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|--Olga
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"John Bailey"
soc.genealogy.medieval on 6 Nov 1997
Subject: Rurik Dynasty of Kiev; From Rurik to Yaroslav the Wise
"Probably of Slavic descent, St. Olga was considered a peasant when
she married Igor, the Grand Duke of Kiev, Russia. During a campaign
against the Drevlianians in the year 945, Igor was assassinated. Since
the couple's son, Svyatoslav, was too young to rule, Olga served as
regent and eventually effected revenge against the Drevlianians for her
husband's death. The details of this effort are described in the
Chronicle
of Nestor.
Olga is given high praise for her courage and ability as a ruler, and
for
instituting administrative and fiscal reforms throughout the realm. She
additionally hastened her country's recovery from the destructive wars
that had devastated the land during her husband's reign. She was the
first of Russian ruler to be baptized a Christian.
Upon Olga's death in 969, her pagan son honored her request and gave
her a Christian burial. She was soon regarded as a saint and is honored
in
the Russian and Ukranian Churches. Because her conversion took place
before the schism, she is also regarded as a saint of the universal
Catholic Church.
Olga did not live to see the conversion of Russia, but has the
distinction of being the grandmother of St. Vladimir, who effected the
Christianization of his people."
Created by
Sparrowhawk 1.0 (4/17/1996)
on
Wed Aug 27 01:31:51 2003