or Saint Helga
born 0441; 890
died 969, Kiev; feast day July 11
Princess of Kiev.
The first recorded female ruler in Russia, she served as regent of Kiev (945964) after the assassination of her husband Igor I (877?945); she avenged his death by having his murderers scalded to death. Probably baptized ( 0441; 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.