Princess Olga - short biography. Princess Olga - biography, photo, saint, equal to the apostles, personal life of the princess

The love story of Prince Igor and Olga is unusual in that over the years it has turned into folk tale. Since it was about the rulers of the Rurik dynasty, this legend had great political meaning for subsequent sovereigns. According to legend, Olga was a simple girl whom Prince Igor fell in love with. She conquered the prince with her intelligence and courage.

One day Prince Igor, then still a young man, was hunting in the Pskov land, when suddenly on the opposite bank of the river he saw, in the words of the chronicler, “the desired catch,” that is, rich hunting grounds. However, getting to the other side was not so easy, because the river was swift, and the prince did not have a “laditsa” - a boat.

“And he saw someone floating along the river in a boat, and called the swimmer to the shore, and ordered him to be transported across the river. And as they swam, Igor looked at the rower and realized that it was a girl. It was blessed Olga, still very young, pretty and courageous" (this is how the ancient adjectives "very young, kind-hearted and courageous" are translated into modern Russian).

"And was wounded by the vision... and burned with desire for nudes (To her. - Ed.) , and some verbs turn into mockery (began to speak shamelessly. - Ed.) to her,” reports Olga’s first meeting with her future husband, Prince Igor, in the Degree Book of the Royal Genealogy. This historical monument official Moscow ideology was compiled in the mid-16th century by an associate of Metropolitan Macarius, archpriest of the Moscow Kremlin Annunciation Cathedral, Andrei, who later became, under the name Afanasy, the Moscow Metropolitan.

True, the author directly Lives of Princess Olga historians consider another famous writer and church figure as part of the Degree Book - the Annunciation priest Sylvester, who was the spiritual mentor of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was not the contemporaries of the prince and princess who told us about their acquaintance on the Velikaya River, but scribes who lived six centuries later.

But let's listen to what happened next. Olga answered the prince not like a young maiden, but like a woman wise with life experience - “not in a youthful way, but in an old man’s sense, reproaching him”: “Why are you embarrassing yourself in vain, O prince, inclining me to disgrace? Why, holding something disgraceful on your mind, are you uttering shameless words? Do not be deceived when you see me young and alone. And do not hope that you can overcome me: although I am uneducated, and very young, and simple in disposition, as you see, I still understand that you want to offend me... Better o think to yourself and leave your thoughts. While you are young, take care of yourself so that foolishness does not overcome you and so that you do not suffer from some evil. Leave all lawlessness and untruth: if you yourself are wounded by all sorts of shameful acts, then how can you forbid untruth and righteously govern your power? Know that if you do not stop being tempted by my defenselessness (literally: “about my orphanhood”), then it will be better for me to be swallowed up by the depths of this river: so that I will not be a temptation for you and I myself will avoid reproach and reproach ..." We quoted this passage in the translation of the historian and writer Alexei Karpov.

The young people walked the rest of the way in complete silence. Prince Igor returned to Kyiv. After some time, the time came for him to get married: “and he commanded his ex to find him a bride for marriage.” The prince began to look everywhere for a bride. Igor remembered the “wonderful girl” Olga, her “cunning verbs” and “chaste disposition” and sent his “relative” Oleg for her, who “with appropriate honor” brought the young maiden to Kiev, “and thus the law of marriage was destined for him.” .

A small digression. In the Tale of Bygone Years, Prince Oleg is named the ruler of the Kyiv state at the end of the 9th - beginning of the 10th century. Whether he was in fact the true ruler of Kievan Rus and whether he lived at the same time as Igor is a separate and difficult topic for historians, but not related to the love story of Igor and Olga.

This is the legend about Olga, who was one of the favorite characters of Russian folklore for centuries, passed on six centuries after her life and death. In the popular consciousness, Olga turned out to be wiser than both the Kyiv prince and, in other stories, the Byzantine emperor. And the role of a carrier assigned to her, as researchers of folk tales emphasize, is also far from accidental. Crossing a river is not just about moving in space. In Russian ritual songs, crossing the river symbolizes a change in the fate of a girl: her union with her betrothed, transformation into married woman. The crossing is usually carried out by a man, but there are also counter examples. Moreover, the first meeting Olga and Igor predetermined her future replacement of Igor as the ruler of his state.

The name Olga is a Russian feminine form male name Oleg, most likely, like the Scandinavian name Helga, is a feminine form of the masculine name Helgi. It acquires the meaning of “saint” only with the spread of Christianity (not earlier than the 11th century), and in pagan times it meant “lucky”, “possessing all the qualities necessary for a king.” This “princely” name was given to epic, legendary heroes.

And although Olga was not the only wife of Prince Igor, the names of other princely wives were not preserved in the chronicles. Just like the names of his other sons, except son Igor from Olga- famous. Other sons, except Svyatoslav Igorevich, did not take part in the political life of the Kyiv state. And you marriage of Igor and Olga, the exact date of which is also unknown to us, is considered by some historians as a union of two initially unrelated dynasties of rulers of ancient Rus' - “Kyiv” and “Novgorod”.

Women in ancient Rus' were not powerless creatures. The legitimate (in Russian, “led”) wife of the ruling prince and the mother of his sons had her own court, retinue and even squad, different from her husband’s squad. It was with the hands of her warriors that Princess Olga carried out revenge on the Drevlyans who killed Prince Igor. This story is well remembered by many from school history textbooks.

Rurik is considered the founder of the Old Russian state; he was the first Novgorod prince. It is the Varangian Rurik who is the founder of an entire dynasty ruling in Rus'. How did it happen that he became a prince, before...

Rurik is considered the founder of the Old Russian state; he was the first Novgorod prince. It is the Varangian Rurik who is the founder of an entire dynasty ruling in Rus'. How it happened that he became a prince will not be fully known. There are several versions, according to one of them, he was invited to rule in order to prevent endless civil strife in the land of the Slavs and Finns. The Slavs and Varangians were pagans, they believed in the gods of water and earth, in brownies and goblins, they worshiped Perun (the god of thunder and lightning), Svarog (the master of the universe) and other gods and goddesses. Rurik built the city of Novgorod and gradually began to rule individually, expanding his lands. When he died, his young son Igor remained.

Igor Rurikovich was only 4 years old, and needed a guardian and a new prince. Rurik entrusted this task to Oleg, whose origins are unclear; it is assumed that he was a distant relative of Rurik. Known to us as Prince Oleg the Prophet, he ruled Ancient Russia from 879 to 912. During this time, he captured Kyiv and increased the size of the Old Russian state. Therefore, he is sometimes considered its founder. Prince Oleg annexed many tribes to Rus' and went to fight Constantinople.

After him sudden death all power passed into the hands of Prince Igor, the son of Rurik. In the chronicles he is called Igor the Old. He was a young man raised in a palace in Kyiv. He was a fierce warrior, a Varangian by upbringing. Almost continuously, he led military operations, raided neighbors, conquered various tribes and imposed tribute on them. Prince Oleg, Igor's regent, selected a bride for him, with whom Igor fell in love. According to some sources, she was 10 or 13 years old, and her name was beautiful - Beautiful. However, she was renamed Olga, presumably because she was a relative or even daughter Prophetic Oleg. According to another version, she was from the family of Gostomysl, who ruled before Rurik. There are other versions of its origin.

This woman went down in history under the name of Princess Olga. Ancient weddings were extremely colorful and original. For wedding dresses used red color. The wedding took place on pagan rite. Prince Igor had other wives, because he was a pagan, but Olga was always his beloved wife. In the marriage of Olga and Igor, a son, Svyatoslav, was born, who would later rule the state. Olga loved her Varangian.

Prince Igor relied on force in everything and constantly fought for power. In 945, he traveled around the captured lands and collected tribute, having received tribute from the Drevlyans, he left. On the way, he decided that he had received too little, returned to the Drevlyans and demanded a new tribute. The Drevlyans were outraged by this demand, they rebelled, grabbed Prince Igor, tied him to bent trees and released them. Grand Duchess Olga was very upset by the death of her husband. But it was she who began to rule Ancient Russia after his death. Previously, when he was on campaigns, she also ruled the state in his absence. Judging by the chronicles, Olga is the first woman to rule the state of Ancient Rus'. She began a military campaign against the Drevlyans, destroying their settlements, and besieged the capital of the Drevlyans. Then she demanded a dove from each yard. And then they were eaten, and no one suspected anything wrong, considering it a tribute. They tied a set of tow to the leg of each pigeon and the pigeons flew to their homes, and the capital of the Drevlyans burned down.

Prince Svyatoslav

Olga's baptism

Princess Olga traveled to Constantinople twice. In 957, she was baptized and became a Christian; her godfather was Emperor Constantine himself. Olga ruled Ancient Russia from 945 to 962. At baptism she took the name Elena. She was the first to build Christian churches and spread Christianity in Rus'. Olga tried to introduce her son Svyatoslav to the Christian faith, but he remained a pagan and, after the death of his mother, oppressed Christians. Olga's son, grandson of the great Rurik, died tragically in a Pecheneg ambush.

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

Princess Olga, baptized Helena, died on July 11, 969. She was buried according to Christian custom, and her son did not forbid it. She was the first of the Russian sovereigns to convert to Christianity even before baptism. Ancient Rus', this is the first Russian saint. The name of Princess Olga is associated with the Rurik dynasty, with the advent of Christianity in Rus'; this great woman stood at the origins of the state and culture of Ancient Rus'. The people revered her for her wisdom and holiness. The reign of Princess Olga is filled with important events: restoration of state unity, tax reform, administrative reform, stone construction of cities, strengthening the international authority of Rus', strengthening ties with Byzantium and Germany, strengthening princely power. This extraordinary woman was buried in Kyiv.

Her grandson Grand Duke Vladimir ordered her relics to be transferred to the New Church. Most likely, it was during the reign of Vladimir (970-988) that Princess Olga began to be revered as a saint. In 1547, Princess Olga (Elena) was canonized as Equal-to-the-Apostles. There were only six such women in the entire history of Christianity. In addition to Olga, these are Mary Magdalene, the first martyr Thekla, the martyr Apphia, Queen Helen Equal to the Apostles and the enlightener of Georgia Nina. The memory of Grand Duchess Olga is celebrated with a holiday among both Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Revenge on the Drevlyans

After the murder of Igor while collecting tribute, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to his widow Olga to invite her to marry their prince Mal. The princess successively dealt with the elders of the Drevlyans, and then brought the people of the Drevlyans into submission.

The Old Russian chronicler describes in detail Olga’s revenge for the death of her husband:

1st revenge of Princess Olga: Matchmakers, 20 Drevlyans, arrived in a boat, which the Kievans carried and threw into a deep hole in the courtyard of Olga’s tower. The matchmaker-ambassadors were buried alive along with the boat.

2nd revenge: Olga asked for respect to send her new ambassadors from best husbands, which the Drevlyans willingly did. An embassy of noble Drevlyans was burned in a bathhouse while they were washing themselves in preparation for a meeting with the princess.

3rd revenge: The princess with a small retinue came to the lands of the Drevlyans to, according to custom, celebrate a funeral feast at her husband’s grave. Having drunk the Drevlyans during the funeral feast, Olga ordered them to be chopped down. The chronicle reports 5 thousand Drevlyans killed.

4th revenge: In 946, Olga went with an army on a campaign against the Drevlyans. According to the First Novgorod Chronicle, the Kiev squad defeated the Drevlyans in battle. Olga walked through the Drevlyan land, established tributes and taxes, and then returned to Kyiv.

In "PVL" the chronicler made an insert into the text of the Initial Code about the siege of the Drevlyan capital of Iskorosten. After an unsuccessful siege during the summer, Olga burned the city with the help of birds, to which she ordered incendiaries to be tied. Some of the defenders of Iskorosten were killed, the rest submitted.

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 most of the time on military campaigns.

Olga's reign

Having conquered the Drevlyans, Olga in 947 went to the Novgorod and Pskov lands, establishing taxes and tributes there, after which she returned to her son Svyatoslav in Kyiv.

Olga established a system of “cemeteries” - centers of trade and exchange, in which taxes were collected in a more orderly manner; Then they began to build churches in graveyards.

Princess Olga laid the foundation for stone urban planning in Rus' (the first stone buildings in Kyiv were the city palace and Olga's country tower).

In 945, Olga carried out serious changes in the management of the principality - she established the exact amount of tribute collected in favor of Kiev ("polyudya") - "lessons" (or "rents") and the frequency of their collection ("statutes").

Olga's baptism

Olga's next act was her baptism in 955 in Byzantine Constantinople. Upon returning to Kyiv, Olga, who took the name Elena in baptism, 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 it, but only mocked him.” Moreover, Svyatoslav was angry with his mother for her persuasion, fearing to lose the respect of the squad.

Olga made the decision to accept the faith in advance, although the chronicle legend presents it as a spontaneous decision. Nothing is known about those people who spread Christianity in Rus'.

In the political chronicles of Christian times, Olga was called the forerunner of the Orthodox land. She was the first in the Russian land to throw off, according to the chronicles, the sinful clothes of the first man Adam and put on the clothes of the new Adam - Christ. She was the first Russian to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The Orthodox Church subsequently recognized Olga as a Saint.

One of the ancient Russian books also says that after her death, the princess’s body lay for some time in a special small house, where anyone could come and look through a small window and look at Olga. But, as the author of the book argued, only a pure and enlightened person could see the princess. Of course, it is unknown how plausible this is... One thing is clear - Olga became a princess revered by the ancient Russians.

The mysterious personality of Princess Olga gave rise to many legends and speculations. Some historians imagine her as a cruel Valkyrie, famous throughout the centuries for her terrible revenge for the murder of her husband. Others paint the image of a gatherer of lands, a true Orthodox and saint.

Most likely, the truth is in the middle. However, something else is interesting: what character traits and life events led this woman to rule the state? After all, almost unlimited power over men - the army was subordinate to the princess, there was not a single rebellion against her rule - is not given to every woman. And Olga’s glory is difficult to underestimate: the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles, the only one from the Russian lands, is revered by both Christians and Catholics.

Origin of Olga: fiction and reality

There are many versions of the origin of Princess Olga. Exact date her birth is unclear, let's dwell on official version- 920 g.

It is also unknown about her parents. The earliest historical sources - “The Tale of Bygone Years” and “The Degree Book” (XVI century)- they say that Olga was from a noble family of Varangians who settled in the vicinity of Pskov (the village of Vybuty).

Later historical document “Typographic Chronicle” (XV century) tells that the girl was the daughter of Prophetic Oleg, the teacher of her future husband, Prince Igor.

Some historians are confident in the noble Slavic origin of the future ruler, who initially bore the name of Beauty. Others see her Bulgarian roots, allegedly Olga was the daughter of the pagan prince Vladimir Rasate.

Video: Princess Olga

The secret of Princess Olga's childhood is revealed a little by her first appearance on stage. historical events at the moment of meeting Prince Igor.

The most beautiful legend about this meeting is described in the Book of Degrees:

Prince Igor, crossing the river, saw a beautiful girl in the boatman. However, his advances were immediately stopped.

According to the legends, Olga replied: “Even though I am young and ignorant, and alone here, but know: it is better for me to throw myself into the river than to endure reproach.”

From this story we can conclude that, firstly, the future princess was very beautiful. Her charms were captured by some historians and painters: a young beauty with a graceful figure, cornflower blue eyes, dimples on her cheeks and a thick braid of straw hair. beautiful image Scientists also succeeded in recreating the portrait of the princess based on her relics.

The second thing that should be noted is the complete absence of frivolity and the bright mind of the girl, who was only 10-13 years old at the time of her meeting with Igor.

In addition, some sources indicate that the future princess knew literacy and several languages, which clearly does not correspond to her peasant roots.

Indirectly confirms Olga’s noble origins and the fact that the Rurikovichs wanted to strengthen their power, and they did not need a rootless marriage - but Igor had a wide choice. Prince Oleg had been looking for a bride for his mentor for a long time, but not one of them displaced the image of the obstinate Olga from Igor’s thoughts.

Olga: the image of Prince Igor’s wife

The union of Igor and Olga was quite prosperous: the prince made campaigns in neighboring lands, and his loving wife waited for her husband and managed the affairs of the principality.

Historians also confirm complete trust in the couple.

"Joachim's Chronicle" says that “Igor later had other wives, but because of her wisdom he honored Olga more than others.”

There was only one thing that marred the marriage - the absence of children. The prophetic Oleg, who made numerous human sacrifices to the pagan gods in the name of the birth of an heir to Prince Igor, died without waiting for the happy moment. With Oleg's death, Princess Olga also lost her newborn daughter.

Subsequently, the loss of babies became common; all children did not live to see one year old. Only after 15 years of marriage did the princess give birth to a healthy, strong son, Svyatoslav.

Death of Igor: the terrible revenge of Princess Olga

Princess Olga's first act as a ruler, immortalized in the chronicles, is terrifying. The Drevlyans, who did not want to pay tribute, captured and literally tore Igor’s flesh, tying him to two bent young oak trees.

By the way, such an execution in those days was considered “privileged.”

At one point, Olga became a widow, the mother of a 3-year-old heir - and in fact the ruler of the state.

Princess Olga meets the body of Prince Igor. Sketch, Vasily Ivanovich Surikov

The woman’s extraordinary intelligence manifested itself here too; she immediately surrounded herself with trusted people. Among them was the governor Sveneld, who enjoyed authority in the princely squad. The army unquestioningly obeyed the princess, and this was necessary for her revenge for her dead husband.

20 ambassadors of the Drevlyans, who arrived to woo Olga for their ruler, were first carried with honor in the boat in their arms, and then with her - and buried alive. The woman's ardent hatred was obvious.

Leaning over the pit, Olga asked the unfortunate people: “Is honor good for you?”

This did not end there, and the princess asked for more noble matchmakers. Having heated the bathhouse for them, the princess ordered them to be burned. After such daring actions, Olga was not afraid of revenge against herself, and went to the lands of the Drevlyans to perform a funeral feast at the grave of her deceased husband. Having drunk 5 thousand enemy soldiers during a pagan ritual, the princess ordered them all to be killed.

Then things got worse, and the vengeful widow laid siege to the Drevlyan capital Iskorosten. Having waited all summer for the city to be handed over, and having lost patience, Olga Once again resorted to cunning. Having asked for a “light” tribute - 3 sparrows from each house - the princess ordered burning branches to be tied to the paws of the birds. The birds flew to their nests - and as a result, they burned the entire city.

At first it will seem that such cruelty speaks of a woman’s inadequacy, even taking into account the loss of her beloved husband. However, it should be understood that in those days, the more violent the revenge, the more respected the new ruler was.

With her cunning and cruel act, Olga established her power in the army and achieved the respect of the people, refusing a new marriage.

Wise ruler of Kievan Rus

The threat of the Khazars from the south and the Varangians from the north required the strengthening of princely power. Olga, having traveled even to her distant lands, divided the lands into plots, established a clear procedure for collecting tribute and put her people in charge, thereby preventing the indignation of the people.

She was prompted to this decision by the experience of Igor, whose squads robbed on the principle of “as much as they could carry.”

It was for her ability to manage the state and prevent problems that Princess Olga was popularly called the wise one.

Although his son Svyatoslav was considered the official ruler, Princess Olga herself was in charge of the actual governance of Russia. Svyatoslav followed in his father’s footsteps and was engaged exclusively in military activities.

In foreign policy Princess Olga faced a choice between the Khazars and the Varangians. However, the wise woman chose her own path and turned towards Constantinople (Constantinople). The Greek direction of foreign policy aspirations was beneficial to Kievan Rus: trade developed, and people exchanged cultural values.

Having stayed in Constantinople for about 2 years, the Russian princess was most struck by the rich decoration of Byzantine churches and the luxury of stone buildings. Upon returning to her homeland, Olga will begin the widespread construction of palaces and churches made of stone, including in the Novgorod and Pskov possessions.

She was the first to build a city palace in Kyiv and her own country house.

Baptism and politics: everything for the good of the State

Olga was persuaded to Christianity by a family tragedy: pagan gods for a long time they did not want to give her a healthy baby.

One of the legends says that the princess saw in painful dreams all the Drevlyans she killed.

Realizing her craving for Orthodoxy, and realizing that it was beneficial for Rus', Olga decided to be baptized.

IN "Tales of Bygone Years" The story is described when Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, captivated by the beauty and intelligence of the Russian princess, proposed his hand and heart to her. Again resorting to feminine cunning, Olga asked the Byzantine emperor to participate in the baptism, and after the ceremony (the princess was named Elena) she declared the impossibility of marriage between godfather and goddaughter.

However, this story is rather a folk fiction; according to some sources, at that time the woman was already over 60 years old.

Be that as it may, Princess Olga gained herself a powerful ally without violating the boundaries of her own freedom.

Soon the emperor wanted confirmation of friendship between the states in the form of troops sent from Rus'. The ruler refused and sent ambassadors to the rival of Byzantium, the king of the German lands, Otto I. Such a political step showed the whole world the independence of the princess from any - even great - patrons. Friendship with the German king did not work out; Otto, who arrived in Kievan Rus, hastily fled, realizing the pretense of the Russian princess. And soon Russian squads went to Byzantium to visit the new Emperor Roman II, but as a sign of the goodwill of the ruler Olga.

Sergey Kirillov. Duchess Olga. Olga's baptism

Returning to her homeland, Olga met fierce resistance to the change of her religion from her own son. Svyatoslav “ridiculed” Christian rituals. At that time, there was already an Orthodox Church in Kyiv, but almost the entire population was pagan.

Olga needed wisdom at this moment too. She managed to remain a believing Christian and a loving mother. Svyatoslav remained a pagan, although in the future he treated Christians quite tolerantly.

Moreover, having avoided a split in the country by not imposing her faith on the population, the princess at the same time brought closer the moment of the baptism of Rus'.

Princess Olga's legacy

Before her death, the princess, complaining of her illnesses, was able to draw her son’s attention to the internal governance of the principality, which was besieged by the Pechenegs. Svyatoslav, who had just returned from the Bulgarian military campaign, postponed a new campaign to Pereyaslavets.

Princess Olga died at 80, leaving her son a strong country and a powerful army. The woman received communion from her priest Gregory and forbade holding a pagan funeral feast. The funeral took place at Orthodox rite burial in the ground.

Already Olga’s grandson, Prince Vladimir, transferred her relics to the new Kyiv Church of the Holy Mother of God.

According to the words recorded by monk Jacob, an eyewitness to those events, the woman’s body remained incorrupt.

History does not provide us with clear facts confirming the special holiness of a great woman, with the exception of her incredible devotion to her husband. However, Princess Olga was revered by the people, and various miracles were attributed to her relics.

In 1957, Olga was named equal to the apostles; her life of holiness was equal to the life of the apostles.

Now Saint Olga is revered as the patroness of widows and protector of newly converted Christians.

The road to glory: Olga's lessons to our contemporaries

By analyzing the meager and varied information from historical documents, certain conclusions can be drawn. This woman was not a “vengeful monster.” Her horrific actions at the beginning of her reign were dictated solely by the traditions of the time and the intensity of the widow’s grief.

Although it cannot be written off that only a very strong-willed woman can do something like this.

Princess Olga was undoubtedly great woman, and reached the heights of power thanks to her analytical mind and wisdom. Not being afraid of change and having prepared a reliable rear of loyal comrades, the princess was able to avoid a split in the state - and did a lot for its prosperity.

At the same time, the woman never betrayed her own principles and did not allow her own freedom to be infringed.

Princess Olga the Saint
Years of life: ?-969
Reign: 945-966

Grand Duchess Olga, baptized Elena. Russian Saint Orthodox Church, the first of the rulers of Rus' to convert to Christianity even before the Baptism of Rus'. After the death of her husband, Prince Igor Rurikovich, she ruled Kievan Rus from 945 to 966.

Princess Olga's baptism

Since ancient times, in the Russian land, people called Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga “the head of the faith” and “the root of Orthodoxy.” The Patriarch who baptized Olga marked the baptism with prophetic words: « Blessed are you among Russian women, for you left darkness and loved the Light. The Russian sons will glorify you to the last generation! »

At baptism, the Russian princess was honored with the name of Saint Helen, Equal to the Apostles, who worked hard to spread Christianity in the vast Roman Empire, but did not find the Life-Giving Cross on which the Lord was crucified.

In the vast expanses of the Russian land, like her heavenly patroness, Olga became an equal-to-the-apostles seer of Christianity.

There are many inaccuracies and mysteries in the chronicle about Olga, but most of the facts of her life, brought to our time by the grateful descendants of the founder of the Russian land, do not raise doubts about their authenticity.

The story of Olga - Princess of Kyiv

One of ancient chronicles"The Tale of Bygone Years" in the description
The marriage of the Kyiv prince Igor names the name of the future ruler of Rus' and her homeland: « And they brought him a wife from Pskov named Olga » . The Jokimov Chronicle specifies that Olga belonged to one of the ancient Russian princely dynasties - the Izborsky family. The life of Saint Princess Olga specifies that she was born in the village of Vybuty in the Pskov land, 12 km from Pskov up the Velikaya River. The names of the parents have not been preserved. According to the Life, they were not of a noble family, of Varangian origin, which is confirmed by her name, which has a correspondence in Old Scandinavian as Helga, in Russian pronunciation - Olga (Volga). The presence of the Scandinavians in those places is noted by a number of archaeological finds dating back to the first half of the 10th century.

The later Piskarevsky chronicler and typographical chronicle (late 15th century) recount a rumor that Olga was the daughter of the Prophetic Oleg, who began to rule Kievan Rus as the guardian of the young Igor, the son of Rurik: « The netsy say that Olga’s daughter was Olga » . Oleg married Igor and Olga.

The life of Saint Olga tells that here, “in the Pskov region,” her meeting with her future husband took place for the first time. The young prince was hunting and, wanting to cross the Velikaya River, he saw “someone floating in a boat” and called him to the shore. Sailing away from the shore in a boat, the prince discovered 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 turned out to be not only beautiful, but chaste and smart. She shamed Igor by reminding him of the princely dignity of a ruler and judge, who should be a “bright example of good deeds” for his subjects.

Igor broke up with her, keeping her words in his memory and beautiful image. When the time came to choose a bride, the most beautiful girls principalities. But none of them pleased him. And then he remembered Olga, “wonderful in maidens,” and sent his relative Prince Oleg for her. So Olga became the wife of Prince Igor, the Grand Duchess of Russia.

Princess Olga and Prince Igor

Upon returning from the campaign against the Greeks, Prince Igor became a father: his son Svyatoslav was born. Soon Igor was killed by the Drevlyans. After the murder of Igor, the Drevlyans, fearing revenge, sent matchmakers to his widow Olga to invite her to marry their prince Mal. Duchess Olga pretended to agree and consistently dealt with the elders of the Drevlyans, and then brought the people of the Drevlyans to submission.

The Old Russian chronicler describes in detail Olga’s revenge for the death of her husband:

1st revenge of Princess Olga: Matchmakers, 20 Drevlyans, arrived in a boat, which the Kievans carried and threw into a deep hole in the courtyard of Olga’s tower. The matchmaker-ambassadors were buried alive along with the boat. Olga looked at them from the tower and asked: « Are you satisfied with the honor? » And they shouted: « Oh! It’s worse for us than Igor’s death » .

2nd revenge: Olga asked, out of respect, to send new ambassadors from the best men to her, which the Drevlyans willingly did. An embassy of noble Drevlyans was burned in a bathhouse while they were washing themselves in preparation for a meeting with the princess.

3rd revenge: The princess with a small retinue came to the lands of the Drevlyans to, according to custom, celebrate a funeral feast at her husband’s grave. Having drunk the Drevlyans during the funeral feast, Olga ordered them to be chopped down. The chronicle reports 5 thousand Drevlyans killed.

4th revenge: In 946, Olga went with an army on a campaign against the Drevlyans. According to the First Novgorod Chronicle, the Kiev squad defeated the Drevlyans in battle. Olga walked through the Drevlyansky land, established tributes and taxes, and then returned to Kyiv. In the Tale of Bygone Years, the chronicler made an insert into the text of the Initial Code about the siege of the Drevlyan capital of Iskorosten. According to the Tale of Bygone Years, after an unsuccessful siege during the summer, Olga burned the city with the help of birds, to which she ordered incendiaries to be tied. Some of the defenders of Iskorosten were killed, the rest submitted.

Reign of Princess Olga

After the massacre of 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 most of the time on military campaigns.

The chronicle testifies to her tireless “walks” across the Russian land with the purpose of building the political and economic life of the country. Olga went to the Novgorod and Pskov lands. Established a system of “cemeteries” - centers of trade and exchange, in which taxes were collected in a more orderly manner; Then they began to build churches in graveyards.

Rus' grew and strengthened. Cities were built surrounded by stone and oak walls. The princess herself lived behind the reliable walls of Vyshgorod (the first stone buildings of Kyiv - the city palace and Olga's country tower), surrounded by a loyal squad. She carefully monitored the improvement of the lands subject to Kyiv - Novgorod, Pskov, located along the Desna River, etc.

Reforms of Princess Olga

In Rus', the Grand Duchess erected the churches of St. Nicholas and St. Sophia in Kyiv, and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in Vitebsk. According to legend, she founded the city of Pskov on the Pskov River, where she was born. In those parts, on the site of the vision of three luminous rays from the sky, the temple of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity was erected.

Olga tried to introduce Svyatoslav to Christianity. He was angry with his mother for her persuasion, fearing to lose the respect of the squad, but “he did not even think of listening to this; but if someone was going to be baptized, he did not forbid it, but only mocked him.”

The chronicles consider Svyatoslav to be the successor to the Russian throne immediately after the death of Igor, so the date of the beginning of his independent reign is quite arbitrary. Internal management He entrusted the state to his mother, being all the time on military campaigns against the neighbors of Kievan Rus. In 968, the Pechenegs first raided Russian land. Together with Svyatoslav’s children, Olga locked herself in Kyiv. Returning from Bulgaria, he lifted the siege and did not want to stay long in Kyiv. The very next year he was going to leave for Pereyaslavets, but Olga held him back.

« You see - I'm sick; where do you want to go from me? “ - because she was already sick. And she said: « When you bury me, go wherever you want “ . Three days later, Olga died (July 11, 969), and her son, and her grandchildren, and all the people cried for her with great tears, and they carried her and buried her in the chosen place, but Olga bequeathed not to perform funeral feasts for her, since she had The priest was with him - he buried Blessed Olga.

Holy Princess Olga

Olga's burial place is unknown. During the reign of Vladimir, her began to be revered as a saint. This is evidenced by the transfer of her relics to the Tithe Church. During the Mongol invasion, the relics were hidden under the cover of the church.

In 1547, Olga was canonized as Saint Equal to the Apostles. Only 5 other holy women have received this honor. Christian history(Mary Magdalene, First Martyr Thekla, Martyr Apphia, Queen Helena and Enlightener of Georgia Nina).

Memorial Day of Saint Olga (Elena) began to be celebrated on July 11. She is revered as the patroness of widows and new Christians.

Official canonization (churchwide glorification) occurred later - until the middle of the 13th century.