St. Olga

St. Olga (879-969) was married in 903 to Prince Igor I of Kiev, Russia. She was a cruel and barbarous woman (she scalded her husband's murderers to death in 945 and murdered hundreds of their followers) until she was baptized at Constantinople in 957. She then requested Emperor Otto I to send missionaries to Kiev. Although St. Adalbert of Magdeburg was sent and the queen exerted great efforts, the mission proved a failure, as did her attempts to convert her son, Svyatoslav.

Christianitywas finally introduced by her grandson St. Vladimir, who is a patron Saint of Russia. Her Feast Dayis July 11.