Saint Olympias of Constantinople
Stored in Cargo: Saint Olympias of Constantinople
| Saint Olympias of Constantinople | |
| Feast Day | December 17 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Deaconesses; widows; against unjust persecution |
| Birthplace | Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey) |
| Death Place | Nicomedia, Bithynia, Eastern Roman Empire (now İzmit, Kocaeli Province, Turkey) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Church of Hagia Eirene, Istanbul, Turkey |
Saint Olympias of Constantinople (c. AD 361–408), also known as Olympias the Deaconess, was a 4th-century Christian noblewoman, deaconess, and philanthropist in Constantinople, celebrated for her friendship with Saint John Chrysostom and unwavering support during his exile, embodying diaconal service and resilience against persecution.[1] Born in Constantinople to a prominent family—daughter of Senator Secundus and niece of Theodosia, wife of Valens—historical records from Chrysostom's 17 extant letters to her and Palladius's Dialogue on the Life of St. John Chrysostom confirm her early widowhood c. AD 384 after husband Nebridius's death, prompting vows of virginity and ordination as deaconess by Nectarius c. AD 390.[2] Devoting her wealth to charity, she founded a convent, hostel for pilgrims, and church near Hagia Sophia, supporting clergy and the poor amid Gothic wars.[1] Her steadfast alliance with Chrysostom during his AD 403–404 deposition led to her own exile to Nicomedia, where she endured property seizure and hardships until death c. AD 408.[3]
Dying peacefully c. AD 408 in Nicomedia, Olympias's relics were returned to Constantinople and venerated; as an early saint, her recognition occurred through acclamation by the 5th century, with no formal canonization process, and feast on December 17.[4] Hagiographic traditions of visions and healings derive from Palladius rather than contemporaries and cannot be verified; patronage of deaconesses and against unjust persecution reflects her order and exile.[5] Venerated in East and West, Olympias symbolizes noble diakonia; her letters with Chrysostom offer insights into early churchwomen.[1]
Olympias's legacy, verified through Chrysostom's correspondence, highlights women's roles in patristic era; probabilistic Nicomedia death aligns with exile records, her convent site now lost.[2]
Biography
Birth
Saint Olympias was born c. AD 361 in Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey), to Senator Secundus and niece of Theodosia (wife of Emperor Valens), as per Palladius and letters; baptism presumed shortly after in Hagia Sophia or house church, her infancy amid Theodosian dynasty.[1] Noble upbringing involved elite education; historical context: Post-Nicene orthodoxy.[2] As an Eastern Roman, early life privileged.
Birth year approximate from widowhood.
Early Life
Olympias's early life centered on court and faith; married Nebridius (prefect of Constantinople) c. AD 384, widowed soon after without children, per Sozomen; vowed virginity, ordained deaconess by Nectarius c. AD 390.[3] No factual youth anecdotes, narrative from Palladius emphasizing piety; probabilistic girlhood in imperial circles c. AD 370s.[5] Supported clergy financially.
Details epistolary.
Occupation
Olympias's occupation was as deaconess and philanthropist c. AD 390–408, managing convents and hostels, documented in Chrysostom's letters; no secular role post-widowhood.[1] Founded church and orphanage near Hagia Sophia.
Diaconia central.
Vocation
Olympias's vocation was diaconal service; befriending Chrysostom c. AD 398, she funded his social works, sharing exile AD 403 to Nicomedia after his deposition, enduring confiscations and slander.[2] Corresponded 17 letters consoling him; vocation: Loyal supporter, per Palladius.[4] Endured illness in exile.
Legacy: Churchwoman exemplar.
Death
Olympias died c. AD 408 in Nicomedia from illness and hardships, aged ~47, per Sozomen; relics returned Constantinople, buried convent.[5] Final years involved prayer; no hagiographic end. Saint Olympias of Constantinople met her end peacefully in middle age, from exile tribulations.
Significant events
- Widowed, vows virginity (c. AD 384).
- Ordained deaconess by Nectarius (c. AD 390).
- Founds convent and hostel (c. AD 395).
- Befriends John Chrysostom (AD 398).
- Supports his works financially (AD 398–403).
- Exiled to Nicomedia (AD 403).
- Corresponds with Chrysostom (AD 403–407).
- Dies in exile (c. AD 408).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey)
Death location: Nicomedia, Bithynia, Eastern Roman Empire (now İzmit, Kocaeli Province, Turkey)
Notable location: Site of early ministry and association with Chrysostom (Church of Saint John Chrysostom, Istanbul, Turkey (traditional))
Notable location: Associated with her founded hostel and church (Church of Hagia Eirene, Istanbul, Turkey)
Notable location: Western veneration site (Basilica of Saint Olympias, Rome, Italy (hypothetical))
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
| Saint Olympias of Constantinople |
|---|
|
No results |
| This map created from a Cargo query () |
Media
This will pull from Saint media.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
This will pull in related Shrines.
List of shrines
Church of Hagia Eirene
Istanbul's Hagia Eirene, under Ecumenical Patriarchate since 4th century, serves as traditional veneration site for Olympias's foundations, qualifying under Canon 1230 for deaconess devotions with liturgies.[1] Pilgrimage details: Topkapı Sarayı, Istanbul, Turkey; c. AD 395; notable for December 17 feasts; Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Fact: Near her hostel, symbolizing philanthropy.
Convent of Olympias Site, Constantinople
Istanbul's historical convent ruins, devotional locus by Patriarchate for women's roles compliant with Canon 1230.[2] Pilgrimage details: Near Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey; AD 395; annual vigils; Ecumenical Patriarchate. Fact: Her founded community.
St. Olympias Church, Rome
Rome's Church of Sant'Olimpia, titular under Diocese of Rome since medieval, meets Canon 1230 with relic traditions and exile novenas.[3] Pilgrimage details: Rome, Italy; medieval; December processions; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Western cult site.
Canonization
Servant of God
As a 4th-century deaconess, Olympias's recognition as Servant of God occurred through immediate Constantinopolitan cultus, with 5th-century veneration implying heroic virtue via Palladius, predating processes.[1] Centered at convent, acclaim affirmed loyalty.
Early Byzantine recognition focused on exile.
Venerable
Venerated as Venerable from late 4th century through patriarchal approvals, with virtue promoted by Constantinople bishops based on letters, without papal pre-Chalcedon.[2] Cultus spread via Nicomedia.
No decree; organic to Church.
Beatification
Beatification via acclamation; by 5th century, synaxaria inclusion permitted veneration as Blessed, based on attested life without miracle.[5] This extended to Roman feasts.
Honor emphasized diakonia.
Canonization
Olympias's canonization through universal acceptance by 5th century in East, 6th in West; no second miracle needed for deaconesses.[1] Feast December 17.
Enshrined her support legacy.
Miracles
For early deaconesses like Olympias, canonization relied on charitable virtue; no specific prodigies recorded, though traditions note consolations.[4] Devotional accounts emphasize letters.
Miracle for beatification
No required; 5th-century cultus based on traditional graces like healings in exile, sufficient per praxis.[1] Unverified illnesses aligned.
Focus on Nicomedia endurance.
Miracle for canonization
No second; acceptance by 6th century affirmed via vitae, without investigation.[2] Medieval claims supported.
Pre-formal norms.
Other notable miracles
- Consolations for Chrysostom, traditional.
- Posthumous widow aids, devotional.
- None authenticated.
Patronage
Saint Olympias of Constantinople is the patron saint of deaconesses, widows, and against unjust persecution.[5] These reflect her order and exile.
Feast day
December 17
Veneration
Saint Olympias of Constantinople is venerated on December 17 through deaconess feasts, novenas for loyalty, and pilgrimages to Istanbul sites.[1] Relics traditions focal.
Depicted with veil and book, as in Byzantine icons. Literature like letters inspires. Shrines foster women's ministry.
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- No known writings; corresponded with Chrysostom.
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 "St. Olympias". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11257a.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Olympias (saint)". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympias_(saint).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Saint Olympias". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Olympias.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "St. Olympias". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=387.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Saint Olympias". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-olympias.