Creation of a mosaic panel depicting Ingigerda of Sweden in St. Sophia Cathedral

Since 2021, on February 23, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Memory of Ingigerda of Sweden - the wife of Yaroslav the Wise, the Grand Duchess of Kyiv, and the mother of the grand dukes and princesses who ruled throughout Europe. Ingigerda is the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf Shetkonung, who baptised Sweden. 

After her marriage to Yaroslav the Wise, she is known by the Christian name Irina. The princess played a significant role in the development of Kyivan Rus. She was her husband's first advisor. Yaroslav the Wise sincerely loved and respected his wife, as he listened to her advice on international and domestic issues. Ingigerda conducted negotiations with other states, contributed to the spread of Christianity, and was engaged in charitable and educational activities. 

According to chronicles, six sons were born in the marriage of Yaroslav and Ingigerda: Vladimir, Izyaslav, Svyatoslav, Vsevolod, Vyacheslav, Igor and three daughters: Anna, the future Queen of France, Anastasia, Queen of Hungary and Elizabeth, Queen of Norway. In honour of the heavenly patroness of his wife, Yaroslav built the first nunnery of St. Irene in Kyiv. Princess Ingigerda herself was likely involved in the founding of the nunnery, since according to the tradition of princely times, male monasteries were usually founded by princes, and female ones by princesses. 

Ingigerda was buried in St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv in a sarcophagus together with her husband. In 2016, Polish scientists recreated Ingigerda's face from the skull found in the sarcophagus. 

As part of the patronage projects of the OLOS Foundation, together with our clients, the following were financed: 
- Creation of an artistic portrait of Ingigerda by Artur Orlyonov, 2021. 
- Creation of a mosaic panel based on the portrait for the Cathedral of St. Sophia, by the stained glass workshop "Glass Art Stories", Sumy, 2021.