The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess Olga, in holy baptism Elena, came from the family of Gostomysl, on whose advice the Varangians were called to reign in Novgorod. She was born in Izborg (Pskov land) in a pagan family from the dynasty of the Izborsk princes and was called by the Varangian name Helga, in Russian pronunciation — Olga. In 903 she became the wife of the Grand Duke Igor of Kiev.

After his assassination in 945 by the rebellious Drevlyans, the widow, who did not want to marry, assumed the burden of public service with her three-year-old son Svyatoslav. The Grand Duchess went down in history as a great creator of the state life and culture of Kievan Rus. In 954, Princess Olga went to Constantinople for a religious pilgrimage and a diplomatic mission, where she was received with honor by the Imp. By Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. She was struck by the grandeur of the Christian churches and the shrines gathered in them. The sacrament of baptism was performed over her by Patriarch Theophylact of Constantinople, and the emperor himself became the recipient; the name of the Russian princess was named in honor of St. Queen Elena, who received the Cross of the Lord.

The Patriarch blessed the newly baptized princess with a cross carved from a single piece of the Life-giving Tree of the Lord with the inscription: "The Russian land is renewed by the Holy Cross, which was accepted by Olga, the blessed Princess." Upon her return from Byzantium, Olga zealously carried the Christian gospel. Prayers offered to St. Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, are capable of conferring church formation and strengthening in faith, healing, protection and help.