Since ancient times, people in the Russian land have called the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga the “principal of the faith” and the “root of Orthodoxy”. Olga's baptism was marked by the prophetic words of the patriarch who baptized her: “Blessed are you among Russian wives, for you have left the darkness and loved the Light. Russian sons will glorify you to the last generation! At baptism, the Russian princess was honored with the name of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Elena, who worked hard to spread Christianity in the vast Roman Empire and found the Life-Giving Cross on which the Lord was crucified. Like her heavenly patroness, Olga became an Equal-to-the-Apostles preacher of Christianity in the vast expanses of the Russian land. There are many chronological inaccuracies and mysteries in the chronicle evidence about her, but doubts can hardly arise about the reliability of most of the facts of her life, brought to our time by the grateful descendants of the holy princess, the organizer of the Russian land. Let's take a look at her life story.

The name of the future educator of Russia and her homeland, the oldest of the chronicles - "The Tale of Bygone Years" calls in the description of the marriage 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 near 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 "in the Pskov region" 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. The carrier was not only beautiful, but chaste and intelligent. She shamed Igor, reminding him of the princely dignity of the ruler and judge, who should be a "bright example of good deeds" for his subjects. 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 principalities. But none of them pleased him. And then he remembered the "wonderful in girls" Olga and sent for her a relative of his prince Oleg. So Olga became the wife of Prince Igor, the Grand Russian Duchess.

After the marriage, Igor went on a campaign against the Greeks, and returned from it as a father: his son Svyatoslav was born. Soon Igor was killed by the Drevlyans. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Kyiv prince, the Drevlyans sent envoys to Princess Olga, offering her to marry their ruler Mal. 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 princely 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 public 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. “Catching her (hunting places) were all over the earth, established signs, her places and graveyards,” the chronicler writes, “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 her village Olgichi exists to this day. Graveyards (from the word "guest" - a merchant) became the mainstay of the grand duke's power, the centers of ethnic and cultural unification of the Russian people.

Life tells the story of Olga’s work in this way: “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 by her own people, loved 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, but 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's princely power until the days of his age. When the latter matured, she handed over to him all the affairs of government, and herself, having abstained from rumors and care, she lived outside the cares of management, indulging in the deeds of doing good.

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 (“country of cities”), as they called Russia, with goods. Scandinavians, Germans willingly joined the Russian army as mercenaries. Russia became a great power.

As a wise ruler, Olga saw on the example of the Byzantine Empire 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 author of the “Book of Powers” ​​writes: “Her / Olga / achievement 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 her heart eyes she found the path of knowing God and followed it without hesitation. The Monk Nestor the chronicler narrates: “From an early age, Blessed Olga sought wisdom, which is the best thing in this world, and found a valuable pearl - Christ.”

Having made her choice, Grand Duchess Olga, entrusting Kyiv to her grown son, sets off with a large fleet to Constantinople. Old Russian chroniclers will call this act of Olga "walking", it combined 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,” narrates the life of St. Olga. According to the chronicle, in Constantinople Olga decides to become a Christian. The Sacrament of Baptism was performed over her by the Patriarch of Constantinople Theophylact (933 - 956), and the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912 - 959), who left in his essay "On the Ceremonies of the Byzantine Court" detailed description ceremonies during Olga's stay in Constantinople. At one of the receptions, the Russian Princess was presented with a golden dish adorned with precious stones. Olga donated it to the sacristy of Hagia Sophia, where she saw it and described it in early XIII century, Russian diplomat Dobrynya Yadreykovich, later Archbishop Anthony of Novgorod: “The dish is great gold serving Olga Russian, when she took tribute, going to Tsargrad: 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: "Renew the Russian land with the Holy Cross, it was also received by Olga, the noble princess."

Olga returned to Kyiv with icons, liturgical books - her apostolic ministry began. She erected a temple in the name of St. Nicholas over the grave of Askold, the first Christian prince of Kyiv, and converted many Kyivans 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.

Saint Olga marked the beginning of a special veneration in Russia of the Most Holy Trinity. 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 her companions, who were witnesses of the vision, Olga said prophetically: “Let 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 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, the glorious Russian city, which has since been called the "House of the Holy Trinity". By mysterious ways of spiritual succession, through four centuries, this veneration was transmitted Saint Sergius Radonezh.

On May 11, 960, the church of Hagia Sophia, the Wisdom of God, was consecrated in Kyiv. This day was celebrated in the Russian Church as a special holiday. The main shrine of the temple was the cross received by Olga at baptism in Constantinople. The temple built by Olga burned down in 1017, and in its place Yaroslav the Wise erected the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Irina, and transferred the shrines of St. Sophia's Olga Church to the still standing stone church of 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: “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 to us. The apostolic works of the princess met with secret and open resistance from the pagans. Among the boyars and combatants in Kyiv, there were many people who, according to the chroniclers, “had a hatred for Wisdom,” like St. 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. “The Tale of Bygone Years” tells about it this way: “Olga lived with her son Svyatoslav, and she 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, not knowing that if someone does not listen to his mother, he will get into trouble, as it is said: "If someone does not listen to his father or mother, then he will die." Moreover, he was also angry with his mother ... But Olga loved her son Svyatoslav when she said: “God's will be done. If God wants to have mercy on my descendants and the Russian land, may he command their hearts to turn to God, as it was given to me. And saying this, she prayed for her son and for his people all day and night, taking care of her son until he matured.

Despite the success of her trip to Constantinople, Olga was unable to persuade the emperor to agree on two important issues: on the dynastic marriage of Svyatoslav with the Byzantine princess and on the conditions for restoring the metropolis that existed under Askold in Kyiv. Therefore, St. Olga turns her eyes to the West - the Church was at that time united. It is unlikely that the Russian princess could have known about the theological differences between the Greek and Latin creeds.

In 959, a German chronicler writes: “The ambassadors of Elena, the queen of the Russians, who was baptized in Constantinople, came to the king and asked 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 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. When Adalbert appeared in Kyiv in 962, 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 of Adalbert's mission tell.

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. Saint 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 Saint Olga. Her consolation was the glorious military victories of the Russian army. Svyatoslav defeated the ancient enemy of the Russian state - the Khazar Khaganate, forever crushing the power of the Jewish rulers of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and the lower Volga region. 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 of Svyatoslav, surrounded with his retinue by a huge Greek army: “We will not disgrace the Russian land, but we will lay our bones here! The dead have no shame!” Svyatoslav dreamed of creating a huge Russian state from the Danube to the Volga, which would unite Russia and other Slavic peoples. Saint Olga understood that with all the courage and courage of the Russian squads, they would not be able to cope with the ancient empire of the Romans, which would not allow the strengthening of pagan Russia. But the son did not listen to his mother's warnings.

Saint Olga had to endure many sorrows at the end of her life. The son finally moved to Pereyaslavets on the Danube. While in Kyiv, she 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 recent years, in the midst of the triumph of paganism, she, once revered by all the mistress of the state, who was baptized by the Ecumenical 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 sentiment. In 968 Kyiv was besieged by the Pechenegs. The Holy Princess 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. Saint Olga, already seriously ill, asked her son not to leave until her death. She did not lose hope of turning her son's heart to God, and on her deathbed she did not stop preaching: “Why are you leaving 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 pagans. 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 Tsargrad to His Holiness the 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 accepted by the hands of God. On July 11, 969, Saint Olga died, “and her son and grandchildren and all people wept for her with great weeping.” Presbyter Gregory fulfilled her will exactly.

Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga was canonized at the council of 1547, which confirmed her widespread veneration in Russia back in the pre-Mongol era.

God glorified the "master" of faith in the Russian land with miracles and incorruptible relics. Under Holy Prince Vladimir, the relics of St. Olga were transferred to the Tithe Church of the Dormition Holy Mother of God and laid in a sarcophagus, in which it was customary to place the relics of saints in the Orthodox East. There was a window in the church wall above the tomb of St. Olga; and if someone with faith came to the relics, he saw the power through the window, and some saw the radiance emanating from them, and many who were possessed by diseases received healing. But for those who came with little faith, the window was opened, and he could not see the relics, but only the coffin.

So, after her death, Saint Olga preached eternal life and resurrection, filling the believers with joy and admonishing the unbelievers.

Her prophecy about the evil death of her son came true. Svyatoslav, according to the chronicler, was killed by the Pecheneg prince Kurei, who cut off Svyatoslav's head and made a cup out of the skull, bound it with gold, and drank from it during feasts.

The prophecy of the saint about the Russian land was also fulfilled. The prayerful labors and deeds of St. Olga confirmed the greatest deed of her grandson St. Vladimir (Comm. 15 (28) July) - the Baptism of Russia. 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.

Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga became the spiritual mother of the Russian people; through her, their enlightenment with the light of the faith of Christ began.

The pagan name Olga corresponds to the male Oleg (Helgi), which means "saint". Although the pagan understanding of holiness differs from the Christian one, it presupposes in a person a special spiritual attitude, chastity and sobriety, intelligence and insight. Revealing the spiritual meaning of this name, the people called Oleg Prophetic, and Olga - Wise. Subsequently, Saint Olga will be called God-wise, emphasizing her main gift, which became the basis of the entire ladder of holiness of Russian wives - wisdom. The Most Holy Theotokos herself, the House of the Wisdom of God, blessed Saint Olga for her apostolic labors. Her construction of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv - the mother of Russian cities - was a sign of the participation of the Mother of God in the Dispensation of Holy Russia. Kyiv, i.e. Christian Kievan Rus, became the third Lot of the Mother of God in the Universe, and the establishment of this Lot on earth began through the first of the holy women of Russia - the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga.

The Christian name of St. Olga - Elena (translated from the ancient Greek "Torch"), became an expression of the burning of her spirit. Saint Olga (Elena) accepted the spiritual fire, which has not been extinguished in the entire thousand-year history of Christian Russia.

“On-the-head-of-no-tsei-ve-ry” and “the root of it is right-of-glory” in the Russian land from the ancient-le-na-zy-va-li holy equal-noap -o-so-ol-gu lu-di. The christening of Ol-gi would have known-me-no-va-but pro-ro-che-ski-mi words-va-mi pat-ri-ar-ha, christened her : “Bless-the-word-of-veins-on you in the Russian wives, for you left the darkness and the light. Pra-glory-lyat you will be Russian sons until the next-not-n-th ro-yes! At Baptism, the Russian princess-gi-nya was given the name of the holy equal-noap-o-stol-noy Helena, a lot of labor diva -sya in the race of the pro-country of christianity in the huge Roman empire and found the Life-in-creating Cross, on which -then the Lord was crucified. In-do-but-her-heavenly in-a-kro-vi-tel-ni-tse, Ol-ga became equal-noap-o-so-so-pro-by-ved-nice christi -en-stva on the vast expanses of the Russian land. There are a lot of chro-but-lo-gi-ches-sky inaccuracies and for-ha-docks in the let-the-written testimonies about her, but it’s unlikely that they can -nick-know with-me-in-the-hundred-ver-no-sti of the pain of the facts of her life, before-not-sen-ny until our time bla-go-dar-us-mi-by-that-ka-mi of the holy prince-gi-ni - arrange-and-tel-ni-tsy of the Russian land. About-ra-tim-sya to in-west-in-va-niyu about her life.

The name of the bu-du-schey pro-sve-tel-ni-tsy Ru-si and ro-di-nu of her ancient-shay from let-to-pi-this - “According to the news of the times years "na-zy-va-et in the description of the same-thread-would Ki-ev-sky-prince Igo-rya:" And bring him the same-well from Pskov-va, in the name of Ol-ga. Ioaki-mov-sky let-the-piss-nya-et clarifies that she comes-above-le-zha-la to the family of the princes of Iz-bor-sky - one of the ancient-non-Russian princely princely di-na-stii.

Su-pru-gu Igo-rya was called by the Va-ryazh name Hel-ga, in Russian pro-from-no-she-nii - Ol-ga (Vol-ga). Pre-da-tion on-zy-va-et ro-di-noy Ol-gi se-lo You-bu-you don’t-da-le-ku from Pskov-va, up the Ve-li-koy river . The life of St. Ol-ga says that here for the first time I met her with her future husband. The young prince hunted “in the region of Pskov” and, wanting to re-take across the Ve-li-kuyu river, he saw “some e-go swimming in the boat ”and called him to the be-re-gu. From-floating from the be-re-ha in a boat, the prince about-on-ru-lived that he was being taken de-vush-ka udi-vi-tel-noy kra-so-you. Igor blazed at her at will and began to incline her to sin. Pe-re-voz-chi-tsa eye-losed not only beauty-si-va, but whole-wise-ren-on and smart-on. She mouthed-di-la Igo-rya, reminding him of the princely dignity of the great-vi-te-la and judge, someone should be “a bright example of good deeds” for their data. Igor broke up with her, keeping in her memory her words and a beautiful image. When the time came to choose a bride, in Ki-ev we gathered the most beautiful de-wo-shek of the princes. But not one of them came to his heart. And then he remembered Ol-ga, the “divine in girls”, and sent his relatives, Prince Ole-ha, after her. So Olga became the wife of Prince Igo-rya, the great Russian prince-gi-her.

Afterwards, Igor would have gone on a trip to the Greeks, and returned from him as a father: the son of Svyato-glory was born. Soon, Igor was killed by the ancients-la-na-mi. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Ki-ev-sky-prince, the ancient-lyans from-great-wee-whether words to Princess Olga, before-la-gai to her drink in marriage with his great-vi-te-lem Ma-lom. Ol-ga made-la-la look like she agreed. Hit-ro-stu for-ma-ni-la she in Ki-ev two-salts of the ancient-lyans, betraying them to mu-chi-tel-noy death: the first was for- living in gre-be-but “in the yard of the prince-same”, the second - with-burning-but in the bath. After this, five thousand thousand men of the ancient-lyan-sky would have been killed in-and-on-mi by Olga at the funeral feast along Igor-ryu near the walls of the ancient-lyan-sto-whether -tsy Is-ko-ro-ste-nya. The next year, Olga again went with the army to Is-ko-ro-wall. They burned the city with the help of birds, to the feet of someone they tied a burning pack. The remaining ancient people were captured and sold into slavery.

Along with this let-the-pi-si there are a lot of testimonies about her relentless "walk-de-no-yah" on the Russian land with the goal of building -e-niya in-li-ti-che-sky and economic life of the country. She was trying to strengthen the power of Ki-ev-th-ve-li-ko-go-prince, center-tra-li-zo-va-la go-sovereign-noe management with the help of the “on-go-stov” system. Let-the-piss from-me-cha-et that she and her son and friends walked along the Drevlyan land, about-ro-ki ", from me-tea se-la and hundred-no-vi-scha and places of hunting, under-le-zha-shchie-ing in ki-ev-sky ve-li -ko-knya-same-sky vla-de-niya. Ho-di-la she is in Nov-go-rod, arranging-and-vaya in-go-st along the rivers Msta and Lu-ge. “Her lo-vi-shcha (hundred hunting places) would be all over the earth, established new-len-signs, her place and go-sta, - write le-to-pi-sets, - and sa-ni stands in Pskov to this day, there are places indicated by her for catching birds along the Dnieper and along the Desna; and se-lo her Ol-gi-chi su-sche-stu-et and now. In-go-sty (from the word "guest" - ku-pets) became the support of the ve-li-ko-prince-same power, ocha-ga-mi et-no-che- sko-go and cul-tour-no-go unification of Russian-go-on-ro-yes.

Life tells about Olga’s work in this way: “And the manager-la-la of the prince-gi-nya Ol-ga is under the control of her about-la-stya-mi Rus -sky earth, not as a woman, but as a strong and reasonable husband, firmly holding power in his hands and courageously ro-nya-es from enemies. And she would be scary for the next ones. your-and-mi people-mi lu-bi-ma, like pra-vi-tel-ni-tsa mi-lo-sti-vaya and bla-go-che-sti-vaya, like su-diya pra-veda -ny and not offending anyone, na-la-ga-yu-schi on-ka-for-nie with mi-lo-ser-di-em and on-civil-da-yu- shchy good-ryh; she instilled fear in all the evil, giving each-to-mu in-size-measure-but to the hundred-in-stvo of his steps, but all the de-lah govern-le- niya she is about-on-ru-zhi-va-la distant-visibility and wisdom. At the same time, Olga, sweet-hearted in her soul, would be generous-ro-da-tel-for the poor, the poor-gim and the little-im-schim; to her heart soon do-ho-di-whether the right requests, and she quickly fulfilled them-half-nya-la ... With all this, Ol-ga co- edi-nya-la voz-zhan-nuyu and whole-wise-wise life, she doesn’t want-te-la you-go-dit second-rich-but-for-husband, but pre-be- va-la in a pure widowhood, observing the son-well of his own until the days of the rise of his princely power. When, after the last, he wished, she gave him all the de la rights, and she herself, getting rid of the rumors and -pe-che-nii, lived outside the care of management, pre-yes-va-ya de-lam blah-go-your-re-niya.

Russia grew-la and strengthened-la-las. Build-and-fosses of the city-ro-yes, surrounded by ka-men-us-mi and du-bo-you-mi walls-on-mi. The sa-ma prince-gi-nya lived behind the na-dezh-ny-mi walls-on-mi you-sh-go-ro-yes, surrounded by a faithful friend. Two-thirds of the so-brand-noy yes, according to the evidence of the le-to-pi-si, she is from-yes-va-la in the races-of-the-same-ki-ev -th ve-cha, the third part went "to Ol-ga, to you-sh-go-rod" - to the military structure. By the time of Ol-ga, from-no-sit-sit-xia-new-le-tion of the first state borders of Kievan Rus. Bo-ga-tyr-sky for-hundred-you, re-e-th in would-li-nah, hundred-ro-zhi-li peaceful life of ki-ev-lyan from ko-chev-ni-kov Ve -li-coy Step-pi, from on-pa-de-ny with Za-pa-da. Chu-zem-tsy rushed to Gar-da-ri-ku (“country-well-of-cities”), how are they called Rus, from that-va-ra mi. Scan-di-na-you, the Germans willingly join the Russian army. Russia became-but-vi-las a ve-li-koy der-zha-howl.

Like the wise-paradise of the great-vi-tel-ni-tsa, Ol-ga vie-de-la on the pri-me-re of the Vi-zantii-sky im-pe-rii, which is not-a-hundred-accurate for -bot only about state and economic life. It was necessary to-ho-di-mo-lo-to-do-arrange-e-no-em re-li-gi-oz-noy, spiritual life-no on-ro-yes.

The author of the “Ste-pen-noy book” writes: “Her / Ol-gi / was inspired by the fact that she recognized the true God. Not knowing for-ko-on christ-an-sko-go, she lived a clean and whole-wise-wise life, and wish-la-la she be christ-sti- en-koy in free will, ser-dech-us-mi-eyes, the path of knowing God about-re-la and walked along it without co-le-ba- niya". Pre-beautiful in-west-woo-et: “Blessed Olga from an early age is-ka-la wisdom-ro-sti, which is my best-neck in all - those of this, and found a lot of valuable pearls - Christ.

Having made your choice, ve-princess-gi-nya Ol-ha, in-ru-chiv Ki-ev under-growing si-well, from-right-la-et-sya with a large fleet in Kon-stan-ti-no-pol. The ancient non-Russian le-to-pi-tsy na-zo-vut is de-i-nie Ol-gi “ho-de-no-eat”, it is co-one-nya-lo in se-be and re-li-gi-oz-noe pa-lom-no-che-stvo, and di-plo-ma-ti-che-mission, and de-mon-stra-tion in-en-no- th mo-gu-shche-stva Ru-si. “Ol-ga for-ho-te-la sa-ma go to the Greeks, so that with your own eyes, look at the service of Christ-sti-an-sky and to be completely convinced of their teaching about the true God, ”the life of St. Olga is in the West. According to the testimony of le-to-pi-si, in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le Ol-ga p-ni-ma-et decides to become hri-sti-an- coy. The Ta-in-stvo of Baptism co-performed over her pat-ri-arch Kon-stan-ti-no-pol-sky Fe-o-fi-lact (933-956), and resurrection -em-no-one was im-pe-ra-tor Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-but-native (912-959), leaving-vi-shi in his co-chi-non-nii “About the tse-re-mo-ni-yah of the vi-zant-tiy-sko-go-court” a detailed description of the tse-re-mo-ny during the pre-by-va -niya Ol-gi in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le. On one of the receptions of the Russian princess, it was under-not-se-but gold, decorated with dra-go-principal-us-mi-stones- mi blue-do. Ol-ga in-sacrifice-in-va-la him in the riza-ni-tsu of the co-bo-ra of the Holy Sophia, where he was seen and described in the na-cha-le of the XIII century Russian di-plo-mat Dob-ry-nya Yad-rei-ko-vich, later ar-chi-bishop Nov-go-rod-sky An-to-niy: “Blu-do Is it really evil that the servant of Olga the Russian, when she took a tribute, went to Tsar-grad: in the same way, Ol-gin, ka- less others, on the same stone, no na-pi-san Christos.

Pat-ri-arch b-go-slo-vil but-in-cre-sche-nu Russian prince-gi-nu with the cross, you-re-zan-nym from the goal-no-go-kus-ka Zhi -in-your-rya-shche-go Dre-va of the Lord-under-nya. There was an inscription on the cross: “Ob-no-ve-sya Russian land with the Holy Cross, his own pri-nya-la Ol-ga, b-go-ver-naya prince-gi-nya.

In Ki-ev, Ol-ga came back with iko-na-mi, bo-go-serve-zheb-na-mi books-ga-mi - for-cha-moose her apostolic service -tion. She erected a temple in the name of St. te-la Ni-ko-lai over the mo-gi-loy As-kol-da - the first ki-ev-sky prince-zya-hri -sti-a-ni-na and many ki-ev-lyang ob-ra-ti-la to Christ. With pro-po-ve-due ve-ry from-great-vi-li-prince-gi-nya to the north. In the Kiev and Pskov lands, in from-da-len-nyh villages, on the crossroads of the roads, the air-dvi-ha-la crosses, uni- what-zhaya tongue-che-sky idols.

Holy Olga in lo-zhi-la na-cha-lo especially-ben-no-go in-chi-ta-niya in Rus-si Pre-Holy Tro-and-tsy. From century to century, pe-re-yes-wa-moose in-west-in-va-nie about ve-de-nii, who was her eye-lo river Ve-li-koy, not-yes -le-ku from the genus-but-th se-la. She saw de la that “three bright rays” descended from the sky from the sky. Turning to your companions, former sw-de-la-mi vi-de-nia, Ol-ga said-for-la pro-ro-che-ski : “Yes, it will be to you, ve-do-mo, that because of-le-ni-em God-zhi-im on this place there will be a church in the name of Pre-holy and Life -creative Troy and there will be a great and glorious city here, abounding in everything. At this place, Ol-ha erected a cross and os-no-va-la temple in the name of the Holy Trinity. He became the main co-bo-rum of Pskov-va - the glorious city of the Russian-go, having-no-vav-she-go-sya since then "To my Holy Tro -and-tsy. Ta-in-stven-us-mi po-ta-mi spirit-hov-no-go pre-em-stva in four-you-re hundred-years-tia is like-chi-ta-nie re-re-yes -but it would be pre-be-good-no-mu Ser-giu Ra-to-nezh-sko-mu.

On May 11, 960, in Ki-e-ve, they consecrated the church of St. Sophia Pre-wisdom of God. This day is celebrated in the Russian Church as a special holiday. The main sacred thing of the temple was the cross, after the lu-chen-ny Ol-goy at Baptism in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le. The temple, built by Ol-goy, burned down in 1017, and in its place Yaroslav the Wise erected a church of the holy ve-li-ko-mu -che-no-tsy Irina-na, and saint-you-no So-fiy-go Ol-gi-on the temple re-carried into the still standing stone the church of St. Sophia of Ki-evskaya, for-lo-female in 1017 and consecrated in about 1030. In the Pro-log of the 13th century, it is said about Ol-gi-nom-ste-ste-for-but: “Already now stands in Ki-e-ve in St. on the right side". After-after-in-e-va-niya Ki-e-wa li-tov-tsa-mi Ol-gin, the cross was in-hi-schen from So-fiy-so-bo-ra and you- ve-zen ka-li-ka-mi in Lub-lin. Further, his fate is unknown to us. The apostolic works of the prince-gi-no met secret and open co-op-tiv-le-ing of the tongues. Among the bo-yar and the dru-zhin-nik-kov in Ki-e-ve there were a lot of people, some, according to the words of the le-to-scribes, “the - don’t-see-de-whether Pre-wisdom, ”as well as St. Olga, who built temples for Her. The roar-no-those of the language of the old-ri-na are all bolder under-no-ma-whether go-lo-woo, with the hope of heaven looking at the sub-race-ta- u-sche-go Holy-glory-va, re-shi-tel-but from-klo-niv-she-go-o-o-ry ma-te-ri to accept Christ-sti-an-stvo. “According to the temporal years” this is how it is told about this: “Live-la Ol-ga with his son, Holy Glory, and go-va-ri -wa-la his mother to be baptized, but he pre-didn't-spend it and his ears were covered; one-on-one, if anyone wanted to be baptized, didn’t forbid that, not from de-val-sya over him ... Ol-ha often a hundred -ri-la: “My son, I knew God and rejoice; here you are, if you know, then you will start to work. He, not listening to this, said: “How can I for-gu-want one ve-ru re-re-me-thread? My friends-zhin-ni-ki will laugh at this!" She said to him: “If you are baptized, they will do the same.”

He, not listening to the ma-te-ri, lived according to the pagan customs, not knowing that if anyone does not listen to the ma-te-ri, in-pa- children are in trouble, as they say: “If anyone is a father or mother, does not listen, then death will accept.” Besides, he was also angry with his mother ... But Ol-ha loved her son ri-la: “Let it be in-la-God. If God for-wants-to-mother-to-mine-them and the Russian land, let them command their hearts to turn to God, how would it be for me yes-ro-va-no. And speaking like this, she prayed for her son and for his people all the days and nights, taking care of her son until his rise. ” .

Despite the success of her trip to Kon-stan-ti-no-pol, Olga could not incline them-pe-ra-to-ra to co-gla-she- on two important questions: about the di-na-sti-che-marriage of Holy-glory-va with the V-Zan-Tia Tsa-rev-noy and about the condition -vi-yah re-sto-nov-le-niya su-stvo-vav-shey at As-kol-de mit-ro-po-lii in Ki-e-ve. In this way, holy Olga looks to the West - the Church would have been one at that time. It is unlikely that he could have known the Russian princess-gi-nya about the divine-word-times-whether-chi-yah of the Greek and Latin-go-ve-ro-scholar niya.

In 959, a German chronicler for-pi-sy-va-et: “They came to ko-ro-lu in the name of Elena, you-role-you are Russian-owls, someone -paradise baptized in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le, and pro-si-whether to consecrate for this on-ro-yes epi-sko-pa and priest- no-kov." King role -bu Ol-gi. A year later, the Bishop of the Russians was appointed Li-bu-tsy, from the brethren of the monastery of St. Al-ba-na in Mainz, but he soon died (March 15, 961). In its place, holy Adal-ber-ta of Trier, someone-ro-go Ot-ton, “generously supplying divas with everything you need”, from-prav-vil , finally, to Russia. When, in 962, Adal-bert appeared in Ki-e-ve, he “did not succeed in anything for which he was sent, and saw his efforts on -great-we-mi. On the way back, "some of his companions would have killed you, and the bishop himself did not escape mortal danger", - so in the West-woo-yut le-to-pee-si about the mission Adal-ber-ta.

The language-che-re-ac-tion manifested itself so strongly that it was not only German mis-si-o-no-ry, but also some -rye from Kiev christian-sti-an, baptized together with Ol-goy. By order of the Holy Glory, Olga's nephew Gleb was killed and some temples built by her were destroyed. Saint Olga had to come to terms with the pro-is-walked-shim and go to de-la personal bless-go-honesty, giving management le-ing tongue-no-ku Holy-glory-woo. Of course, they still counted with her, to her experience and wisdom they were unchanged in all important cases -cha-yah. Once upon a time, the Holy Glory was from Ki-e-va, managing the state-su-dar-stvo in the ru-cha-moose of St. Olga. Consolation-she-ni-em for her would be glorious military-en-nye in-be-dy of the Russian-th-in-stva. Holy-glory once-gro-nice once-not-th enemy-ha Russian-go-su-dar-stva - Khazar-sky ka-ha-nat, forever co-kru -shiv mo-gu-shche-stvo of the Jewish pra-vi-te-lei of the Azov-Vya and the Lower Volga. The next blow was on-not-sen of the Volga Bol-g-riya, then the turn of the Dan-Nai Bol-g-riya came - at seven-de-syat cities took the ki-ev-skie dru-zhin-ni-ki along the Danube. Holy-glory and its in-and-we oli-tse-tvo-rya-whether the god-ga-tyr-sky spirit of the pagan Rus-si. Le-to-pi-si so-stor-no-whether words Holy-glory-va, surrounded-women-no-go with her friend's huge Greek howl -com: “It’s not shameful for the Russian earth, but let’s lie down here! The dead have no shame!” The Holy Glory dreamed of the creation of a huge Russian state from the Danube to the Volga, someone would unite Russia and others -gie slav-vyan-skie on-ro-dy. Holy Olga, no-ma-la, that with all the courage and from-va-ge of the Russian squads, they cannot cope with the ancient im-pe-ri -hey ro-me-ev, someone-paradise is not up-to-pu-stit the efforts of the language of the language of Rus. But the son did not listen to the warning of the ma-te-ri.

Many sorrows had to be re-lived by Saint Olga at the end of her life. The son of windows-cha-tel-but re-re-se-lil-sya in Pe-re-i-s-la-vets on the Danube. Pre-wai in Ki-e-ve, she taught her grandchildren, de-tey Holy-glory-va, hri-sti-an-sky ve-re, but not re-sha -las to baptize them, fearing the wrath of the son. In addition to that, he thwarted her on the torture of asserting christianity in Rus-si. In the last years, among the torment of languages, she, once upon a time, all-mi-chi-ta-e-my vlad-dy-chi-tse hold -you, baptized from the All-len-sky-pat-ri-ar-ha in the hundred of right-in-glory-via, come-ho-di-moose tai-no der -to reap a priest-no-no-ka in front of you, so as not to call a new flash of an-ti-hri-sti-an-sky on-stro-e-ny. In 968 Ki-ev osa-di-li pe-che-no-gi. The holy prince-gi-nya with her grandchildren, among whom was Prince Vla-di-mir, were in mortal danger. When the news of the wasp reached the Holy Glory, he hurried to help, and there were no more on the run. Holy Olga, being already seriously ill, pro-si-la son, don’t leave until her death. She doesn’t hope to turn her son’s heart to God and on her deathbed doesn’t stop : “Why do you leave me, my son, and where are you going? Looking for someone else, to whom do you eat your own? After all, Your children are still small, and I’m already old, and sick, - I’m expecting a speedy end-of-we-from-the-movement to love-len-but th Christ, in someone else I believe; now I’m not crazy about anything, as soon as about you: I regret that even though I taught a lot and convinced-yes- la leave the idol wickedness, believe in the true God, as I know it, and you don’t-brea-ga-eat it, and I know that for your disobedience to me, a bad end awaits you on earth, and after death - eternal torment, hoo-van- naya tongue-no-kam. Now, at least this last request of mine: don’t go anywhere, until I stop and I won’t be in Greek be-on; then go wherever you want. According to my death, do not do anything that is required in such cases by a linguistic custom; but let my pre-sweater with kli-ri-ka-mi in-gre-but according to the custom of hri-sti-an-sko-mu my body; don’t you dare to na-sy-pat on-to me the grave-no-th hill and do triz-na; but let's go to Tsa-r-grad zo-lo-to to the holy-she-mu pat-ri-ar-hu, so that he would make a mo-lit-vu and p-no-she- to God for my soul and distributed to the poor my-lo-stay-nyu.

“Hearing this, the Holy Glory wept bitterly and promised to use a full thread of everything for-a-thing-noe by her, from-ka-zy-va-ess only from at -nya-tia of the holy faith. After three days, blessed Ol-ha fell into the extreme out of her-not-can-be; she partook of the Divine Mysteries of the Pre-chi-hundred-th Body and Life-in-your-blood of Christ-hundred Spa-sa-on-she-go ; all the time she would-wa-la in a zealous prayer to God and to Pre-chi-stay Bo-go-ro-di-tse, whom I always according to God, I had a self-be-powerful; she pri-zy-va-la of all the saints; with a special user-di-em, blessed Olga prayed for enlightenment after her death of the Russian land; pro-zi-paradise of the future, she repeatedly fore-said-zy-va-la that God will enlighten the people of the Russian earth and many of they will be great saints; about the speedy use of this pro-ro-che-stva and the blessed Ol-ga prayed at her death. And another prayer was on her lips, when her honest soul was razed from the body and how the right-wit-naya would have been received ru-ka-mi Bo-zhi-i-mi. On July 11, 969, Saint Olga died, “and weep for her, what her son and grandchildren and all the people are crying for.” Pre-swee-ter Gregory, exactly, you-full-nil for her-ve-shcha-nie.

Holy Equal-noap-o-so-Ol-ga was-la ka-but-ni-zi-ro-va-na on co-bo-re 1547, someone confirmed -dil in an all-local way in-chi-ta-ing her in Rus-si back in the pre-Mon-Gol-sky era-hu.

God glorified the faith “in the first place” in the Russian land with chu-de-sa-mi and imperishable relics. Under the holy prince Vla-di-mi-re, the might of St. Olga-gi would be re-re-not-se-na in the De-sya-tin-ny church of the Assumption of the Pre-holy -that Bo-go-ro-di-tsy and, in a similar way, in sar-ko-fa-ge, in which it was possible to take something to place the relics of the saint tykh on the right-in-glorious Vo-sto-ke. Above the coffin of St. Olga in the church wall there was a window; and if anyone with faith came to the relics, saw through the windows, the re-mo-schi, moreover, some-rye-de-whether is-ho-dying from them si-i-nie, and many od-zh-my bo-les-ny-mi-lu-cha-whether is-tse-le-nie. When-ho-div-she-mu with a little-ve-ri-em window-tse but open-roof-elk, and he could not see the relics, but only the coffin.

So after the death of the holy Olga pro-po-ve-do-va-la eternal life and resurrection, full of ra-to-stu ve-ru- yu-shchih and vra-zoom-lyaya neve-ru-yu-shchih.

Her prophecy about the evil death of her son came true. Holy-glory, as the le-to-pi-sets reports, was killed by the pe-nezh-prince of Ku-rei, someone from the sek go-lo- vu Holy-glory-va and from che-re-pa he made himself a cup, an eye-shaft of gold and during feasts he drank from it.

The use of half-moose and the pro-ro-che-stvo of the saint about the Russian land. Mo-lit-ven-nye-works and de-la of St. Ol-gi confirm-tver-di-whether we-we-tea-neck de-I-nie her grandson of St. Vla- di-mi-ra (pa-myat 15 (28) July) - Kre-shche-nie Rus-si. Ob-ra-zy of the holy equals-noap-o-stol-ny Ol-gi and Vla-di-mi-ra, mutually complementing each other, in-flat- yut ma-te-rin-skoe and paternal-che-for-cha-lo Russian spiritual history.

The holy equal-noap-o-so-o-ol-ha became the spiritual mother of the Russian-on-ro-yes, through her, his light -shche-tion with the light of Christ-howl of the faith.

The language name Ol-gi corresponds to the male Oleg (Hel-gi), which means “holy”. Ho-tya language-che-no-no-ma-nie of holiness from-li-cha-et-sya from hri-sti-an-sko-go, but it is pre-la-ga- there is a special spiritual attitude in a person, whole-wisdom and soberness, intelligence and insight. The spreading spiritual meaning of this name, the people called Ole-ga the Great, and Ol-gu - Wise-swarm. Subsequently, holy Olga will become called Bo-go-wise-swarm, underlining her main gift, which has become the basis-no-va-ni we eat the whole lo-stvi-tsy of the holiness of Russian wives - pre-wisdom. Sa-Ma -so many works. The construction of her So-fiy-so-bo-ra in Ki-e-ve - ma-te-ri of the Russian cities - was a sign of participation God-she-her Ma-te-ri in the Do-mo-stro-and-tel-stvo of Holy Rus-si. Kiev, i.e. hri-sti-an-sky Ki-ev-sky Rus, became the third zhre-bi-em of God-she-she Ma-te-ri according to the All-len-noy, and the statement is - the first of the holy wives of Rus-si - the holy Equal-noap-o-so-Olga.

The Christ-an-name of St. Ol-ga - Elena-na (in re-vo-de from the ancient Greek-che-th-ko-go "fa-kel") - became you -ra-same-ni-em go-re-niya of her spirit-ha. Holy Ol-ha (Elena) took-nya-la spiritual fire, someone who did not die out in all of you-th-th-years-her is-th-riya christ-sti- An-sky Russia.

Full Life of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, Grand Duchess of Russia

Holy Equal-Noap-o-so-Ol-ga would-la-la-su-pru-goy-whether-to-prince of Ki-ev-sky Igo-rya. The struggle of Christianity with paganism under Igo-re and Olga, prince-living after Oleg († 912), enters a new period. The Church of Christ in the last years of Prince Igor († 945) becomes significant spiritual and -sovereign power in the Russian state-su-dar-stve. This is evidenced by the preserved text of before-go-in-ra Igor with the Greeks of 944, who is included let-the-writer in "The Tale of the Times", in an article describing the events of 6453 (945) years.

Peaceful do-go-thief with Kon-stan-ti-no-po-lem must-wife was approved by both-and-mi-re-li-gi-oz-ny-mi ob-schi-on -mi Ki-e-va: "Rus kre-shche-naya", that is, christi-sti-ane, came to the pri-sya-ge in the holy church th pro-ro-ka of God Elijah; "Rus nekre-shche-naya", tongues-no-ki, swore on weapons in the sanctity of Pe-ru-na Gro-mo-verzh-tsa. The fact that christi-ane-stav-le-na in do-ku-men-te in the first place speaks of their pre-im-important spirit- hov-nom sign in the life of Ki-ev-sky Rus-si.

Obviously, at the moment when, before the thief of 944, he was in Tsa-r-gra-de, the authorities in Ki-e-ve had a hundred - am I people, co-feeling-vav-shie christ-sti-an-stvo, co-knowing-the-thing-ri-che-necessary-ho-di-bridge- the community of Rus-si to the living-in-creative christian-sti-an-sky cul-tu-re. To this right-le-tion, it was possible that Prince Igor himself, the official, similarly, someone-ro- don’t let him personally transfer to a new faith, without resolving the issue of Baptism of the whole country and establishing new le-nii in it is the right-in-glorious church hierarchy. In this way, the thief was made up in careful you-ra-same-no-yah, someone wouldn’t have -to give it both in the form of a lingual oath, and in the form of pri-sya-gi christian-an-sky.

But in the meantime, the Vizantine words would have come to Ki-ev, about-sta-new-ka on the Day-pre-existent-but from-me-ni-las. Che-de-de-li-las the language-che-op-po-zi-tion, led by someone-swarm hundred-I-whether va-ryazh-sky in-e-water-dy Sve -Neld and his son Msti-Slav (Msti-sha), Igor gave something to the holding of the Drevlyan land.

It was strong in Ki-e-ve and the influence of the Khazar Jews, someone could not like the thought of the torment right-of-glory-via in the Russian land.

Not being able to overcome the obscurity of customs, Igor remained tongue-tied and drank to-go-thief according to the language-th-s-th-sample - oath-howl on swords. He rejected the blessing of giving Baptism and was punished for unbelief. A year later, in 945, the risen tongues killed him in the Drevlyan land, tearing between two trees. But the days of the language and the foundation of the life of the Slavic tribes on it would already be with-we. Bre-mya of the state-sovereign-no-th-go-zhe-zhe-zhe-of-lo-zhi-la on myself with a three-year-old son Holy-glory-ve widow Igo-rya - ve -li-kaya prince-gi-nya Ki-ev-sky Ol-ga.

The name of the bu-du-schey pro-sve-ti-tel-ni-tsy of the Russian region and ro-di-nu of her "Tale of the Times" for the first time on-zy-va- there is in the article about the same thread-be Igo-rya: "and bring him a wife from Pskov, named Ol-gu." She came-above-le-zha-la, clarifies Joaki-mov-sky let-the-writing, to the family of the princes of Iz-bor-sky, one of the for-by-ty trees -non-Russian princely di-na-sties, someone was-lo in Russia in the X-XI centuries. not less than two-twenty, but some-rye all would-whether you-tes-not-us with time Ryu-ri-ko-vi-cha-mi or merged with neither -mi by means of marriages. Some of them would have been locally, gloriously pro-is-hozh-de-niya, others - newcomers, Varyazhs. It is known that the Scandi-Nav-sky ko-nun-gi, invited to the princes in Russian cities, are invariably no-ma-whether the Russian language, often - Russian names and quickly became-but-vi-lis-to-sto-I-schi-mi Russian-ski-mi as in a fashion -for life, and in terms of the world-view, and even in terms of physical ob-li-ku.

So su-pru-gu Igo-rya was called by the Varyazh name Hel-ga, in the Russian "oka-yu-schem" about-from-no-she-nii - Ol-ga, Wol-ga. The female name Ol-ga corresponds to the male Oleg (Hel-gi), which means "holy". Ho-tya yazy-che-che-no-ma-nie of holiness with-ver-shen-but from-personal-but from christ-an-sko-go, but it is also pre- la-ga-et in the person-lo-ve-ke is a special spiritual attitude, whole-wisdom and soberness, intelligence and insight. The spreading spiritual meaning of the name, the people of Ole-ha called the Great, Ol-gu - Wise-swarm.

The later pre-da-niya on-zy-wa-whether her ro-do-y name-ni-em se-lo you-bu-you a few kilo-meters from Psko- wa up the river Ve-li-koy. More recently, in a ka-zy-va-li on the Ol-gin river, there is a bridge - at the ancient re-re-right-you, where Ol-ga met Igor-rem. Pskov-sky then-po-no-mi-ka so-storage-ni-la there are no-name-names associated with pa-my-tyu ve-li-koy psko-vi-tyan- ki: de-rev-no Ol-same-nets and Ol-gi-no Po-le, Ol-gi-ny Vo-ro-ta - one of the ru-ka-vov river Ve-li-koy, Ol -gi-on Go-ra and Ol-gin Krest - near the Pskov lake-ra, Ol-gin Ka-men - at the village of You-bu-you.

Na-cha-lo sa-mo-hundred-I-tel-no-go-right-le-niya of the prince-gi-ni Ol-gi connected-for-but in le-to-pi-syah with a story about the terrible air of the ancients-la-to us, the killers of Igo-rya. Swearing-shi-e-sya on swords and ve-ro-vav-shie "only in your sword", tongues-no-ki about-re-che-we would be God-zhi-im su- house from the sword and die (). By klo-nyav-shi-e-sya, among the pro-deities of the flax elements, fire-nu - they found their vengeance in the fire. Is-half-no-tel-ni-tsey of the fire-n-noy-ka-ry The Lord took Ol-ga.

The struggle for the unity of Rus-si, for the sub-chi-non-nie of the Ki-ev-sko-mu center of times-di-ra-e-myh mutual enmity of the tribes and the princes of the pro-klad-dy-va-la way to the window-cha-tel-noy in-be-de christ-sti-an-stva in the Russian land. Behind Ol-goy, still a tongue-tied, one hundred-I-la Ki-ev-skaya Christ-sti-an-skaya Church and its heavenly protector, holy pro- the rock of God Elijah, the fiery faith and the mo-lit-howl of his own fire from heaven, and beat her over the ancient-la-na-mi, despite the su -ro-vost in-be-di-tel-ni-tsy, would-la-be-doy hri-sti-an-sky, co-zi-da-tel-ny forces in the Russian go-su- a gift over si-la-mi languages ​​\u200b\u200b-che-ski-mi, those-us-mi and raz-ru-shi-tel-ny-mi.

Ol-ga Bo-go-wise-paradise entered history as a great co-zi-da-tel-ni-tsa of state-state life and culture -ry of Kievan Rus-si. Le-that-pi-si is full of testimonies about her tireless "walk-de-ni-yah" on the Russian land with the aim of b-go-arranging and upo-rya-to-che-niya civil-dan-sko-th and household-stven-but-th-that-sub-data. Having achieved the internal strengthening of the power of Ki-ev-th-ve-li-ko-go-prince, weakening the influence of me-shav- shih so-bi-ra-niyu Ru-si small local princes, Ol-ga center-tra-li-zo-va-la all state administration from to -power of the si-ste-we "on-go-stov". In 946, with her son and friends, she walked along the Drevlyan land, me-tea-se-la, sta-no-vi-shcha and places of hunting, under-le-zha-shchie-ing in ki-ev-sky ve-li-ko-prince-same-sky vla -de-nia. The next year, go-di-la to Nov-go-rod, arrange-and-vay in-go-st along the Msta and Lu-ge rivers, leaving visible traces of your -her de-I-tel-no-sti. "Lo-vi-scha her (place of a hundred hunts) would be all over the earth, established new-len-signs, places of her and in-a-sta, - pi-sal le-to-pi-sets, - and sa-ni stands in Pskov to this day, there are places indicated by her for catching birds along the Dnieper and along the Desna; and se-lo her Ol-zhi-chi su-sche-stu-et and now.

Arranged by Ol-goy in-go-sty, being a financial-co-admi-ni-strativ-ny-mi and su-deb-ny-mi center-tra-mi, representing-la-whether a solid support for the ve-li-ko-prince-same-power in the field.

Bu-duchi before everything, according to the very meaning of the word, center-tra-mi of trade-whether and exchange ("guest" - ku-pets), with -bi-paradise and or-ga-ni-zuya around se-bya on-se-le-nie (instead of a hundred former "on-people-dya" collection yes-no and on-lo- gov-implemented-lyal-sya now equally-but-measure-but and up-rya-to-chen-but according to the go-stam), Ol-gi-ny have become important -she-she-cell-coy of et-no-thing-th-and cultural-tour-no-go-unity of Russian-on-ro-yes.

Later, when Ol-ga became christ-sti-an-koy, according to the way, the first temples began to be erected; since the time of the Baptism of Rus-si with St. Vla-di-mi-re, the guest and the temple (arrival) have become inseparable -i-mi. (Only as a consequence of the existence of the cemeteries near the temples of the cemeteries, did the word-in-use-requirement "according to the guest" in the sense le "treasure-bi-sche".)

A lot of work was attached to the lo-zhi-la of the prince-gi-nya Ol-ga to strengthen the defense power of the country. Go-ro-yes for-stra-and-va-lis and strengthened-la-ly, you-sh-go-ro-dy (or de-tin-tsy, cro-we) about-ras-ta-li ka -men-ny-mi and du-bo-you-mi ste-on-mi (for-bra-la-mi), still-ty-no-wa-wa-la-mi, cha-hundred-ko- la-mi. Sam-ma prince-gi-nya, knowing how hostile-deb-but from-but-si-lied many to the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bstrengthening princely power and uniting Rus-si, lived in a hundred-yang-but "on the mountain", over the Dnieper-prom, for na-dezh-na-mi for-bra-la-mi ki-ev-so-go you- sh-go-ro-da (Upper-not-go-ro-da), surrounded by a faithful friend. Two-thirds of the so-brand-noy yes, according to the evidence of the le-to-pi-si, she is from-yes-va-la in the races-of-the-same-ki-ev -th ve-cha, the third part went "to Ol-ze, to you-sh-go-rod" - for the needs of the rat-no-go building. By the time of Ol-gi, is-to-ri-ki from-no-syat establish-new-le-tion of the first state-state borders of Russia - for-pa- de, with Poland. Bo-ga-tyr-sky for-sta-you in the south are hundred-ro-zhi-whether peace-nye ni-you ki-ev-liang from the peoples of Di-ko-go Po-la. Chu-zem-tsy hasten-shi-whether in Gar-da-ri-ku ("country-well-go-ro-dov"), how are they called Rus, with that-va-ra -mi and ru-co-de-lya-mi. The Swedes, the Danes, the Germans willingly join the Russian army. Shi-ryat-sya for-ru-beige connections Ki-e-va. This contributes to the development of the ka-men-no-th construction in the city-ro-de, for-cha-lo-something-ro-mu-lo- lived-la prince-gi-nya Ol-ha. The first stone buildings of Ki-e-va - the city-royal palace and the out-of-town house of Ol-gi - only in our century would- whether search-ka-ny ar-heo-lo-ga-mi. (The palace, more precisely, its foundation and the remains of the walls, were there nai-de-na and race-to-pa-na in 1971-1972.)

But not only the strengthening of statehood and the development of economic forms of the people's life ma-nie wise-swarm prince-gi-ni. Even more on-the-essential representation of her-becoming-la-moose to her-ren-noe pre-ob-ra-zo-va-nie re-li-gi-oz-noy life-no Ru-si, du -hov-noe pre-ob-ra-same-tion of Russian-on-ro-yes. Russia became-but-vi-las a ve-li-koy der-zha-howl. Only two European states-su-dar-stva could in those years compete with her in meaning and power: in the hundred Ev-ro-py - the ancient Vy-Zan-Ti-sky im-pe-riya, on the za-pa-de - the kingdom of the Saks-owls.

The experience of both-their im-periy, obligated to their voz-you-she-ni-em doo-hu christian-an-th-teaching, re-li-gi-oz -nym os-but-to-your life, it’s clear that the path to the future great Rus-si lies not only through en-nye, but first of all and pre-imu-stven-but through the spiritual for-in-e-va-niya and to-sti-zhe-niya. In-ru-chiv Ki-ev under-grow-she-mu sy-well Holy-glory-woo, ve-li-kai prince-gi-nya Ol-ga, year 954, exact-kav bla-go-yes-ti and is-ti-na, from-right-la-et-sya with a large fleet to Tsar-grad. It would be a peaceful "walk-de-nie", with-che-tav-neck for-da-chi re-li-gi-oz-no-go pa-lom-no-thing and di- plo-ma-ti-che-miss-this, but-do-ti-che-sky co-ob-ra-zhe-niya tre-bo-va-li, so that it becomes one-modern-men -but pro-yav-le-ni-em in-en-no-go mo-gu-stu-stva Ru-si on the Black Sea, on-reminder-ni-lo mountain-smoke "ro-me -yam "about the be-to-nos-nyh-ho-dahs As-kol-da and Ole-ga, having beaten-she-th in 907 his shield" on the gates of Tsa-re -city-yes.

Re-zul-tat was do-stig-nut. The appearance of the Russian fleet on the Bos-for-re co-building-wa-lo necessary pre-sent-for-development of others the same Russian-vi-zan-tiy-sko-go-dia-lo-ga. In turn, the southern hundred-li-tsa in-ra-zi-la su-ro-daughter Se-ve-ra is different-but-ob-ra-zi-em red-juice, ve-li -ko-le-pi-em ar-khi-tek-tu-ry, mix-she-ni-eat languages ​​​​and na-ro-dov of the world. But especially ben-noe im-chat-le-tion pro-from-in-di-lo-wealth of Christ-sti-an-sky temples and the sacred ones gathered in them. Tsar-city, "king-stu-yu-city" of the Greek im-pe-rii, even with the very foundation-no-va-nii (more precisely, re-new- le-nii) in the year 330, consecrated to the saints equal to-noap-o-so-ny Kon-stan-ti-nome We-li-kim (pa-mement May 21) Pre-holy -that Bo-go-ro-di-tse (this event was celebrated in the Greek Church on May 11 and re-went from-to-yes in Russian- me-s-tse-words), strove to be worthy of his Heavenly Blessing in everything. The Russian princess-gi-nya is present-day-va-la for god-serving in the best temples Kon-stan-ti-no-po-la - Holy that Sophia, Blachernae Bo-go-ma-te-ri and others.

The heart of the wise Ol-gi opened to the holy right-to-glory, she makes the decision to become christ-en-koy. The Ta-in-stvo of Baptism co-performed over her pat-ri-arch Kon-stan-ti-no-pol-sky Fe-o-fi-lact (933-956), and resurrection -em-no-one was himself im-pe-ra-tor Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-no-native (912-959). She would-lo-on-re-che-but in Kre-shche-nii the name of Elena in honor of the holy equal-noap-o-so-so Elena (pa-myat May 21), ma-te- ri of the holy Kon-stan-ti-na, about-ret-shey the Honest Tree of the Cross of the Lord-under-nya. In the na-zi-da-tel-nom word, said-zan-nom according to the co-op-tion of the ob-rya-yes, the pat-ri-arkh said-hall: "Bla-go-slo-ven -on you in the Russian wives, for you left the darkness and re-lo-bi-la the Light. who-to-le-ni-yah, from grandchildren and great-grandchildren to from-yes-len-her-their descendants of yours. He set her in the is-ti-nah of the faith, the church charter and the mo-lit-ven-nom pra-vi-le, ex-yas-nil for-by-ve- di about post, whole-lo-wise-rii and mi-lo-stay. "She, - go-vo-rit pre-po-dob-ny, - slope-no-la go-lo-woo and hundred-I-la, words-but gu-ba na-pa-i-e- May, paying attention to the teachings, and, bowing down to Pat-ri-ar-hu, pro-say-vi-la: “Mo-lit-va-mi your-and-mi, Vla- so-so, yes, save-not-to-be from the networks of the enemy.

That's right, with a slightly clo-n-n-no-no-go-lo-howl, depict-bra-same-on-st. Olga on one of the fre-juices of Ki-ev-sko-go So-fi-sko-go so-bo-ra, as well as on the modern-men-noy to her vi-zan-ti-sky mi-ni-a-tyu-re, in the face-howl ru-ko -pi-si Chro-ni-ki John-na Ski-li-tsy from the Madrid-sky on-tsio-nal-noy bib-lio-te-ki. Greek inscription, co-leader-yes-u-scha mi-ni-a-tyu-ru, on-zy-va-et Ol-gu "ar-hon-tes-soy (that there is vlad-dy-chi-tsey) rus-owls", "well-noah, El-goy by name, someone-paradise came to tsar Kon-stan-ti-well and would-la kre-shche-na". The prince-gi-nya is depicted in a special head-dress, "like a new-in-baptized christ-sti-an-ka and an even dia -ko-nis-sa of the Russian Church-vi". Next to her, in the same dress, but-in-cre-she-noy - Ma-lusha († 1001), later the mother of the holy equal-noap-o-so- no-go Vla-di-mi-ra (pa-min July 15).

So-ho hate-no-Russians, what-kim was he-pe-ra-tor Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-but-native, it would not be easy for- to become the godfather of "ar-hon-tes-sy Ru-si". In Russian let-to-pi-si co-stored-li-li-story about how re-shi-tel-but and on equal times-go-va-ri-va-la Ol-ha with im-pe-ra-to-rum, surprising the Greeks with spiritual maturity and state-state wisdom, ka-zy- wai that the Russian-mu-on-ro-du is just under the power to apprehend and multiply the highest accomplishments of the Greek re-li-gi-oz -no-th genius, the best fruits of the Vi-Zan-Ti-sky spirit-hov-no-sti and culture. So St. Olga managed to “take Tsar-grad” in a peaceful way, which not a single half-man could do before her. According to the evidence of le-to-pi-si, he himself-pe-ra-tor you-needed to admit that "pe-re-klu-ka-la" (pe-re -hit-ri-la) his Ol-ga, and the people-native pa-meat, unite the pre-da-tion about the thing Ole-ge and the wise Ol-ge, for-ne -chat-le-la this spirit-hov-nuyu in-be-du in the by-lin-n sk-za-nii "About the capture of Tsar-rya-gra-yes-prince-gi-nei Ol-goy."

Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-but-native in his co-chi-non-nii "About the tse-re-mo-ni-yah of the vi-zan-tiy-go-court", who came to us in a single list, left a fractional description of the ceremonies, co-leaders -va-nie of St. Olga in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le. He describes a solemn reception in the familiar pa-la-te Magnavre, under the singing of bronze birds and the roar of honey lions, where Olga appeared with a huge retinue of 108 people (not counting people from the friend of the Holy Glory), and pe-re-go-in-ry in a more narrow circle in ko-y im-pe-ra-three-tsy, and a para-happy dinner in the Yus-ti hall -no-a-na, where, according to the stature of the circumstances of pro-thinking-if-tel-but met at the same table, th-you-re "go- sovereign-yes-we": ba-bush-ka and mother of saint-equal-noap-o-so-so Vla-di-mi-ra (saint Olga and her companion -ni-tsa Ma-lusha) with ba-bush-koy and ma-te-ryu of his bu-du-schey su-pr-gi An-na (im-pe-ra-tri-tsa Elena and her brides -ka Fe-o-fa-no). It will pass a little more in a lu-ve-ka, and in the De-sya-tin-n temple of the Holy Bo-go-ro-di-tsy in Ki-e-ve they will next to the house there are marble coffins of St. Olga, St. Vla-di-mir and Blessed "Tsar-ri-tsy An-na ".

During the time of one of the pri-e-movs, ras-sa-zy-va-et Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-no-native, the Russian princess-guine was under -not-se-but golden, decorated with stone-nya-mi blue-do. Holy Olga in the sacrifice-in-va-la him in the riza-ni-tsu So-fiy-so-bo-ra, where he saw and described him in na-cha-le XIII century Russian diplomat Dob-ry-nya Yad-rey-ko-vich, later archbishop of Nov-go-rod-sky An-to-niy: "Blu-to ve-li-ko evil is the servant of Ol-gi of the Russian, when you took a tribute, go-div-shi to Tsar-grad; in the blu-de Ol -zhine ka-men dra-gy, on the same ka-me-ni na-pi-san Christ.

However, lu-ka-vy im-pe-ra-tor, co-general so-so-fractional-stays, as if in a place-ku for the fact that "pe-re- key-ka-la his Ol-ga", gave a difficult-ku-ku-gad-ku is-to-ri-kam of the Russian Church. The point is that the venerable Nestor Le-to-pi-sets tells-say-zy-va-et in "In-ve-st of temporary years" about Kre-shche- Olga’s research institutes under 6463 (955 or 954) year, and this corresponds to the s-de-tel-stvo of the vi-zan-ti-sky chrono-ni-ki Ked-ri-na . Another Russian church writer of the 11th century, Jacob Mnikh, in the word "Pa-myat and in-praise Vla-di-mi-ru ... and how the grandmother Vla-di-mi-ra Ol-ga was christened", talking about the death of the holy prince-gi-ni († 969), from me-cha- it is true that she lived for five-twenty years, and from the same time of Baptism to the year 954, something but owl-pa-yes-et with accuracy up to a few months with the order of Nesto-ra. Meanwhile, Kon-stan-tin Bag-rya-but-native, describe-sy-vaya pre-be-va-ing Ol-gi in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le and na-zy -vaya exact yes-you arranged reception-e-mov in her honor, with no doubt-no-stu let me understand that all this is about-is-ho-di-lo in 957. For the reception of the data of the le-to-pi-si, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the Russian chur-kov-nym is-to-ri-kam had to pre-la-gat one of two things: either St. Ol-ga for the continuation of the re-go-vo-ditch with im-pe-ra-to-rum in 957 at-e-ha-la in Kon-stan-ti-no-pol for the second time, or she baptized in general not in Tsa-r-gra-de, but in Ki-e-ve in 954 and its only pa-lo-no-thing in Vi -Zan-tiyu so-ver-shi-la, already bu-duchi hri-sti-an-koy. The first pre-po-lo-same-nie is more ve-ro-yat-but.

What is ka-sa-et-sya directly-medium-but di-plo-ma-ti-che-so-go is-ho-da re-go-vo-ditch, at St. Olga would os-no-va-nia remain unwillingly with them. Achieving success in questions about Russian trading in the pre-de-lach of the empire and confirming the world-but-to-go -in-ra with Vi-zan-ti-her, for-key-chen-no-go Igo-rem in 944, she couldn’t-la, one-on-ko, twisted them-pe- ra-to-ra to two important for Rus-si co-gla-she-ni-yam: about di-na-sti-che-marriage -sky tsa-rev-noy and about the conditions-vi-yah of the re-stand-nov-le-niya su-sche-stvo-vav-shey at As-kol-de pra-in-glorious-noy mit-ro-po -lee in Ki-e-ve. Her dissatisfaction with the is-ho-house of the mission is obvious, but it sounds in the re-ve-those, whom she gave-la already upon returning to the ro- di-well sent-nym from them-pe-ra-to-ra in slam. At the request of them-pe-ra-to-ra from-no-si-tel-but promise-schan-noy in-en-noy help St. Olga through the words of res-ko from-ve-ti-la: "If you stay the same with me in Po-chain, as I do in Su-du, then I will give you power".

At the same time, despite the failure of the old-ra-ny about the establishment of a church hierarchy in Russia, St. Olga, becoming christian -koy, roar-nost-but pre-yes-va-las in the motion of hri-sti-en-ho-go-go-ve-stia among gentiles and churches th construction: "tre-be-scha be-sov-sky so-kru-shi and na-cha live about Christ Jesus." She raises temples: holy-te-la Ni-ko-lai and Holy Sophia in Ki-e-ve, Bla-go-ve-shche-nia Pre-holy -that Bo-go-ro-di-tsy - in Vi-teb-sk, St. Zhi-vo-on-the-initial Tro-i-tsy - in Psko-ve. Pskov from that time-me-no-zy-va-et-sya in le-that-pi-syah Do-mom of the Holy Trinity. The temple, built by Ol-goy over the river Ve-li-koy, in the place indicated to her, according to the testimony of the clerk, over "Lu-chom Tri-si-i-tel-no-God-of-the-same", just-sto-yal more in-lu-that-ra of centuries. In 1137, the holy prince All-vo-lod-Gav-ri-il († 1138, pa-myat 11 Feb-ra-la) for-me-nil de-re-vyan-ny temple ka-men -ny, someone was re-built, in turn, in 1363 and replaced, finally, until now, there is shchim Tro-its-kim so-bo-rum.

And another important pa-myat-nick of the Russian-go "mo-nu-men-tal-no-go-go-word-viya", as they call-zy-va-yut often- to the church architecture, connected with the name of the holy equal-noap-o-stol-noy Olga - the temple of So-phia Pre-wisdom-ro-sti of God her in Ki-e-ve, for-lo-wife-ny soon after her return from Tsar-gra-da and consecrated on May 11, 960. This day was celebrated later in the Russian Church as a special church holiday.

In the month-sya-tse-word-ve per-ha-men-no-go Apo-hundred-la 1307 under May 11 for-pi-sa-no: "On the same day, the consecration of the Holy -toy So-phia in Ki-e-ve in the year 6460". Yes-ta pa-me-ti, according to me-of church-is-to-ri-kov, uka-for-na according to so-called-zy-va-e-mo-mu "an-tio-hiy -sko-mu", and not according to the general-at-nya-that-mu con-stan-ti-no-pol-mu-le-that-is-number-le-tion and co-ot-vet -stu-et 960 from the Nativity of Christ-sto-va.

Saint Ol-ha is not without reason in-lu-chi-la in Kre-shche-nii the name of the holy equal-noap-o-stol-noy Helena, about-ret-shey the Honest Tree Kre-hundred Hristo-va in Jeru-sa-li-me. The Holy Cross became the main saint of the newly-created So-fiy-th-temple, with-not-sen-ny new Elena from Tsa -r-gra-yes and received by it in the b-go-word-ve-tion from Kon-stan-ti-no-pol-go-pat-ri-ar-ha. The cross, according to pre-yes, was cut out of the whole-but-th piece of the Life-in-your-dre-of-the-God-under-nya. On the cross there would be an inscription: "Ob-no-ve-sya Russian land with the Holy Cross, his own pri-i-la Ol-ga, b-go-ver-naya prince-gi-nya".

Saint Ol-ga did a lot for uwe-ko-ve-che-niya pa-my-first Russian arts-by-ved-ni-kov named after Christ -va: over the mo-gi-loy As-kol-da erected-la Ni-kol-sky temple, where, according to some sve-de-ni-pits, sa-ma would-la a consequence in-ho-ro-not-on, over the mo-gi-loy Di-ra - you-she-on-the-named So-fi-sky so-boron, someone-ry, simply -yav half a century, burned down in 1017. Yaroslav the Wise built on this site later, in 1050, the church of St. Irina, and St. So-fiy Ol -gi-on the temple-ma, re-carried to the stone temple of the same name - still standing So-fia of Kiev, for-lo-women- new in 1017 and consecrated around 1030. In the Pro-log of the 13th century, about Ol-gi-nom cross, it is said-for-but: "who now stands in Ki-e-ve in St. Sophia in al-ta-re on the right side". Raz-grab-le-ni-ki-ev-skih-s-tyn, pro-long-wife-after-mon-go-lov li-tov-tsa-mi, someone-eye city has become -Xia in 1341, not for-scha-di-lo and him. Under Jagai-le in the pe-ri-od of the Union of Lub-lin, uniting in 1384 Poland-shu and Lithuania into one state-su-dar-stvo, Ol- gin cross was in-hee-schen from So-fi-sko-go so-bo-ra and you-ve-zen ka-that-li-ka-mi in Lub-lin. His further fate is unknown.

But among the bo-yar and the dru-zhin-nik-kov in Ki-e-ve there were a lot of people, some, according to the word So-lo-mo-na, " rise-not-on-vi-de-whether Pre-wisdom, "as well as the holy prince-gi-nu Ol-gu, who built temples for Her. The roar-no-those of the language of the old-ri-na are all bolder under-no-ma-whether go-lo-woo, with the hope of heaven, look at the sub-ra-tav- she-go Holy-glory-va, re-shi-tel-but from-klo-niv-she-go-o-o-ry ma-te-ri to accept christ-sti-an-stvo and yes- anger-vav-she-go-xia on her for this. It would be necessary to hurry up with the du-man-y de-scrap of the Creation of Ru-si. The co-var-stvo of Byzantium, not in the same way to give Ru-si hri-sti-an-stvo, it was on the ru-ku tongue-no-kam. In the way of the resolution, the holy Ol-ga looks to the west. There is no pro-te-vo-re-chia here. Saint Olga († 969) was still attached to the undifferentiated Church and hardly had the opportunity to delve into God words-sky tone-co-sti greek-che-sko-go and latin-sko-go ve-ro-teachings. Pro-ti-in-a-hundred-i-ing Za-pa-yes and Vo-hundred-ka before-becoming-la-moose to her before everything in-li-ti-che-sky co-per-no -a-quality, second-degree-pen-nym in comparison with the-existing task-yes-whose - with the building of the Russian Church, christ-sti- an-skim pro-sve-shche-ni-em Ru-si.

Under the year 959, a German chronicler, named-well-e-my "pro-long-a-tel Re-gi-no-na", for-pi-sy-va-et: "came to ko-ro-lu in the words of Elena-na, ko-role-you are Russian-owls, someone-paradise was baptized in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le, and pro-si- whether to consecrate for this on-ro-yes epi-sko-pa and priests. King-role Ot-ton, fu-du-os-no-va-tel of the German Empire, willingly from-click-null-sya to Olga’s request, but at - led de lo slowly, with a hundred German os-no-va-tel-no-stu. Only on the Nativity of the next, 960, the Russian bishop was appointed Li-bu-tsy, from the brethren of the mo-on- the guard of the holy Al-ba-na in Mainz. But he soon died (March 15, 961). In his place, Adal-bert of Trier was consecrated, someone-ro-go Ot-ton, "generously supplying divas with everything you need", from-right-fork, to-to- net, to Russia. It’s hard to say what would have happened if the co-role hadn’t been so long, but when in 962 Adal-bert appeared in Ki-e -ve, he "didn't have time in anything for which he was sent, and saw his old things in vain." Well, then, on the way back, "some of his companions would have killed you, and the bishop himself did not escape death danger-no-sti".

An eye-for-elk, that over the past two years, as well as pre-vi-de-la Olga, in Ki-e-ve there was a window-cha-tel- ny re-in-mouth in favor of the side-ron-ni-kov of the language and, without becoming either right-in-glorious, or somehow-li-che-sky, Russia in -generally times-du-ma-la pri-ni-mother christ-sti-an-stvo. The language-che-re-ac-tion appeared so strongly that it was not only German mis-si-o-no-ry, but and some of the Kievan Christians, baptized with Olga in Tsa-r-gra-de. On the order of the Holy Glory, the nephew of St. Olga Gleb was killed and some of the temples built by her were destroyed we. Ra-zu-me-et-sya, here it was not without the Byzantine secret diplomacy: on-strong against Olga and met in-female-opportunity-to-stuy-le-niya Ru-si due to co-u-for with Ot-to-n, the Greeks before-by-chli support the tongue -kov.

The failure of the mission of Adal-ber-ta had a pro-cape-li-tel-noe sign for the future Russian Right-of-the-glorious Church, because be-zhav-shey pa-th captivity. Saint Ol-ge remained to reconcile with the pro-is-walked-shim and completely go away in the de-la personal bliss-go-honesty, giving the reins of the rights of the tongue of the tongue of the Holy Glory. They still reckoned with her, to her state wisdom they were unchanged in all difficult cases I. Once upon a time, the Holy Glory from-beamed from Ki-e-va, and he spent most of his time in trips and wars, management -le-niye by the state-su-dar-stvo again handed-cha-moose to the princess-guine-ma-te-ri. But the question of the Baptism of Rus-si was temporarily removed from the agenda of the day, and this, of course, afflicted holy Olga, consider -tav-shui Christ-to-go-ve-st is the main de-scrap of your life.

She is meek-to-re-but-si-la sorrow-by and grief-che-niya, tried to help her son-well in state-state and military for-bo-tah, ru-ko-vo-dit them in ge-ro-and-che-for-thoughts. In the bea-dy of the Russian-go-how-ska, would it be comfort-she-no-eat for her, especially-ben-but-thunder-of-the-thunder-of-the-th enemy-ha of the Russian-go-go-su -gifts - Kha-zar-sko-go-ka-ga-na-ta. Twice, in 965 and in 969, the howl of the Holy Glory passed through the lands of the "non-zoom ha-za-ditch", forever co- crushing the mo-gu-shche-stvo of the Jewish authorities of the Azov-Pri-Azov and the Lower Vol-zhya. The next powerful blow was on-not-sen on the Mu-sul-man Volga Bol-garia, then the turn of the Bol-gar-ria of Du came nai-sky. In-seven-de-syat cities along the Dan-nai would have taken something ki-ev-ski-mi friend-on-mi. One-but the devil-to-and-lo Ol-gu: as if, carried away by the war in Bal-ka-nah, Holy Glory did not forget about Ki-e-ve.

In the spring of 969, Ki-ev osa-di-li ne-che-no-gi: "and you couldn't-you-ve-sti-ko-nya on-po-it, sto-i-whether pe-che-no-gi on Ly-be-di". The Russian howl would be yes-le-ko, on the Danube. After glorifying to the sy-well messengers, holy Ol-ga sa-ma voz-gla-vi-la ob-ro-well hundred-li-tsy. Holy glory, after receiving from the news, soon came to Ki-ev, "welcome to your mother and children and so-cru-shal -Xia, what happened to them from pe-che-no-gov. But, having raz-gro-miv ko-chev-ni-kov, the prince again began to say ma-te-ri: “I don’t like to sit in Ki- e-ve, I want to live in Pe-re-I-with-lav-tse on the Danube - there se-re-di-on my land. The Holy Glory dreamed of the creation of a huge Russian state from the Danube to the Volga, someone would unite Russia, Bol -ga-riyu, Ser-biyu, Pri-cher-no-sea and Pri-Azov-vie and passed their pre-de-la to sa-mo-go Tsa-r-gra-yes. Wise-paradise Ol-ga in no-ma-la, that with all the courage and from-va-ge of the Russian squads, they cannot cope with the ancient im-pe-ri -hey ro-me-ev, Holy-glory-wa was waiting for failure-cha. But the son did not listen to the warning of the ma-te-ri. Then the holy Olga said: “You see, I’m sick. Where do you want to get away from me? -nya, from-right-lay-sya-yes for-ho-chesh.

Her days would be with-whether, labor and sorrow would-be-to-rva-whether her strength. On July 11, 969, Saint Olga died, "and weep for her, what her son, and grandchildren, and all the people weep for." In the last years, among the torment of languages, she, once upon a time, proud vlad-dy-chi-tse, baptized from pat -ri-ar-ha in the hundred of right-of-glory, come-ho-di-moose tai-but keep-reap-be-be-priest-no-ka, so as not to call you new flash of an-ti-hri-sti-an-sko-go fa-na-tiz-ma. But before death, re-establishing the former firmness and re-shi-bridge, she for-pre-ti-la performed pagan triz-nas over her and for-ve-scha-la from-open-the-ho-ro-thread of it according to the right-to-glorious-no-mu about-rya-du. Pre-swee-ter Gri-go-ry, someone was with her in 957 in Kon-stan-ti-no-po-le, exactly you-half-nil her for -broadcasting.

Saint Olga lived-la, died-la, and in-gre-be-na would-la like hri-sti-an-ka. "And so, in a lively and kind way, the glory of God in the Tro-and-tse, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in b-zii ve-re, end your life with the world in Christ Jesus, Lord, according to us. Like her pro-ro-che-sky covenant after-du-u-shchim in-ko-le-ni-pits, she is with a deep-bo-kim hri-sti-an-sky smi-re-ni - we use-ve-da-la our faith about our own on-ro-de: "For God's sake, let it be! va-ti ro-du mo-e-go Earth-whether Rus-kiya, yes-lo-lives on their hearts about-ra-ti-ti-sya to God, as if this is God for me yes-ro-wa".

God glorified the holy work of the right-to-glory, "to-begin-to-no-tsu of the faith" in the Russian land, chu-de-sa- we and incorruptible-ni-eat mo-schey. Jacob Mnich († 1072), a hundred years after her death, wrote in his "Pa-my-ti and in-praise Vla-di-mi-ru": "God pro- glorify the body of the servant of Your Olena, and there is in the grave the body of her honest, and inexplicably-ru-shi-mine remains to this day. Blessed-wife-prince-gi-nya Ol-ga pro-sla-vi-la God with all de-la-mi of her-and-mi good-ry-mi, and God glorified her ". Under the holy prince Vla-di-mi-re, according to some data, in 1007, the relics of St. Ol-gi would be re-re-not-se -we to the De-sya-tin-ny temple of the Assumption of the Pre-holy Bo-go-ro-di-tsy and in the same way in the special-tsi-al-nom sar-ko-fa- ge, in some pri-nya it would be to put the relics of the saints on the right-in-glorious Vo-sto-ke. "And sometimes you hear about her: the coffin of the stone is small in the church of the Holy God-ro-di-tsy, that church was created by the blessed prince Vla -di-peace, and there is the coffin of blessed Olga. Ol-gi le-zha-sche whole. " But not everyone would be yav-le-but mi-to incorruptibility of the relics of equal-noap-o-so-prince-gi-ni: -sya windows-tse, and sees an honest body-lo-zh-sche whole-lo and di-wit-sya chu-du-so-in-mu - something-or-what years in a gro- be-le-zha-sche te-lu unraz-ru-shiv-she-mu-sya. as if sleeping, chi-va-et. la that, honestly, but only a coffin.

So after the death of the holy Olga pro-po-ve-do-va-la eternal life and resurrection, full of ra-to-stu ve-ru- yu-shchih and vra-zoom-lyaya neve-ru-yu-shchih. She was, according to the words of the pre-good Nesto-ra Le-to-pis-tsa, "before-te-ku-shchaya hri-sti-an-sky earth, like den - not-tsa before the sun and like dawn before the light.

The holy equal-noap-o-so-great-prince Vla-di-mir, offering his blessings to God on the day of Baptism Ru -si, witness-de-tel-stvo-val on behalf of their modern-men-ni-kov about the holy equal-noap-o-so-Ol-ge-know-me-on-tel- we-mi words-va-mi: "Bla-go-slo-vi-ti-ty ho-tyat sy-no-ve-ru-stii, and in the next generation your grandson is theirs."

See also: "" in from-lo-same-nii svt. Di-mit-ria Rostov-sko-go.

Prayers

Troparion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena

The god -blessings who had shown your mind,/ enthusiastically, the vice -to -see,/ recovering the whole,/ and, and that obtuity, the casualties of the perishable,/ I was alive.

Translation: Having inspired your mind with the wings of the knowledge of God, you soared above the visible creation, seeking God and the Creator of everything and, having found Him, received a new birth in Baptism, enjoying the Tree of Life, you remain incorruptible forever, Olga is always glorified.

Leaving the flattery of idols, / followed Christ, the Immortal Bridegroom, Olga the God-wise, / rejoicing in His devil, / praying unceasingly / for those who honor your holy memory with faith and love.

Translation: Leaving deceit, you followed Christ, the Immortal Bridegroom, Olga the God-wise, rejoicing in His chamber, without ceasing to pray for those who honor your holy memory with faith and love.

John Troparion Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena

In you, God-wise Elena, the image of salvation is known to be in the Russian country, / as if, having received the bath of Holy Baptism, you followed Christ, / do and teach, even leave the idol charm, / take care of the soul, venej / deathless and from the Angels rejoices, equal to the apostles, your spirit.

Translation: In you, God-wise Elena, the exact image of salvation was for the Russian country, since you, having accepted the font of Holy Baptism, followed Christ, teaching by deed to leave the idol seduction and take care of the soul, an immortal creation, therefore your spirit rejoices with the angels, equal to the apostles .

John Troparion Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena, Hellenic

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles to the chosen one of Christ, Princess Olga, / having given your people the verbal and pure milk of Christ to drink, / praying to the Merciful God, / yes sins forgiven / / give to our souls.

Translation: The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Chosen One of Christ, Princess Olga, who gave your people the verbal and pure milk of Christ to drink (), pray to the Merciful God, that forgiveness of sins will give our souls.

Kontakion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena

Let us sing today the Benefactor of all God, / who glorified in Russia Olga the Wise: / let her prayers / grant our souls / / forgiveness of sins.

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

In kontakion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena

Appear today the grace of all God, / glorify in Russia the God-wise Olga, / through her prayers, Lord, / grant people / / forgiveness of sins.

Translation: The grace of the God of all has appeared today, glorifying Olga the God-wise in Russia, through her prayers, Lord, give people the forgiveness of sins.

Magnification Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena

We magnify you, / the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, / like the dawn of the morning in our land, shining / and the light of the Orthodox faith / / foretelling your people.

First Prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena

Oh, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, first-timer of Russia, warm intercessor and intercessor for us before God! We resort to you with the faith and pray with the love: we will help us in all to Blag, and, as well as more likely, more carefully, the great -grandfathers of the sake of holy belie 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. В нищете́ и ско́рби су́щия уте́ши, бе́дствующим пода́ждь ру́ку по́мощи, оби́димыя и напа́ствуемыя заступи́, заблу́дшия от пра́выя ве́ры и ересьми́ ослепле́нныя вразуми́ и испроси́ нам у Всеще́драго Бо́га вся блага́я и поле́зная жи́зни вре́менней и ве́чней, да та́ко благоуго́дне зде пожи́вше, сподо́бимся насле́дия благ ве́чных 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.

Second Prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena

Oh, great saint of God, chosen by God and glorified by God, Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga! You rejected evil faith and pagan wickedness, you believed in the One True Triune God, and you received Holy Baptism, and you 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 All-Russian fatherland, the army and 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, as if we sin all the days because of our infirmities, may he not destroy us with our iniquities, but may he have mercy and save us according to mercy May His saving fear be planted in our hearts, may our minds be enlightened with His grace, understand the ways of the Lord for us, leave the paths of wickedness and error, pursue in the paths of salvation and truth, the unswerving fulfillment of the commandments of God. Pray, Blessed Olga, the Man-soul of God, may He grant us His great mercy, may He deliver us from the invasion of foreigners, from internal discords, rebellions and strife, from hunger, deadly diseases and from all evil, may He give us the goodness of the air and the dissolution of the earth may he save our country from all the snares and slander of the enemy, may he observe justice and mercy in the judges and rulers, may he give the shepherd zeal for the salvation of the flock, hasten to all people, oh diligently correct their services, love and unite between let us strive for the good of the fatherland and the Holy Church, may the light of the saving faith shine in our country in all its ends, may the unbelievers be converted to the faith, may all heresies and schisms be abolished. Yes, having lived in peace on earth like this, let us be granted with you eternal bliss in Heaven, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen.

Canons and Akathists

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

Canto 1

Irmos: The majestic Pharaoh drowned in the sea with weapons and horsemen, Israel was gloriously saved and led on dry land, we sing of Christ, as if glorified.

Thou art our greatness and praise, Olgo the God-wise: through you we are freed from idol flattery. Now pray for generations and generations, whom you brought to God, singing Christ, as if you were glorified.

You drove the majestic devil out of Russia, crushing the ungodly idols by no means, you freed all people from iniquity, with wisdom teaching Christ to sing, as if glorified.

The blackness of the sinful bath of Baptism was by no means washed away, thou didst love Christ, He who is standing, pray for thy servants, faithfully glorifying thee.

Bogorodichen: Isaiah calls the rod, Most Pure One, David calls Thee - the throne of the Lord, Habakkuk - the autumn mountain, the bush of Thee - Moses, we call Thee the Mother of God.

Canto 3

Irmos: With a sovereign hand and a powerful word, you created Heaven and earth, you redeemed you with your blood, your Church, even it is affirmed about you, calling: as if there is nothing holy, unless you, Lord.

With a sovereign hand, and with wise words, and with a strong word, you taught your son the law of Christ, and you forbade people to eat an idol, Olgo, glorious, having now descended in your memory, we glorify you.

You, like a bee, have sought out the good mind far from the flowering faith of Christ, and, like pure honey, having found Baptism in the reigning city, you have bestowed it on your city and people, and all the satiation of the sorrows of sin run away.

We bring all the voice of praise and prayer, Olgo, you know God, now you stand before Him, ask for peace for the fatherland, and for vile victories, and for our souls the forgiveness of sins, singing thee, blessed.

Bogorodichen: Friend appeared to you, Virgin, the Unapproachable God, so the angels sing unceasingly to you, obeying the Master, You gave birth to the Word of the Father, the Beginning, without a father: oh, a miracle! Holy spirit of autumn Ty.

Sedalen, voice 3

We honor your feat, blessed, marvelous for the strength of your spirit, in the weakness of the body; despising pagan flattery, boldly preached the faith of Christ, giving us an image of zeal for the Lord.

Canto 4

Irmos: By the Spirit of God, the prophet was cleansed, breathing in him, Divine Habakkuk, fearing, saying: when the summer approaches, you will be known, O God, for the salvation of people.

The Spirit of God rests on you, as if on Devvor the prophetess of old, Having enlightened herself, strengthening Vladimir the reasonable, Sisera of the devil cast down the devil in his nets with Baptism, as if Barak in the sweat of Kiss before.

Becoming swift, Olga the God-wise, with a contrite heart, praying to God, you delivered your people from the insult of the idol and from the captivity of the enemy you freed you, calling on Christ for our help.

On the deliberate day of your holy repose, we joyfully celebrate, the song of prayer is sent to Christ who crowned you with an incorruptible crown, Olgo the God-wise: ask us for forgiveness of sins, glorifying you faithfully.

Bogorodichen: Thee, from the root of Jesse prospered, Isaiah, as if prophesying, Christ - the Color of the vegetative, and the Primordial flesh bearing, and the Rod of the Spirit of God, we praise Thee, as the Mother of God and the Pure Virgin.

Canto 5

Irmos: The Word of God Almighty, send peace to the whole world and illuminate and enlighten everything with true light, glorifying You from the night.

Like a chaste dove, thou hast ascended on the date of virtues, thou art sacredly silvered, having imitated her image, thou glorious Olgo has nested in the paradise of food.

Before you belt Solomon: outside the grapes, the royal olive tree prospered; you have planted the holy dream with baptism in Russia, creating the fruit of repentance, about which Christ Himself rejoices.

Have mercy, Vladyka, on Your newly enlightened people, do not betray us into the hands of the filthy for our many iniquities, but by the prayers of our mentor Olga, deliver us from all misfortunes.

Bogorodichen: Sprinkle all, as it is written, clouds of joy, on the earth: God's child, Christ, cleanse the world of sins, become incarnate from the Virgin and be given to us.

Canto 6

Irmos: May my prayer come to Your Heavenly Holy Church, I cry out to You, like Jonah, from the depths of the sea heart: raise me up from my sins, I pray to You, Lord.

Having received the zeal of the Holy Spirit in your hearts, you have hated the fatherly wickedness, and having sought Christ the true God, you have appeared a child of light, and rejoice with the first-born of the saints in Heaven.

The new disciple of Christ in Russia appeared to you, bypassing cities and villages, crushing idols and teaching people to bow to the one God, pray for Him who sings to you.

O God-blessed Olga, pray for your child to God: immovable peace to our fatherland, ask for remission of sins for us, always glorifying you.

Bogorodichen: Knowing by You the indescribable Word of God, the Son of the Only Begotten Almighty, crying out to Thee, earthly: Rejoice, blessed Mother of God, the hope of our souls.

Kontakion, tone 4

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

Ikos

Seeing the life of Christians and comprehending pagan lewdness, Thou didst speak in thyself, Olga the God-wise: oh, the abyss of the wisdom and goodness of all the Creator! How have you been hiding from me until now? How can I honor idols from now on? No one, having tasted the sweet, will desire the bitter, for this sake, even in old age, call me, Holy Trinity, and give me forgiveness of sins.

Canto 7

Irmos: The flame of the cave enslaves the pious youths, the more I sprinkle, I am ready to burn by nature, but more than nature, I sing courageously: blessed be Thou, Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Your Kingdom.

Like Judith, thou didst create, having entered among the idol heifers, thou crushed those chiefs and confounded the demon-readers, thou didst teach all the people to cry out to Christ in purity: blessed be thou, O Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Thy Kingdom.

Praiseworthy flowers, like a royal crown, we bring God to your head in memory of yours, even Christ is an incorruptible crown, Olga the venerable, praying for your flock, get rid of all evil crying: blessed be Thou, Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Your Kingdom.

Shall we call the Lebanese mountain thee? Heavenly dew is on you. Or the river Pison, the kindest sapphire, an honest stone, possessing Vladimir, who should be enlightened Russian land? But pray for us, crying out: blessed art thou, O Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Thy Kingdom.

Bogorodichen: The kivot is gilded with the Spirit, we call you, who saved the world from the flood of the rational, Virgin, save us, we hope for you and resort to you, desperate in the abyss from sin and adversity, crying out: blessed be Thou, Lord, on the Throne of Glory of Your Kingdom.

Canto 8

Irmos: The strong youths are three in existence, cloaked in the power of the Holy Trinity, catching and defeating the Chaldeans, and the nature changed marvelously: what fire turned into dew? Without tightness, I save, like swaddling clothes, O shedding wisdom on all Your deeds, God, We exalt Thee forever.

She is strong, like a lioness, she is clothed by the power of the Holy Spirit, she strives everywhere to torment idols, and it’s wonderful in Heaven and on earth: how does a woman know God before she, from the very beginning, was the fall of the whole family? Save the same now, we sing: O God, shedding wisdom in all your deeds, we exalt you forever.

The wisdom of God wrote about you before: behold, you are my good and beautiful, and there is no vice in you. The brilliance of your face, like a world of smell, marked your baptism, Olgo, even in the midst of the idol flattery on you, the smell of Christ and all of us from the stench of demons to repentance by His mercy, led us to eat.

Remember me, Mrs. Olgo, your wretched servant, who was stolen from the enemy and who sinned more than a man, and prayed to Christ to give me forgiveness for all sins, even insensibly committed, accursed, and cry with repentance: O shedding wisdom on all your deeds, God, we exalt you in eyelids.

Bogorodichen: Do not despise, Virgo, Your servant of prayer, we boast about You, We are Your little flock, strive for our intercession and change from our enemies, have mercy on the Mother of God who knows You and Your Son crying out: O God, shedding wisdom on all Your deeds, We exalt you forever.

Canto 9

Irmos: Our great-grandmothers came out of Eden for the sake of Eve; Great-grandfather Adam jumped up, as if having repented of the first oath, we are boasting in You, as if for the sake of God we know You, and magnify You.

Rejoice, O ancestor Evo, who, having deceived you, bring you out of Eden, now you are trampled by your offspring. Behold, Olga is an animal tree, the Cross of Christ, in Russia, hoist, by whom paradise opened to all the faithful, we boast, as if for the sake of God we know, we magnify this with Vladimir.

By nature, we call you a wife, but more than a woman’s strength, you moved. You exhausted the darkness of your gold, but you acquired Christ's law and teachers, and enlightened the Russian land, we boast of you, as we know you for God's sake, we magnify you with martyrs.

As a teacher of the pure law and a teacher of the faith of Christ, accept praise from the unworthy servants and make a prayer for us to God, honestly creating your memory, but from misfortunes, and troubles, and sorrows, and fierce sins, we will be freed, and also the torment that awaits us, deliver , we pray to you, unceasingly magnifying you.

Bogorodichen: This is the Church, this is the door, this is the holy mountain of God, this is the rod and the vessel of gold, this is the source of printing, this is the holy paradise of the new Adam, this is the terrible throne, this is the Most Pure Mother of God, the Intercessor of all of us who sing Yu.

Svetilen

Enlightened by the light of the grace of God, the lamp of the true faith in your homeland was kindled by you, Olgo the God-wise, and you gave the image to our father Vladimir, and we will be led from the darkness of ignorance to the Light of Christ.

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

Kondak 1

The first-chosen of the entire Russian family, more glorious and equal to the apostles, God-pleaser Olga, let us praise, like the dawn, in the darkness of idolatry with the light of faith that shone forth and showed the way to Christ to all Russians. But you, as if having boldness towards the Lord who glorified you, protect us from all troubles with your prayers, let us call you:

Ikos 1

The Creator of angels and people, setting times and years in His power and ruling the fate of kingdoms and peoples at His will, whenever you want to enlighten the Russian race with Holy Baptism, then, seeing the good will of your heart, calling first to the knowledge of Himself, may you be an image of all Russians and teacher in the Christian faith. For this sake we praise thee:

Rejoice, morning star of the Russian heaven, foreshadowed by the First-Called Apostle on the mountains of Kyiv; Rejoice, dawn, shining brightly in the darkness of ignorance.

Rejoice, good vine of the vine of Christ, from the divi * of the pagan root; Rejoice, marvelous summer-growth, from the greatness of orthodoxy a tree on the earth of our age.

Rejoice, our first teacher and enlightener; Rejoice, as if by knowing you to worship the Creator in the Trinity.

Rejoice, for for your sake the Most Holy Name of the Lord is glorified by all Russians; Rejoice, for your glorious name, together with Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, is praised throughout the world.

Rejoice, our Russian countries are a spiritual treasure; Rejoice, glorious adornment of all Christ's Church.

Rejoice, city of Kyiv and Pskov a fair amount of kindness; Rejoice, good helper of our enemies against our enemies.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 2

Seeing you, Saint Olgo, like a creep in thorns: you are more and more born in paganism, both the law of God in your heart has always been written and your chastity, like the apple of your eye, has blessed you; thankfully we sing to His marvelous God in His saints: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

With your mind, you are all good, you know, God-wise Olga, like idols, the hands of human creation, are not bosi; the same, rejecting you, you strove to know the true God. For this sake, praising your prudence, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, good woman, who first of all knew the error of the Russians and understood the vanity of idolatry; Rejoice, diligently seeking the true knowledge of God and the right faith.

Rejoice, you who do not yet lead the true God, like Cornelius the centurion, pleasing Him with good deeds; Rejoice, before understanding the law of God, according to the law of conscience, you lived righteously.

Rejoice, before accepting the Christian faith of the deed, befitting a Christian, creating; Rejoice, gifted with wisdom from God.

Rejoice, adversary courageously defended your state from invasion; Rejoice, thou who didst execute righteous judgments in thy subordinates.

Rejoice, revered with royal glory on earth and in Heaven; Rejoice, for you are glorified by God, equal to the apostles.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 3

Moved by the power of the grace of God, you were tormented, God-wise Olga, reach Constantinople, where you see the beauty of the church splendor and listen to the teachings of the words of the Divine, you burst into flames with all your heart in the love of Christ, crying out to Him with gratitude: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Possessing a heart like good land, take it easy, Olgo, the seed of holy faith, knowing Christ the true God. By the same token, you received holy baptism from the hand of the Patriarch of Constantinople, even predicting you, as from now on, the Russian sons will bless you. If you want to fulfill this prophecy, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, thou who didst leave the darkness of idolatry; Rejoice, thou who didst seek the light of the knowledge of God.

Rejoice, having escaped endless destruction by faith; Rejoice, having acquired eternal life in Christ.

Rejoice, in the font of holy baptism from the filth of sin, washed; Rejoice, spiritually born by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, reasonable turtledove, from the claws of a soul-destroying lie that flew out; Rejoice, under the wings of the Heavenly Eagle you have arrived.

Rejoice, having brought many souls with you to Christ by baptism; Rejoice, for this sake you have received a special reward from God.

Rejoice, shining with unwavering faith from your honest relics; Rejoice, souls and bodies of those, even for the good, giving.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 4

How we do not marvel at your prudence, O blessed Olga, for you reasonably rejected the proposal of the king of the Hellenes for marriage with him, saying to him: not for marriage for the sake of this, and not for the sake of co-reigning with you, but let me be baptized by Baptism to the Immortal Bridegroom Christ God: Love him more than anything my soul and to Him from now on forever I will not stop singing: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing from the patriarch who baptized you a parting word about purity, fasting, prayer and about all the virtues that befit a Christian, you composed this in your heart, promising to fulfill all that deeds. The same way, we sing of duty to ti sitse:

Rejoice, zealous hearer of the words of the Divine; Rejoice, zealous fulfiller of the Christian law.

Rejoice, having cleansed the field of your heart from the thorns of soul-damaging passions; Rejoice, having watered you with tears of repentance.

Rejoice, as the seed of the word of God is in your heart, as if it were kinder on earth, take root; Rejoice, for you bring this seed to the vegetative and the hundredfold fruit of good deeds.

Rejoice, having kept your widow's purity undefiled; Rejoice, having pleased God with abstinence and prayer.

Rejoice, thou who didst propitiate the Creator with mercy; Rejoice, thou who didst supply the needy and needy.

Rejoice, foreseeing the enlightenment of the Russian land with the light of Christ's teachings.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 5

Having clothed yourself with the richly woven clothes of holy baptism and spiritually strengthened with the imperishable food of the Most Pure Body and Blood of Christ, blessed Olga, you were not afraid of the potency to your unfaithful compatriots, our ancestor, to preach to them the One True God, to Him now all of Russia, as if with one mouth, sings: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing, Saint Olgo, all the people of the Russian land immersed in the darkness of idolatry, thou zealously sought to enlighten thee with the light of Christ's faith and create I the sons of the day and the heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. Remembering your care for them, we gratefully call you:

Rejoice, wise ruler of the Russian people; Rejoice, good teacher of the herd entrusted to you.

Rejoice, thou who was the first of Christians to Empress Helena in divine zeal imitated; Rejoice, thou who didst receive that name in holy baptism.

Rejoice, you brought the honest cross of Christ and the holy icons from Constantinople to the city of Kyiv; Rejoice, having brought priests and clergy with you to Russia.

Rejoice, having taught people with your wise words to leave the darkness of pagan wickedness and perceive the light of Christian piety; Rejoice, having enlightened many Russians with the light of the faith of Christ.

Rejoice, thou who laid the beginning of the enlightenment of all the Russian land; Rejoice, thou who didst proclaim the teachings of Christ to the cities of Russia.

Rejoice, first from the land of Russia to the face of the saints.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 6

A spirit-bearing preacher, an Apostle, imitating Olga, the God-wise, went around the cities and towns of your power, leading, with great power, people to the faith of Christ and teaching them to sing to the One in the Trinity, the glorious God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Establishing in your state the beginning of the Christian faith, you created the temples of God in the city of Kyiv and in the country of your birth, at the River Velitsa near the city of Pskov. And so the Russians began to glorify Christ our God everywhere, but to you, your enlightener, laudable sing:

Rejoice, for from the pure source of the Holy Cathedral and Apostolic Church, thou hast received pure teaching; rejoice, for thou hast taught us to know the One true God.

Rejoice, destroyer of idols and idols; Rejoice, creator of the holy temples of God.

Rejoice, like the First-Called Apostle, who bypassed the Russian land with the preaching of the Gospel; Rejoice, you who proclaimed the coming of the Gospel to the world of Great Novugrad and other Russian cities of Christ.

Rejoice, at the places of your preaching, you erected honest crosses, from them many signs and wonders, assurances for the sake of the unbelievers, by the power of God, I have been removed.

Rejoice, for by you the All-good Lord has revealed His knowledge to the sons of Russia; Rejoice, for through them you have enlightened many other peoples with the light of faith.

Rejoice, for from the root of your honest Lord, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir showed us to eat; rejoice, for in the way of your life, the holy prince Vladimir moved to accept the Christian faith.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 7

Wanting to save your son Svyatoslav from eternal destruction, diligently exhorted him to leave the veneration of idols and believe in the true God. But she does not heed your motherly punishment and does not want to change her wickedness for piety. The same, as an unfaithful one, alienate yourself from eternal life and not be able to sing with you in the Kingdom of Heaven: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

The Lord will show you a new sign of His good will, when, in the image of the Most Holy Trinity, three bright rays from the heavens oblast in the place of the oak forest, and you have not only matured them, but you have seen all the people there, and together with you glorify the Triune God. We, leading the fulfillment of your prophecy about the creation on the site of it of the temple of the Life-Giving Trinity and the city, appease thee:

Rejoice, great servant of God, worthy of the gift of prophecy.

Rejoice, spectator of the Trissian Light of Heaven; Rejoice, the all-good will of God for the enlightenment of the Russian people according to the Apostle Andrew, the first performer.

Rejoice, initial founder of the city of Pskov; Rejoice, intercessor and patroness of all the Russian powers.

Rejoice, as by the will of God the Russian power has now spread from sea to sea; Rejoice, as the whole city and its weight has been adorned with many temples of God.

Rejoice, for in these churches the hierarchs and priests offer the Bloodless Sacrifice for the people to God; Rejoice, as the hosts of monastics all over the face of the Russian land unanimously sing the praise of the Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, as the inhabitants of the city of Kyiv and Pskov are especially exalting and indulging you; Rejoice, as all Orthodox Russians have honored and glorified thee since ancient times.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 8

Ending the wanderings of the earthly course, you prayed warmly to the Lord, O blessed Olga, that He would not leave the Russian land after your repose in the darkness of ignorance, but that he would enlighten me with the light of the holy faith and all the sons of Russia would teach to sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

All embraced by the former grace of God, the most praiseworthy Olga, with your mental eyes, you have matured the enlightenment of all your people and prophetically predicted you, as if many great things please God, like stars of light, will shine into the lands of Russia, hedgehog and come true by the will and grace of the almighty God. For this sake, we sing to you in debt:

Rejoice, our spiritual mother, who asked God for enlightenment by our forefather; Rejoice, as the All-good Lord, in vain the kindness of your soul, for you, love all the Russian people.

Rejoice, for Christ has found you worthy of a vessel, through which he began to pour out the grace of His Russian land; Rejoice, for you have prepared your people for the acceptance of the faith and grace of Christ.

Rejoice, for thou hast presciently foreseen the greatness and glory of thy power; Rejoice, for thou hast rejoiced at the piety of the sons of Russia foreseen by thee.

Rejoice, as according to your prophecy, many saints from our kind have risen; Rejoice, house of the Life-Giving Trinity, organizer.

Rejoice, with your prayers in sorrow and misfortune, you intercede for us; Rejoice, in evil circumstances preserving our Fatherland and delivering from enemies.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 9

Formerly filled with all virtues, Olga, blessed, with a prayer in her mouth betrayed your spirit in the hands of God, Who instilled thee in heavenly abodes and the first of the Russians to be considered equal to the face of His equal to the apostles. Also, ask the Lord for a peaceful Christian death for us, and let us betray our souls in the hands of Christ our God, singing a song of praise to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Vityas of many things cannot adequately praise you, Olgo, the God-wise: how are you, taught and exhorted by no one from man, you knew the vanity of idolatry, but you sought the right faith and, like the Equal-to-the-Apostles Elena, you found priceless beads, Christ, enjoying His sight in Heaven now, do not forget us, darkened by the charms of this world and forgetting about the blessings of the eternal, yes, we guide you on the right path, we cry joyfully:

Rejoice, having prepared for yourself in the habitation of Divine grace with your good deeds and the right mind and heart; Rejoice, for the Holy Spirit Himself is your teacher to the knowledge of Christ the Son of God.

Rejoice, you who saw none of the signs and wonders and believed in Christ; Rejoice, with such faith of yours many persecutors and tormentors, who saw signs and wonders and did not believe, shamed.

Rejoice, having betrayed yourself to the guidance of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, having shown perfect obedience to the will of God.

Rejoice, for you who appeared obedient to the voice of grace that called you; Rejoice, since the eleventh hour in the garden of the Lord, you have labored and received bribes with the first.

Rejoice, for the Lord made you wiser to combine royal honor, wealth and glory with Christian humility; Rejoice, as in this way you have shown us that the blessings of the earth are not an obstacle for the God-loving soul to achieve the blessings of Heaven.

Rejoice, glorified by the kindness of chastity and the lordship of understanding; Rejoice, having received the gift from God with the strength of faith and the chaste purity of your life of prophecy.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 10

By arranging the path of salvation for your Russian sons and fulfilling your dying petition, the All-good Lord will grow in your grandchild Vladimir the seed of faith you have sown and through it enlighten the whole Russian land with Holy Baptism. Therefore, we glorify thee, blessed Olga, as the first culprit of our enlightenment with the light of the holy faith, and we tenderly sing to Christ our Savior: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Having received Holy Baptism, your grandson Vladimir, trying to remove your imperishable relics from the earth, filled with a wonderful fragrance, and with St. Leonty and all the multitude of the people, I put in the church of the Most Pure Mother of God, and from there I began to exude from them healing with every ailment flowing with faith. For this sake we praise thee:

Rejoice, as the grace of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in you, give incorruption with your might and create in your relics a source of healing for all ailments; Rejoice, with little faith I did not allow those who came to see them.

Rejoice, having rejoiced the infant Russian Church with the manifestation of your relics; Rejoice, glorifying your grandson Vladimir with great joy.

Rejoice, for until now the pious people of the Russian land delight in your glorious memory; rejoice, as by your intercession to God, the faithful of the Russians are worthy of many blessings from the Lord.

Rejoice, having prayed to God with your prayers for the enlightenment of the land of Russia; Rejoice, soon you will appear to many great saints on the lands of Russia, prophesying.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 11

We bring tender singing to you, the servant of God, and we humbly pray to you: pray for us the One Lover of Man God, may He not turn His face away from us, unworthy, sinful and grieving His goodness, but may He punish us here, as the Father is loving the child, she can, in in the future, may He save and have mercy, as a righteous Judge and Recipient, and so, having escaped eternal torment, let us be vouchsafed with you in heavenly abode to sing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

She is illumined with a tri-radiant light, with all the saints now stand in Heaven at the Throne of the King of Kings, Olga all-blessed, and from there, like a radiant luminary, enlighten the whole Russian country, dispelling the darkness of delusions and showing the way to true enlightenment to Heavenly bliss. For this sake, glorifying you, we say:

Rejoice, moon enlightened by the never-setting Sun of Truth; Rejoice, guide, showing us the right path to eternal salvation.

Rejoice, powerful helper and strengthener of the preachers of the Orthodox faith; Rejoice, everlasting patroness of the good mentors of youth and all who work hard for the common good.

Rejoice, patroness and mentor of the legislators of the Russian country; Rejoice, rulers of the people and leaders of the country, sowing a wise and kind adviser.

Rejoice, sedition and contention to the consumer; Rejoice, intercessor of all the offended and unjustly persecuted.

Rejoice, quick comforter of the grieving; Rejoice, merciful healer of the sick.

Rejoice, giving help to our people with your prayers from God; Rejoice, representative of all the Russian country and intercessor.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 12

Ask the Grace of the Most Holy Spirit to us, our mentor, from the All-Generous God and our Savior, admonishing and strengthening us in the matter of salvation, so that the seed of holy faith planted in us will not be fruitless, but let it vegetate and create the fruit, if only we were able to nourish our souls in the future eternal life, where all the saints sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your many and glorious good deeds, revealed to the country of Russia in enlightening that light of the faith of Christ, we bring you thanksgiving, calling with love:

Rejoice, God-chosen and God-glorified autocrat of the Russian land, its indestructible fence, cover and protection.

Rejoice, Russian virgin image of a chaste life; Rejoice, mother, mentor of lawful marriage and good upbringing.

Rejoice, for widows are the rule of a godly life; Rejoice, teacher of all Russians and the image of all virtues.

Rejoice, co-partner in Heaven of the lot of the preachers of the faith of Christ; Rejoice, partaker of the eternal bliss of the righteous.

Rejoice, warm prayer book for us before God; Rejoice, diligent intercessor for our salvation.

Rejoice, intercessor for us at the hour of our death to God; Rejoice, after our departure from this mortal body, giving help and consolation.

Rejoice, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, God-wise.

Kondak 13

O Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, graciously accept this laudatory thanksgiving from us for all, even with you the Lord will reward us, our father and forefather and the entire power of Russia, and pray to the All-good God to multiply His mercy on us and on the families of our families, confirm us in orthodoxy and piety, keep from all misfortunes, troubles and evils, may we be honored with you, like a child with matter, forever sing to God: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos "The Creator of Angels and Humans..." and the 1st kontakion "The First Chosen of all...".

Prayer one

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 temporal 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 gone astray 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 life temporal and eternal, yes, it’s 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.

Prayer two

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 you received holy Baptism, and you 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 All-Russian fatherland, the army and 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, let our saving fear plant our hearts, let our minds enlighten with His grace, let us understand the ways of the Lord for us, leave the paths of wickedness and error, and lurk in the paths of salvation and truth, the unswerving fulfillment of the commandments of God and the moustaches of the holy Church. Moth, blessed Olgo, the Lover of mankind, may He grant us His great mercy, may He deliver us from the invasion of foreigners, from internal discords, rebellions and strife, from hunger, deadly diseases and from all evil, may He give us the goodness of the air and the fruitfulness of the earth, yes save our country from all the machinations and slander of the enemy, may he observe justice and mercy in judges and rulers, may he give pastors zeal for the salvation of the flock, all the people haste, about diligently fulfilling their services, have love among themselves and have one mind, for the good of the fatherland and the Holy Church may strive faithfully, may the light of the saving faith shine in our country in all its ends, may the unbelievers turn to the faith, may all heresies and schisms be abolished. Yes, having lived like this in peace on earth, let us be vouchsafed with you eternal bliss in Heaven, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen.

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, baptized Elena (c. 890 - July 11, 969), ruled Kievan Rus after the death of her husband, Prince Igor Rurikovich from 945 to 962. The first of the Russian rulers adopted Christianity even before the baptism of Russia, the first Russian saint. The name of Princess Olga is at the origin of Russian history, and is associated with the greatest events of the founding of the first dynasty, with the first establishment of Christianity in Russia and the bright features of Western civilization. The Grand Duchess went down in history as the great creator of the state life and culture of Kievan Rus. After her death, the common people called her cunning, the church - a saint, history - wise.

Grand Duchess Olga (c. 890 - July 11, 969) was the wife of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Igor.

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 report additional information about Olga, but their authenticity cannot be accurately determined.

Olga came from the glorious family of Gostomysl (the ruler of Veliky Novgorod even before Prince Rurik). She was born in the Pskov land, in the village of Vybuty, 12 km from Pskov, up the Velikaya River, in a pagan family from the dynasty of princes Izborsky. Disputes about the exact date of Olga's birth are still ongoing. - some historians insist on the date c.890, others - on the date 920 (although this date is absurd due to the fact that Olga married Igor under Prophetic Oleg, who died in 912). Both dates can be questioned, so they are accepted conditionally. The names of Olga's parents have not been preserved.

When Olga was already 13 years old, she became the wife of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Igor. According to legend, Prince Igor was engaged in hunting. Once, when he was hunting in the Pskov forests, while tracking down the beast, he went to the river bank. Deciding to cross the river, he asked Olga, who was passing by on a boat, to transport him, mistaking her at first for a young man. When they sailed, Igor, carefully peering into the face of the rower, saw that this was not a young man, but a girl. The girl turned out to be very beautiful, smart and pure thoughts. Olga's beauty wounded Igor's heart, and he began to seduce her with words, inclining her to impure carnal confusion. However, the chaste girl, having understood the thoughts of Igor, inflamed by lust, shamed him with wise admonition. The prince was surprised at such an outstanding mind and chastity of a young girl, and did not harass her.

Igor was the only son of the Novgorod prince Rurik (+879). When his father died, the prince was still very young. Before his death, Rurik handed over the rule in Novgorod to his relative and governor Oleg and appointed him Igor's guardian. Oleg was a successful warrior and a wise ruler. People called him Prophetic. He conquered the city of Kyiv and united many Slavic tribes around him. Oleg loved Igor like his own son and raised a real warrior out of him. And when it was time to look for a bride for him, in Kyiv they arranged a show of beautiful girls in order to find among them a girl worthy of the prince's palace, but not one of them
did not like the prince. For in his heart the choice of a bride had long been made: he ordered that the beautiful boatwoman who had transported him across the river be summoned. Prince Oleg with great honor brought Olga to Kyiv, and Igor entered into marriage with her. Having married the young prince to Olga, the aging Olegbegan to diligently make sacrifices to the gods so that Igor would be given an heir. For a long nine years, Oleg brought many bloody sacrifices to idols, burned so many people and bulls alive, waited for the Slavic gods to give Igor a son. Not wait. He died in 912 from a snake bite that crawled out of the skull of his former horse.

Pagan idols began to disappoint the princess: many years of sacrifices to idols did not give her the desired heir. Well, how will Igor act according to human custom and take another wife, a third? The harem will lead. Who will she be then? And then the princess decided to pray to the Christian God. And Olga began at night to fervently ask Him for a son-heir.

And so in 942 ,in the twenty-fourth year of marriage, an heir was born to Prince Igor - Svyatoslav! Prince Olga filled up with gifts. She took the most expensive ones to the church of Elijah - for the Christian God. Happy years have flown by. Olga began to think about the Christian faith and about the benefits from it for the country. Only Igor did not share such thoughts: his gods in battles never cheated on him.

According to the chronicle, in 945, Prince Igor dies at the hands of the Drevlyans after repeated collection of tribute from them (he became the first ruler in the history of Russia, who died from popular indignation). Igor Rurikovich was executed , in the tract, with the help of an honorary "break". Having bent over two young, flexible oaks, they tied them by the arms and legs, and let them go ...

F. Bruni. Igor's execution

The heir to the throne, Svyatoslav, was then only 3 years old, therefore Olga became the actual ruler of Kievan Rus in 945 . Igor's squad obeyed her, recognizing Olga as the representative of the legitimate heir to the throne.

After the murder of Igor, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to his widow Olga to call her to marry their prince Mal. The princess cruelly took revenge on the Drevlyans, showing cunning and strong will. Olga's revenge on the Drevlyans is described in detail and in detail in The Tale of Bygone Years.

Revenge of Princess Olga

After the reprisal against the Drevlyans, Olga began to rule Kievan Rus until Svyatoslav came of age, but even after that she remained the de facto ruler, since her son was absent from military campaigns most of the time.

The foreign policy of Princess Olga was carried out not by military methods, but by diplomacy. She strengthened international ties with Germany and Byzantium. Relations with Greece revealed to Olga how much the Christian faith is higher than the pagan one.

In 954, Princess Olga went to Tsargrad (Constantinople) for the purpose of religious pilgrimage and diplomatic mission., where she was received with honor by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. For two whole years she got acquainted with the basics of the Christian faith, attending divine services in St. Sophia Cathedral. She was struck by the grandeur of Christian churches and the shrines gathered in them.

The sacrament of baptism over her was performed by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople, and the emperor himself became the recipient. The name of the Russian princess was named in honor of the holy Empress Helena, who received the Cross of the Lord. The Patriarch blessed the newly baptized princess with a cross carved from a single piece of the Life-Giving Tree of the Lord with the inscription: “The Russian land was renewed with the Holy Cross, and Olga, the noble princess, accepted it.”

Princess Olga became the first ruler of Russia to be baptized , although both the squad and the Russian people during her time were pagan. Olga's son, the Grand Duke of Kyiv Svyatoslav Igorevich, also lived in paganism.

Upon returning to Kyiv, Olga tried to introduce Svyatoslav to Christianity, but “he did not even think of listening to this; but if someone was going to be baptized, he did not forbid, but only mocked him. Moreover, Svyatoslav was angry with his mother for her persuasion, fearing to lose the respect of the squad. Svyatoslav Igorevich remained a convinced pagan.

Upon return from Byzantium Olga zealously carried the Christian gospel to the pagans, began to erect the first Christian churches: in the name of St. Nicholas over the grave of the first Kyiv Christian prince Askold and Hagia Sophia in Kyiv over the grave of Prince Dir, the Church of the Annunciation in Vitebsk, the temple in the name of the Holy and Life-Giving Trinity in Pskov, the place for which, according to the chronicler, was indicated to her from above by the “Ray of the Tri-radiant Deity” - on the banks of the Velikaya River, she saw “three bright beams” descending from the sky.

Holy Princess Olga died in 969, at the age of 80. and was buried in the earth according to the Christian rite.

Sergei Efoshkin. Duchess Olga. Dormition

Her imperishable relics rested in the Church of the Tithes in Kyiv. Her grandson, Prince Vladimir I Svyatoslavich, the Baptist of Russia, transferred (in 1007) the relics of the saints, including Olga, to the church he founded Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kyiv (Church of the Tithes). More likely, in the reign of Vladimir (970-988), Princess Olga began to be revered as a saint. This is evidenced by the transfer of her relics to the church and the description of miracles given by the monk Jacob in the 11th century.

In 1547 Olga was canonized as a saint Equal-to-the-Apostles. Only 5 more holy women in Christian history have received such an honor (Mary Magdalene, First Martyr Thekla, Martyr Apphia, Empress Helena Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia Nina).

The memory of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga is celebrated by Orthodox and Catholic and other Western churches.

Princess Olga was the first of the Russian princes to officially accept Christianity and was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the pre-Mongolian period. The baptism of Princess Olga did not lead to the establishment of Christianity in Russia, but she had a great influence on her grandson Vladimir, who continued her work. She did not wage wars of conquest, but directed all her energy to internal politics, therefore, for a long time, the people retained a good memory of her: the princess carried out an administrative and tax reform, which eased the situation of ordinary people and streamlined life in the state.

The Holy Princess Olga is revered as the patroness of widows and newly converted Christians. Residents of Pskov consider Olga its founder. In Pskov there is the Olginskaya embankment, the Olginskiy bridge, the Olginskaya chapel. The days of the liberation of the city from the fascist invaders (July 23, 1944) and the memory of St. Olga are celebrated in Pskov as City Days.

Material prepared by Sergey SHULYAK

for the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills

John troparion of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, tone 8
In you, the God-wise Elena, the image of salvation is known to be in the Ruste country, / as if, having received the bath of holy Baptism, you followed Christ, / doing and teaching, to leave the idol charm, / take care of the soul, things are immortal, / the same and rejoices with the Angels, Equal-to-the-Apostles, your spirit.

In kontakion of Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, tone 4
Appear today the grace of all God, / glorify Olga the God-wise in Russia, / with prayers to her, Lord, / grant people / forgiveness of sin.

Prayer of a saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga
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 temporal 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 abiding lordship, 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 helping hand to the needy, intercede for the offended and afflicted, those who have strayed from the right faith and blinded by heresy, enlighten and ask us from the All-Generous God all the good and useful life temporal and eternal, yes it is pleasing to live here, let us be worthy of the inheritance of 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. A min.

GRAND DUCHESS OLGA (890-969)

From the cycle "History of the Russian State".

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 her retinue, passed through the Drevlyane 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 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, a golden dish adorned with precious stones was brought to the Russian princess. 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 Christian prince of Kyiv, and converted many Kyivans 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 her companions, who were witnesses of the vision, 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 pagans. 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 Tithe Church 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 with faith came to the relics, 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 bowl 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. The existence of a blood relative of Olga, calling him anepsia (meaning a 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, always 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 tract Holgin Cross 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, the Gulf of Olga of the Sea of ​​Japan and an urban-type settlement in the Primorsky Territory are named. Streets in Kyiv and Lvov are named after St. Olga. Also in the name of St. Olga, the following orders were established: Badge of Honor 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.

---