OLGA of Russia (Lat. HELENA). — Born c. 890, died in 970, wife of the Russian prince IGOR I of Kiev (d. 945) and mother of his successor SVJATOSLAV, during whose minority she governed the Principality.
During a journey to Constantinople (c. 957), after a long wait, she was not admitted into the presence of Emperor CONSTANTINE PORPHYROGENITUS until she had received Baptism. On her return to her homeland, she refused the tribute demanded by Byzantium and turned to OTTO I of Germany to obtain a Catholic bishop. The monk ADALBERT of Trier was consecrated and sent to her, but remained only briefly (961–62) because he was driven out by a pagan reaction. OLGA had a wooden church built in Kiev, dedicated to St. Sophia. She is venerated on 11 July in the Russian Church, while in the Latin Church her cult was not approved.