Olga of Kiev

(0890-0969)

Princess of Kiev (c. 890-925)

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Saint Olga (Church Slavonic: Ольга, Old Norse: Helga; born c. 890–925, in Pskov – died 969 AD in Kiev) was a regent of Kievan Rus' for her son Svyatoslav from 945 until 960. Due to the imperfect transliteration between Old East Slavic and the English language, the name Olga is synonymous with Olha. Because of her Varangian origin, she also is known in Old Norse as Saint Helga. She is known for her obliteration of the Drevlians, a tribe that had killed her husband Igor of Kiev. Even though it would be her grandson Vladimir that would convert the entire nation to Christianity, her efforts to spread Christianity through the Rus’ earned Olga veneration as a saint. She is venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as an apostle-like saint. Remembrance day in Russia is the 11th of July.