Icon of Olga: what are they praying for before her?

Princess Olga, of course, an outstanding personality. She went down in history as the creator of statehood and culture in Kievan Rus. In times of paganism, she firmly rule the principality, united the land of the Russians. Having received baptism at the age of 60, she put all her soul's strength to spread the faith of Christ in the territory of Rus. For this feat of her and immediately after death, people considered a saint, and in 1547 she was officially ranked saints. What does the icon of Olga look like? The photo can be seen below.

So who was this great woman and what was her life?

Olga's ancestors were Varangians, who came from Scandinavia. At birth, she received the name Helga, only after marrying a Russian prince, began to be called in Russian Olga. The exact date of her birth is unknown, as well as there is no data about her childhood years. It is only known that she lived in the village of Vybutovskaya all along the river Velikaya. In those years, ruled Prince Oleg, known from history as the Prophetic. One day his young nephew Igor hunted in the Pskov lands and saw a rich hunting ground on the other side of the river. He asked the young man sitting in the boat to take him to the other side. Having sailed from the shore, the young prince saw that a beautiful girl was sitting before him. The young prince began to pester the beautiful woman with obscene suggestions. But she showed steadfastness of character and shamed the prince. She even promised to drown herself if he did not stop his obscene courtship. This sobered Igor, it cooled his ardor. When Igor's time came to marry, many noble ladies from different places came to the court, but then he remembered the impregnable beauty and sent matchmakers to her parents' house.

Young played a wedding, but the exact date is unknown. Her first and only son, Svyatoslav, Olga gave birth in 942. Olga's life with her husband is also little known. He was a warrior, a pagan, conquered the surrounding lands. In 945, Mr .. Igor and his team went to the Drevlyansky land to collect tribute. But when he arrived at the place, he announced that the rate of taxation was doubling. The angry inhabitants of the Drevlyanska land killed the prince and his retinue. Fearful of revenge for the murder of the prince of Kiev, they suggested the young princess to marry their ruler Malom. Olga turned out to be a skilful strategist. She agreed. But hardly the embassy of the Drevlyane arrived in Kiev, it was betrayed by a painful execution - buried alive. The second embassy was burned alive in the bathhouse. After Olga gathered the squad and led the march to Drevlyane. With her, she took the young son of Svyatoslav, who was then barely 5 years old. No persuasion and promises from the enemies did not pity the heart of the young widow. More than 5 thousand men were killed in that battle under the walls of the capital of the Drevlyanskih lands of Iskorostenya. A year later, Olga again with the army came to this city and burned it to the ground. All the survivors were sold into slavery. Cruel times, cruel customs!

Life without a husband

On the shoulders of a young woman, the care for her son and the principality lay down. Merciless to enemies Olga was very kind and fair to her subjects. The people loved her for her kind heart. She traveled the Russian land, arranging the political and economic life of the young state. It was she who centralized the power of the Kiev prince. She ruled the state not as a weak woman, but as a strong and intelligent man. She firmly held power in her hands and bravely defended herself from her enemies.

Until the end of her days Olga lived an honest widow, not wanting to get married anymore. Her chaste lifestyle became an example for descendants. Olga reigned until Svyatoslav grew up. After that, she lost to him the throne without controversy, and she herself left the government and lived in Vyshgorod. She established to give two-thirds of city fees to Kiev, and a third to leave for the needs of her city and court. It was at Olga that the first borders of Kievan Rus were determined, there were outposts on which the heroes, glorified in epics, who guarded the rest of the Russian land, served. Under Olga, Russia began to become a great power.

The Quest for God

From birth Olga was a pagan. But she was looking for God. Looking at Byzantium, she understood that one power is not enough for the state, it is also necessary that the spiritual life of people be organized. The princess with a large fleet set out with her retinue to Constantinople to see for herself the services in the Christian church and to know the teachings of Christ. The history is silent about the reasons that prompted Olga to take such a step. Perhaps she wanted to conclude an alliance with a strong neighbor, or she was moved by other thoughts. Historians agree on one thing: the decision on baptism was voluntary and desirable. But if Olga wanted to just be baptized, she could do it in her homeland. By that time, Christian priests were already in Russia.

She went to Constantinople with great pomp to not only learn about Christ, but also to show the greatness of Kievan Rus. Having seen the beauty of the churches, having visited the services, after hearing the Gospel, Olga with all her heart believed in the Savior of the world. The sacrament of baptism was performed by the Patriarch of Constantinople Feofilakt (933-956). Her godfather was the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912-959). At the baptism she received the name of Elena in honor of the first Christian tsarina, who dedicated her life to the search for the Cross of the Lord. According to legend, the patriarch blessed Olga with the words: "Blessed are you in the wives of the Russians, because you loved the light and left the darkness."

In addition to baptism, Olga's "walking" in the Greeks had diplomatic significance. Being at the court of the emperor, she held several negotiations and business meetings.

Returning to Kiev, she carried with her icons, sacred books. So began her apostolic ministry. Under her leadership the first church was built in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker, which was built over the burial place of the first Kiev Christian prince Askold. Many Kievites converted St. Olga to Christianity, tirelessly traveled through the lands, spreading the Orthodox faith and erecting temples throughout the Russian land. It was she who initiated the special veneration of the Holy Trinity, which still differs Orthodox faith in Russia.

Relationship with son

Despite the missionary activities and many converted to the Orthodox faith, Olga never managed to convert the only son of Svyatoslav to Christianity. Although she did not give up until her last breath. The son persistently insisted that if he renounced paganism, the whole squad above him would be amused. Although others did not interfere in the choice of faith and did not build up the mother's obstacles in her activities. At the same time, many opponents of Orthodoxy tried to persuade Svyatoslav to their side.

Olga raised her grandchildren in the Orthodox faith. But she did not dare to baptize them without her son's permission. This Olga has shown an example of great humility, worthy of respect and admiration. A woman who cruelly avenged the death of her husband, spreading the Orthodox faith throughout Russia, did not dare to contradict her own son, showing respect for his feelings. However, her influence on the grandson, Prince Vladimir, was enormous. It was he who became one more pillar of Orthodoxy and the baptizer of Russia.

Olga more than once prophesied to her son the bad end, and her prophecy came to pass. Svyatoslav fell in battle with the prince of Pecheneg, Kurei, who made a bowl from his skull. Inserting it into a frame made of gold, Kurya used it during the feasts, boasting of a victory over the Russian prince. But it was after Olga's death.

last years of life

At the end of her life, many sorrows fell to the lot of Princess Olga. When she was in old age, there was a triumph of paganism in Russia. Princess, zealous of Orthodoxy, had to secretly keep a priest in his house for the performance of services and calls. But she raised her grandchildren in Orthodoxy at her own peril and risk.

In 969, the Pechenegs attacked Kiev. At this time, Svyatoslav's retinue was far from the capital city, but Princess Olga was able to repulse the invaders with the help of a small army commanded by Voevoda Pretic. By this time Olga was already in her advanced years and was seriously ill. Feeling the approach of death, she began to pray earnestly, appealing to God, praying for the destiny of the state and the whole people. She did not leave a prayer until the last hour. Svyatoslav was near his mother until her death. July 11, 969 the princess died. According to the will, she was buried according to Christian traditions.

Honoring Olga

In 1007, her grandson, Prince Vladimir, transferred her relics to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is in Kiev. To honor the princess as a saint became almost immediately after her death. Its relics were for the faithful as an icon. Olga and after her death gave hope and healing to those who asked for her intercession. Its relics miraculously did not undergo decay. Even a thousand years ago, believers who approached cancer with hope in their hearts saw the light emanating from the relics. Those who came without faith in the heart did not receive what they wanted.

Canonization and the day of veneration of St. Olga

In 1547 Saint Olga was ranked among the saints . The icon with its image can be executed in various versions. They will be discussed below. The icon of Olga the Equal of the Apostles is worshiped on the day of July 24 (according to the old style of July 11). Princess for her work in spreading the faith of the church especially reveres as an equal to the apostles, as brought the Orthodox faith in Russia.

What to pray before the icon of St. Olga

Every believer in the house has many icons, but the icon of Princess Olga occupies an honorable place. And this is not surprising. After all, the icon Olga encourages and strengthens believers, grants wisdom, fills the heart with light and love. During her life, Olga was a supporter of a strong state, and put all her strength to strengthen Russia, so she does not leave her trusting after her death. The icon of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga helps the worshipers to strengthen the country. Also about softening the hearts of offenders, about enlightenment. Relics and the icon Olga in the Tithe temple heal the sick. They are attracted to pilgrims from all over the world. This icon of the name Olga will bring luck and patronage, therefore all owners of this sonorous name must necessarily have the image of their patroness.

Cross of Princess Olga

At the baptism Olga from the hands of the patriarch received a cross, carved from a single piece of the Life-Creating Tree of the Lord. It was inscribed with the inscription: "Renew the Russian land with the Holy Cross, Olga was taken by him, the princess". This cross became the main shrine of the church of St. Sophia, which was consecrated in 960, during the life of Olga. Later, this cross was moved to another Kiev temple. But after the capture of Kiev by Lithuanians in the 13th century, the cross from the temple was abducted, and its fate is still unknown.

Iconography

The icon of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is depicted by tradition for the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saints. More often it is depicted standing, holding in the right hand a cross, symbolizing the preaching of Christ. In her left hand she has a symbolic image of the temple. Often there is another icon. Olga is depicted with Prince Vladimir, the baptizer of Russia.

Order of Princess Olga

In 1988, the patriarch Pimen established the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. This order is awarded to women who have made a special contribution to the ministry of the Church.

Princess Olga lived most of her life as a pagan. Unbeknownst to the laws of Christianity, she strove with heart to observe them, leading a righteous life. Being baptized at the age of sixty, she carried for 15 years enlightenment on the Russian land, becoming the godmother of all Christians of Russia. Supports the praying icon of Olga. The meaning of her name is "wise", and the princess justified it to the fullest. A woman with an unbending will, a courageous warrior, intelligent and diplomatic - so she went down in history.