Princess Olga of Kiev

Princess Olga of Kiev was also known as Olga the Beauty and Saint Olga, the first saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. Princess Olga was born about 890 (the exact date is unknown and was recorded as 879 in the Primary Chronicle) and she died 11 July 969.

Princess Olga is credited as bringing Christianity to the Russian Empire and it is for that, that she was canonised.

Princess Olga married Prince Igor I of Kiev in 903. Prince Igor I was the son of Rurik, who is regarded as the founder of the Russian Empire. Prince Igor I became the ruler of the State of Kiev which included parts of what is now Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia and Poland. Prince Igor I was murdered in 945 and Princess Olga ruled as Regent until 964 when her son (Syvatoslav) became of age.

Princess Olga was known as a ruthless and effective ruler and she avenged her husband's death by executing his killers along with their followers. Princess Olga was reported to have scalded some to death and others were condemned to a ship burial while still alive.

In 957 Princess Olga visited Constantinople and she converted to Christianity either then or possibly earlier. It is believed that she was baptized by the Patriarch Polyeuctus with the Emperor Constantine VII as her god-father. After her baptism Princess Olga took the name of Yelena.

Princess Olga became the first person of the ruling family of Kiev to adopt Christianity and while she did not manage to convert her son Syvatoslav to Christianity, her grandson Vladimir I (the third son of Syvatoslav) did convert and adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Russian Empire. Vladimir discarded his pagan wives and mistresses, destroying pagan idols and temples and built churches, monasteries and schools and brought in Greek missionaries to educate his people. Ironically, Vladimir was killed near Kiev on 15 July 1015 by an army raised against him by some of his former pagan wives and their sons.

The feast day for Saint Olga is 11 July. The relics of Saint Olga were lost some time during the 18th Century.

The following is the contemporary language of a prayer honouring Saint Olga and Vladimir:

O God, who called your servants Olga and her grandson Vladimir to an earthly throne that they might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave them zeal for your Church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate them this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.