The name Oleg, which has existed in Russia since ancient times, has a Scandinavian origin and means “holy”, “sacred”, “prophetic”. Men named Oleg celebrate Angel Day once a year - June 3.
Name Oleg
Interestingly, the male name Oleg is derived from the Old Norse word and the name Helga. The paired female name in Russian for him is Olga. The name Oleg became widespread in the days of pre-Christian Russia and is associated with the princely dynasty of Rurikovich, in particular, with the prophetic Oleg, who became the first Kiev prince. That is why in those days and for many centuries after that, commoners were not called by this name. Oleg even now sounds somehow adult, solid, so the parents of little Olegs come up with the most incredible diminutive versions of the name from the traditional Olezhka, Olezhek to the unusual types of Oles, Lega and Lezhik. The name also gained popularity in the countries of Eastern and Western Europe. In Germany and Austria, the female version of the name - Olga - is as common as their native Helga. Oleg's birthday is celebrated on October 3 - the day of remembrance of the Holy Blessed Prince Oleg of Bryansk.
You can turn to your patron saint with a daily prayer: "Pray to God for me, holy servant of God Olezha, as I zealously run to you, an ambulance and prayer book for my soul."
Life of Oleg Bryansky
The patron saint of the name Oleg The holy noble prince Oleg of Bryansk was the grandson of the holy martyr prince Mikhail of Chernigov. He was brought up in deep faith and distinguished himself from others in piety and striving for God. In 1274, Prince Oleg, together with his father Roman Mikhailovich, took part in a military campaign against Lithuania. Returning from it, Oleg founded a new monastery in Bryansk at his own expense, which still exists today under the name of Peter and Paul. A few years after the death of his father, he took monastic vows, becoming a monk of this monastery, and left his brother to reign. In monasticism, he took the name Vasily. He lived in the monastery all his life, being a strict ascetic of the cause of God, where he died in 1285 and was buried at the monastery church.
For many years, the Orthodox Church refused to baptize children with the name Oleg, because despite the fact that Oleg Bryansky was canonized as a saint, he himself was named Leonty during baptism.
The Russian Orthodox Church canonized Oleg Bryanskiy shortly after his death. The relics of the saint were in the church of the Peter and Paul Monastery. However, when the church was desecrated in 1930, Bishop Daniel - the abbot of the monastery - secretly buried them. For more than six centuries the servants of the monastery searched for the relics, and only in 1995 the search was crowned with success. Today they rest in the Resurrection Church of the monastery, where pilgrims can come and worship them.
