Baptism of Grand Duchess Olga
Grand Duchess Olga became the first ruler of Kievan Rus to accept the Christian faith. It is interesting that after her baptism the princely squad and all the people remained pagans. Even the son of the future saint, the Grand Duke of Kiev Svyatoslav Igorevich, was not a Christian.
As The Tale of Bygone Years says, Olga was baptized in 957 in the capital of Byzantium - Constantinople. She went there, entrusting Kyiv to her son Svyatoslav, who by that time had grown up and could rule the state. In Constantinople, Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople baptized the Russian princess personally: “And she was given the name Elena in baptism, just like the ancient queen-mother of Emperor Constantine I.” The Patriarch admonished Olga with the words: “Blessed are you among the Russian women, for you left darkness and loved the Light. The Russian people will bless you in all future generations, from your grandchildren and great-grandchildren to your most distant descendants.”
There are other versions of who, when and under what political circumstances baptized Grand Duchess Olga. One thing is certain - it happened in the capital of Byzantium. The ruler returned to Kyiv as a Christian.
short biography
The chronicle did not preserve the exact date of birth of this saint of God. It is also not known for certain what class she came from. Some sources claim that Olga’s father was a simple carrier, and others that she was the great-granddaughter of Gostomysl himself, the ruler of Novgorod before Rurik was called to reign. The birthplace of the future princess was Vybutskaya Ves - at that time a small village located near the place where Pskov is located today.
Despite the fact that the girl’s parents were pagans, they raised their daughter in strictness. Even before accepting Christianity, Olga was distinguished by her chastity, honesty and bright mind.
The first meeting of Prince Igor with Olga 132.1 x 92.2 Oil on canvas The painting was previously attributed to G.I. Ugryumov, then an unknown artist of the first quarter of the 19th century. The authorship of V.K. Sazonov and the dating were established by L.N. Tselishcheva. As she points out, in his interpretation of the plot, Sazonov follows N.M. Karamzin’s “History of the Russian State” and Z.A. Volkonskaya’s poem “The Tale of Olga,” the authors of which adhered to the version about the common origin of Princess Olga
Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov, rector of the Church of All Saints in Krasnoye Selo, characterizes the adolescence of the ascetic with the following words:
“She was alien to vanity and vanity. Loving solitude among the fields and oak groves, she kept in her heart a system of lofty and non-idle thoughts. Not knowing the True God, she, due to her purity and innocence, was drawn to Him with all her being. Didn’t the words of the Holy Scripture come true on her, a still unbaptized girl: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God?”
According to legend, Prince Igor met his future wife while hunting in the Pskov forests: she helped him cross to the opposite bank of the Velikaya River. When the time came to choose a bride, Igor begged his uncle, the Kyiv prince Oleg, popularly nicknamed the Prophetic, to go for his beloved Olga. The chosen one was honorably delivered to Kyiv, and soon their wedding took place.
Having ascended the throne after the death of the Prophetic Oleg, the young prince waged endless wars with neighboring peoples. He even went with his squad to Constantinople, from where he returned with great glory. Igor imposed an unbearable tribute on many lands, for which he was subsequently destined to suffer an untimely death from the offended Drevlyans. Three years before this tragedy, the princely couple had a son, Svyatoslav.
Olga remained the sole ruler of the Kyiv lands. Managing the state was not easy, but she showed perseverance and firmness worthy of a man. In business, she showed wisdom and foresight, and was unusually generous to the poor. She administered the princely court quickly and fairly. Her life was abstinent and chaste, worthy of Christian grace.
By the Providence of God, the princess heard from pious people that there is only one True God in the world - the Creator of heaven and earth. She also learned that the Greeks worshiped Him, and she wanted to visit those parts herself and learn more about the Holy Teaching. Archpriest Vsevolod Rybchinsky, rector of the Church of St. Olga, talks about those events:
“At the beginning of the 9th century, Christianity had already penetrated the territory of Kievan Rus and during the reign of Princess Olga it was already spreading rapidly. Olga saw that the pagan faith was not perfect. Realizing that paganism was too cruel, she, as a woman, realized that cruelty could not be used to build either authority or politics. She decided it was time to change something. And as soon as she thought about it, the Lord advised her to go to Constantinople.”
The Russian ruler was received with honor by the Emperor and Patriarch of Constantinople. We talked with her every day about the dogmas of the Christian faith. And Olga’s heart was filled with love for her Creator: a firm desire appeared in him to accept Holy Baptism.
During the Sacrament of Baptism, she was named Helen in honor of the first Christian queen, the mother of Constantine the Great, who proclaimed himself the protector of the followers of Christ. Returning to her homeland, the princess brought icons and liturgical books to her native lands. Christian elders and clergy also arrived with her.
It was not easy to plant the shoots of a new faith among the pagans. This cost the princess a lot of work. Olga ordered the first church in honor of St. Nicholas to be erected on the grave of Askold, the first of the Russian princes to convert to Christianity. In many cities, instead of idol temples, she erected honest crosses, from which many miracles occurred.
Canonization and veneration
Equal to the Apostles Olga bequeathed to bury her in a Christian manner, without arranging pagan funeral feasts. Before her death, she prophesied that the Lord would enlighten the Russian lands, and all of Rus' would become Christian. The saint reposed on July 24, 969, and in 1547 she was canonized.
The princess founded the Church of the Tithes in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos in Kyiv. For almost 300 years this holy place was her tomb. In the ark with the incorruptible relics of St. Olga had a small window made into it, where parishioners could look in and see the face of God’s saint.
As priest Artemy Vladimirov says:
“Wonderful thing! If a wicked person approached the tomb of Saint Olga, even if in the secret of his heart he was an unrepentant sinner, but in appearance a person pleasing to God, then the small window in the princess’s tomb remained closed, and it was impossible to contemplate the radiant, imperishable relics of the sovereign ruler.
If the soul of the one approaching the shrine was simple and gentle, alien to guile and vice, then the window, not with the assistance of human cunning, but by the grace of God, opened itself and the person who came could kiss the feet of Saint Olga. During the Tatar hard times, this shrine was hidden and has not been found to this day.”
Iconography of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga
The iconography of Grand Duchess Olga is traditional for all saints equal to the apostles. Equal to the Apostles are those saints who served the Lord, enlightening people with the light of Christ. For example (if we are talking about holy princes and kings), they converted to Christianity the citizens of the country in which they reigned. These saints are likened to the apostles - for spreading the Gospel. This is Saint Mary Magdalene; and Emperor Constantine and his mother Queen Helena; and Prince Vladimir, who baptized Rus'; and Saint Nina, the enlightener of Georgia; and Grand Duchess Olga.
Equal to the Apostles Olga is traditionally depicted standing on icons. In her right hand is a cross, a symbol of the preaching of Christ, which was preached by all the saints equal to the apostles. In the left hand is a symbolic image of the temple.
Another traditional image of Saint Olga - together with Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.
Why was there a tradition of praying to the princess for help in marriage and for the protection of widows?
Saint Olga is asked for a successful marriage because, at one time, thanks to her natural intelligence, meek disposition and spiritual nobility, she became the chosen one of the Kyiv prince Igor, who singled her out from many other, sometimes more eminent girls.
She is considered the patroness of widows for the reason that she herself had to drink this bitter cup during her lifetime. However, no matter how difficult it was for the ruler, she found the strength to overcome despondency and, with God’s Help, accomplished many great things that contributed to the improvement of the Russian state.
Prayers to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga
1.
O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olgo, the first saint of Russia, a warm intercessor and prayer book for us before God. We resort to you with faith and pray with love: be your helper and accomplice in everything for our good, and just as in temporal life you tried to enlighten our forefathers with the light of the holy faith and instruct me to do the will of the Lord, so now, in the heavenly lordship, favorable With your prayers to God, help us in enlightening our minds and hearts with the light of the Gospel of Christ, so that we may advance in faith, piety and love of Christ. In poverty and sorrow, give comfort to the needy, give a helping hand to those in need, stand up for those who are offended and mistreated, those who have gone astray from the right faith and are blinded by heresies, and ask us from the all-generous God for all that is good and useful in temporal and eternal life, so that having lived well here, we will be worthy of an inheritance eternal blessings in the endless Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, belongs all glory, honor and worship, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
2.
O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, accept praise from us, unworthy servants of God (names), before your honest icon, praying and humbly asking: protect us with your prayers and intercession from misfortunes and troubles, and sorrows, and fierce sins; We will also be delivered from future torments by honestly creating your holy memory and glorifying God, glorified in the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
3.
O great saint of God, God-chosen and God-glorified, equal to the apostles Grand Duchess Olgo! You rejected pagan evil and wickedness, you believed in the One True Trinitarian God and you accepted holy baptism and laid the foundation for the enlightenment of the Russian land with the light of faith and piety. You are our spiritual ancestor, you, according to Christ our Savior, are the first culprit of the enlightenment and salvation of our race. You are a warm prayer book and intercessor for the kingdom of all Russia, for its kings, rulers, the army and for all people. For this reason, we humbly pray to you: look at our weaknesses and beg the most merciful King of Heaven, so that He will not be angry with us, as through our weaknesses we sin all day long, and may He not destroy us with our iniquities, but may He have mercy and save us in His mercy, may He implant His saving fear in our hearts, may He enlighten our minds with His grace, so that we understand the ways of the Lord, leave the paths of wickedness and error, and strive in the paths of salvation and truth, the unwavering fulfillment of the commandments of God and the statutes of the Holy Church. Pray, blessed Olgo, to God, the Lover of Mankind, to add His great mercy to us: may he deliver us from the invasion of foreigners, from internal disorder, rebellion and strife, from famine, deadly diseases and from all evil; may he give us the goodness of the air and the fruitfulness of the earth, may he give the shepherds zeal for the salvation of their flock, may all people hasten to diligently correct their services, may they have love among themselves and like-mindedness, may they strive faithfully for the good of the Fatherland and the Holy Church, may the light of saving faith in Our Fatherland, in all its ends; may unbelievers turn to faith, may all heresies and schisms be abolished; Yes, having lived in peace on earth, we will be worthy of eternal bliss in heaven, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen.
Examples of help
The story of Priest Philip (Ponomarev), rector of the Church of St. Princess Olga in Ostankino:
“The process of building our temple is quite wonderful. We all witnessed many times how hopeless and difficult situations (during the construction of the parish) were resolved through the prayers of Princess Olga. Through the prayers of the saint, we got out of these difficult situations, and construction continued. Now, by the Grace of God, the temple is already standing.”
Story by Siberian artist Dmitry Dobroy:
“Seven years ago, the holy princess Olga came to me in a dream. I didn’t know who she was then and didn’t attach any importance to this dream.
After some time, a neighbor knocked on my door and asked: “Are you Dmitry? Saint Princess Olga came to me in a dream and asked me to convince you that you need to be baptized.” This surprised me. I was surprised why it was Saint Olga who came, and not Saint Dmitry, my patron. Still, I decided to go and be baptized. And then I was even more surprised to learn that the day of my baptism fell on the day of remembrance of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. From that moment on, my life changed: I stopped drinking and took up creativity.
Then there was another dream. Saint Olga advised me to collect works of art and through them lead the people to God, to Faith. There was no money for all this. And what do you think? Olga said: “Don’t be afraid! This issue will be resolved."
While looking for space for an exhibition, I went to a local shopping center and there I met the manager and accountant, whose names were Olga. They were the ones who helped me rent the 2nd floor of a retail space for the exhibition. But the miracles didn't end there.
One day an inspector came and demanded to pay utility bills for the exhibition premises in the amount of 16 thousand, otherwise he threatened to turn off the lights and heating. But there was no money to pay: the exhibition was free! While talking with the inspector, I did not notice that at that time an elderly woman was walking around the hall.
The whole next day I ran around the city looking for money. There was no money. When I returned to the exhibition and looked into the altar, I saw a bundle of newspaper there. The bundle contained 16 thousand 500 rubles. When I unwrapped the package, I couldn’t believe it: such miracles don’t happen!
People usually put 100 or 50 rubles on the altar. And here it’s 16 and a half thousand! He began to ask if they had seen who put this package. Someone remembered an elderly woman. I started looking for her. And I found it! It turned out that her name is also Olga. And this was no longer surprising.”
Story by Honored Artist of Russia Olga Kabo:
“This name gives strength, will and some kind of fortitude, or something... No matter how life turns out, no matter what trials I have to overcome, no matter what difficult situations I have to get out of, my SAINT is always there, always spreading her wings over me and protects from pain, dirt, the evil eye, negativity... Helps you get up when you fall, shake yourself up and live on after betrayal, bestows you with patience and kindness. Teaches you to forgive and create peace around you.
I thank my GUARDIAN ANGEL and bow deeply. Be there always. Inspire, patronize and inspire!”
Tatyana Rasnovskaya
