ДІЯЛЬНІСТЬ ВЕЛИКОЇ КНЯГИНІ КИЇВСЬКОЇ ІРИНИ-ІНГІГЕРДИ У ПОШИРЕННІ ХРИСТИЯНСТВА В УКРАЇНІ

The article says that the figure of the Grand Duchess of Kyiv Irina, the wife of Yaroslav the Wise, is still not appreciated. Swedish princess Ingigerda, a famous heroine of Icelandic sagas, daughter of King Olav Shetkonung, married Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise of Kyiv in 1019. After arriving in Rus’, she received the name Irina. Irina had a great influence on good relations with the Nordic countries of Europe. She sheltered in Kyiv the exiled sons of the English King Edmund, Edwin and Edward, as well as Prince Magnus of Norway. He did not return to his homeland until the princess was convinced that the Norwegians would give him his father’s throne and his rights would be respected. The Kyivan state at that time played a significant role in the life of Europe, and its authority and influence were higher than ever – and this is a great merit of Princess Irina. The reign of Yaroslav the wise and Irina was the period of the highest rise of Kyivan Rus’. Yaroslav conceived to arrange stolny Kyiv as the “city of God” an earthly reflection of Heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 2:10). The center of Kyiv was the St. Sophia Church – the Wisdom of God. The entrance to the city of wisdom of God was carried out through the Golden Gate, over which Annunciation Church was erected. Recent pagans deeply revered the Blessed Virgin as a God’s Wisdom Church. Therefore, the day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos became a church holiday in Kyiv’s Hagia Sophia.