Olympias the Deaconess
Encyclopedia
Saint Olympias was a widow
, deaconess
and friend of Saint John Chrysostom. Born in Constantinople
, circa 368, to a wealthy family, but was left orphaned at a young age. Olympias would later go on marry a man by the name of Nebridius, who was Prefect of Constantinople. When left widowed, and after refusing many offers of marriage, Olympias dedicated her life to the church, serving as a deaconess
. Her good works included building a hospital
and an orphanage
, even looking after monks who had been led in exile from Nitria. All of this even led to Saint John Chrysostom telling her that she had done almost too much. Olympias' support for Saint John Chrysostom, led to her persecution in 404, leading to her losing her house and living the rest of her life in exile at Nicomedia
, where she would die on 25 July 408, after a long illness.
Olympias is one of the 140 Colonnade saints which adorn St. Peter's Square.
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, deaconess
Deaconess
Deaconess is a non-clerical order in some Christian denominations which sees to the care of women in the community. That word comes from a Greek word diakonos as well as deacon, which means a servant or helper and occurs frequently in the Christian New Testament of the Bible. Deaconesses trace...
and friend of Saint John Chrysostom. Born in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, circa 368, to a wealthy family, but was left orphaned at a young age. Olympias would later go on marry a man by the name of Nebridius, who was Prefect of Constantinople. When left widowed, and after refusing many offers of marriage, Olympias dedicated her life to the church, serving as a deaconess
Deaconess
Deaconess is a non-clerical order in some Christian denominations which sees to the care of women in the community. That word comes from a Greek word diakonos as well as deacon, which means a servant or helper and occurs frequently in the Christian New Testament of the Bible. Deaconesses trace...
. Her good works included building a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
and an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
, even looking after monks who had been led in exile from Nitria. All of this even led to Saint John Chrysostom telling her that she had done almost too much. Olympias' support for Saint John Chrysostom, led to her persecution in 404, leading to her losing her house and living the rest of her life in exile at Nicomedia
Nicomedia
Nicomedia was an ancient city in what is now Turkey, founded in 712/11 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus . After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most...
, where she would die on 25 July 408, after a long illness.
Olympias is one of the 140 Colonnade saints which adorn St. Peter's Square.