Saint’s Life Story

Her Early Life

Olympias was born between 360 and 365 to an influential family of Constantinople. Her parents, Seleucus and Alexandra, died when she was still a child. S0, she was put under the care of her uncle, Procopius, who was a pious Christian. Her nanny, Theodosia, was like Olympias’ second mother and raised her to be a holy Christian woman. Olympias was instructed by her in the Christian faith and encouraged her to pursue virtue. 

Married and Widowed Young

Theodosia introduced Olympias to Saint Gregory of Nyssa, who became a spiritual father to Olympias. Olympias grew up to become an intelligent and good woman. She was also attractive and had inherited a fortune, so her uncle had little trouble arranging a lucrative marriage for Olympias with a wealthy man.

Just over a year after the wedding, her husband, Nebridius, died, leaving Olympias even richer than before, as she inherited Nebridius’ vast and profitable estates. Given that Olympias was now the lady of a great deal of valuable land, Olympias became a highly desirable widow, who caught the attention of Emperor Theodosius. 

Pressured to Remarry

Emperor Theodosius put great pressure upon Olympias to marry again—the emperor suggested his cousin Elpidius (a convenient match that would bring all that land into the imperial family). Olympias flatly refused. She resolved to become a consecrated widow in the Church and give her entire life and livelihood to her fellow Christians.  In response to her stubbornness, Emperor  Theodosius seized Olympias’ wealth and put it under the direction of an official until she was thirty, unless she agreed to marry his cousin.

Undaunted, Olympias wrote to the emperor thanking him, saying that she was glad to be free of the worry about her fortune, and asked him to do her the favor of simply giving half of it to the Church and the rest to the poor. Emperor Theodosius was impressed by her spunk and her fortitude. So, he restored her estates to her. Then, Olympias promptly donated to the Church. 

Deaconess

In 398, Olympias founded a monastery in Constantinople. She became a sort of abbess of the community that gathered there. The community grew until around 250 women were living there as monastic sisters. When she was thirty, the Bishop of Constantinople, Nectarius, consecrated her as a deaconess. Beside the principle church of Constantinople, she had a convent built where she, three relatives and a large number of maidens withdrew from the community. There, they spent their time consecrated to the service of God. 

Friendship with Saint John Chrysostom

In 398,  Saint John Chrysostom was elected bishop of Constantinople.  He acted as spiritual guide to Olympias and her companions in the convent. He and Olympias quickly became close friends. They were both devoted to an ascetic lifestyle and to caring for the poor. Although he shunned dinner parties, John Chrysostom would eat the simple meals that Olympias brought him. He collaborated closely with Olympias and her companions, who built an orphanage and a hospital next to their house. 

Since many people knew that Olympias was not only very wealthy but also very generous and kind, people requesting financial assistance often approached her. Knowing this, St. John would council her on how to be a good steward of the money that God had allowed her to have. 

Being totally loyal to him, Olympias refused to recognize his appointed successor, but Saint John continued to guide her through his correspondence. Seventeen of these letters survived through the ages. These letters are a testimony to the piety of Olympias. 

Letters to Olympias

In 404, Saint John Chrysostom was exiled after he got on the wrong side of Empress Eudoxia. Olympias was persecuted because of her close association with him and her loyalty to him as the true Archbishop of the city. Her opponents slandered her and John resulting in her community falling apart. She continued to keep up her spiritual mission of care for the poor.

During his last days, Saint John Chrysostom wrote many letters to Olympias, from his arduous journeys during his exile. These letters are poignant testimonies to the depth of suffering he and his friends were experiencing, and the spiritual friendship these two saints shared.

Her Death

Olympias was exiled from the city she had lived in for so long and given so much to. She lived her final years in Nicomedia. After an illness, Olympias met died soon after the death of Saint John Chrysostom on July 25, 408 in Nicomedia.

Shortly before her death, Olympia gave instructions that she wanted her remains to be placed in a coffin and tossed into the sea, leaving her final resting place to divine providence. Olympia appeared in a dream to the Bishop of Nicomedia and commanded that her body be placed in a wooden coffin and cast into the sea. “Wherever the waves carry the coffin, there let my body be buried,” said Olympias. As requested, the coffin was tossed into the sea and was brought by the waves to a place named Brokthoi (Vrocthee), a suburban shore near Constantinople. 

Olympias is among the one hundred forty saints whose statues adorn the colonnades of Saint Peter’s Square.

Born:                   Between 360 and 365 in an unknown location

Died:                   July 25, 408 (Feast Day – Dec 17) in Nicomedia (Turkey)

Beatified:           Pre-Congregation

Canonized:        Pre-Congregation

Feast Day:          December 17, July 25 on some calendars

Patron Saint:     None

Source:

• • • FaithND – St. Olympias
    • St. Olympias (catholicexchange.com)
    • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Olympias of Constantinople
    • Olympias the Deaconess – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

Prayer to Saint Olympias – Deaconess of Constantinople – YouTube (Divine Mercy Prayer)