Olga, Saint

Olga, Saint

 or Saint Helga

(born c. 890—died 969, Kiev; feast day July 11) Princess of Kiev. The first recorded female ruler in Russia, she served as regent of Kiev (945–964) after the assassination of her husband Igor I (877?–945); she avenged his death by having his murderers scalded to death. Probably baptized (c. 957) at Constantinople, she became the first member of the ruling family of Kiev to adopt Christianity. She was canonized as the first Russian saint of the Orthodox church.