This beautiful and proud woman suffered a difficult fate. Early marriage, the death of her husband Igor, and constant internecine war made her powerful and courageous. During the reign of her son Svyatoslav, anti-Christian unrest broke out here and there. The princess, who converted to Christianity in Greece, secretly supported priests, however, when the princess’s days were numbered, she regained her former firmness.
The greatest woman of all times, the Equal-to-the-Apostles princess, ruler of Rus' and her first saint, remained in the memory of generations as a holy and wise woman.
The miraculous relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga
Presbyter Gregory, present at her baptism in Constantinople in 957, was given orders to bury Olga according to Christian traditions. Before her death, the patroness of the Russian people prayed for the pardon of Rus' and for God to grant mercy to the hearts of the Slavs to turn to the Almighty Creator and Savior Jesus.
Equal to the Apostles Princess Olga
God glorified the faithful daughter of Christianity in her incorruptible relics for her good deeds.
Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga passed away into eternity in 969 and was buried in the Kyiv Church of the Tithes. During the reign of the Great Vladimir, she was canonized as a saint.
Read about Saint Olga:
- Icon of Saint Princess Olga
- Akathist to Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga
The Grand Duchess managed to sow Christian foundations in her grandson Vladimir, which later bore fruit in the adoption of Christianity throughout Rus'.
Important! The relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga were found to be incorrupt when reburied. Every true Christian believer could see them through a special window in the sarcophagus, which stood in the Church of the Tithes.
Even after death, the holy princess of Rus' preached the resurrection and eternal life in Christ Jesus. Those of little faith or doubters were not allowed to see the holy relics.
In 1240, during the Tatar invasion, the imperishable remains were buried under the rubble of the Tithe Church.
In 1547, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized the Grand Duchess as a saint equal to the apostles.
In the 17th century, the Great Metropolitan of Kiev Peter Mogila, while cleaning the ruins of the Church of the Tithes, opened the holy relics and held a prayer service during their burial in a small temple built at the excavation site.
Church of the Tithes - the burial place of the relics of St. Olga
Unfortunately, in the 18th century, the relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga disappeared from the temple to God knows where and have not been found to this day.
Read about other saints recognized as Equal-to-the-Apostles:
- Icon of Saint Cyril Equal to the Apostles
- Life of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Cosmas of Aetolia
- Icon of Equal-to-the-Apostles Helen
Prayers
Troparion, tone 1
With the wings of the God-mind, having fixed your mind,/ you flew above the visible creation,/ seeking God and the Creator of all things,/ and, having found Him, you received His birth through Baptism:/ the tree is alive hence you enjoy, // you remain incorruptible forever, Olgo, ever-glorious.
Troparion, tone 8
In you, God-wise Elena, / you know the image of salvation in the Russian country, / how, having received the bath of holy Baptism, / you followed Christ, / creating and teaching, even if you left the idolatry beauty,/ to take care of souls, things more immortal,/ Likewise, your spirit, Equal-to-the-Apostles, rejoices with the Angels.
Troparion, tone 4
Having abandoned the flattery of idols,/ you followed Christ, the Immortal Bridegroom,/ the God-Wise One,/ rejoicing in His devil, unceasingly praying// for those who honor the holy memory with faith and love fuck yours.
Introparion, Hellenic
(from the Menaion MP)
, tone 3
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles to the chosen one of Christ,/ Princess Olgo,/ gave your people the verbal and pure milk of Christ to drink,/ praying to the Merciful God,/ that sins may be forgiven/ / will give to our souls.
Troparion
(from the Greek Menaion, translation by Natalia Bakhareva)
, voice 3
The holy beginning of the Divine faith/ you appeared in Russia,/ you came to the grace of Savior/ and brought your people to her,/ like a true queen and a host of God Naya./ Glorious Olgo,/ Pray to Christ God // grant us great mercy.
Kontakion, tone 4
Let us sing today to God, the Benefactor of all, / who glorified Olga the God-Wise in Russia, / so that through her prayers / he will grant remission of sins to our souls.
Kontakion, tone 4
Today the grace of God appears to all, / having glorified Olga the God-Wise in Russia, / with her prayers, O Lord, / / grant people remission of sin.
Greatness
We magnify you, / blessed and Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, / and honor your holy memory, / who trampled idols, / and who enlightened many Russian people with holy Baptism.
Foreign greatness
We magnify you, / holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, / like the morning dawn that rose in our land / and the light of the Orthodox faith / who foretold to her people.
Literature
- About the origin of Olga
- arch. Leonidas, “Where did St. come from? Grand Duchess Olga of Russia? (“Russian Starina”, 1888, book 7)
- I. I. Malyshevsky, “The origin of the Russian Grand Duchess Olga St.” (“Kyiv Starina”, 1889, 7 and 8 et seq.).
- prose (see “Readings in the historical community of Nestor let.,” II, and Macarius, “History of the Russian Church”),
- in Chetya-Minea Macarius and in the Book of Degrees,
THE LIFE OF THE FUTURE SAINT OLGA BEFORE BAPTISM, HER ORIGIN AND THE BEGINNING OF REIGN
Saint Olga is the first ruler of Rus' to convert to Christianity. Her life is not a product of fiction, not a legend, but a series of scientifically proven events. Many sources call the saint the spiritual mother of Russia. The story about her life was already included in the first ancient Russian chronicle, “The Tale of Bygone Years.” Saint Olga is all the more revered by Orthodox people because she serves as a model in many areas of life.
The future princess came from the family of Izborsk princes in the village of Vybuty near Pskov
Surprisingly, she became the bride of the Kyiv prince Igor: according to legend, the prince was hunting in those places, and while crossing the river, he noticed that the ferryman was a beautiful girl. Having begun to give her unambiguous hints, the prince received a decisive rebuff: Olga declared that she would rather throw herself into the river than be dishonored
(Note that this happened in pagan times, but the power of the moral concepts of the girl, the future saint, was very great). Prince Igor retreated, but remembered the brave beauty, and when his guardian Prince Oleg began to choose a bride for his named son, gathering all the girls of Rus' in Kyiv, Igor himself asked to bring a chaste girl from Vybut to the capital. Fortunately, Olga was not only wise and beautiful, but also came from a princely family.
The married couple was not given long-lasting happiness. Their first-born Svyatoslav was only three years old when the princess became a widow: the Drevlyan tribe treacherously killed Prince Igor in one of their military campaigns.
Remaining the only ruler of the Russian land - after all, Prince Oleg had already died, and Svyatoslav was still a baby - Olga was not at a loss. She began to decide state affairs and showed excellent abilities in government. Rumors of this also reached the Drevlyans: rightly fearful of the revenge of the young widow, whom they initially considered weak and unable to respond to the murder of her husband, they sent three embassies to Olga, offering marriage to their prince. The princess destroyed all these embassies, and then, under the guise of consent to the marriage, she entered the Drevlyan city and killed many. After some time, she gathered a squad and completely defeated the army of the Drevlyans, capturing their main city.
Hagiographers (compilers of the life) of the saint write that such cruelty is not an example for Christian imitation: having accepted Christianity, she, according to the word of Christ, began to pray for the offenders. They note, however, that the saint spent her entire life searching for the path of honor and truth, which is why the Lord enlightened her over time with the Light of His Truth. The famous chronicler Nestor wrote that Olga was looking for the best in the world and found a priceless pearl - Christ God and His teaching.
The campaign against the Drevlyans strengthened the princess’s authority, gave her the loyalty of her squad and the respect of her subjects. Her wise reforms of the Russian state, which was in its infancy, are known from history: the division of lands into graveyards-districts, which after Epiphany she began to gather around churches; the emergence of new cities, the flourishing of trade. It was Princess Olga who first thought about unifying the state under one ideology, one faith - which Prince Vladimir planned and implemented in more detail over time. Only a unified spiritual life could make Rus' a state - after all, in pagan times, different tribes and regions recognized different gods as their patrons, which even caused armed conflicts.
Life without a husband
The care of her son and the principality fell on the shoulders of the young woman. Olga, merciless to her enemies, was very kind and fair to her subjects. The people loved her for her kind heart. She traveled across the Russian land, arranging the political and economic life of the young state. It was she who centralized the power of the Kyiv prince. She ruled the state not as a weak woman, but as a strong and reasonable man. She firmly held power in her hands and courageously defended herself from enemies.
Until the end of her days, Olga lived as an honest widow, not wanting to get married again. Her chaste lifestyle became an example for posterity. Olga reigned until Svyatoslav grew up. After that, she gave up the throne to him without dispute, and she herself moved away from governing the state and lived in Vyshgorod. She established that two-thirds of city taxes should be given to Kyiv, and a third should be left for the needs of her city and court. It was under Olga that the first borders of Kievan Rus were determined, outposts appeared where heroes glorified in epics served, guarding the peace of the Russian land. Under Olga, Rus' began to become a great power.
Prayers to the saints
Memory: July 11/24
Princess Olga, in her baptism Elena is called “the head of the faith” and “the root of Orthodoxy” in the Russian land. Patroness of the sovereign's people. They pray to her for children, for raising them in faith and piety, for admonishing non-believing children and relatives, or those who have fallen into sects.
Troparion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia, tone 1
Having fixed your mind with the wings of God's understanding, you flew above visible creatures, seeking God and the Creator of all things, and, having found Him, you again received birth through Baptism, enjoying the tree of the animal, remaining incorruptible forever, Olgo, ever-glorious.
Kontakion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia, tone 4
Let us sing today to God, the Benefactor of all, who glorified the God-wise Olga in Russia, and through her prayers he will grant remission of sins to our souls.
First prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia
O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, accept 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; We will also be delivered from future torments by honestly creating your holy memory and glorifying God, who is glorified in the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
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 Olgo! You rejected pagan evil and wickedness, you believed in the One True Trinitarian God and you 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 race. You are a warm prayer book and intercessor for the kingdom of all Russia, for its kings, rulers, the army and for all people. For this reason, we humbly pray to you: look at our weaknesses and beg the most merciful King of Heaven, so that He will not be angry with us, as through our weaknesses we sin all day long, and may He not destroy us with our iniquities, but may He have mercy and save us in His mercy, may He implant His saving fear in our hearts, may He enlighten our minds with His grace, so that we understand the ways of the Lord, leave the paths of wickedness and error, and strive in the paths of salvation and truth, the unwavering fulfillment of the commandments of God and the statutes of the Holy Church. Pray, blessed Olgo, to God, the Lover of Mankind, to add His great mercy to us: may he deliver us from the invasion of foreigners, from internal disorder, rebellion and strife, from famine, deadly diseases and from all evil; may he give us the goodness of the air and the fruitfulness of the earth, may he give the shepherds zeal for the salvation of their flock, may all people hasten to diligently correct their services, may they have love among themselves and like-mindedness, may they strive faithfully for the good of the Fatherland and the Holy Church, may the light of saving faith 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, we will be worthy of eternal bliss in heaven, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen.
Third prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga of Russia
O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olgo, first saint of Russia, warm intercessor and prayer book for us before God. We resort to you with faith and pray with love: be your helper and accomplice in everything for our good, and just as in 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 even now, in the heavenly lordship, favorable With your prayers to God, help us in enlightening our minds and hearts with the light of the Gospel of Christ, so that we may advance in faith, piety and love of Christ. In poverty and sorrow, give comfort to the needy, give a helping hand to the needy, stand up for those who are offended and shepherded, those who have gone astray from the right faith and are blinded by heresies, and ask us from the All-Bountiful God for all that is good and useful in temporal and eternal life, so that having lived here well, we will be worthy of an inheritance eternal blessings in the endless Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, belongs all glory, honor and worship, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We magnify you, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, as the morning dawn has risen in our land and foreshadowed the light of the Orthodox faith to its people.
Read other prayers in the “Orthodox Prayer Book” section
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Ruler of Rus'
No, this is not the image that the temple icon shows us today.
Saint Olga would be born later from the font of Constantinople, and then a strong and merciless ruler appeared before the tribes and peoples inhabiting Ancient Rus', revealing in herself the power worthy of an outstanding statesman. And with difficulty, but her subjects submitted. The wise princess achieved the strengthening of her centralized power by dividing the lands under her control into “cemeteries” - separate areas in which she placed a governor, and introduced a quitrent to each of them, which she sent armed detachments to collect. The very name “cemeteries” is believed to have come from these same “guests” who never left empty-handed. It was expensive for people, but it was good for the treasury, and therefore for the benefit of the state.
And guided by the firm hand of the many-wise ruler, Rus' strengthened in every possible way. The economy developed, and at the same time new cities appeared. Every year the young prince Svyatoslav grew up, who, upon reaching the required years, was destined to take control of the state into his own hands.
Christianity in Rus'
The worship of pagan gods, during the reign of the princely family, was still strong among the people, but the fight against it entered a new stage
The Church of Christ during the reign of Igor becomes a very important and significant force. In everyday life, writing based on the Cyrillic alphabet was widely used, this helped Christianity penetrate deeper into Russian lands, but the prince was never able to eradicate pagan customs, and remained a pagan
The best article for you, go to: Prayers to Seraphim of Sarov for healing, for trade, for marriage for every day
Some historians blamed the princess for the death of the prince, since she raised a tribute that the people refused to pay. Worshiping pagan gods, the woman took revenge on the Drevlyans for a long time for the death of her husband, but being a wise and intelligent woman, she observed the immaculate life of Christians, and she was captivated by the truth of Holy Scripture.
Dream Interpretation - Icons
Dreams about icons often reflect either POWER or unity. You want to feel unity with the Universe, and icons are the right link to make this unity possible. Sometimes you may dream of a situation in which you need supernatural power to resolve a conflict. Icons in this case will serve as a guide or symbol of such power. There are a huge number of icon images available to all people. The ones you find in your dreams will also be relevant to your life experiences. (For example, crucifix, full MOON, Star of David, Stonehenge, Buddha). Is the experience somehow related to icon images related to sacred or supernatural phenomena that took place in your life? In your dream, do other people honor these icons or neglect them? How do you feel about this?
We advise you to study Prayer to the Icon of the “Three Joys”
The bitterness of early widowhood
It was she who he preferred to all the other brides who had gathered in Kyiv when the time came to name his chosen one. And he made her his wife and Grand Duchess of Kievan Rus. But Olga was not given long family happiness. As soon as their first-born Svyatoslav was born, misfortune befell the young princess - Igor suffered a cruel death in the deep forest thickets at the hands of the treacherous Drevlyans who inhabited those lands.
The inconsolable widow grieved and died, but her grief could not be helped, but she had to raise her son, and now she remained the sole ruler of the Russian land. All state concerns now fell on her female shoulders. But first, in order to calm her soul and honor her husband’s memory as it should, Olga decided to punish the killers of her husband.
It was only later, having become a Christian, that she began, according to the teachings of the true faith, to pray for her enemies and forgive offenses. Then she poured out all the insane rage of the dark pagan on the destroyers of her husband. Having twice lured their embassies to Kyiv, she ordered some to be buried alive, and others to be burned with fire. And in order to fill her soul to the brim with enemy blood, she moved her squads to the cities of the Drevlyans, where the number of killed enemies was in the thousands.
