Equal-to-the-Apostles · 912
Great Princess Olga
Equal-to-the-Apostles Blessed Great Princess Olga (in Holy Baptism Helen)
New Calendar July 11 Old Calendar July 24
Why they are a saint
Saint Olga, Equal of the Apostles, was the wife of the Kievan Great Prince Igor. The struggle of Christianity with paganism under Igor and Olga, who reigned after Oleg (+ 912), entered into a new phase. Venerated as equal-to-the-apostles for spreading the Christian faith.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Traditionally asked to pray for widows, early Rus’. The reason for this custom is not recorded here.
Prayer
O holy Great Princess Olga, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.