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Olympia was born 361 AD into a wealthy family of high ranking. Her father was the senator Anicius Secundus and through her mother, Alexandra, she was the granddaughter of the noted eparch Eulalios (see St. [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas]]). After the death of her parents, Olympia inherited great wealth. She distributed this to the poor and needy, the orphaned and the widowed. She was also very generous with her donations to the churches, [[monastery|monasteries]], hospices, and shelters for the homeless. She was appointed as a [[deaconess]] by the holy Patriarch Nectarius (381-397) and provided great assistance to the hierarchs of Constantinople, including Amphilochius, the Bishop of Iconium, Onesimus of Pontum, [[Gregory of Nazianzus]] (the Theologian), Peter of Sebaste, Ephiphanius of Cyprus. She was great friends with all of these holy great fathers of the church. She was especially close to St. [[John Chrysostom]] ([[November 13]]). He had high regard for Olympia and he showed her goodwill and spiritual love. When the [[hierarch]] was unjustly banished, Olympia and the other deaconesses (Pentadia, Proklia, and Salbina) were deeply upset. Her generosity also greatly benefited the Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria (385-412). He, however, turned against her for her devotion to St. [[John Chrysostom]] and other [[monk]]s whom he had him banished into the Egyptian desert. Olympia would provide food and shelter whenever they were in Constantinople so he began to campaign unjust accusations against her to cast doubt on her holy life.