Kateryna Pulatova, Kateryna Prysyazhnyuk 11-7-25 UNIAN
Find out for what outstanding achievements the Kiev Princess Olha is included in the list of Christian saints
Every year on July 11, Ukraine remembers one of the most prominent Ukrainian women in our history. This is Princess Olha of Kyiv – the legendary ruler of Kyivan Rus, known for many outstanding deeds. The Orthodox Church included Olha in the list of saints, equal to the apostles, for her achievements in spreading the faith.
On Princess Olha’s Day, Akim Galimov, founder of the ” Real History ” project, a journalist who researches history and creates historical and documentary projects, spoke exclusively to UNIAN about what she is known for and why she is worthy of our memory.
When is Princess Olha’s Day – July 11 or 24?
In fact, July 11 is the correct date, it is mentioned as the day of the princess’s death in the chronicles. It’s just that earlier Ukrainian Orthodox holidays were tied to the old-style calendar and this day fell on July 24.
When two years ago the Orthodox Church of Ukraine switched to the new Julian calendar, which is followed by most Orthodox churches in the world, everything was synchronized accordingly. From the point of view of honoring the princess’s memory, July 11 is the correct date, the Day of Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olha.
What is Princess Olha known for – biography
Princess Olha ruled the state after the death of her husband, Prince Ihor, until her son Svyatoslav came of age as a regent and we can assume that she was one of the first reformer rulers. Historians believe that Olha made a significant contribution to the development of the state. She retained power for her son, because without a strong regent, Rus would probably have disintegrated into separate tribal principalities.
Ultimately, Olha became the first Christian princess of Rus’, having been baptized in Constantinople and contributing to the building of churches . The Church honors her as an Equal-to-the-Apostles for laying the foundations for the baptism of Rus’, which was later implemented by her grandson Volodimir. The princess was canonized in 1547.
What reforms did Princess Olha carry out?
In general, historians highlight several points. She organized the annual collection of tribute, unlike the chaotic collection from Igor; created pogosts – administrative and judicial centers, contributed to the development of trade and law. First of all, the clear rules that were followed inspired trust in the population.
Researchers consider Olha to be the first to actually establish a taxation system in the state . Olha introduced the principle of monetary and in-kind tribute, which provides stable revenues to the treasury, and created a system of economic accounting. Thus, the treasury was regularly and systematically replenished, and therefore, we can assume, funds appeared for state development.
As historian and publicist Andriy Plakhonin notes, one of the most important sources about Rus’ during Olha’s time is the book of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great, which, in particular, describes the mechanism of governance in the territory of Rus’ and mentions the collection of taxes. Historian Dmytro Gordienko notes that tribute was paid in lard, animal skins, wax, and slaves.
Olha is perhaps the first among Ukrainian rulers to make a diplomatic visit to Byzantium . The most famous Old Russian chronicle, compiled around 1110, directly states that Olha went to Constantinople (Tsargorod) in 957. She was personally met by the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus.
“And Olha came to Constantinople, and the emperor saw her, and was amazed at her intelligence…” – The Tale of Bygone Years
Princess Olha took a shower. The monument to the glorious Kyiv ruler was washed in the capital.
How Princess Olha and pigeons are connected – an ancient legend
“The Tale of Bygone Years” tells that after the Drevlyans killed Olha’s husband, Prince Ihor, who was collecting tribute for the second time in a year, she decided to take cruel revenge. The burning of Iskorosten, the main city of the Drevlyans, which continued to resist, was the final stage. The fact that ancient Iskorosten (modern Korosten) was burned is confirmed, in particular, by archaeological finds.
The chronicle notes that Iskorosten was under siege, but it was not possible to take it by force. Then Olha sent a message to the residents of Iskorosten: she was ready to lift the siege if they gave “a tribute of three pigeons and three sparrows from each yard.”
The residents gave the birds, and Olha ordered to tie a smoldering torch wrapped in rags to each bird, and when evening came, the birds were released. They flew back to their nests – on the roofs of wooden houses, barns, barns, which at that time were covered with straw or reeds. Thus, the fire quickly engulfed the entire city, which burned to the ground.
Whether birds were involved in the burning of Iskorosten is a question, says Akim Galimov: “Personally, it is difficult for me to imagine this whole process, and besides, such a plot is popular in many Scandinavian sagas. Perhaps this is just a well-chosen poetic image used to describe the burning arrows. The fact is that the city was really burned.”
Great stories from one of the most important historical figures from Ukraine. A lot of people know about Prince Volodymyr but not so much about his Grandmother, Saint Olha. I think this is also important to keep this history close to the heart because the Moskali have been trying to steal her story for centuries. Even now in Wikipedia Olha is described as “the first Russian saint.”
Don’t ever mess with Ukrainian women! 🙂 Happy Angel day to all the Olhas that read this.