Baptism of Olga in Constantinople. Princess Olga of Kyiv. Magnification Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, in Holy Baptism Elena

Baptism of Princess Olga

Olga, the wife of Prince Igor, occupied the Kyiv throne in 945 after the murder of Igor by the Drevlyans, for which she soon severely avenged. At the same time, she understood that the preservation of the old order in the state, the relationship between the prince and the squad, the traditional collection of tribute (polyudya) was fraught with unpredictable consequences. This is what prompted Olga to take up the arrangement of land relations in the state. She toured the country. The chronicler wrote: “And Olga went with her son and with her retinue through the Drevlyane land, establishing the order of tribute and taxes; and the places of its parking and hunting have been preserved to this day. And she came to her city Kyiv with her son Svyatoslav and stayed here for a year. A year later, “Olga went to Novgorod and established graveyards and tributes along the Meta and along the Luga - quitrents and tributes, and her traps have been preserved throughout the earth, and there is evidence of her, and her places and graveyards, and the sleigh is in Pskov to this day, and along the Dnieper there are places for catching birds and along the Desna, and her village Olzhichi has survived to this day. And so, having established everything, she returned to her son in Kyiv, and there she lived with him in love. The historian N. M. Karamzin, giving a general assessment of Olga's reign, notes: “Olga, it seems, consoled the people with the blessings of a wise government; at least all her monuments - overnight stays and places where she, following the custom of the then heroes, amused herself by catching animals - for a long time were the subject of some special respect and curiosity for this people. Note that these words of H. M. Karamzin were written a century later than the “History” by V. N. Tatishchev, who under 948 made the following entry: “Olga sent to her fatherland, the Izborsk region, with nobles a lot of gold and silver, and commanded to build a city on the banks of the Great River in the place she showed, and called it Pleskov (Pskov), to populate with people, calling from everywhere.

During the reign of Olga, land relations were brought into line with those tendencies of strengthening princely and boyar power, which corresponded to the processes of disintegration of the former community, clan. Duties are defined, there is no former arbitrariness, and the smerd peasants do not need to scatter through the forests, hiding their belongings, or maybe avoiding something even worse - a rope that will be taken to the same Constantinople for sale. At the same time, neither the boyar leaders nor the rural ranks of society suspect that in all their actions an objective historical pattern, the needs of that emerging social order, which in time will be called feudalism, makes its way.

Having approved the internal order in the state, Olga returned to her son Svyatoslav, in Kyiv, and lived there for several years, enjoying the love of her son and the gratitude of the people. During these years, there were no external campaigns that cost human losses, and the most violent element interested in such campaigns (primarily hired Varangians), the princess sent as auxiliary detachments to Byzantium, where they fought against the Arabs and other enemies of the empire.

Here, the chronicler finishes the narrative of state affairs and proceeds to the coverage of church affairs.

After strengthening her position in Kyiv and calming the subject population, Olga had to start solving foreign policy problems. During this period, Russia did not wage wars with the Steppe and was not subjected to retaliatory attacks. Olga decided to turn her eyes to Byzantium, which at that time was a powerful, highly developed state. In addition, with Byzantium continued, although not fully, to act, despite the death of Igor, the agreement he concluded.

This agreement, on the one hand, expanded the rights of the Russians, but on the other hand, it imposed certain obligations on them. The great Russian prince and his boyars received the right to send as many ships as they liked with ambassadors and merchants to Byzantium. Now it was enough for them to show a letter from their prince, in which he had to indicate how many ships he sent. This was enough for the Greeks to know that Russia came in peace. But if the ships from Russia came without a letter, then the Greeks got the right to detain them until they received confirmation from the prince. After repeating the terms of Oleg’s agreement with the Greeks on the place of residence and maintenance of Russian ambassadors and guests, the following was added to Igor’s agreement: a person from the Greek government will be assigned to the Russians, who should sort out disputes between Russians and Greeks.

Certain obligations were also assigned to the Grand Duke. He was forbidden to go on a military campaign to the Crimea (Korsun land) and its cities, since "this country does not submit to Russia." The Russians should not offend the Korsunians, who fished at the mouth of the Dnieper, and also did not have the right to spend the winter at the mouth of the Dnieper, in Beloberezhye and at St. Eferia, "but when autumn comes, they must return home to Russia." The Greeks demanded from the prince that he also did not let the black (Danubian) Bulgarians "fight the country of Korsun". There was a clause that said: “If a Greek offends a Russian, then the Russians should not execute the criminal by arbitrariness; punished by the Greek government." As a result, we note that although in general this agreement was less successful for Russia than Oleg's agreement, it maintained trade relations between states, which allowed Russia to develop its economy and economy.

However, more than ten years have passed since the conclusion of this agreement. The rulers on the Byzantine throne changed, new people stood at the head of the Old Russian state. The experience of past years and the relationship of the empire with the "barbarian" states suggested the need to either confirm or revise the agreement concluded by Prince Igor with Byzantium in 944.

So, the situation urgently demanded to "clarify" relations with Byzantium. And although the Russian chronicle does not explain to us the reasons for the princess's trip to Byzantium, it is clear that she was going to do just that. Nestor simply wrote: "Olga (955) went to the Greek land and came to Constantinople." But V.N. Tatishchev explains Olga's trip to Byzantium by her desire to be baptized.

The fact that Christians lived in Russia at the time of Olga's reign, no one doubts. About the baptism of some part of the Russians in the 60s. The 9th century is evidenced by a number of Byzantine sources, including the “Circumferential Epistle” of Patriarch Photius of Constantinople. The Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus reported in his grandfather's biography, written by him personally, about the conversion of the inhabitants of Russia to Christianity during the reign of Emperor Basil I the Macedonian (867–886) and during the second patriarchate of Ignatius in Constantinople. This news is confirmed by both some Greek chroniclers and individual Russian chroniclers. By combining all the available information, we will get a complete story about this event - the campaign of Askold (and Dir?). “During the reign of the Greek emperor Michael III, at the time when the emperor set out with an army against the Hagarians, new enemies of the empire, the Scythian people of the Rus, appeared at the walls of Constantinople on two hundred boats. With extraordinary cruelty, they devastated the entire surrounding country, robbed the neighboring islands and monasteries, killed every one of the captives, and terrified the inhabitants of the capital. Having received such sad news from the Tsaregrad eparch, the emperor abandoned his army and hurried to the besieged. With difficulty he made his way through the enemy ships to his capital, and here he considered it his first duty to resort to God in prayer. Michael prayed all night with Patriarch Photius and countless people in the famous Blachernae Church, where the miraculous robe of the Mother of God was then kept. In the morning, while singing sacred hymns, this miraculous robe was carried to the seashore, and as soon as it touched the surface of the water, the sea, hitherto still and calm, was covered with the greatest storm; the ships of the godless Russians were scattered by the wind, overturned or smashed against the shore; a very small number escaped death. The next author, as it were, continues: “Having thus experienced the wrath of God, through the prayers of Photius, who was managing the church at that time, the Russians returned to their fatherland and a little later sent envoys to Constantinople to ask for baptism. Their wish was granted – a bishop was sent to them.” And, as it were, the third author concludes this story: “When this bishop arrived in the capital of the Rus, the Tsar of the Rus hurried to convene a veche. A great multitude of the common people were present, and the king himself presided with his nobles and senators, who, from a long habit of paganism, were more devoted to it than others. They began to talk about their own and Christian faith; they invited the archpastor and asked him what he intended to teach them. The bishop opened the gospel and began to preach to them about the Savior and His miracles, mentioning together the many different signs performed by God in the Old Testament. The Russians, listening to the evangelist, said to him: “If we don’t see something like that, especially like what, according to you, happened to the three youths in the cave, we don’t want to believe.” To this, the servant of God answered them: “Although you should not tempt the Lord, however, if you sincerely decide to turn to Him, ask what you want, and He will fulfill everything according to your faith, no matter how insignificant we are before His majesty.” They asked that the very book of the Gospel be thrown into the fire, deliberately diluted, vowing to turn to the Christian God without fail, if it remained unharmed in the fire. Then the bishop, raising his eyes and hands to the mountain, called out in a grand voice: “Lord, Jesus Christ, our God! Glorify Thy holy name now before the eyes of this people, ”and cast the sacred book of the Testament into a blazing fire. Several hours passed, the fire consumed all the material, and the Gospel turned out to be on the ashes, completely whole and undamaged; even the ribbons with which it was fastened were preserved. Seeing this, the barbarians, struck by the greatness of the miracle, immediately began to be baptized. Of course, this news is a fairy tale, but a pleasant fairy tale. Moreover, the Russian chronicle reports that a Christian church was built on the grave of Askold.

In fact, at that time Christianity in Russia had not yet become widespread. Perhaps Askold did not have enough time. As we said above, in 882 the pagan Oleg appeared in Kyiv with his retinue. The Christians were unable to resist the armed pagans and were completely destroyed. At least at the conclusion of Oleg's treaty between Russia and the Greeks, Russian Christians are not mentioned at all.

However, with the accession to the great reign of Igor, the attitude towards Christians began to change. And this was largely facilitated by Oleg's agreement with the Greeks. Caravans of merchant ships went from Russia to Byzantium. The Russians lived in Constantinople for several months near the monastery of St. Moms. Other Russians were employed by the hundreds in the service of the Greek emperor and spent almost their entire lives in Greece. The Greeks, no doubt, did not miss the opportunity to acquaint our ancestors with their faith. Constantine Porphyrogenitus, describing in his work “On the Ceremonies of the Byzantine Court” the reception of the Tarsian ambassadors in 946, mentioned the Christian Russians who were part of the imperial guard, that is, mercenaries who were in the service in Constantinople. Many of them, returning baptized to their homeland, could talk with fellow tribesmen about the Christian faith. Be that as it may, but already in the aforementioned agreement between Prince Igor and the Greeks, concluded in the 40s. X century, two strong groups clearly appear in Russia: the pagan, headed by the Grand Duke, and the Christian, which includes representatives of the highest feudal nobility and merchants. The author of The Tale of Bygone Years, for example, directly states under 945: “Igor called on ambassadors and came to the hill where Perun stood; and they laid down their weapons, and shields, and gold, and Igor and his people swore allegiance - how many pagans were among the Russians. And Russian Christians were sworn in in the church of St. Elijah, which stands over the Brook at the end of the Pasyncha conversation, and the Khazars - it was a cathedral church, since there were many Varangian Christians. But one should not think that Christians in Russia at that time were exclusively foreigners. By the way, the mention of the existence of a Russian Christian church organization, referring to 967, is in the bull of Pope John XIII.

We also note that the Christians in the treaty of Prince Igor look like equal members of society. They take an active part in solving the most important issues concerning the foreign policy of Kievan Rus. This fact clearly testifies in favor of the fact that in the 40s. X Art. Christians not only lived in Russia, but also played a significant role in the life of the country. According to the chronicle, at that time in Kyiv there was a cathedral (that is, the main church) church of St. Ilya. This means that in the 40s. X Art. in Kyiv there were other Christian churches that were subordinate to the cathedral church of Elijah. Perhaps at that time there was also a bishop in Kyiv.

The presence of Christians in Russia at that time can also be confirmed by numerous burials by the method of inhumation. The bulk of such burials are pit burials oriented “west-east”, which are extremely characteristic of Christians. All this allows us to assume that Princess Olga, while living in Kyiv, communicated with Christian missionaries, had conversations with them and, probably, was inclined to adopt this religion. True, in Igor's entourage, the majority were just pagans, which was the main obstacle to the baptism of the Grand Duke and Princess.

Regarding the time and place of Olga's baptism, as well as her trip to Constantinople and her personal baptism there, there are different points of view in science. Supporters of one of them claim that Olga was baptized in Kyiv in the mid-40s and early 50s of the 10th century. The basis for them is the reports of Yahya of Antioch, an Arab historian, doctor, Byzantine chronicler, a contemporary of those distant events, who lived far from Constantinople. In his chronicle, he says that Olga at one time turned to the emperor with a request to send priests to Russia. In response to her request, a bishop was allegedly sent from Constantinople, who in Kyiv baptized the princess herself and some other people. The chronicler gives a certificate: "I found this information in the books of the Russians."

Supporters of a different point of view are convinced that Olga was baptized in Byzantium. But here many scholars disagree on the dates of the trip, and some speak of two possible trips of the princess to Constantinople. In their opinion, Olga's first trip to Constantinople took place in 946. But, as we remember, at this time, according to The Tale of Bygone Years, Olga makes a campaign against the Drevlyans, stands all summer near Iskorosten, besieging the city, and being at one time in two places, as we understand it, is impossible.

Most researchers agree with the stories of the chronicles that speak of Olga's trip to Constantinople in the mid-950s. However, here too there are discrepancies. Some chronicles call 954-955, others - 957. In this regard, some researchers say that Olga was baptized in Kyiv on the eve of her second trip to Constantinople. In support of their version, they cite a story from the work of Constantine Porphyrogenitus, the Byzantine emperor, "On the ceremonies of the Byzantine court." In this essay, the emperor described in detail the reception of Olga's embassy, but did not at all mention her baptism in Constantinople. A significant part of the researchers, however, adheres to the point of view that the baptism did take place in Constantinople, as it is written in the annals. The authors of all these hypotheses carry out various calculations, trying to substantiate their conclusions. But let's put aside these controversial issues. Let us take as a basis the testimony of the chronicler Nestor, which coincides with the presentation of events by the historian V. N. Tatishchev. He writes under 948 (the date is doubtful): “Olga, being in paganism, shone with many virtues and, seeing many Christians living virtuously in Kyiv and teaching every kind of abstinence and good manners, she praised them and, often reasoning with them after a long time, the Christian law, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, so rooted in her heart that she wanted to be baptized in Kyiv, but it was impossible for her to do that without extreme fear from the people. For this reason, they advised her to go to Constantinople, ostensibly for other needs, and be baptized there, which she accepted as useful, waiting for an opportunity and time.

Historian H. M. Karamzin puts forward his own version. “Olga,” he says, “has already reached those years when a mortal, having satisfied the main impulses of earthly activity, sees its near end before him and feels the vanity of earthly greatness. Then true faith, more than ever, serves him as a support or consolation in sad reflections on the corruption of man. Olga was a pagan, but the name of God Almighty was already famous in Kyiv. She could see the solemnity of the rites of Christianity, out of curiosity she could talk with church pastors and, being gifted with an extraordinary mind, be convinced of the holiness of their teaching. Captivated by the ray of this new light, Olga wanted to be a Christian and herself went to the capital of the empire and the Greek faith to draw it from the very source.

Be that as it may, at the beginning of the summer of 955, as the Russian chronicler notes, Olga sets off for Constantinople. True, modern researchers, having compared the dates and days of the week when Olga was received by the emperor - September 9 (Wednesday) and October 18 (Sunday), came to the conclusion that these dates coincide with the year 957. Thus, Olga went to Constantinople, most likely in 957.

The number of persons accompanying Olga exceeded a hundred, not counting the guards, shipmen and numerous servants. (The composition of Igor's embassy to Byzantium, which in terms of the number and splendor of the representation had no equal before in Russia, included only 51 people.) Olga's retinue included: Olga's nephew, 8 of her entourage (possibly noble boyars or relatives), 22 attorneys from Russian princes, 44 merchants, people of Svyatoslav, priest Gregory, 6 people from the retinue of attorneys from Russian princes, 2 translators, as well as 18 women close to the princess. The composition of the embassy, as we see, resembles the Russian mission of 944.

When the princess went to Constantinople, she, of course, thought not only about the adoption of Christianity personally. As a wise politician, she understood that the Christian religion allowed Russia to become an equal partner among European states. In addition, it was necessary to confirm the terms of the treaty of peace and friendship concluded by Igor.

Judging by the assessments given to Russia, Khazaria and the Pechenegs by the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII in the treatise "On the Governance of the State", the Byzantine government in the mid-50s. 10th century was very concerned about the state of her relations with Russia, feared new attacks from her and did not trust her, trying to send the Pechenegs against her. At the same time, Byzantium needed Russia as a counterbalance in the fight against the Khazaria and the Muslim rulers of Transcaucasia, and also as a supplier of allied troops in the confrontation between the empire and the Arabs. Thus, the interests of the states to some extent still coincided.

So, the chronicler under 955 (957) wrote: “Olga went to the Greek land and came to Constantinople.” The Russian flotilla came to Constantinople in mid-July or early August and stopped on the outskirts of the city, in Suda. The Russians let the emperor know about their appearance. The merchants were placed, as stipulated by Igor's contract, in the courtyard of the monastery near the church of St. Mama, and they went about their trading business. But here an incident occurred, which, probably for political reasons, was omitted by the author of The Tale of Bygone Years. The fact is that Olga sat on her ship, waiting for a reception from the emperor, for more than a month, which she would later remind the emperor’s ambassadors in Kyiv: “If you [the emperor] stand with me in Pochaina as I do in the Court, then then I will give you [the promised gifts].” But let us return to Olga's stay in Constantinople.

What made the emperor postpone the reception of the Russian Grand Duchess for so long? Some researchers believe that the Russian embassy left for Constantinople without notifying the emperor. Perhaps the Russians, when leaving for the embassy, were guided by the terms of Igor’s agreement, which said: “those ambassadors and guests (merchants) who will be sent (by the prince), let them bring a letter, writing it like this: “Sent so many ships.” And from these letters we learn that they came in peace.” But in this case, the Grand Duchess herself rode. Olga appeared in Constantinople in all her splendor, with a significant fleet, in which more than a hundred embassy people arrived. Such a mission had to pursue some exceptional goals. And, of course, she had no diplomas. And this put the Greeks in a difficult position.

The fact is that Byzantium sacredly guarded its exclusive political and religious position in the world of that time. According to the Byzantine concept of power, the emperor was the vicar of God on earth and the head of the entire Christian Orthodox Church. In accordance with this idea, the ranks of foreign rulers were evaluated. None of them could stand on a par with the Byzantine emperor. However, the degree of this inequality for the rulers of different states was, of course, different and depended on many factors - the power of this state, the degree of its influence on the policy of Byzantium, the nature of the existing relations between this state and the empire. All this found a natural expression in titles, honorary epithets, insignia and other signs of dignity. Political symbols permeated not only the entire Byzantine court ceremonial, but also the procedure for communicating with foreign states, receiving foreign rulers and ambassadors.

The Byzantines knew how to lead anyone by the nose. The emperor was always busy with matters of extreme importance. They apologized to the princess, but the official reception was postponed from day to day. This practice - to withstand visitors, partly for greater accommodating, but more out of arrogance - has existed since very ancient times. It can also be assumed that the appearance of Olga at the head of the Russian embassy put the emperor and his court before the question: how to receive the Russian princess? It took the emperor and his entourage more than a month to resolve this issue. Olga understood this. It is important that the Greeks do not overstep the bounds when the delay turns into a diplomatic insult. Constantine VII did not cross these borders. In the meantime, Olga was occupied, than befitted. She must have been looking around the city.

The city of Constantine, of course, amazed every visitor. It is unlikely that Olga remained indifferent to this truly great city. First of all, the stone masses of temples and palaces, defensive walls built for centuries, impregnable towers and stone, stone everywhere. It was not at all like the dense forest jungle and quiet rivers of the Russian plains, with rare settlements of plowmen and hunters, even rarer small towns surrounded by a log wall or just a palisade. The green expanses of Russia - and the local crowded craft quarters: casters and weavers, shoemakers and leather workers, chasers and butchers, jewelers and blacksmiths, painters, gunsmiths, shipbuilders, notaries, money changers. Strict hierarchy of occupations and crafts. Masters reservedly praise their really excellent and surprisingly cheap products. The price rises later, when things pass dozens of hands, become overgrown with taxes and duties.

In Russia, this has not yet happened. And so far, in few places in Russia, furnaces were smoking and the chimes of forges were heard. More clatter of axes. They also tanned animal skins, soaked flax, and threshed bread. True, in Tsargrad everything was sold and, therefore, everything was bought. And Russia brought to its markets - to the world market - something absolutely priceless: furs, furs of the northern forests.

And in Constantinople, and in the bazaars of fabulous Baghdad, and even further - everywhere this is an item of the most refined and wasteful luxury. And also wax, honey ... For many centuries, Russia-Russia will export to the markets of Europe goods that were called traditional in its exports. Canvases, linen and hemp fabrics, wood, fat, leather. Linen and hemp are sails and ropes, this is a fleet, this is dominance at sea. Lard has been for centuries, until recently, practically the only lubricant without which there is no industry. Leather is harness and saddles, shoes and camping equipment. Honey is a necessary and irreplaceable product at that time. In many ways, very much in many ways, the industry of Europe stood and grew on Russian exports. And in the Byzantine Empire they well understood the importance of Kievan Rus both as a rich raw material market and as an ally with significant armed forces. Therefore, Byzantium was actively striving for economic, economic, trade relations with Russia, for the Russian market, for Russian goods.

But let us return to the stay of Princess Olga in Constantinople. Neither Russian nor Byzantine sources, even the detailed story of Emperor Constantine tell us practically nothing about how the life of the Russian princess in Constantinople proceeded. They do not tell us where the princess lived, whom she paid visits to, what sights of the capital she visited, although it is known that it was in the order of things for Byzantine politicians to shock foreign rulers and ambassadors with the splendor of Constantinople palaces, the wealth of secular and church treasures collected there.

The Christian religion changed the purpose and structure of the temple. As already mentioned, in the ancient Greek temple, a statue of the god was placed inside, and religious ceremonies were held outside in the square. Therefore, they tried to make the Greek temple outwardly especially elegant. Christians, on the other hand, gathered for common prayer inside the church, and the architects took special care of the beauty of its interior. Undoubtedly, the most remarkable work of Byzantine architecture was the church of St. Sophia built under Justinian. The temple was called "a miracle of miracles", they sang in verse. Olga became a participant in the divine service in this temple and was able to see its beauty with her own eyes. She was struck by the internal dimensions and beauty of the temple, in which only the floor area is 7570 m 2. A gigantic dome with a diameter of 31 m, as it were, grows out of two semi-domes, each of which, in turn, rests on three small semi-domes. Along the base, the dome is surrounded by a wreath of 40 windows through which sheaves of light pour. It seems that the dome, like the vault of heaven, is floating in the air; after all, the 4 pillars that support it are hidden from the viewer, and partly only sails are visible - triangles between large arches.

The interior decoration of the temple is also very rich. A canopy towered over the throne, the massive golden roof of which rested on gold and silver columns, decorated with inlaid pearls and diamonds and, in addition, lilies, between which were balls with crosses of massive gold weighing 75 pounds, also strewn with precious stones. ; a dove depicting the Holy Spirit descended from under the dome of the canopy; inside this dove were kept holy gifts. According to Greek custom, the throne was separated from the people by an iconostasis, decorated with relief images of saints; the iconostasis was supported by 12 golden columns. Three gates, covered with curtains, led to the altar. In the middle of the church there was a special pulpit, which had a semicircular shape and was surrounded by a balustrade, above it there was also a canopy of precious metals, resting on eight columns and topped with a golden cross, studded with precious stones and pearls, weighing 100 pounds. Marble steps led up to this pulpit, their railing, as well as the canopy, sparkled with marble and gold.

Church gates were made of ivory, amber and cedar wood, and their jambs were made of gilded silver. In the porch was a jasper pool with lions spewing water, and above it towered a magnificent tabernacle. They could enter the house of God only after having washed their feet.

A strong impression was also made by the sixty-meter column of Constantine with the figure of the emperor - it will impress Russian pilgrims through the centuries, and the ancient monument in the middle of the hippodrome - thirty meters high, made of pinkish Egyptian granite - a trophy brought to the capital at the end of the 4th century, in 390 ...

Let's look at the then Constantinople through the eyes of the Grand Duchess, the ruler of a large state. Olga the woman could be captivated by the fabulous Constantinople. But Princess Olga saw that not everything from this alien life could be borrowed by Russia. Yes, the Valens aqueduct - a canal above the city - is a miracle of construction technology, but why is it in Kyiv? There is no fresh water in Constantinople, and in Kyiv the mighty Dnieper flows, which will not yield to the Bosphorus itself. The beauty of the city captivated. But the main goal - negotiations with the emperor - was postponed. Finally, on September 9, a reception was scheduled for the emperor.

The reception of Olga by the emperor on this day was held in the same way as receptions of foreign rulers or ambassadors of large states usually took place. The emperor exchanged ceremonial greetings with the princess through a logothete in a luxurious hall - Magnavra. The whole court was present at the reception, the atmosphere was extremely solemn and pompous. On the same day, another celebration, traditional for the receptions of high ambassadors, took place - a dinner, during which those present were delighted with the singing art of the best church choirs of Constantinople and various performances.

The Russian chronicles do not describe the details of Olga's reception in Constantinople. But in relatively detail about Olga's receptions (there were two of them - on September 9 and October 10), Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus himself writes in his notes. The emperor demonstrated his greatness to Olga, but made a number of deviations from the traditional forms of reception. After he sat on the "throne of Solomon", the curtain separating the Russian princess from the hall was drawn, and Olga, at the head of her retinue, moved towards the emperor. Usually, a foreign representative was brought to the throne by two eunuchs, supporting him by the arms, and then he performed proskinesis - he fell prostrate at the imperial feet. Such a technique, for example, was described by Bishop Liutprand of Cremona: “I leaned on the shoulders of two eunuchs and so was brought directly in front of his imperial majesty ... After I, according to custom, bowed to the emperor for the third time, greeting him, I raised my head and saw emperor in completely different clothes. Nothing like this happened to Olga. She approached the throne unaccompanied and did not prostrate before the emperor, as her retinue did, although later she talked to him standing up. The conversation between the Russian princess and the emperor was conducted through an interpreter.

Olga was received by the Empress, whom she also greeted with only a slight bow. In honor of the Russian Grand Duchess, the Empress arranged a solemn exit for the ladies of the court. After a short break, which Olga spent in one of the halls, the meeting of the princess with the imperial family took place, which had no analogies during the receptions of ordinary ambassadors. “When the emperor sat down with the Augusta and his purple-born children,” the Book of Ceremonies says, “the princess was invited from the triklin Kenturia and, sitting down at the invitation of the emperor, told him what she wanted.” Here, in a narrow circle, a conversation took place, for the sake of which Olga came to Constantinople. But usually, in accordance with the palace ceremonial, the ambassadors talked with the emperor while standing. The right to sit in his presence was considered an extraordinary privilege and was granted only to crowned persons, but even those were given low seats.

On the same day, as already mentioned, a ceremonial dinner took place, before which Olga again entered the hall where the empress sat on the throne, and again greeted her with a slight bow. Music was played in honor of dinner, the singers praised the greatness of the royal house. At dinner, Olga sat at the “truncated table” along with the zosts, court ladies of the highest rank, who enjoyed the right to sit at the same table with members of the imperial family, that is, the Russian princess was also granted such a right. (Some of the researchers believe that it was the imperial family who sat at the "truncated table".) Men from the Russian retinue dined with the emperor. For dessert, Olga again found herself at the same table with Emperor Constantine, his son Roman and other members of the imperial family. And during the ceremonial dinner on October 18, Olga sat at the same table with the Empress and her children. Not a single ordinary embassy, not a single ordinary ambassador, enjoyed such privileges in Constantinople. (It should be noted that during the receptions of Olga by the emperor there was no other foreign embassy.) Most likely, on this day the conversation between the emperor and Olga took place, which was described by the Russian chronicler: “And Olga came to him, and the king saw that she very beautiful in face and reasonable, the king marveled at her mind, talking with her, and said to her: “You are worthy to reign with us in our capital.” She, having understood the meaning of this appeal, answered the emperor: “I am a pagan; I came here to hear and understand the Christian law and, knowing the truth, I wish to be a Christian, if you want to baptize me, then baptize me yourself - otherwise I will not be baptized. The emperor sent an order to the patriarch to prepare everything necessary for the rite of baptism of the princess. The Russian chronicle emphasizes that the initiative for baptism came from Olga. The emperor accepted and approved this idea: “The king was immensely glad at these words and said to her: I will tell the patriarch.”

Why did Olga turn to the emperor with such a question, and not to the patriarch? The main role in the Christianization of neighboring states and peoples in Byzantium, as you know, was played not by the patriarch, not by the hierarchs of the church, but by the emperor, the apparatus of political power. Although, of course, churchmen, including the patriarchs of Constantinople, in accordance with their rank, took part in the implementation of this policy, since the Greek church itself was part of the feudal state system.

On one of the days between September 9 and October 10, a solemn rite of Olga's baptism took place in the St. Sophia Cathedral. The emperor sat on the imperial throne in full dress. The patriarch and the entire clergy performed the rite of baptism. All sacred utensils, bowls, vessels, arks were made of gold and blinded by the sparkle of precious stones; books of the New and Old Testaments with gold bindings and clasps lay in a conspicuous place. All seven crosses were made of gold, which were necessary in the court ceremonial at the coronation and baptism of high persons. Six thousand candelabra and as many portable candlesticks were burning in the temple, each weighing 111 pounds. The vaults of the dome sparkled with the radiance of candelabra and silver lamps hanging on bronze chains.

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22. ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL OF THE GREAT Princess Olga in Kyiv. GRAND DUCHESS Olga, after the death of her husband Igor Rurikovich, left with her son Svetoslav Igorevich as a widow, all the States of Russia are accepted into their power, and not like a woman’s vessel is weak, but like the strongest Monarch or

Princess Olga (~ 890-969) - Grand Duchess, widow of the Grand Duke Igor Rurikovich, who was killed by the Drevlyans, who ruled Russia for the infancy of their son Svyatoslav. The name of Princess Olga is at the origin of Russian history, and is associated with the greatest events of the founding of the first dynasty, with the first establishment of Christianity in Russia and the bright features of Western civilization. After her death, the common people called her cunning, the church - a saint, history - wise.

The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, in holy baptism Elena, descended from the family of Gostomysl, on whose advice the Varangians were called to reign in Novgorod, was born in Pskov land, in the village of Vybuty, in a pagan family from the dynasty of princes Izborsky.

In 903, she became the wife of the Grand Duke of Kiev Igor. After his murder in 945 by the rebellious Drevlyans, the widow, who did not want to marry, assumed the burden of public service with her three-year-old son Svyatoslav. The Grand Duchess went down in history as the great creator of the state life and culture of Kievan Rus.

In 954, Princess Olga went to Tsargrad for the purpose of religious pilgrimage and diplomatic mission, where she was received with honor by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. She was struck by the grandeur of Christian churches and the shrines gathered in them.

The sacrament of baptism over her was performed by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople, and the emperor himself became the recipient. The name of the Russian princess was named in honor of the holy Empress Helena, who received the Cross of the Lord. The patriarch blessed the newly baptized princess with a cross carved from a single piece of the Life-Giving Tree of the Lord with the inscription: "The Russian land was renewed with the Holy Cross, and Olga, the noble princess, accepted it."

Upon returning from Byzantium, Olga zealously carried the Christian gospel to the pagans, began to erect the first Christian churches: in the name of St. Nicholas over the grave of the first Kiev Christian prince Askold and Hagia Sophia in Kyiv over the grave of Prince Dir, the Church of the Annunciation in Vitebsk, the temple in the name of the Holy and Life-Giving Trinity in Pskov, the place for which, according to the chronicler, was indicated to her from above by the “Ray of the Triradiant Deity” - on the banks of the Velikaya River, she saw “three bright beams” descending from the sky.

The holy princess Olga reposed in the year 969 on July 11 (old style), bequeathing to openly perform her burial in a Christian way. Her imperishable relics rested in the tithe church in Kyiv.

Marriage with Prince Igor and the beginning of the reign

Olga, Princess of Kiev

Tradition calls the birthplace of Olga the village of Vybuty near Pskov, up the Velikaya River. The life of St. Olga tells that here for the first time she met her future husband. The young prince was hunting "in the Pskov region" and, wishing to cross the Velikaya River, he saw "a certain person floating in a boat" and called him to the shore. Having sailed from the shore in a boat, the prince found that he was being carried by a girl of amazing beauty. Blessed Olga, having understood the thoughts of Igor, inflamed by lust, stopped his conversation, turning to him, like a wise old man, with such an admonition: “Why are you embarrassed, prince, plotting an impossible task? Your words reveal your shameless desire to abuse me, which will not happen! I don't want to hear about it. I beg you, listen to me and suppress in yourself these absurd and shameful thoughts that you need to be ashamed of: remember and think that you are a prince, and for people, a prince should be, as a ruler and judge, a bright example of good deeds; Are you close to what lawlessness now?! If you yourself, defeated by unclean lust, commit atrocities, then how will you keep others from them and judge your subjects justly? Abandon such shameless lust, which honest people abhor; and you, although you are a prince, the latter may hate for this and betray you to shameful ridicule. And even then know that, although I am alone here and powerless in comparison with you, you still will not overcome me. But even if you could overcome me, then the depth of this river will immediately protect me: it is better for me to die in purity, burying myself in these waters, than to be mocked by my virginity. She shamed Igor, reminding him of the princely dignity of the ruler and judge, who should be a "bright example of good deeds" for his subjects.

Igor broke up with her, keeping in mind her words and a beautiful image. When it came time to choose a bride, the most beautiful girls of the principality were gathered in Kyiv. But none of them pleased him. And then he remembered the "wonderful in girls" Olga and sent for her a relative of his prince Oleg. So Olga became the wife of Prince Igor, the Grand Russian Duchess.

After the marriage, Igor went on a campaign against the Greeks, and returned from it as a father: his son Svyatoslav was born. Soon Igor was killed by the Drevlyans. Fearing revenge for the murder of the Kiev prince, the Drevlyans sent envoys to Princess Olga, offering her to marry their ruler Mal.

Revenge of Princess Olga to the Drevlyans

After the murder of Igor, the Drevlyans sent matchmakers to his widow Olga to call her to marry their prince Mal. The princess successively dealt with the elders of the Drevlyans, and then led the people of the Drevlyans to obedience. The Old Russian chronicler details Olga's revenge for her husband's death:

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

And, leaning towards the pit, Olga asked them: “Is your honor good?” They answered: "More bitter than Igor's death to us." And ordered them to fall asleep alive; and covered them up..

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

3rd revenge: The princess, with a small retinue, came to the lands of the Drevlyans to, as usual, celebrate a feast at her husband's grave. Having drunk the Drevlyans during the feast, Olga ordered them to be cut down. The chronicle reports about 5 thousand killed Drevlyans.

4th revenge: In 946, Olga went on a campaign against the Drevlyans with an army. According to the Novgorod First Chronicle, the Kyiv squad defeated the Drevlyans in battle. Olga walked through the Drevlyane land, established tributes and taxes, and then returned to Kyiv. In the PVL, the chronicler made an insert into the text of the Initial Code on the siege of the Drevlyan capital Iskorosten. According to the PVL, after an unsuccessful siege during the summer, Olga burned the city with the help of birds, to whose feet she ordered to tie a lit tow with sulfur. Part of the defenders of Iskorosten were killed, the rest submitted. A similar legend about the burning of the city with the help of birds is also expounded by Saxo the Grammatik (XII century) in his compilation of Danish oral traditions about the exploits of the Vikings and by the skald Snorri Sturluson.

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 from military campaigns most of the time.

The reign of Princess Olga

Having conquered the Drevlyans, in 947 Olga went to the Novgorod and Pskov lands, appointing lessons there (a kind of tribute measure), after which she returned to her son Svyatoslav in Kyiv. Olga established a system of "graveyards" - centers of trade and exchange, in which taxes were collected in a more orderly manner; then temples began to be built around the graveyards. Princess Olga laid the foundation for stone urban planning in Russia (the first stone buildings of Kyiv - the city palace and Olga's country house), with attention to the improvement of the lands subject to Kiev - Novgorod, Pskov, located along the Desna River, etc.

In 945, Olga established the size of the "polyudya" - taxes in favor of Kyiv, the timing and frequency of their payment - "dues" and "charters". The lands subject to Kiev were divided into administrative units, in each of which a princely administrator - "tiun" was appointed.

On the Pskov River, where she was born, Olga, according to legend, founded the city of Pskov. On the site of the vision of three luminous rays from the sky, which the Grand Duchess was honored with in those parts, a temple of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity was erected.

Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in his essay “On the Governance of the Empire” (ch. 9), written in 949, mentions that “monoxyls coming from outer Russia to Constantinople are one of Nemogard, in which Sfendoslav, the son of Ingor, the archon of Russia, sat.”

From this short report it follows that by 949 Igor held power in Kyiv, or, which looks unlikely, Olga left her son to represent power in the northern part of her state. It is also possible that Constantine had information from unreliable or outdated sources.

Life tells the story of Olga’s work in this way: “And Princess Olga ruled the regions of the Russian land subject to her, not as a woman, but as a strong and reasonable husband, firmly holding power in her hands and courageously defending herself from enemies. And she was terrible for the latter, loved by her own people, as a merciful and pious ruler, as a righteous judge and offending no one, imposing punishment with mercy, and rewarding the good; she inspired fear in all the evil, rewarding each in proportion to the dignity of his deeds, but in all matters of management she showed foresight and wisdom.

At the same time, Olga, merciful at heart, was generous to the poor, the poor and the needy; fair requests soon reached her heart, and she quickly fulfilled them ... With all this, Olga combined a temperate and chaste life, she did not want to remarry, but remained in pure widowhood, observing her son's princely power until the days of his age. When the latter matured, she handed over to him all the affairs of government, and she herself, having abstained from rumors and care, lived outside the cares of management, indulging in the deeds of doing good.

As a wise ruler, Olga saw on the example of the Byzantine Empire that it was not enough to worry only about state and economic life. It was necessary to take care of the organization of the religious, spiritual life of the people.

The author of the Power Book writes: “Her (Olga’s) feat was that she recognized the true God. Not knowing the Christian law, she lived a pure and chaste life, and she wished to be a Christian of her own free will, with her heart eyes she found the path of knowing God and followed it without hesitation. The Monk Nestor the chronicler narrates: “From an early age, Blessed Olga sought wisdom, which is the best thing in this world, and found a valuable pearl - Christ.”

Prayer one

Oh, Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, Russian first-year-old, warm intercessor and prayer book for us before God. We resort to you with faith and pray with love: be our helper and helper in everything for the good, and, as if in temporary life, you tried to enlighten our forefathers with the light of the holy faith and instruct me to do the will of the Lord, so now, in heavenly being grace, favorable with your prayers to God, help us in enlightening our minds and hearts with the light of the Gospel of Christ, may we prosper in faith, piety and love of Christ. In poverty and sorrow of the present comfort, give a hand of help to the needy, intercede for the offended and the afflicted, those who have gone astray from the right faith and heresy blinded by heresy, enlighten us, and ask us from the all-merciful God all that is good and useful in life temporal and eternal, yes, it is pleasing to live here, let us be worthy of the heritage eternal blessings in the infinite Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit all glory, honor and worship is due, always, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen

Prayer two

O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olgo, receive praise from us, unworthy servants of God (names), before your honest icon, praying and humbly asking: protect us with your prayers and intercession from misfortunes and troubles, and sorrows, and fierce sins; also deliver us from future torments, honestly creating your holy memory and glorifying God glorifying you, glorified in the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen

Prayer two

O great saint of God, God-chosen and God-glorified, Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga! You rejected evil faith and pagan wickedness, you believed in the One True Trinitarian God and accepted holy baptism and laid the foundation for the enlightenment of the Russian land with the light of faith and piety. You are our spiritual ancestor, you, according to Christ our Savior, are the first culprit of the enlightenment and salvation of our kind. You are a warm prayer book and intercessor for the kingdom of all Russia, for its kings, rulers of the people, the army and for all people. For this sake, we humbly pray to you: look at our infirmities and implore the most merciful King of Heaven, may he not be angry with us, for we sin all the days due to our infirmities, may he not destroy us with our iniquities, but may he have mercy and save us by His mercy, May our saving fear plant His fear in our hearts, may our minds enlighten with His grace, in order to understand the ways of the Lord for us, leave the paths of wickedness and error, pursue the paths of salvation and truth, the unswerving fulfillment of the commandments of God and the ordinances of the Holy Church. Moth, blessed Olgo, the Lover of God, grant us His great mercy: may he save us from the invasion of foreigners, from internal discords, rebellions and strife, from hunger, deadly diseases and from all evil; may it give us the goodness of the air and the fruitfulness of the earth, may it give the shepherds zeal for the salvation of the flock, but all the people hastening to diligently correct their services, have love among themselves and unanimity, for the good of the Fatherland and the Holy Church, strive faithfully, may the light of saving faith shine in Our Fatherland, in all its ends; may unbelievers turn to faith, may all heresies and schisms be abolished; yes, having lived in peace on earth, let us be vouchsafed with you eternal bliss in heaven, praising and exalting God forever and ever. Amen

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

“Blessed Olga from an early age sought wisdom, which is the best in this light,

and found a valuable pearl - Christ "

Having made her choice, Grand Duchess Olga, entrusting Kyiv to her grown son, sets off with a large fleet to Constantinople. Old Russian chroniclers will call this act of Olga "walking", it combined a religious pilgrimage, a diplomatic mission, and a demonstration of the military might of Russia. “Olga wanted to go to the Greeks herself in order to see with her own eyes the Christian service and be fully convinced of their teaching about the true God,” narrates the life of St. Olga. According to the chronicle, in Constantinople Olga decides to become a Christian. The sacrament of Baptism was performed on her by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople (933 - 956), and the emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (912 - 959) was the godfather, who left in his essay "On the Ceremonies of the Byzantine Court" a detailed description of the ceremonies during Olga's stay in Constantinople. At one of the receptions, the Russian Princess was presented with a golden dish adorned with precious stones. Olga donated it to the sacristy of Hagia Sophia, where he was seen and described at the beginning of the 13th century by Russian diplomat Dobrynya Yadreykovich, later Archbishop Anthony of Novgorod: Christ is written on the same stones.

The chronicle legend about the events preceding the baptism of Olga is very peculiar. Here Olga is waiting, waiting for a long time, for months, when the emperor will receive her. Her dignity as a Grand Duchess is being severely tested, just as her desire to receive the true faith, to become partaker of the faith through Holy Baptism, is being tested. The main test is before baptism itself. This is the famous “marriage proposal” of the Byzantine emperor, admired by the Russian princess. And the chronicle version, I think, is not accurate. According to her, according to the chronicle, Olga reproaches the emperor, how, they say, you can think about marriage before baptism, but after baptism, we'll see. And he asks the emperor to be her successor, i.e. godfather. When, after baptism, the emperor returns to his marriage proposal, Olga reminds him that there can be no marriage between "godfathers". And the admiring emperor exclaims: “You outwitted me, Olga!”

In this message there is an unconditional historical basis, but there is also a distortion, perhaps “by reason” of those who preserved the tradition. The historical truth is guessed in the following. On the throne of the “worldwide” Byzantine Empire was then Constantine Porphyrogenet (i.e., “Purple-born”). He was a man of more than an extraordinary mind (he is the author of the famous book "On the Administration of the Empire", which also contains the news of the beginning of the Russian Church). Constantine Porphyrogenetes was a seasoned politician and a successful politician. And, of course, he was educated enough to remember the impossibility of marriage between a godfather and a goddaughter. In this episode, the "stretch" of the chronicler is visible. But, the truth is that there was most likely a “marriage proposal”. And it was probably quite in the spirit of the famous Byzantine treachery, and not ingenuous admiration for the "barbarian", in the perception of the Byzantine, the princess of distant Russia. This proposal put the Russian princess in a very unpleasant position.

This is what the essence of the imperial “marriage proposal”, its subtext, should have been truly “Byzantine” in cunning.

“You, an alien, are the princess of a distant but powerful state inhabited by ambitious warriors who have repeatedly shaken the walls of the“ capital of the world ”Tsargrad, where you are now looking for the true Faith. About what kind of warrior your son, Svyatoslav, glory thunders in all countries and we know. And we know about you how strong your spirit is, your powerful hand keeps in submission the many tribes that inhabit your land. So why did you come, a princess from a kind of ambitious conquerors? Do you really want to receive the true Faith and only? Unlikely! Both I, the emperor, and my court suspect that by acquiring baptism and becoming of the same faith with us, you want to get closer to the throne of the Byzantine emperors. Let's see how you manage with my offer! Are you as wise as the fame is about it! After all, to refuse the emperor directly is a disregard for the honor rendered to the “barbarian”, a direct insult to the imperial throne. And if you, princess, despite your considerable age, agree to become the empress of Byzantium, then it is clear why you came to us. It is clear why, despite your wounded pride, you have been waiting for months for an imperial reception! You are as ambitious and cunning as all your Viking ancestors. But we will not allow you, barbarians, to be on the throne of noble Romans. Your place - the place of hired soldiers - to serve the Roman Empire.

Olga's answer is simple and wise. Olga is not only wise, but also resourceful. Thanks to her answer, she immediately receives what she is looking for - Baptism into the Orthodox Faith. Her answer is the answer of both politicians and Christians: “I thank you for the honor of intermarrying with the great Macedonian (that was the name of the then ruling dynasty) imperial house. Come on, emperor, we'll be born. But our relationship will not be according to the flesh, but spiritual. Be my godfather, be my godfather!”

“I, the princess, and we, Russian Christians, need the true, saving Faith, which you Byzantines are rich in. Only. And we do not need your throne, covered in blood, disgraced by all the vices and crimes. We will build our country on the basis of the Faith that is common with you, and let the rest of you (and the throne too) remain with you, as given by God to your care. Such is the essence of Saint Olga's answer, which opened the way to Baptism for her and Russia.

The Patriarch blessed the newly baptized Russian princess with a cross carved from a single piece of the Life-Giving Tree of the Lord. On the cross was the inscription: "Renew the Russian land with the Holy Cross, it was also received by Olga, the noble princess."

Olga returned to Kyiv with icons, liturgical books - her apostolic ministry began. She erected a temple in the name of St. Nicholas over the grave of Askold, the first Christian prince of Kiev, and converted many people of Kiev to Christ. With the preaching of faith, the princess went to the north. In the Kiev and Pskov lands, in remote villages, at crossroads, she erected crosses, destroying pagan idols.

Saint Olga marked the beginning of a special veneration in Russia of the Most Holy Trinity. From century to century, the story of a vision that she had near the Velikaya River, not far from her native village, was transmitted. She saw that "three bright rays" were descending from the sky from the east. Addressing her companions, who were witnesses of the vision, Olga said prophetically: “May it be known to you that by the will of God there will be a church in this place in the name of the Most Holy and Life-Giving Trinity and there will be a great and glorious city abounding in everything.” On this place Olga erected a cross and founded a temple in the name of the Holy Trinity. It became the main cathedral of Pskov, the glorious Russian city, which has since been called the "House of the Holy Trinity". By mysterious ways of spiritual succession, after four centuries, this veneration was transferred to St. Sergius of Radonezh.

On May 11, 960, the church of Hagia Sophia, the Wisdom of God, was consecrated in Kyiv. This day was celebrated in the Russian Church as a special holiday. The main shrine of the temple was the cross received by Olga at baptism in Constantinople. The temple built by Olga burned down in 1017, and in its place Yaroslav the Wise erected the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Irina, and transferred the shrines of St. Sophia's Olga Church to the still standing stone church of St. Sophia of Kiev, founded in 1017 and consecrated around 1030. In the Prologue of the 13th century, it is said about Olga's cross: "Izhe now stands in Kyiv in Hagia Sophia in the altar on the right side." After the conquest of Kyiv by the Lithuanians, Holguin's cross was stolen from St. Sophia Cathedral and taken by the Catholics to Lublin. His further fate is unknown. The apostolic works of the princess met with secret and open resistance from the pagans.

Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga

God-wise princess, Orthodox shore,

Together with the apostles you glorify the Creator.

May, as before, so now, at your prayers, princess,

The God of our hearts will enlighten us with His non-evening light.

You, Olgo, are more beautiful than many wives to you, our princess,

We turn our prayers to glorify the Creator in you.

Do not reject us, princess, and hear how we all now

We tearfully beg you not to leave us forever!

Among worldly idols and banners,

Living spring - nourishes the name "Olya",

The severity of ancient princely times,

And the sound of hooves in the morning field ...

For eternity, like the Motherland, like Russia,

Like the sound of a river, like the rustle of falling leaves,

It has a spring brooding sadness

And the light whisper of the morning garden.

It has life, and light, and tears, and love,

And the luxury of a wild summer,

From the depths of centuries, a call coming,

And a song that hasn't been sung yet.

It has a riot of wind, a flood of feelings,

The sunrise is thoughtful and strict,

Hope is light, loss is a nagging load,

And someone's dreams calling road.

Roman Manevich

Olga sobbed at her husband's grave.

Buried in the land of the Drevlyansk prince,

Where the crow circles in the faded sky,

And the forest is coming from all sides.

Weeping swept through the dark oak forests,

Through the trail of animals and windbreak...

And she imagined a river crossing

And any heart, kind father's house ...

From there Olga, a modest girl,

When the first snow fell to the ground

They took me to the tower, to Kyiv - the city, the capital:

So ordered the Grand Duke Oleg.

Having betrothed the commoner Igor,

He saw Olga become and pride:

"She has a place only in the princely chambers,

The princess will be assigned her inheritance!

No Igor ... Husband's killers - smerds -

Life was ruined, love was taken away ...

Having sent a feast to her husband, Olga died

The cruel one punished: "Blood for blood!"

The miserable shacks of the recalcitrant burned,

Corpses lay on the land of the Drevlyans

Like food for dogs, and in shameful nakedness

They were a horror for the worldly villagers.

Harsh is the law of the Gentiles. And revenge

And death can only frighten.

But the prince chose a bride from among the people,

And she - to manage the people.

Around - enemies. And vicious slanders.

Disobedience and intrigues of princes...

The princess heard: somewhere in the world

There is faith not in pagan gods

And worship is not to idols, but to God.

Recognition of the One Creator!

The princess went on her way,

So that hearts thaw in Russia.

And faith, merciful, holy,

One of the first Olga accepted.

Blessing to the native patrimony

How bright, kind mind brought.

For centuries, Russia was strong

Not the fabulous decoration of cities -

In the sacred faith, Russia nourished strength,

Canon of which: TO MIDDLE LOVE.

Valentina Kyle

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last years of life

Holy Princess Olga

Among the boyars and combatants in Kyiv, there were many people who, according to the chroniclers, “had a hatred for Wisdom,” like St. Olga, who built temples for Her. Zealots of pagan antiquity raised their heads more and more boldly, looking with hope at the growing Svyatoslav, who resolutely rejected his mother's persuasion to accept Christianity. “The Tale of Bygone Years” tells about it this way: “Olga lived with her son Svyatoslav, and she persuaded his mother to be baptized, but he neglected this and plugged his ears; however, if someone wanted to be baptized, he did not forbid him, nor mocked him ... Olga often said: “My son, I have known God and rejoice; so you too, if you know, you will also begin to rejoice.” He, not listening to this, said: “How can I want to change my faith alone? My warriors will laugh at this! She told him: “If you are baptized, everyone will do the same.” He, not listening to his mother, lived according to pagan customs.

Saint Olga had to endure many sorrows at the end of her life. The son finally moved to Pereyaslavets on the Danube. While in Kyiv, she taught her grandchildren, the children of Svyatoslav, the Christian faith, but did not dare to baptize them, fearing the wrath of her son. In addition, he hindered her attempts to establish Christianity in Russia. In recent years, in the midst of the triumph of paganism, she, once revered by all the mistress of the state, baptized by the Ecumenical Patriarch in the capital of Orthodoxy, had to secretly keep a priest with her so as not to cause a new outbreak of anti-Christian sentiment. In 968 Kyiv was besieged by the Pechenegs. The Holy Princess and her grandchildren, among whom was Prince Vladimir, were in mortal danger. When the news of the siege reached Svyatoslav, he hurried to help, and the Pechenegs were put to flight. Saint Olga, already seriously ill, asked her son not to leave until her death.

Baptism of Princess Olga (briefly)

Baptism of Princess Olga in Tsargrad

Duchess Olga was one of the few rulers of women in the entire history of Russia. It is impossible to underestimate its role in strengthening the power of the entire ancient Russian state. Olga is the image of a heroine, as well as a cunning and wise woman who, like real warriors, was able to cruelly and fairly avenge the murder of her husband Igor.

At the same time, not many facts have come down to us about her, as well as about other rulers of that period (and those that are are constantly refuted by researchers). There are many versions about its origin. Some historians believe that she was a peasant woman from Pskov, while others express a version according to which the princess was from a noble family of the Varangians or Novgorodians.

One of the most important deeds of Grand Duchess Olga, which was noted in The Tale of Bygone Years, is her baptism, which she received in Constantinople in 955. The Life and The Tale of Bygone Years adorn Olga's baptism with a story about how the wise princess was able to outwit the Byzantine emperor. The latter, marveling at her beauty and wisdom, wanted to take Olga as his wife, but the princess herself replied that “isn’t it fitting for righteous Christians to marry pagans?” When the patriarch and the Byzantine king baptized Olga, the emperor again began to seek the princess, but she pointed out to the king that now she was his daughter and therefore matchmaking was impossible. The king was surprised, gave her riches and let her go home in peace.

After returning home from Byzantium, the princess, who adopted the name Elena in Christianity, made an attempt to introduce Christianity to her son Svyatoslav. However, he did not think to listen to his mother. At the same time, Svyatoslav did not forbid anyone to be baptized, but only mocked those.

In 957, Princess Olga paid a visit to Constantinople with a large embassy. This event is known to many historians and researchers from the description of the ceremonies by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus in his work "Ceremonies". In this visit, the emperor himself treats Olga as an equal, calling her the ruler of Russia (archontissa), and the name of her son, the actual ruler, is mentioned without a title. But apparently Olga’s visit to Byzantium did not go as she wanted, because the Tale of Bygone Years speaks of a cold attitude towards the ambassadors of Constantinople, whose visit happened a little later than the princess’s visit to the emperor. However, on the other hand, in Theophanes' story about the recapture of Crete from the Arabs under Emperor Roman II, it is mentioned that the Byzantine army included Rus.

Baptism of Olga according to the annals - 955. - 957 year. - Modern date: before 946. - Western sources.

Baptism under Roman I around 920. - Indirect evidence. - How Princess Olga was baptized. - The failed campaign of Russia in 921. -Date of Olga's baptism and date of foundation of Pskov. - The time of Olga's baptism according to Jacob Mnich. - Other news. - Olga's tomb in Kyiv - holy miraculous relics. - Portrait of Olga on the fresco of St. Sophia of Kiev early in the 11th century.

Questions related to the time and circumstances of the baptism of Princess Olga have always aroused great interest. At the origins of this circle of problems stood the chronicler,

who dated the trip of Princess Olga to Constantinople in 955 and reported that it was during this trip that Olga converted to Christianity and at the same time “switched”, that is, changed her mind of the Byzantine emperor, who invited her to marry him. According to the chronicler, it turned out that Princess Olga, in order to get rid of imperial claims, in fact, was baptized, while choosing the emperor himself as the godfather, who agreed to this. After the moment of baptism, Olga declared that, according to Christian canons, the godfather cannot marry the goddaughter, so the emperor himself admitted that Olga had outwitted him. And this chronicle message would have remained a beautiful legend, if in the future the famous Byzantine historian G.G. Litavrin did not prove that the visit of Olga to Constantinople, described by the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus and well-known in science, does not refer to 957, as was previously believed, but to September - October 946. At the same time, it was noted that during a visit to the imperial palace, she visited the inner chambers of Empress Helen, where pagans could not be allowed under any pretext. In addition, in Olga's retinue there was a priest Gregory, who, contrary to what was previously assumed, was not a translator, but performed his direct functions of a priest. Olga's retinue already had three interpreters. Therefore, O.M. Rapov, the historian who cites the above considerations, rightly believes that the presence of a Christian clergyman in Olga's embassy is a sure sign that she has already converted to Christianity. By the way, Konstantin Porphyrogenitus did not mention Olga's baptism during the years of his reign. And the Byzantines, as you know, did not miss the opportunity to describe events of this kind in detail. So, in connection with this, the question again arises: when will the

was Princess Olga tiring? Part of the answer to this question is contained in the German chronicle of the Continuer of Reginon, the compiler of which, as was proved, was Adalbert, a contemporary of Olga, who was also a Russian bishop in 961-962, sent to Kievan Rus by the German king Otto I. Therefore, this person, as no one else knew well both the time and the circumstances of Olga's adoption of Christianity. However, this chronicle in Russian translation was not lucky. Here is the translation: 959 “They came to the king (Otto I), - as it turned out later in a false way, the ambassadors of Elena, the queen of the rugs (Rus), who was baptized in Constantinople under the Constantinople emperor Roman, and asked for a bishop and priests for this people” .

And here is the Latin text of the chronicle itself, so that anyone can check me: "Legati Helenae, reginae Rugorum, quae sub Romano Imperatore Constantinopoli-tano baptizata est, ficte, it post claruit, ad regem venientes, episcopum et presbyteros eidem genti petebant."

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Ruled by Russia from 945 to 960. At birth, the girl was given the name Helga, her husband called her by her own name, but the female version, and at baptism she began to be called Elena. Olga is known for being the first of the rulers of the Old Russian state to voluntarily accept Christianity.

Dozens of films and series have been shot about Princess Olga. Her portraits are in Russian art galleries, according to ancient chronicles and relics found, scientists have tried to recreate a photograph of a woman. In his native Pskov there is a bridge, an embankment and a chapel named after Olga and two of her monuments.

Childhood and youth

The exact date of Olga's birth has not been preserved, but the Book of Powers of the 17th century says that the princess died at the age of eighty, which means that she was born at the end of the 9th century. According to the "Arkhangelsk chronicler", the girl got married when she was ten years old. Historians are still arguing about the year of birth of the princess - from 893 to 928. The 920th is recognized as the official version, but this is the approximate year of birth.

The oldest chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years", describing the biography of Princess Olga, indicates that she was born in the village of Vybuty, Pskov. The names of the parents are not known, because. they were peasants, not persons of noble blood.

The story of the end of the 15th century says that Olga was the daughter who ruled Russia until Igor, the son of Rurik, grew up. He, according to legend, married Igor and Olga. But this version of the origin of the princess has not been confirmed.

Governing body

At the moment when the Drevlyans killed Olga's husband, Igor, their son Svyatoslav was only three years old. The woman was forced to take power into her own hands until her son grew up. The first thing the princess did was to take revenge on the Drevlyans.

Immediately after the murder of Igor, they sent matchmakers to Olga, who persuaded her to marry their prince, Mal. So the Drevlyans wanted to unite the lands and become the largest and most powerful state of that time.

Olga buried the first matchmakers alive together with the boat, making sure that they understand that their death is worse than the death of Igor. The princess sent a message to Malu that she deserved the best matchmakers from the strongest men in the country. The prince agreed, and the woman closed these matchmakers in a bathhouse and burned them alive while they were washing to meet her.

Later, the princess came with a small retinue to the Drevlyans, in order, according to tradition, to celebrate a feast at the grave of her husband. During the feast, Olga drugged the Drevlyans and ordered the soldiers to chop them down. The annals indicate that the Drevlyans then lost five thousand fighters.

In 946, Princess Olga went into open battle on the land of the Drevlyans. She captured their capital and after a long siege, using cunning (with the help of birds, to the paws of which incendiary mixtures were tied), burned the entire city. Part of the Drevlyans died in battle, the rest submitted and agreed to pay tribute to Russia.

Since the grown-up son of Olga spent most of his time on military campaigns, the power over the country was in the hands of the princess. She introduced many reforms, including the creation of trade and exchange centers that made it easier to collect taxes.

Thanks to the princess, stone construction was born in Russia. After looking at how easily the wooden fortresses of the Drevlyans burn, she decided to build her houses from stone. The first stone buildings in the country were the city palace and the country house of the ruler.

Olga set the exact amount of taxes from each principality, the date of their payment and frequency. They were then called "polyudya". All lands subject to Kiev were obliged to pay it, and a princely administrator, tiun, was appointed in each administrative unit of the state.

In 955, the princess decided to convert to Christianity and was baptized. According to some sources, she was baptized in Constantinople, where Emperor Constantine VII personally baptized her. At the time of baptism, the woman took the name Elena, but in history she is still better known as Princess Olga.

She returned to Kyiv with icons and church books. First of all, the mother wanted to baptize her only son Svyatoslav, but he only mocked those who accepted Christianity, but did not forbid anyone.

During her reign, Olga built dozens of churches, including a monastery in her native Pskov. The princess personally went to the north of the country to baptize everyone. There she destroyed all pagan symbols and placed Christian ones.

The combatants reacted with apprehension and hostility to the new religion. They emphasized their pagan faith in every possible way, tried to convince Prince Svyatoslav that Christianity would weaken the state and should be banned, but he did not want to argue with his mother.

Olga was never able to make Christianity the main religion. The warriors won, and the princess had to stop her campaigns, closing herself in Kyiv. She raised the sons of Svyatoslav in the Christian faith, but did not dare to baptize, fearing the wrath of her son and the possible murder of her grandchildren. She secretly kept a priest with her, so as not to give rise to new persecutions of people of the Christian faith.

There is no exact date in history when the princess handed over the reins of government to her son Svyatoslav. He was often on military campaigns, therefore, despite the official title, Olga ruled the country. Later, the princess gave her son power in the north of the country. And, presumably, by 960 he became the ruling prince of all Russia.

Olga's influence will be felt during the reign of her grandchildren and. Both of them were raised by their grandmother, from infancy they got used to the Christian faith and continued the formation of Russia on the path of Christianity.

Personal life

According to The Tale of Bygone Years, Prophetic Oleg married Olga and Igor when they were still children. The story also says that the wedding took place in 903, but, according to other sources, Olga was not even born then, so there is no exact wedding date.

There is a legend that the couple met at the crossing near Pskov, when the girl was a boat carrier (she changed into men's clothes - this was a job only for men). Igor noticed a young beauty and immediately began to pester, to which he was rebuffed. When it was time to get married, he remembered that wayward girl and ordered to find her.

If you believe the chronicles describing the events of those times, then Prince Igor died in 945 at the hands of the Drevlyans. Olga came to power while her son was growing up. She did not marry again, and there is no mention of ties with other men in the annals.

Death

Olga died of illness and old age, and was not killed, like many rulers of that time. The chronicles say that the princess died in 969. In 968, the Pechenegs for the first time raided Russian lands, and Svyatoslav went to war. Princess Olga with her grandchildren locked herself in Kyiv. When his son returned from the war, he lifted the siege and wanted to leave the city immediately.

His mother stopped him, warning him that she was very ill and felt her own death approaching. She was right, 3 days after these words, Princess Olga died. She was buried according to Christian customs, in the ground.

In 1007, the grandson of the princess - Vladimir I Svyatoslavich - transferred the relics of all the saints, including the remains of Olga, to the Church of the Holy Mother of God founded by him in Kyiv. The official canonization of the princess took place in the middle of the 13th century, although miracles were attributed to her relics long before that, they were revered as a saint and called equal to the apostles.

Memory

Olginskaya street in Kyiv
St. Olginsky Cathedral in Kyiv

Cinema

1981 - ballet "Olga"
1983 - the film "The Legend of Princess Olga"
1994 - cartoon "Pages of Russian history. Land of the Ancestors"
2005 – film “The Saga of the Ancient Bulgars. The Tale of Olga the Holy»
2005 – film “The Saga of the Ancient Bulgars. Ladder of Vladimir the Red Sun»
2006 - "Prince Vladimir"

Literature

2000 - “I know God!” Alekseev S. T.
2002 - "Olga, Queen of the Rus".
2009 - "Princess Olga". Alexey Karpov
2015 - "Olga, the forest princess."
2016 - "Unified in power". Oleg Panus