Olga of Kiev

 Today, we are going to shift gears a little and go into a place in history when things were not quite so well documented as they have been for the last several saints we have discussed. 

St. Olga of Kiev was born sometime between 890 and 925. Little is known of her life before her marriage to Prince Igor I of Kyiv. She was probably about 15 when she was married. Her husband was killed in 945 while seeking tribute from a neighboring tribe called the Drevlians. After his death, Olga ruled as regent on behalf of their son Sviatoslav. She was the first woman to rule Kievan Rus. 

As regent, Olga traveled to Constantinople in the 950s to visit Emperor Constantine VII. While there, she converted to Christianity with the help of the Emperor and the Patriarch. At her baptism, she was christened Helena, after the ancient empress, mother of Constantine the Great. Olga was not the first person from Kievan Rus to convert, but she was the most powerful Rus individual to accept baptism in her lifetime.

Olga was unsuccessful in converting her son to the Faith. Even though he refused to become a Christian himself, Sviatoslav agreed not to persecute those in his kingdom who did convert. This was a crucial turning point for Christianity in the area. Despite the resistance of her son and her people, Olga built churches throughout the region.

Olga died from illness in 969. Despite his disapproval of his mother's religion, Sviatoslav heeded Olga's request that her priest conduct a Christian funeral for her. Although it seemed at the time that her efforts to make her country Christian was a failure, her mission would be brought to fruition by her grandon Vladimir, who officially adopted Christianity in 988.

St. Olga's feast day is July 11. She is patron of widows and converts.