Saint Olga Silk Screen Icon – Gold & Engraved Wood

Description

Saint Olga, or Empress Olga of Kiev, was married to Igor I who ruled over territories in modern day Ukraine, Russia, Poland, and Belarus. In 945 AD, Olga served as regent after Igor was killed and served in this position until 964 when Svyatoslav, her son, was old enough to rule.

According to tradition, Saint Olga travelled to Constantinople in 957 AD. While visiting Emperor Constantine VII she was baptized into Orthodox Christianity and took on the Christian name Helen. Saint Olga is credited with influencing her grandson, Vladimir, to become an Orthodox Christian. Vladimir is known for the Baptism of Rus’, wherein people throughout Kiev were mass-baptized into Christianity, marking the beginning of Orthodox Christianity spreading through the region.

Saint Olga died from poor health on July 11, 969 AD and is commemorated by the Eastern Orthodox Church annually on July 11. Saint Olga is known as the patron saint of converts and widows.