Saint Olga Equal-to-the-Apostles Blessed Great Princess of Kiev and Guardian Angel. Wooden orthodox icon

Icon of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Blessed Great Princess Olga of Kiev and Guardian Angel

This icon depicts two beloved intercessors side by side: Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Blessed Great Princess Olga of Kiev and the Guardian Angel. Saint Olga is shown in her royal garments, holding a cross — the symbol of her faith and her missionary legacy. The Guardian Angel, robed in white, stands as a divine protector with sheltering wings. Together they form a powerful pairing: a heavenly patron of rulers, women, widows, and converts, united with the personal heavenly guardian who accompanies every soul from birth.

Original icon: 19th century. It is suitable for home prayer corners, churches, and as a deeply meaningful gift.

✝️ The Life of Saint Olga of Kiev

Saint Olga (c. 890–969) was the first recorded female ruler of the Rus and the first member of the Kievan ruling family to adopt Christianity. According to the Primary Chronicle, she was of Varangian (Viking) origin and was born in Pleskov (Pskov).

About 903 she came to Kiev to marry Igor, the Prince of Kiev. Igor was assassinated in 945 by his subjects while attempting to extort excessive tribute, and because their son Svyatoslav was still a minor, Olga became regent of the grand principality of Kiev from 945 to 964.

As regent, Olga proved to be a shrewd and capable ruler, and she is known for her administrative reforms, establishing tribute collection systems that helped unite the Kievan Rus state.

In 957, she visited Emperor Constantine VII in Constantinople. He admired her looks and intelligence and asked her hand in marriage, but the quick-thinking Olga noted that he had become her godfather at baptism and that such a union was therefore forbidden under Christian law. She was thus baptized, probably around 957 at Constantinople, and received the Christian name Helena.

While Olga was not successful in converting her son, her example may have been a great influence on her grandson Vladimir, who in 988 became an Orthodox Christian and led the inhabitants of Kiev and Rus to follow him in the Baptism of Rus.

The description of Olga's death in the Primary Chronicle glorifies her as being among the first Rus converts to Christianity. She is called "the wisest of women" and praised because "she shone like the moon at night, and she was radiant among the infidels like a pearl in the mire."

In 1547, nearly 600 years after her death in 969, the Russian Orthodox Church officially named Olga a saint, equal-to-the-apostles. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church, and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church call Olga by the honorific Isapóstolos — "Equal to the Apostles". Her feast day is July 11.

She is the patron saint of widows and converts.

🎁 Who Is This Icon a Perfect Gift For?

This icon makes a deeply meaningful and spiritually significant gift for:

• Women named Olga, Helga, or Helen — their patron saint and name day icon
• Widows and those who have lost a spouse — Saint Olga is their heavenly intercessor
• Rulers, leaders, managers, and stateswomen — she is a patron of wise governance
• Converts to Orthodox Christianity — she was the first royal convert of the Rus
• Anyone celebrating Baptism — the Guardian Angel is the angel given at Baptism
• Mothers and grandmothers — in the spirit of Olga who prayed for her family's salvation for generations
• Girls named Olga at Christening or First Communion
• Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox faithful — venerating a shared spiritual ancestor
• Those seeking protection and guidance — the Guardian Angel provides constant heavenly cover
• People facing difficult life transitions — Olga's life shows faith, resilience, and wisdom through hardship

🖼 Product Features

Each icon in our workshop is made to last a lifetime and beyond. The image is printed with rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on a premium solid-core wood panel — then hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating that deepens the colors, protects the surface, and gives each piece the warm, reverent quality of a traditionally crafted sacred object. A metal hanging hook is included on the back, so your icon is ready to display the moment it arrives.

• Crafted on a premium wood panel — 1.6 cm (0.6") thick, sturdy yet lightweight
• Fade-resistant pigment print — rich, true-to-life colors that last for generations
• Natural beeswax finish — hand-applied for depth, protection, and a traditional feel
• Ready to hang — metal hook pre-attached on the reverse
• Hand-finished by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal

📏 Available Sizes

• Small – 12 x 15 cm (5” x 6”)
• Medium – 23 x 30 cm (9” x 12”)
• Large – 30 x 39 cm (12” x 15”)

🎁 Perfect For

• Meaningful Orthodox Christian gifts
• Housewarming and family blessings
• Prayer corners and devotional spaces
• Baptisms, name days, weddings, and feast days

🌍 Worldwide Delivery

Securely packed and shipped worldwide from Portugal with tracking.

✨ Crafted with Tradition

Each icon is carefully made by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal — created to become a lasting blessing for your home or a treasured gift for someone you love.