Olga of Kiev
Olga of Kiev | |
|---|---|
Saint Olga by Mikhail Nesterov (1892) | |
| Equal to the Apostles, Blessed Princess | |
| Born | c. 890–925 Pleskov or Vybuty, Kievan Rus' |
| Residence | Kiev, Kievan Rus' |
| Died | 11 July 969 Kiev, Kievan Rus' |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodoxy Roman Catholicism |
| Canonized | Unknown, possibly 1284. |
| Major shrine | Church of the Tithes |
| Feast | 11 July |
| Attributes | Cross and church |
| Patronage | Widows, converts |
| Princess of Kiev | |
| Reign | 945–957 |
| Predecessor | Igor of Kiev |
| Successor | Sviatoslav the Brave |
| Spouse | Igor of Kiev |
| Issue | Sviatoslav the Brave |
| Dynasty | Rurik |
| Religion | Chalcedonian Christianity prev. Slavic pagan |
Olga (Church Slavonic: Ольга; Old Norse: Helga; c. 890–925 – 11 July 969) was a regent of Kievan Rus' for her son Sviatoslav from 945 until 957. Following her baptism, Olga took the name Elenа. She is known for her subjugation of the Drevlians, a tribe that had killed her husband Igor. Even though it was her grandson Vladimir who adopted Christianity and made it the state religion, she was the first ruler to be baptized.
Olga is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church with the epithet "Equal to the Apostles". Her feast day is 11 July.