December 17 + Saint Olympias

Throughout Church history, holy widows have become friends with priests and bishops, supporting them spiritually and materially, including Olympias. A member of Constantinople’s wealthy elite, Olympias enjoyed a happy marriage to the prefect, Nebridius. However, when her husband died young, the lovely widow decided to remain single. She refused all suitors, including the emperor Theodosius himself.

Theodosius punished her by placing her estate under public administration. But she made a striking appeal in 391, and he restored her control over her fortune. Olympias had already decided to live simply, and she began giving everything away to the needy and to the Church.

Olympias distributed all of her immense wealth and assisted everyone simply and without distinction. Immediately after the distribution of all her goods, she gave generously to the Archbishop John Chrysostom, for the Cathedral Church of the royal city. She built a monastery and founded a convent where she ended up living.

Like the women who served Christ, Olympias prepared the archbishop’s daily meals and sent them to him. Only a wall separated his residence from the convent. She fed him not only before the plots against him, but also after he was banished. Up to the end of his life, she provided for all his expenses as well as for those who were with him in exile. Olympias also constructed a hospital and orphanage near the convent. She regularly provided hospitality to Christian leaders from all over the East, including Gregory of Nyssa.

When John Chrysostom fell afoul of the empress and was banished, she supported him. He reciprocated by encouraging Olympias when officials persecuted her. Optatus, the prefect of Constantinople, twice banished her for refusing to accept Arsacius and his successor, Atticus, the usurpers who had replaced John as archbishop. Atticus finally dis-banded her community and ended her charitable works. Olympias died in exile in 408, a year after the death of John Chrysostom.