Transformation: Hope for Change in Leadership
and Another Sunday Silver Sermon
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Introduction
At our quaint parish, a small Episcopal church in South Hills Pittsburgh, we hold a tradition each week before communion- the Prayers of the People.
This is a time when we come together, offering up heartfelt prayers for our fellow parishioners who are unwell, remembering those who have departed, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, and praying for the state of the world.
During these prayers, one part prompts me to pause and reflect, and I usually roll my eyes. It's when we pray for our leaders, including our Mayor, Governor, and President. I often find myself pondering, 'Do these prayers, which can feel like long shots, truly make a difference?'
You all who read my newsletter are aware that I levy harsh criticisms targeted toward the Federal Reserve and all their clients, The military, CIA, US Congress, US executive branch, and our war-based foreign policy.
But today, I want to share a message of hope with you.
Today's sermon is not about harsh criticisms but about each of us's profound potential for change.
Whether it was Saul, who once persecuted Christians but transformed into St. Paul, one of the greatest leaders in the early Church, or the inspiring story of Olga in Russia, change and forgiveness are indeed real.
Olga of Kiev
Olga of Kiev, also known as Saint Olga, was a formidable 10th-century ruler of Kievan Rus’ who orchestrated a series of brutal revenge tactics against the Drevlian tribe for the murder of her husband, Prince Igor.
Her story, as chronicled in the Primary Chronicle, includes two particularly notable incidents involving deceptive peace offerings that showcase her cunning and ruthlessness.
Buried Alive
The first incident occurred shortly after Prince Igor's death when the Drevlians sent a delegation of 20 of their finest men to propose that Olga marry their Prince Mal. Olga's response was both cunning and deadly. She welcomed the emissaries warmly, telling them their proposal was pleasing, and asked them to wait in their boat overnight, promising to send for them the next day. Unbeknownst to the delegation, Olga secretly ordered her men to dig a large trench. The following morning, the boat containing the unsuspecting Drevlian emissaries was carried to the trench, where Olga commanded they be buried alive.
Pigeon and Sparrow
The second incident, known as the Pigeon and Sparrow Incident, took place after several other acts of revenge when Olga laid siege to Iskorosten, the Drevlian capital. As the siege dragged on, Olga proposed a seemingly benign peace offering. She requested three pigeons and three sparrows from each house in the city, a demand the Drevlians quickly agreed to, believing it a small price for peace. However, Olga's plan was far more sinister. She had her soldiers attach small pieces of sulfur-soaked cloth to each bird. At nightfall, the birds were released and naturally returned to their nests in the city's houses. The sulfur-soaked cloths ignited, setting the entire city ablaze simultaneously and allowing Olga to defeat the Drevlians, thus completing her revenge for her husband's death.
These events, which took place around 945-946 CE, were part of Olga's broader efforts to avenge her husband's death, consolidate power in Kievan Rus, and centralize state rule while weakening the influence of local princes.
While these tales may be embellished or partly fictional, they illustrate Olga's reputation as a cunning and ruthless ruler. Remarkably, despite her violent acts of revenge, Olga later converted to Christianity and became a pivotal figure in the Christianization of Kievan Rus. Today, she is recognized as a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, a testament to the complex legacy she left behind.
Conversion
Olga of Kiev's transformation from a ruthless ruler to a revered saint is a remarkable narrative of personal and spiritual change.
Her conversion to Christianity marked a significant turning point in her life and legacy, occurring around 955-957 CE, several years after her brutal revenge against the Drevlians. The most widely accepted account suggests that she was baptized in Constantinople during a diplomatic visit to the Byzantine Empire, although some sources indicate she may have been baptized earlier in Kiev, with the visit serving as a more formal affirmation of her faith.
Olga out, Helen in
Upon her conversion, Olga took the Christian name Helen and became deeply devoted to her new beliefs. This spiritual transformation profoundly impacted her character and actions. Initially motivated by political considerations, Olga’s conversion appears to have been genuine, as she developed a fervent love for Jesus and the Church.
Returning to Kiev, Olga actively sought to spread Christianity throughout her realm. She built churches and made efforts to convert her son Sviatoslav to the faith, demonstrating her commitment to her new beliefs. Additionally, as a Christian ruler, she became known for her just governance, charitable works, and support for the Church.
In contrast to her earlier vengeful actions, Olga engaged in more peaceful diplomatic efforts after her conversion. Notably, she requested missionaries from the Frankish king Otto the Great, seeking to further establish Christianity in her territory.
While Olga was not immediately successful in converting her family or most of her subjects during her lifetime, her efforts laid the groundwork for the later Christianization of Kievan Rus'.
Her grandson, Vladimir the Great, would eventually adopt Christianity as the state religion, largely influenced by his grandmother’s faith.Olga's dramatic change from a figure of vengeance to a devout Christian ruler and missionary earned her recognition as a saint in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions.
She is venerated as "Equal to the Apostles" in the Orthodox Church, underscoring her pivotal role in spreading Christianity among the Rus' people.
This profound transformation illustrates the power of religious conversion and personal growth, as Olga moved from acts of brutal revenge to becoming a key figure in the Christianization of Eastern Europe.
The Gold and Silver during the reign of Olga
During the early medieval period, Kievan Rus', the predecessor state to modern Russia, relied heavily on trade to acquire precious metals like silver and gold, as it did not have significant domestic sources.
Silver was particularly prevalent in circulation, with the primary source being the Arab dirhams. In the 9th and 10th centuries, these silver coins flowed into Rus' through trade routes that connected the region to the Arab Caliphate via the Caucasus and Central Asia.
As trade with the Arab world began to decline, Kievan Rus' turned to Western European silver coins, which became more common in the 11th and 12th centuries. During this time, silver bars also gained prominence. The Novgorod grivna serebra, a type of silver bar, emerged as a widely used medium of exchange, especially in trade with the German Hanse.
Gold was less common in Kievan Rus', but it still played a role in the economy. Trade with the Byzantine Empire brought gold coins and goods into the region, contributing to its wealth. There were also attempts to mint gold coins known as zlatniks under Vladimir the Great around the turn of the 10th to 11th centuries; however, this initiative was short-lived and limited in scope.
The influx of these precious metals was facilitated by two main trade routes. The Volga Route was crucial during the 9th and 10th centuries for importing silver from the east, particularly through the city of Bolghar. Meanwhile, the Route from the Varangians to the Greeks connected Novgorod to Kiev and ultimately led to Constantinople, bringing valuable Byzantine goods, including gold.
It is important to note that significant domestic silver deposits in Russia were not discovered until the 18th century. Thus, during the medieval period, Kievan Rus' relied heavily on external sources for its precious metals, primarily through extensive trade networks.
end of sermon
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