Princess Olga is certainly an outstanding personality. She went down in history as the creator of statehood and culture in Kievan Rus. In pagan times, she ruled the principality with a firm hand, united the Russian lands. Having been baptized at the age of 60, she put all the strength of her soul to spread the faith of Christ in the territory of Russia. For this feat and immediately after death, people considered her a saint, and in 1547 she was officially ranked as a saint. What does the icon of Olga look like? Photo can be seen below.
So who was this great woman and what was her life path?
Olga's ancestors were Varangians, natives of Scandinavia. At birth, she received the name Helga, only having married a Russian prince, she began to be called Olga in a Russian way. The exact date of her birth is unknown, just as there is no data on her childhood. It is only known that she lived in the entire Vybutovskaya village by the Velikaya River. In those years, Prince Oleg, known from history as the Prophet, ruled. Once, his young nephew Igor hunted in the Pskov lands and saw rich hunting grounds on the other side of the river. He asked the young man in the boat to transport him to the other side. Having sailed from the shore, the young prince saw that a girl of marvelous beauty was sitting in front of him. The young prince began to pester the beauty with obscene offers. But she showed persistence of character and shamed the prince. She even promised to drown herself if he did not stop his obscene courtship. This sobered Igor, cooled his ardor. When it was time for Igor to get married, many noble girls from different places arrived at the court, but then he remembered the impregnable beauty and sent matchmakers to her parents' house.
Young played a wedding, but its exact date is unknown. Olga gave birth to her first and only son Svyatoslav in 942. Little is known about Olga's life with her husband either. He was a warrior, a pagan, conquered the surrounding lands. In 945, Igor and his retinue went to the Drevlyansk land to collect tribute. But having arrived at the place, he announced that the rate of tax was doubled. Angry residents of the Drevlyansky land killed the prince with a squad. Fearing revenge for the murder of the prince of Kiev, they proposed that the young princess marry their ruler Malom. Olga turned out to be a skilled strategist. She gave her consent. But as soon as the embassy of Drevlyans arrived in Kiev, it was put to painful execution - it was buried alive. The second embassy was burned alive in a bathhouse. After Olga gathered a squad and led a campaign against the Drevlyans. With her, she took her young son Svyatoslav, who was then barely 5 years old. No persuasion and promises from enemies did not soften the heart of a young widow. More than 5 thousand men were killed in that battle under the walls of the capital of the Drevlyansky lands of Iskorosten. A year later, Olga again with the army approached this city and burned it to the ground. All survivors were sold into slavery. Cruel times, cruel manners!
Life without a husband
On the shoulders of a young woman lay care for her son and the principality. Merciless to the enemies Olga was very kind and fair to her subjects. The people loved her for a kind heart. She traveled the Russian land, arranging the political and economic life of the young state. It was she who centralized the power of the Kiev prince. She ruled the state not as a weak woman, but as a strong and intelligent 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 anymore. Her chaste lifestyle became an example for posterity. Olga reigned until Svyatoslav did not grow up. After that, she ceded the throne to him without argument, and she left the government and lived in Vyshgorod. She instituted to give two-thirds of the city fees to Kiev, and a third to leave for the needs of her city and yard. It was under Olga that the first borders of Kievan Rus were defined, outposts appeared, on which the heroes glorified in epics served, guarding the peace of the Russian land. Under Olga, Russia began to become a great power.
Search for God
Olga was a pagan from birth. But she was looking for God. Looking at Byzantium, she realized that power alone was not enough for the state, it was also necessary that the spiritual life of people was arranged. The princess with a large fleet went with a squad to Constantinople in order to see firsthand the service in the Christian church and learn the teachings of Christ. History is silent about the reasons that prompted Olga to take such a step. Perhaps she wanted to make an alliance with a strong neighbor, or she was driven by other thoughts. Historians agree on one thing - the decision to baptize was voluntary and welcome. But if Olga just wanted to be baptized, she could have done it at home. By that time, Christian priests were already in Russia.
She, with great fanfare, went to Constantinople to not only learn about Christ, but also to show the greatness of Kievan Rus. Seeing the beauty of the churches, visiting services, hearing the gospel, Olga wholeheartedly believed in the Savior of the world. The sacrament of baptism was performed by the Patriarch of Constantinople Theophylact himself (933-956). Emperor Konstantin Bagryanorodny (912-959) became her godfather. At baptism, she received the name Helen in honor of the first Christian queen, who devoted her life to the search for the Holy Cross. According to legend, the patriarch blessed Olga with the words: "Blessed are you in the wives of the Russians, because you loved the light, but left the darkness."
In addition to baptism, Olga's "going" to the Greeks also had diplomatic significance. Being at the court of the emperor, she held several negotiations and business meetings.
Returning to Kiev, she brought with her icons, holy books. Thus began her apostolic ministry. Under her leadership, the first temple was erected in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which was built over the burial place of the first Kiev Christian Prince Askold. Many Kievites converted St. Olga to Christianity, tirelessly traveled through the lands, spreading the Orthodox faith and erecting churches throughout the Russian land. It was she who laid the foundation for the special veneration of the Holy Trinity, which still distinguishes the Orthodox faith in Russia.
Relationship with son
Despite the missionary work and many converts to the Orthodox faith, Olga was not able to convert to Christianity the only son of Svyatoslav. Although she did not give up trying to do so until her last breath. The son stubbornly repeated that if he abandons paganism, the whole squad will make fun of him. Although he did not impede others in choosing his faith and did not build the obstacles of his mother in her activities. At the same time, many opponents of Orthodoxy tried to persuade Svyatoslav to their side.
Olga raised her grandchildren in the Orthodox faith. But she did not dare to baptize them without the permission of her son. This Olga showed an example of great humility, worthy of respect and admiration. A woman who cruelly avenged her husband’s death, spreading the Orthodox faith throughout Russia, did not dare to argue with her own son, showing respect for his feelings. However, her influence on her grandson, Prince Vladimir, was enormous. It was he who became another pillar of Orthodoxy and the baptizer of Russia.
Olga prophesied a bad end to her son more than once, and her prophecy came true. Svyatoslav fell in battle with the Pecheneg Prince Kurei, who made a cup from his skull. Inserting it in a frame of gold, Kurya used it during feasts, boasting a victory over the Russian prince. But this was after the death of Olga.
last years of life
At the end of her life's journey, many sorrows fell to Princess Olga. When she was in old age, in Russia there was a triumph of paganism. The princess, a zealot of Orthodoxy, had to secretly keep a priest in her house to perform services and required. But she raised her grandchildren in Orthodoxy at her own peril and risk.
In 969, the Pechenegs attacked Kiev. At this time, the squad of Svyatoslav was far from the capital city, but Princess Olga was able to repulse the invaders with the help of a small army, commanded by governor Pretić. By this time Olga was already in her advanced years and was seriously ill. Sensing the approach of death, she began to earnestly pray, crying out to God, praying for a dispensation of the fate of the state and the whole nation. She did not leave her prayers until the last hour. Svyatoslav was near his mother until her death. On July 11, 969, the princess died. According to the will, she was buried according to Christian traditions.
Veneration of Olga
In 1007, her grandson, Prince Vladimir, transferred her relics to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Kiev. The princess was revered as a saint almost immediately after her death. Her relics were like an icon for believers. Olga, after her death, gave hope and healing to those who asked her for intercession. Her relics miraculously did not undergo decay. Even a thousand years ago, believers who approached the cancer with hope in their hearts saw light emanating from relics. Those who approached without faith in the heart did not get what they wanted.
Canonization and the day of veneration of St. Olga
In 1547, St. Olga was counted among the saints . The icon with its image can be executed in various versions. They will be discussed below. Icon Olga is venerated on the same day as July 24 (old style July 11). The Church especially reveres the princess for her work in spreading the faith as equal to the apostles, as she brought Orthodox faith to Russia.
What to pray before the icon of St. Olga
Each believer in the house has many icons, but the icon of Princess Olga takes pride of place. And this is not surprising. After all, the icon Olga instructs and strengthens believers, grants wisdom, fills hearts with light and love. During her life, Olga was a supporter of a strong state, and she put all her strength into strengthening Russia, so after death she does not leave those who trust in her. The icon of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga helps those who pray for the strengthening of the country. Also about softening the hearts of offenders, about enlightenment. The relics and icon Olga in the Church of the Tithes heal the sick. Pilgrims from all over the world are reaching for them. This icon of the name of Olga will bring good luck and patronage, so all owners of this sonorous name must certainly have the image of their patroness with them.
Princess Olga's Cross
At baptism Olga received from the hands of the patriarch a cross carved from a single piece of the Life-Giving Tree of the Lord. The inscription was carved on it: "The Russian land was being renewed by the Holy Cross, Olga, the noble princess, also accepted it." This cross became the main shrine of the church of St. Sophia, which was consecrated in 960, during the life of Olga. Later, this cross was transferred to another Kiev temple. But after the capture of Kiev by the Lithuanians in the 13th century, the cross from the temple was stolen, and its fate is still unknown.
Iconography
The icon of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is depicted according to tradition for Equal-to-the-Apostles Saints. More often she is depicted standing, holding a cross in her right hand, symbolizing the preaching of Christ. In her left hand she has a symbolic image of the temple. Often there is another icon. Olga is depicted with Prince Vladimir, the baptist of Russia.
Order of Princess Olga
In 1988, Patriarch Pimen established the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. This order is awarded to women who have made a special contribution to the ministry of the Church.
Princess Olga lived most of her life as a pagan. Not knowing the laws of Christianity, she strove with her heart to abide by them, leading a righteous life. Having been baptized at the age of 60, she brought enlightenment to the Russian land for 15 years, becoming the godmother of all Christians in Russia. The icon of Olga supports the worshipers. The meaning of her name is “wise,” and the princess justified him fully. A woman with an unbending will, a courageous warrior, intelligent and diplomatic - this is how she went down in history.