Olga, as she returned to Kief, with her baptismal vows upon her, and in the freshness of her Christian hopes, manifested great solicitude for her son, who still continued a pagan.

But Sviatoslaf was a wild, pleasure-seeking young man, who turned a deaf ear to all his mother's counsels.

The unbridled license which paganism granted, was much more congenial to his unrenewed heart than the salutary restraints of the gospel of Christ.

The human heart was then and there, as now and here.
The Russian historian Karamsin says, "In vain this pious mother spoke to her son of the happiness of being a Christian; of the peaceful spirit he would find in the worship of the true God.

'How can I,' replied Sviatoslaf, 'make a profession of this new religion, which will expose me to the ridicule of all my companions in arms ?' In vain Olga urged upon him that his example might induce others to embrace the gospel of Christ.