the princess. Princess Olga left a prophetic testament to subsequent generations: “God's will be done! If God desires to have mercy on the family of my Ruskian Land, may he lay it on their hearts to turn to God, as God has given me this gift.

Despite the fact that Princess Olga raised Vladimir in a Christian spirit in childhood, in his younger years Prince Vladimir was an ardent admirer of paganism. Like his grandmother, Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir came to the conclusion that only faith in one true God could strengthen and unite the state, torn into two parts by the spiritual war of paganism and Christianity.

The church writer of the second half of the 11th century, Jacob Mnikh (monk), writes that, “having sought salvation,” Vladimir began to recall his childhood and the pious instructions of his grandmother, recalled how she believed and was baptized, for he heard a lot about this and “flared up with the Spirit Holy in heart, desiring holy baptism."

He called the foremen and boyars to the council, at this council three images were considered for the final choice of faith: Islam, Western Christianity and Orthodoxy. It was decided to gather embassies to these countries and get acquainted with the faith, the state of trade, the army and the standard of living of these peoples. After listening to the ambassadors who returned from Constantinople, the boyars told Prince Vladimir: “If the Greek law was bad, then your grandmother Olga would not have accepted it, and she was the wisest of all people.”

And in 988, Byzantine priests who arrived in Russia baptized the inhabitants of Kyiv and neighboring lands right in the Dnieper. Majestic churches were erected in large cities, in Kyiv, on the site of the death of the first Russian Christian martyrs Theodore and John, a stone church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos was laid. The holy relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga were transferred to this temple, the beginning of Russian chronicle writing is also associated with it, the Life of Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga and the Tale of the Varangian Martyrs, as well as the “Word about how Vladimir was baptized taking Korsun” were compiled here.

The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, offering his thanks to God on the day of the Baptism of Russia, testified on behalf of his contemporaries about the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga with significant words: “The sons of Russia want to bless you, and your grandson to the last generation.”

The work of the Holy Prince Vladimir was continued by his sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, who owned the Russian land for almost six centuries: from Yaroslav the Wise, who took the first step towards the independent existence of the Russian Church, to the last Rurikovich, Tsar Theodore Ioannovich, under whom in 1589 the Russian Orthodox Church became the fifth independent Patriarchate in the diptych of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches.

So, after her death, Saint Olga preached eternal life and resurrection, filling the believers with joy and admonishing the unbelievers.
In 1547, Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga was canonized as Equal-to-the-Apostles. Only five other holy women in Christian history have received such an honor (Mary Magdalene, the first martyr Thekla, the martyr Apphia, Queen Elena and the Enlightener of Georgia Nina).

When the relics of the Holy Princess Olga were taken out to be transferred to the temple, it turned out that they were incorruptible. They were placed in a tomb, many people saw a glow above it and received healing from serious illnesses.

The veneration of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga in Russia was great. At different times, three orders were established in her honor. In 1915, Emperor Nicholas II established the “Insignia of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga” to distinguish women for public and state service. There is also the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga - an award of the Russian Orthodox Church. This order is awarded to women (abbots of monasteries, church workers in the field of spiritual enlightenment) for merits in various fields of church, state and public service, as well as for work for the benefit of others. In 1997, the Order of Princess Olga was established by decree of the President of Ukraine. This is an award for distinguishing women for outstanding personal achievements in state, industrial, social, scientific, educational, cultural, charitable and other areas of public activity, as well as in raising children in the family.

What a miracle happened

The most important miracle that happened thanks to the undertaking of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga was the Baptism of Russia. The aspirations of the Grand Duchess were embodied in the deeds of her grandson, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir. The significance of this event can hardly be overestimated, it ensured the integrity and prosperity of Russia. Therefore, believers often remember in their prayers both Saint Olga and Saint Prince Vladimir together. The images of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga and Vladimir, mutually complementing each other, embody the maternal and paternal principles of Russian spiritual history.

The meaning of the icon

The icon of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga is an image of the spiritual mother of the Russian people. The patriarch, who baptized the princess, said: “Blessed are you in the wives of Russians, for you left the darkness and loved the Light. Russian sons will glorify you to the last generation! At baptism, she received the name Elena in honor of the saint who received the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. The apostolic service of St. Olga had the same great significance. She contributed to the spiritual transformation of the Russian people.

July 24(July 11 O.S.) The Church honors the memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, named Elena in holy baptism. The Holy Princess Olga ruled the Old Russian state from 945 to 960 as a regent for her young son Svyatoslav, after the death of her husband, Prince Igor Rurikovich of Kyiv. Olga was the first of the rulers of Russia to accept Christianity. Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is prayed for the strengthening of the Christian faith and for the deliverance of the state from enemies. Saint Olga is also revered as the patroness of widows.

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

Chronicles do not report the year of Olga's birth, however, the later book of degrees states that she died at the age of about 80, which places 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 specifies that Olga was 10 years old at the time of marriage. Based on this, many scientists calculated the date of her birth - 893. The prologue life of the princess claims that at the time of her death she was 75 years old. Thus, Olga was born in 894. But this date is called into question by the date of birth of Olga's eldest son, Svyatoslav (c. 938-943), since Olga at the time of her son's birth should have been 45-50 years old, which seems unlikely. Looking at the fact that Svyatoslav Igorevich was the eldest son of Olga, a researcher of Slavic culture and history Ancient Russia B.A. Rybakov, taking 942 as the date of birth of the prince, considered the year 927-928 to be the last point of Olga's birth. A. Karpov in his monograph "Princess Olga" claims that the princess was born around 920. Consequently, the date around 925 looks more accurate than 890, since Olga herself in the annals for 946-955 appears young and energetic, and gives birth to her eldest son in 942. The Tale of Bygone Years names the name of the future enlightener of Russia and her homeland in the description of the marriage of the Kyiv prince Igor:

And they brought him a wife from Pskov, named Olga.

The Joachim Chronicle specifies that she belonged to the family of the princes of Izborsk, one of the ancient Russian princely dynasties.

Igor's wife was called the Varangian name Helga, in Russian pronunciation Olga (Volga). Tradition calls the birthplace of Olga the village of Vybuty not far from Pskov, up the Velikaya River. The life of St. Olga tells that here for the first time she met her future husband. The young prince was hunting on the Pskov land and, wishing to cross the Velikaya River, he saw "a certain person floating in a boat" and called him to the shore. Having sailed from the shore 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 incline her to sin. Olga turned out to be not only beautiful, but chaste and smart. She shamed Igor, reminding him of the princely dignity of the ruler:

Why do you embarrass me, prince, with immodest words? Let me be young and humble, and alone here, but know that it is better for me to throw myself into the river than to endure reproach.

Igor broke up with her, keeping in mind her words and a beautiful image. When it came time to choose a bride, the most beautiful girls of the principality were gathered in Kyiv. But none of them pleased him. And then he remembered Olga and sent Prince Oleg after her. So Olga became the wife of Prince Igor, the Grand Russian Duchess.

In 942, a son, Svyatoslav, was born into the family of Prince Igor. In 945, Igor was killed by the Drevlyans after repeatedly exacting tribute from them. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Kyiv prince, the Drevlyans sent envoys to Princess Olga, offering her to marry their ruler Mal (d. 946). Olga pretended to agree. By cunning, she lured two embassies of the Drevlyans to Kyiv, betraying them to a painful death: the first was buried alive "in the prince's courtyard", the second was burned in a bathhouse. After that, five thousand Drevlyansky men were killed by Olga's soldiers at the funeral feast for Igor near the walls of the Drevlyan 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 "walking" on the Russian land in order to build the political and economic life of the country. She achieved the strengthening of the power of the Kyiv Grand Duke, centralized state administration with the help of the "pogost" system. The chronicle notes that she, with her son and a retinue, passed through the Drevlyansk land, setting tributes and dues, marking villages and camps and hunting grounds to be included in the Kyiv grand-princely possessions. She went to Novgorod, arranging graveyards along the rivers Msta and Luga. Life tells about the works of Olga:

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 courageously defending herself from enemies. And she was terrible for the latter, loved by her own people, as a merciful and pious ruler, as a righteous judge and offending no one, imposing punishment with mercy and rewarding the good; she inspired fear in all the evil, rewarding each in proportion to the dignity of his deeds, in all matters of management she showed foresight and wisdom. At the same time, Olga, merciful at heart, was generous to the poor, the poor and the needy; 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 remained in pure widowhood, observing her son until the days of age his princely power. When the latter matured, she handed over to him all the affairs of government, and she herself, having abstained from rumors and care, lived outside the cares of management, indulging in the deeds of charity..

Russia grew and strengthened. Cities were built surrounded by stone and oak walls. The princess herself lived behind the reliable walls of Vyshgorod, surrounded by a faithful retinue. Two-thirds of the tribute collected, according to the chronicle, she gave at the disposal of the Kyiv Council, the third part went "to Olga, to Vyshgorod" - to the military structure. The establishment of the first state borders of Kievan Rus belongs to the time of Olga. The heroic outposts, sung in epics, guarded the peaceful life of the people of Kiev from the nomads of the Great Steppe, from attacks from the West. Foreigners rushed to Gardarika, as they called Russia, with goods. Scandinavians, Germans willingly joined the Russian army as mercenaries. Russia became a great power. But Olga understood that it was not enough to worry only about state and economic life. It was necessary to take care of the organization of the religious, spiritual life of the people. The Power Book writes:

Her 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 of her own free will, with the eyes of her heart she found the path of knowing God and followed it without hesitation..

Reverend Nestor the Chronicler(c. 1056-1114) tells:

Blessed Olga from an early age sought wisdom, what is the best in this world, and found a valuable pearl- Christ.

Grand Duchess Olga, having entrusted Kyiv to her grown son, set off with a large fleet to Constantinople. Old Russian chroniclers will call this act of Olga "walking", it combined both a religious pilgrimage, a diplomatic mission, and a demonstration of the military might of Russia. " Olga wanted to go to the Greeks herself in order to see with her own eyes the Christian service and be fully convinced of their teaching about the true God.”, - tells the life of St. Olga. According to the chronicle, in Constantinople Olga decides to become a Christian. The Sacrament of Baptism was performed on her by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople (917-956), and the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (905-959) was the godfather, 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, decorated precious stones dish. Olga donated it to the sacristy of Hagia Sophia, where he was seen and described at the beginning of the 13th century by Russian diplomat Dobrynya Yadreykovich, later Archbishop Anthony of Novgorod (d. 1232): “ A dish of great gold service to Olga the Russian, when she took tribute when she went to Constantinople: in Olga's dish is a precious stone, Christ is written on the same stone". 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, which was received by Olga, the noble princess.

Olga returned to Kyiv with icons and liturgical books. She erected a temple in the name of St. Nicholas over the grave of Askold, the first Kyiv prince-Christian and she converted many people of Kiev to Christ. With the preaching of faith, the princess went to the north. In the Kyiv and Pskov lands, in remote villages, at crossroads, she erected crosses, destroying pagan idols. Princess 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 she had near the Velikaya River, not far from her native village, was transmitted. She saw that "three bright rays" were descending from the sky from the east. Addressing your companions former witnesses visions, Olga said prophetically:

May it be known to you that by the will of God there will be a church in this place in the name of the Most Holy and Life-Giving Trinity, and there will be a great and glorious city here, abounding in everything.

On this place Olga erected a cross and founded a temple in the name of the Holy Trinity. It became the main cathedral of Pskov. On May 11, 960, the Church of Hagia Sophia of the Wisdom of God was consecrated in Kyiv. The main shrine of the temple was the cross received by Olga at Baptism in Constantinople. In the Prologue of the 13th century, it is said about Olga's cross:

Izhe now stands in Kyiv in Hagia Sophia in the altar on the right side.

After the conquest of Kyiv by the Lithuanians, Holgin's cross was stolen from St. Sophia Cathedral and taken by the Catholics to Lublin. His further fate is unknown. At that time, the pagans looked with hope at the growing Svyatoslav, who resolutely rejected his mother's persuasion to accept Christianity. " Tale of Bygone Years' says this about it:

Olga lived with her son Svyatoslav, and persuaded his mother to be baptized, but he neglected this and plugged his ears; however, if someone wanted to be baptized, he did not forbid him, nor mocked him ... Olga often said: “My son, I have known God and rejoice; so you too, if you know, you will also begin to rejoice.” He, not listening to this, said: “How can I want to change my faith alone? My warriors will laugh at this! She told him: “If you are baptized, everyone will do the same.

He, not listening to his mother, lived according to pagan customs. In 959 a German chronicler wrote: The ambassadors of Elena, the queen of the Russians, who was baptized in Constantinople, came to the king and asked him 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, Libutius, from the monastery of St. Alban in Mainz, was appointed Bishop of Russia, but he soon died. Adalbert of Trier was consecrated in his place, whom Otto finally sent to Russia. When in 962 Adalbert appeared in Kyiv, 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, and the bishop himself did not escape mortal danger”, - this is how the chronicles tell about the mission of Adalbert. The pagan reaction manifested itself so strongly that not only the German missionaries suffered, but also some of the Kyiv Christians who were baptized along with Olga. By order of Svyatoslav, Olga's nephew Gleb was killed and some churches built by her were destroyed. Princess Olga had to come to terms with what had happened and go into matters of personal piety, leaving control to the pagan Svyatoslav. Of course, she was still reckoned with, her experience and wisdom were invariably referred to in all important cases. When Svyatoslav left Kyiv, the administration of the state was entrusted to Princess Olga.

Svyatoslav defeated the old enemy of the Russian state - the Khazar Khaganate. The next blow was dealt to Volga Bulgaria, then came the turn of the Danube Bulgaria - eighty cities were taken by Kyiv warriors along the Danube. Svyatoslav and his warriors personified the heroic spirit of pagan Russia. Chronicles have preserved the words Svyatoslav, surrounded with his retinue by a huge Greek army:

Let's not disgrace the Russian land, but let's lie down with bones here! The dead have no shame!

While in Kyiv, Princess Olga taught her grandchildren, the children of Svyatoslav, the Christian faith, but did not dare to baptize them, fearing the wrath of her son. In addition, he hindered her attempts to establish Christianity in Russia. In 968 Kyiv was besieged by the Pechenegs. Princess Olga and her grandchildren, among whom was Prince Vladimir, were in mortal danger. When the news of the siege reached Svyatoslav, he hurried to help, and the Pechenegs were put to flight. Princess Olga, already seriously ill, asked her son not to leave until her death. She did not lose hope to turn her son's heart to God, and on her deathbed she did not stop preaching: Why do you leave me, my son, and where are you going? Looking for someone else's, to whom do you entrust yours? After all, Your children are still small, and I am already old, and sick, - I expect an early death - a departure to the beloved Christ, in whom I believe; now I don’t worry about anything, but about you: I regret that although I taught a lot and urged me to leave idol wickedness, to believe in the true God that I knew, and you neglect this, and I know what your disobedience is a bad end awaits you on earth, and after death - eternal torment prepared for the Gentiles. Fulfill now at least this last request of mine: do not go anywhere until I pass away and be buried; then go wherever you want. After my death, do not do anything that pagan custom requires in such cases; 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 make funeral feasts; but send gold to Constantinople to the most holy patriarch, so that he makes a prayer and an offering to God for my soul and distributes alms to the poor». « Hearing this, Svyatoslav wept bitterly and promised to fulfill everything bequeathed by her, 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 remained in fervent prayer to God and to the Most Pure Theotokos, whom she always, according to God, had as her helper; she called all the saints; Blessed Olga prayed with particular zeal for the enlightenment of the Russian land after her death; seeing the future, she repeatedly predicted that God would enlighten the people of the Russian land and many of them would be great saints; Blessed Olga prayed for the speedy fulfillment of this prophecy at her death. And another prayer was on her lips, when her honest soul was released from the body and, as a righteous one, was received by the hands of God.". The date of the death of Princess Olga is July 11, 969. Princess Olga was buried according to Christian custom. In 1007, her grandson Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavichokolo (960-1015) transferred the relics of the saints, including Olga, to the Church of the Virgin in Kyiv, which he founded.

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

Probably, 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 memory of St. Olga (Helena) began to be celebrated on July 11 (Old Style). Under Grand Duke Vladimir, the relics of St. Olga were transferred to the Church of the Tithes of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos and laid in a sarcophagus. There was a window in the church wall above the tomb of St. Olga; and if someone came to the relics with faith, he saw the relics through the window, and some saw the radiance emanating from them, and many sick people were healed. The prophecy of the Holy Princess Olga about the death of her son Svyatoslav came true. He, according to the chronicle, was killed by the Pecheneg prince Kurei (tenth century), who cut off the head of Svyatoslav and made a cup out of the skull, bound it with gold and drank from it during feasts. The prayerful labors and deeds of St. Olga confirmed the greatest deed of her grandson St. Vladimir - the Baptism of Russia. In 1547 Olga was canonized as a saint Equal-to-the-Apostles.

The main 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 Volodimer" and the work of Konstantin Porphyrogenitus "On the ceremonies of the Byzantine court." Other sources provide additional information about Olga, but their reliability cannot be accurately determined. According to the Joachim Chronicle, Olga's original name is Beautiful. The Joachim Chronicle reports the execution by Svyatoslav of his only brother Gleb for his Christian beliefs during the Russian-Byzantine war of 968-971. Gleb could be the son of Prince Igor both from Olga and from another wife, since the same chronicle reports that Igor had other wives. The Orthodox faith of Gleb testifies in favor of the fact that he was the youngest son of Olga. The medieval Czech historian Tomas Peshina, in his work in Latin “Mars Moravicus” (1677), spoke about a certain Russian prince Oleg, who became (940) the last king of Moravia and was expelled from there by the Hungarians in 949. According to Tomas Peshina, this Oleg of Moravia was Olga’s brother. About existence blood relative Olga, calling him anepsia (meaning nephew or cousin), was mentioned by Constantine Porphyrogenitus in the list of her retinue during a visit to Constantinople in 957.

Troparion and kontakion to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

Troparion, tone 1

Krill of God-reason, fixing your mind, you flew up above the visible creatures, seeking God and the Creator of all kinds. And having found that, thou hast accepted the packs of debauchery by baptism. And enjoying the tree of the animal cross of Christ, you remain incorruptible forever, ever glorious.

Kontakion, tone 4

Let us sing today the Benefactor of all God, who glorified God-wise Olga in Russia. And by her prayers, Christ, grant forgiveness to our souls of sins.

————————

Russian Faith Library
→

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. Icons

On the icons, the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is depicted full-length or waist-high. She is dressed in royal clothes, her head is decorated with a princely crown. AT right hand Holy Princess Olga Vladimir holds a cross - a symbol of faith, as the moral foundation of the state, or a scroll.

Temples in the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

In the north-west of Russia there was a churchyard of Holguin Krest. It was here, as chronicle sources say, that Princess Olga came in 947 to collect taxes. In memory of her amazing rescue while crossing the rapids and ice-free Narova, Princess Olga put up a wooden, and then a stone cross. In the Holgin Cross tract there were local revered shrines - a temple in the name of St. Nicholas, built in the 15th century, a stone cross, established, according to legend, in the 10th century by Princess Olga. Later, the cross was built into the wall of the church of St. Nicholas. In 1887, the temple was supplemented with a chapel in the name of the Holy Princess Olga. St. Nicholas Church was blown up in 1944 by the retreating German troops.

In Kyiv on Trekhsvyatitelskaya street (street of Victims of the Revolution) until the 30s. 20th century there was a church in the name of three saints - Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom. It was built in the early 80s. XII century by Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich in the princely court and consecrated in 1183. The church had a chapel in the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga.

In the Church of the Assumption from the ferry (from Paromeny) in Pskov, a chapel was consecrated in the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. The church was put on the site of an earlier one, built in 1444. Since 1938, the church has not operated, in 1994 worship was resumed in it.

In the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, a church of the same faith was consecrated in Ulyanovsk. The church was built in 1196.

In the city of Ulyanovsk there is a common faith church of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Folk memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

In Pskov, there is the Olginskaya embankment, the Olginskiy bridge, the Olginskaya chapel, as well as two monuments to the princess. Monuments to the saint were erected in Kyiv and Korosten, as well as the figure of Olga is present on the monument "Millennium of Russia" in Veliky Novgorod. In honor of the Holy Princess Olga, Olga Bay is named Sea of ​​Japan and an urban-type settlement in Primorsky Krai. Streets in Kyiv and Lvov are named after St. Olga. Also in the name of St. Olga, the following orders were established: Badge of distinction of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga (established by Emperor Nicholas II in 1915); "Order of Princess Olga" (state award of Ukraine since 1997); Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga (ROC).

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. Paintings

Many painters addressed the image of the Holy Princess Olga and her life in their works, among them V.K. Sazonov (1789–1870), B.A. Chorikov (1802–1866), V.I. Surikov (1848–1916), N.A. Bruni (1856–1935), N.K. Roerich (1874–1947), M.V. Nesterov (1862–1942) and others.

The image of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga in art

Many literary works are dedicated to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, these are “Princess Olga” (A.I. Antonov), “Olga, Queen of the Rus” (B. Vasiliev), “I know God!” (S.T. Alekseev), "The Great Princess Elena-Olga" (M. Apostolov) and others. Such works as “The Legend of Princess Olga” (directed by Yuri Ilyenko), “The Saga of the Ancient Bulgars. The Tale of Olga the Holy ”(director Bulat Mansurov) and others.

Prayers to the saints

Commemoration: 11 / 24 July

Princess Olga, in baptism Elena is called "the head of the faith" and "the root of Orthodoxy" in the Russian land. The patroness of sovereign people. They pray to her for children, for raising them in faith and piety, for admonishing unbelieving children and relatives, or those who have fallen into sects.

Troparion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia, tone 1

Having fixed your mind with the wings of divine understanding, thou hast soared above the visible creature, seeking God and the Creator of all kinds, and having found Him, having received birth through Baptism, thou hast, enjoying the tree of the animal, remains incorruptible forever, blessed Olga.

Kontakion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia, Tone 4

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

First Prayer Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia

O Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, receive praise from us, unworthy servants of God ( names), before your honest icon of those praying and humbly asking: protect us with your prayers and intercession from misfortunes and troubles, and sorrows, and fierce sins; also deliver us from future torments, honestly creating your holy memory and glorifying God glorifying you, glorified in the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever

Second Prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia

O great saint of God, God-chosen and God-glorified, Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga! You rejected evil faith and pagan wickedness, you believed in the One True Trinitarian God and accepted holy baptism and laid the foundation for the enlightenment of the Russian land with the light of faith and piety. You are our spiritual ancestor, you, according to Christ our Savior, are the first culprit of the enlightenment and salvation of our kind. You are a warm prayer book and intercessor for the kingdom of all Russia, for its kings, rulers of the people, the army and for all people. For this sake, we humbly pray to you: look at our infirmities and implore the most merciful King of Heaven, may he not be angry with us, for we sin all the days due to our infirmities, may he not destroy us with our iniquities, but may he have mercy and save us by His mercy, may our saving fear plant in our hearts, may our minds enlighten with His grace, in hedgehog understanding for us the ways of the Lord, leave the paths of wickedness and error, strive in the paths of salvation and truth, the unswerving fulfillment of the commandments of God and the ordinances of the Holy Church. Moth, blessed Olgo, the Lover of God, grant us His great mercy: may He save us from the invasion of foreigners, from internal discords, rebellions and strife, from hunger, deadly diseases and from all evil; may it give us the goodness of the air and the fruitfulness of the earth, may it give the shepherd zeal for the salvation of the flock, but all the people hasten to correct their services diligently, have love among themselves and unanimity, for the good of the Fatherland and the Holy Church, strive faithfully, may the light of saving faith shine in Our Fatherland, in all its ends; may unbelievers turn to faith, may all heresies and schisms be abolished; yes, having lived in peace on earth, let us be vouchsafed with you eternal bliss in heaven, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen.

Third Prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia

Oh, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, first-year-old Russian, warm intercessor and prayer book for us before God. We resort to you with faith and pray with love: be our helper and helper in everything for the good, and, as if in 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 now, in heavenly being grace, favorable help us with your prayers to God in enlightening our minds and hearts with the light of the Gospel of Christ, may we prosper in faith, piety and love of Christ. In poverty and sorrow of the present comfort, give a hand of help to the needy, intercede for the offended and the afflicted, those who have strayed from the right faith and heresy blinded by heresy, enlighten us, and ask us from the All-Generous God all that is good and useful in temporary and eternal life, yes, it is pleasing to live here, we will be honored with the heritage eternal blessings in the infinite Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit all glory, honor and worship is due, always, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

We magnify you, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, as if the morning dawn shone in our lands and foreshadowed the light of the Orthodox faith to her people.

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

Canon of Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia:

Hagiography and scientific-historical literature about Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia:

• Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia– Pravoslavie.Ru

Read other prayers of the section "Orthodox prayer book"

Read also:

© Missionary-apologetic project "To Truth", 2004 – 2017

When using our original materials, please indicate the link:

Saint Olga - prayers for help in business

Many historical figures are significant for believers and for their actions during their lifetime they were canonized as saints. These include Princess Olga, who is a significant figure in the formation of Russia. 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 Russia. Together with her husband, she expelled paganism and baptized the people. For many, information about why Olga is a saint and why she was canonized is unknown. The clergy give a clear explanation that equal to the apostles means equal to the apostles. The church gives such a title to those people who affirmed faith in the Lord and helped people come to faith.

Saint Olga - biography

The girl married Prince Vladimir of Kyiv at a young age. After his death, the rule of the Kyiv state passed into the hands of Olga, since their common son Yaroslav was only three years old. Until the end of her days, the princess was engaged in internal affairs Russia. 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 due to the fact that she increased the amount of tribute and people refused to pay. For a long time she took revenge on the Drevlyans that they had taken her husband's life.
3. She was the first of the rulers of Russia to become a Christian, and during the rite of baptism she was given the name Elena.
4. The Holy Princess Olga tried to persuade her son to the faith, but he refused, believing that the squad would not accept him.
5. The exact date of death is known - July 24, and she was buried according to Christian customs, and her grandson Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir transferred her imperishable relics to the church in Kyiv.
6. The general church glorification took place in 1547.
7. The saint is considered the patroness of women who have lost their husbands, and newly converted Christians.
8. Olga is revered, both in the Catholic and in the Orthodox Church.

What helps the icon of St. Olga?

The image of the princess for Orthodox believers is of great importance, since she contributed to spiritual development the whole 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 to survive difficult periods in life, when hands drop, 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 a saint help a believer to gain worldly wisdom and learn how to make decisions in life correctly.
5. The saint helps to strengthen faith in the heart of a person.
6. There is evidence that Olga helped to solve problems in her personal life and conflicts that arose, and also to find the right way out in confusing situations.

Prayer to Saint Olga

There are several features that must be taken into account when referring to 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 bought in a church shop. People pray to her so that she conveys a request to the Lord and helps in helping. It is important to pronounce the prayer text from a pure heart and unshakable faith.

Prayer to Saint Olga for help

AT difficult situations a person often turns to the Higher powers for help, and St. Olga also helps. She assists in different situations, which is proved by the reviews of believers. It is important that the request is meaningful and has only good intentions. The prayer of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga can be said every morning or before some important events, when you feel the need for invisible support.

Prayer to Saint Olga for marriage

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

Copying information is allowed only with a direct and indexed link to the source

Prayer to Saint Olga - the Mother See of Kyiv

The miraculous icon of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is prayed along with other great saints, she is revered not only in the Orthodox faith, but also in the Catholic one. Prayer to St. Olga always helps those who do it sincerely and sincerely. In the 16th century, she was canonized, her incorrupt relics were placed in the Church of the Tithes in Kyiv, but then a lot of time passed, and they disappeared without a trace. In order to understand why the Grand Duchess deserved such holiness, under what circumstances she can be prayed to and when is the day of St. Olga, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the description of her life, which is very contradictory, quite voluminous and requires careful study. However, let's go through the most important and interesting moments of her life.

Princess Olga and Christianity

Prayer to Saint Olga is most powerful when you understand what this great ruler went through and how she achieved her goal. By the way, the Slavic name Olga became a derivative of the Old Norse name Helga, which translates as “wise”, “sacred”, “clear”. And this left a certain imprint on her fate, character and behavior. Of course, she was a very wise and strong woman, everyone was well aware of this, and even the enemies agreed with this.

Before giving an answer to the question of how the prayer of St. Olga helps, it should be noted that Princess Olga became the first woman who, after the death of her husband, ruled Kievan Rus until 962. She was born in about 890, almost a hundred years before the baptism of Russia, and led a very dignified and pious life, living up to 80 years. Saint Olga went down in history as the first Russian princess who converted to Christianity and changed the centuries-old pagan foundations and culture of her state.

Life of a saint

From The Tale of Bygone Years it is known that Olga was from the village of Vybuty, located on Pskov land. The names of her parents are unknown, most likely, they were not at all a noble Varangian family, in any case, this fact is hinted at by the Old Norse origin of her name. The presence of Scandinavians in those places is also indicated by a number of archaeological finds.

Olga's acquaintance with the Grand Duke is described in the chronicles as follows: once Igor was hunting in the Pskov forests, where, stalking another prey, he ended up by the Velikaya River and wanted to cross to the other side. At this time, a boat sailed past with a girl whom the prince at first mistook for a young man. She was dressed in a man's attire, and he was very surprised when he saw a beautiful girl in her. The prince liked her very much, he wanted to seduce her with his sweet speeches. But the chaste Olga immediately shamed the traveler with wise words. Thus ended their first meeting.

Prophetic Oleg

Prince Igor was the sole heir of Prince Rurik, after the death of his father, the Novgorod governor became his guardian Prophetic Oleg who loved him very much and raised him as a real warrior. Soon the time came for Igor to marry, and they began to look for a worthy bride for him, but he never chose anyone. In the heart of Igor, the Pskov girl Olga has already left her mark. Then he sent his messengers there to look for her. After some time, she was brought with honors to the capital city of Kyiv, where she became the wife of the Grand Duke.

The governor, having married Igor, began to make sacrifices to the pagan gods so that they would give Igor an heir, but, without waiting for this, Oleg dies from the bite of a poisonous snake.

Olga was disappointed with the pagan gods, who for many years of sacrifice did not bring results, because she never had children. The Grand Duchess was very worried that the prince would start looking for another wife who would give birth to an heir. Then she began to tearfully and fervently pray to the one Christian God, and He heard her prayers. Soon Olga gave birth to an heir named Svyatoslav. Prince Igor, distraught with happiness, filled his wife with various expensive gifts as a token of gratitude, which she gave as a donation to the Kyiv Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah (this is the first christian temple, which still exists in Kyiv on the Dnieper).

In the study of the topic "Prayer to St. Olga - the patroness of the name" it must be noted that the princess so believed in christian god that very soon was baptized with the name Elena. The Patriarch of Constantinople blessed her with a cross carved from the life-giving wood of the Cross of the Lord. There was an inscription on it, which said that the Russian land would be resurrected along with this Holy Cross, which Princess Olga of Kyiv received today.

Since then, Princess Olga has become the mother of the throne, reviving the Christian faith in Russia. She returned to her homeland and began to preach the Christian doctrine to the pagans and build churches.

The main miracle that happened due to the spiritual asceticism of St. Olga is the baptism of Russia. Prince Vladimir of Kyiv, her grandson, did this on the instructions of his grandmother. Therefore, Orthodox Christians very often mention St. Olga and St. Vladimir together in their prayers.

Prayer to St. Olga: features

In 1547, Princess Olga was canonized as a Saint Equal to the Apostles. In Christian history, such an appeal is applied only to five women: St. Mary Magdalene, the martyr Apphia, the first martyr Thekla, the holy Empress Helen (mother of Emperor Constantine I) and the educator Nina of Georgia.

The prayer to St. Olga is read in front of the icon in order to receive her patronage in various everyday affairs. But especially women pray to her so that she intercedes before the Lord for the birth of a child, and if there are children, and especially sons, to protect them from troubles and misfortunes.

There is also a prayer to St. Olga for marriage, which begins with the words: “O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, Russian first year ...”

Before the icon of St. Olga, they pray from enemies and from anyone who wants to come into the house with unclean thoughts. Women who have lost a child or husband pray to her to cope with grief and find peace in their souls.

Prayer to Saint Olga, patroness of the name

Saint Olga is the heavenly patroness of women with this name, therefore it is especially important for them to seek prayer protection from their saint with the words “Pray to God for me, holy saint of God Olga ...”.

St. Olga's Day is celebrated on July 24 (11) and July 17 (4). Only the first date Orthodox Church honors in honor of the Mother See Kievan princess Olga, and the second - in honor of the holy passion-bearer Grand Duchess Olga (eldest daughter of Nicholas II).

Orthodox icons and prayers

Information site about icons, prayers, Orthodox traditions.

Icon of Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga meaning and what helps

"Save me, God!". Thank you for visiting our site, before you start studying the information, please subscribe to our Vkontakte group Prayers for every day. Also visit our page in Odnoklassniki and subscribe to her Prayers for every day Odnoklassniki. "God bless you!".

Saint Olga is considered the mother of the clergy in Russia. It was she and her grandson Vladimir who expelled paganism and christened Russia. In many temples and churches there is an icon of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, to whom many Christians turn for help, as the spiritual mother of the Russian people. The memory of the holy princess is venerated annually on July 11.

The meaning of the icon "Saint Olga"

The significance of this image for the Orthodox world can hardly be overestimated. It is St. Olga who owns the greatest miracle - the Baptism of All Russia. Therefore, even today many people bow in prayer to this saint.

Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga is equal in importance to the apostles, since her role in the development of Christianity is very great, and only 6 women had the opportunity to receive such a calling at one time. At baptism, Saint Olga received the name of Elena - a saint who received the Life-Giving Cross. Olga's service to the Lord was just as significant, as it contributed to the spiritual development of an entire nation.

During her lifetime, Saint Olga was distinguished by her decisive character and wisdom. She allowed herself tears only once, when she saw the dead body of her husband Igor. After his death, she ruled Russia, and her methods of leadership caused only respect and praise. During her life, she was not able to fully establish Orthodoxy in the country, but she perfectly raised her grandson Vladimir in the traditions of the faith. And he has already performed the Baptism of Russia in memory of his grandmother.

According to legend, when the relics of Princess Olga were removed, they were imperishable. They were placed in a tomb so that the faithful could see their miraculous radiance and could receive healing from various serious illnesses.

What helps the icon of St. Olga

As one of the main shrines of Christianity, the icon of St. Olga helps in different situations:

• protect your children and yourself from harm;
• experience the grief of losing a loved one;
• protect yourself from the penetration of evil forces into the house;
• gain worldly wisdom and act fairly;
• strengthen faith;
• survive dangerous situations;
• resolve conflicts and disputes.

Saint Olga is the patroness of all women who bear this name. They are advised to always have with them a prayer to the saint, written by hand, in order to resort to protection at any time. The prayer text has the following content:

Oh, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, Russian first-year-old, warm intercessor and prayer book for us before God.

We resort to you with faith and pray with love: be our helper and helper in everything for the good, and, as if in temporary 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 being grace, favorable with your prayers to God, help us in enlightening our minds and hearts with the light of the Gospel of Christ, may we prosper in faith, piety and love of Christ.

In poverty and sorrow of existing comfort, give a hand of help to the needy, intercede for the offended and the afflicted, those who have gone astray from the right faith and heresy blinded by heresy, enlighten us, and ask us from the all-merciful God all that is good and useful in life temporal and eternal, yes, it is pleasing to live here, we will be honored with the heritage eternal blessings in the infinite Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit all glory, honor and worship is due, always, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

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

O merciful Lord, my God Jesus Christ, my soul abides after Thee, and Thy right hand is dear to me: incline Thy ear to me and hear my prayer. And give me a way to find, by which I will receive to please You: for I thirst for the source of salvation.

Be my helper and don't leave me. God, my Savior, for my Father and my mother have left me, and my wife has been deprived; from him I have taken one son, and that one is disobedient and unfaithful, and so are unbelieving people. But you, Lord, have called me alone to hope.

But, Lord, I trust in Your mercy and in the abyss of Your bounty, my soul puts hope and, resorting to You, I pray: teach me to do Your will and save me from this kind of obstinate, many unfaithful people. If they have erred the essence of Your grace, but You, Lord, for the sake of Your humanity, do not despise them, but visit and call to the mind, and bring to your knowledge.

Icon of Saint Olga

The “Source of Orthodoxy” is called by Russian Orthodox believers the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess, whose holy face has been one of the most beloved images on the Russian Land since the sixteenth century. The princess, as well as her grandson Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, who, by adopting the Christian faith and spreading it to the Dnieper banks, delivered Russia from the darkness of idolatry, and continuing each other’s work, the princess and Vladimir are the personification of the maternal and paternal divine source in the development of Kievan Rus.

Concern for the spiritual enlightenment of the people

Seeing how Byzantium, which was powerful at that time, became and developed, she clearly understood that in order for the state to flourish, it is necessary not only to take care of the state's economic development and military power. Olga understood that only unity in the spiritual aspect of life could unite all the people of the state and provide solid ground for the emergence of a nationality. The Almighty told her the right decision, and, having entrusted the care of Kievan Rus to her almost adult offspring, the princess, heading a large fleet, sailed to Constantinople in order to see with her own eyes the worldly benefits resulting from faith, and at the same time to establish diplomatic relations and show military strength.

Spiritual birth in the holy font

In Byzantium, the princess was amazed a huge number churches and the beauty of the services held in them. She admiringly listened to the choral singing and learned new terms for herself - repentance, worship, the cross and the holy face. The saint was baptized by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople, and at the time of such a sacrament, the ruler of Byzantium, Constantine Porphyrogenitus himself, became Olga's godfather. After the ceremony, the princess received the name Elena, that was the name of the righteous mother of Tsar Constantine the Great, who received the Life-giving Cross of the Most High and was engaged in the promotion of the Christian faith in the Roman Empire. And taking an example from her, the baptized Righteous, after arriving in Kievan Rus, began to preach Christianity in their land.

Christian Works in Kievan Rus

The Saint brought quite a lot of holy images and church books to her homeland. Also with her, Christian clergy arrived in Kievan Rus, who were assigned the role of baptizing the inhabitants of Kyiv, who worshiped deities in those days. By order of the princess in the capital of Russia at the burial place of the first Orthodox believer princely family Askold built the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, in which they placed the holy face donated by Emperor Constantine. The reverend did a lot for the praise of the Life-Giving Trinity by the people of Kiev. According to one legend, which says that near her native village on the banks of the Velikaya River, she saw three sunbeam and immediately ordered that a cathedral be erected in this place in the name of the Holy Trinity and predicted that after a while there would be a great trading city here. Olga put up the Lord's cross and erected a cathedral, which laid the foundation for the construction of the city of Pskov. In the center of Kyiv, the Holy Princess erected the Cathedral of St. Sophia, which was dedicated in 960. His main relic began to be considered a cross, which Olga brought from Byzantium after her baptism. This cross was created from the Life-giving Tree of the Lord, and it brought many miraculous deliverances.

The sadness of the princess

But not judged yet Kievan state will be freed from dark idolatry and enlightened by the ray of Christianity. According to the annals, in Russia there were many fairly statesmen and governors who did not recognize the true faith, and among them was Prince Svyatoslav, a young man who had grown up and matured by those years. No matter how the princess tried to persuade him to Christianity, no matter how she asked to go through the sacrament of baptism, Svyatoslav still did not agree. But at the same time, he did not forbid his subjects to accept Christianity and did not allow others to disdain them. After a while, all the administration of the state passed to Svyatoslav, and the Reverend fully devoted her life to the Almighty and charitable causes. She devoted time to the state only when her son went on military campaigns.

Canonization and general church veneration

In the middle of the fifteenth century, "the head of the true faith on the Russian land" in the church was canonized as a saint. And in the same year, her nationwide praise was confirmed. Since that time, the creation of icons of the Holy One begins. It should be noted that for the entire formation of Orthodoxy, the Blessed Olga also entered the number of women who were numbered among the images of saints. The holy image, the essence of which is contained in the image itself, is the righteous of the Lord, who holds a cross in her right hand, denotes faith, and in her left hand is the image of the church, symbolizing her preaching activity and the conversion of her people to Orthodoxy, who worshiped pagan deities. The same attributes are depicted on the holy images of other righteous people, for example, the holy princess Tamara.

Icons revered and loved

The venerable princess is revered as the spiritual mother of all Slavic people, because it was she who laid the foundation for the spread of Christianity on Russian soil. A large number of churches were built in memory of Saint Olga. Such temples have been visited by believers for many years to pray before the holy face of the Blessed Olga. And in our time, the flow of believers who want to bow to her image does not stop. For example, the face of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess in the capital of Russia in the adjoining cathedral, located in the Tourist Center of the Capital Patriarchate, enjoys the greatest reverence, which is also the highest cathedral in Moscow. This temple is located on the top floor of the fifteen-story Universitetsky Hotel, which is visited every day by thousands of Orthodox believers who come from all over Russia. The holy face of the princess in St. Petersburg, located in the church erected in her name, located in the city of Strelna, is also famous for great reverence. This shrine, built in Mikhailovsky Square, which stretches on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, is constantly visited by a great number of believers. And many sink into the soul of the holy face, on which she is depicted holding a cross, presented to her by a monk from Constantinople. This image is the icon of the Reverend.

What do they pray for before this image?

It is believed that a prayer petition before the holy image of St. Olga can give people wisdom in life situations and sends them His God's mercy, in such an amount that is necessary for any of those who turn in his life filled with anxieties and temptations. They also pray to the Holy Righteous for the strengthening of Russia, for protection and softening of hearts. There is evidence of cases when, with the help of the holy face of the Reverend, they got rid of psychological ailments. In what cases can the icon of the Saint help? The correct answer is that such prayers can help in almost all cases, provided that your petition comes from the heart and is pronounced sincerely.