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.
Biography
Princess Olga, wife of the great Russian prince Igor Rurikovich, mother of Svyatoslav Igorevich, ruled Russia from 945 to 960. At birth, the girl was given the name Helga, her husband called her by his own name, but the female version, and at baptism she began to be called Elena. Olga is known for being the first of the rulers of the Old Russian state to voluntarily convert to Christianity.
Portrait of Princess Olga
Dozens of films and TV series have been made about Princess Olga. Her portraits are in Russian art galleries; based on ancient chronicles and found relics, scientists have tried to recreate a photographic portrait of the woman. In his native Pskov there is a bridge, an embankment and a chapel named after Olga and two of her monuments.
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.
Personal life
According to the Tale of Bygone Years, the Prophetic Oleg married Olga and Igor when they were still children. The story also says that the wedding took place in 903, but, according to other sources, Olga was not even born then, so there is no exact date of the wedding.
Princess Olga and Igor Rurikovich
There is a legend that the couple met at a crossing near Pskov, when the girl was a boat carrier (she dressed in men's clothes - this was a job only for men). Igor noticed the young beauty and immediately began to pester her, to which he received a rebuff. When the time came to get married, he remembered that wayward girl and ordered to find her.
If you believe the chronicles describing the events of those times, then Prince Igor died in 945 at the hands of the Drevlyans. Olga came to power while her son grew up. She never married again, and there is no mention of relationships with other men in the chronicles.
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.
Domestic policy and reforms
The activities of the ruler pursued the goal of strengthening princely power and achieving stability.
The most striking event during Olga's reign was revenge on the Drevlyans. The brutal massacre was an act of settling personal scores. And besides, the woman understood that something like this could not be ignored. The authority of the princely power was at stake.
The precedent could provoke a repetition of the same scenario in other lands. Having conquered the Drevlyans, Olga managed to bring both old enemies to their knees and set an example for other adventurous local rulers.
Nevertheless, she also could not ignore her husband’s action. To reduce the likelihood of future abuses, the rulers introduced lessons - fixed amounts of tribute. According to the reform of Princess Olga, local representatives had to collect taxes at specially designated collection points - churchyards.
Monument to Princess Olga
This was the first tax reform in history. It had its effect. There were no more such egregious cases on the territory of the then state.
Around 948, Princess Olga began large-scale construction. According to her instructions, they began to fortify the cities. Thanks to the skillful actions of the princess, it was possible to significantly increase the security and defense capability of the territories.
Kiev princess Olga tried to spread Christianity throughout significant lands of Rus'. On her orders, statues of pagan gods were demolished and crosses were erected in their place. However, she did not manage to achieve significant success in this field. The issue of the country's baptism was decided by its descendant, Vladimir I.
Duchess Olga. Hood. V. M. Vasnetsov
It is noteworthy that the ruler was the first to receive the title of Olga the Wise, long before her equally famous descendant Yaroslav.
There were no serious conflicts in the international arena in those years. The main event of Princess Olga's foreign policy can be called the princess's conversion to Orthodoxy in Constantinople.
As mentioned earlier, she was baptized with the participation of the reigning persons and the highest hierarchs of the church, which only increased her authority in international matters and in the eyes of the Byzantine head himself.
In addition, around 968, shortly before the death of the ruler, Kyiv was attacked by hordes of Pechenegs. The raid was repelled. The victory became temporary. The threat from the steppes was eliminated only during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. And not for long.
Laid the beginning of stone urban planning
Princess Olga became the person who laid the foundation for stone town planning . The very first buildings made of stone were the city palace and the lady's tower outside the city.
She tried to pay special attention to the construction of Kyiv and the lands that belonged to it. This is how she was able to make her invaluable contribution to the history of Rus'.
Results of activities
Princess Olga was a far-sighted politician of early Rus'. She managed to strengthen her power within the nascent state, as well as increase her authority in the eyes of the rulers of other powers, like Vladimir I.
The woman managed to bring under control the rebellious tribes who did not want to pay tribute and obey. Olga's revenge on the Drevlyans became a necessary action. However, she was insightful enough to see the root of the problem.
On her initiative, a tax reform was carried out, which made it possible to stabilize and streamline the process of collecting tribute. Eliminate possible conflicts on this basis in the future.
Death of the Princess
According to a chronicle source, by the end of the 60s Olga became seriously ill. Early historians do not say what exactly. It is no longer possible to install this. The ruler spent the last days of her life in Kyiv. Princess Olga died of an unknown illness in 969.
At that time, according to various estimates, she was about 80 years old - more than respectable age for those times. Moreover, considering that many barely lived to see 40, which was already considered a great success.
Princess's funeral
The princess was buried according to the Christian model, and several decades later her descendant, Vladimir I, transferred the relics to the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Kyiv. With the beginning of the Tatar-Mongol invasion, the remains were hidden. Further fate is unknown. They are now considered lost.
Prayers
Troparion, tone 1
With the wings of the God-mind, having fixed your mind,/ you flew above the visible creation,/ seeking God and the Creator of all things,/ and, having found Him, you received His birth through Baptism:/ the tree is alive hence you enjoy, // you remain incorruptible forever, Olgo, ever-glorious.
Troparion, tone 8
In you, God-wise Elena, / you know the image of salvation in the Russian country, / how, having received the bath of holy Baptism, / you followed Christ, / creating and teaching, even if you left the idolatry beauty,/ to take care of souls, things more immortal,/ Likewise, your spirit, Equal-to-the-Apostles, rejoices with the Angels.
Troparion, tone 4
Having abandoned the flattery of idols,/ you followed Christ, the Immortal Bridegroom,/ the God-Wise One,/ rejoicing in His devil, unceasingly praying// for those who honor the holy memory with faith and love fuck yours.
Introparion, Hellenic
(from the Menaion MP)
, tone 3
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles to the chosen one of Christ,/ Princess Olgo,/ gave your people the verbal and pure milk of Christ to drink,/ praying to the Merciful God,/ that sins may be forgiven/ / will give to our souls.
Troparion
(from the Greek Menaion, translation by Natalia Bakhareva)
, voice 3
The holy beginning of the Divine faith/ you appeared in Russia,/ you came to the grace of Savior/ and brought your people to her,/ like a true queen and a host of God Naya./ Glorious Olgo,/ Pray to Christ God // grant us great mercy.
Kontakion, tone 4
Let us sing today to God, the Benefactor of all, / who glorified Olga the God-Wise in Russia, / so that through her prayers / he will grant remission of sins to our souls.
Kontakion, tone 4
Today the grace of God appears to all, / having glorified Olga the God-Wise in Russia, / with her prayers, O Lord, / / grant people remission of sin.
Greatness
We magnify you, / blessed and Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, / and honor your holy memory, / who trampled idols, / and who enlightened many Russian people with holy Baptism.
Foreign greatness
We magnify you, / holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, / like the morning dawn that rose in our land / and the light of the Orthodox faith / who foretold to her people.
Avenged the death of her husband in 4 stages
Not many people know that Princess Olga took revenge for the death of her husband . She grieved greatly for him, but her strong character did not allow her to remain in this state for long.
After Olga's husband was killed, the Drevlyans decided to send matchmakers to her to ask her to marry. But by order of the princess, the boat on which the guests arrived was taken to the courtyard of the tower. It was there that all the matchmakers were buried alive.
After the first revenge, Olga decided to ask that the best men come to her again for future marriage. When the people arrived, they were burned alive in the bathhouse.
But the princess did not stop there. One day, together with her squad, she arrived in the land of the Drevlyans. During a small meal, Olga gave everyone a drink and ordered her soldiers to cut them down. About five thousand people were killed that day.
The last thing Olga did was burn the capital along with the Drevlyans. During the summer period, she tied Molotov cocktails to the birds, and then sent them to the city where these peoples lived.
Continued to rule unofficially when her son was away on campaigns
Very often, Prince Svyatoslav, together with his army, went on various campaigns. Some of them took quite a long period of time. But Kyiv could not remain completely without protection and a ruler.
That is why the princess continued to rule Kievan Rus, but not officially . She also did this until her son reached age and ascended the throne.
Cathedrals and temples are named in her honor, as well as three orders.
Currently, many temples, cathedrals, churches have been built, which are illuminated in honor of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga.
One of these churches is located in Ostankino. It was built in 2011. Every Tuesday, prayer services are held here, as well as the reading of an akathist to the great Olga.
The Order of Princess Olga is an award for women who have made merit in the state, as well as civil, scientific, educational or other fields. There are three orders - I degree, II and III. The first is made of silver and has a shape resembling an oval. The second one is not much different from the first. The only difference is the depiction of the princess on it. The third degree order is made of silver-plated tombac (a type of brass).
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