Olga was the wife of Prince Igor of Kyiv and, after his death, the ruler of Kyivan Rus' as regent for their young son Svyatoslav. By tradition she came from Pskov and bore the Varangian name Helga, rendered Olga in Slavic usage. She is venerated as the first Christian ruler of Rus' and is commemorated on July 11. The Orthodox Church honors her with the rare title Equal-to-the-Apostles (Isapostolos), borne by those whose labors opened a whole people to the Christian faith.
When Igor was killed in 945 by the Drevlians, a neighboring tribe, during the collection of tribute, the burden of government fell upon his widow. Olga ruled in place of her young son and, according to the chronicles, exacted a severe revenge upon the Drevlians before consolidating the Kyivan state. As regent she is remembered for administrative reforms, regularizing the system of tribute and establishing fixed centers of trade and administration throughout the realm.
Olga later traveled to Constantinople, where she received Holy Baptism and the Christian name Helen. The synaxarion relates that the sacrament was performed by the Patriarch Theophylactus and that her godfather was the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos. Returning to Kyiv, she labored to spread the faith, building churches and seeking to bring her household and people to Christ. Her son Svyatoslav remained a pagan, but she raised her grandson Vladimir, who would later complete the conversion of Rus'. She died on July 11, 969, and is venerated as the patroness of widows and of converts.
