4th–5th century
Saint Olympias the Deaconess
Deaconess in Constantinople and friend of Saint John Chrysostom.
Biography
Olympias came from a wealthy family in Constantinople. She married Nebridius, prefect of the city, but was widowed very young and refused to remarry, despite pressure from Emperor Theodosius, choosing instead to devote herself to the Church. She held the office of deaconess, gave much of her fortune to charity, and founded a convent near the church of Saint Irene.
She became a close friend of Patriarch John Chrysostom, who sent her seventeen letters, still preserved today, after his exile. She herself died in exile at Nicomedia on 25 July 408, not long after Chrysostom's own death.