Olympia the Deaconess

Saint Olympia, deaconess of Constantinople is commemorated by the Church July 25.

The name 'Olympia'

Olympia is the feminine variant of the Ancient Greek Olympios. There exists a mountain in northern Greece called Olympus, which, according to Ancient Greek mythology was the home of the twelve gods. Olympia was also the name of a plain in the western Peloponnese in the ancient Elis, this also was considered a sacred site for the mythological gods of Ancient Greece.

According to the ancient mythology, these sites were a sanctuary for the god Zeus and the site of the ancient Olympic games.

Born 361

Olympia, was born into a wealthy family with high rank. Her father was, Count Anysios Secondos and her mother's name was Alexandra Seconodos.

Cricial relationships

• Her uncle the Prefect Procopios.
• Patriarch Gregory of Constantinople, 329 - 389 AD (aka St Gregory the Theologian).
• Her governess, Theodosia, the sister of St Amphilochios of Iconium
• Her husband, the sub-prefect Nevridios.
• Emperor Theodosios I, the Spaniard
• Patriarch of Constantinople, Nectarios
• Patriarch of Constantinople, St John Chrysostom
• Her niece Olympia – ordained to the diaconate with Olympia.
• Her handmaidens, Elisantha, Martyria and Palladia – three sisters ordained to diaconate with Olympia.
• The 50 expelled monks from Nitria during 385-412 AD
• St Amphilochios, St Epiphanios, St Peter of Sabaste and St Gregory of Nyssa.