Saint of the day December 17, 2024

Saint Olympia, the glory of the widows in the Eastern Church, was born of a noble and illustrious family. Left an orphan at a tender age, she was brought up by Theodosia, sister of Saint Amphilochius, a virtuous and prudent woman.

At the age of eighteen, St.Olympia was regarded as a model of Christian virtues. It was then that she was married to Nebridius, a young man worthy of her; the new spouses promised one another to live in perfect continence. After less than two years of this angelic union, Nebridius went to receive in heaven the reward of his virtues.

The Emperor would have engaged her in a second marriage, but she replied: If God had destined me to live in the married state, He would not have taken my first spouse. The event that has broken my bonds shows me the way Providence has traced for me. She had resolved to consecrate her life to prayer and penance and to devote her fortune to the poor. She liberated all her slaves, who nonetheless wished to continue to serve her, and she administered her fortune as a trustee for the poor. The farthest cities, islands, deserts, and poor churches found themselves blessed through her liberality.

Nectarius, Archbishop of Constantinople, had a high esteem for the saintly widow and made her a deaconess of his church. The duties of deaconesses were to prepare the altar linens and instruct the catechumens of their sex; they aided the priests in works of charity, and they made a vow of perpetual chastity.

When Saint John Chrysostom succeeded Nectarius, he had for Olympia, no less respect than his predecessor, and through her aid he built a hospital for the sick and refuges for the elderly and orphans. When he was exiled in the year 404, he continued to encourage her in her good works by his letters, and she assisted him to ransom some of his fellow captives.

Saint Olympia, as one of his supporters, was persecuted. When she refused to deal with the usurper of the episcopal see, she was mistreated and calumniated, and her goods were sold at a public auction. Finally she, too, was banished with the entire community of nuns which she governed in Constantinople. Her illnesses added to her sufferings, but she never ceased her good works until her death in the year 410. She outlived the exiled Patriarch by about two or three years.

Reflection

St. Olympia is revered as the patron saint of widows, the suffering, and the wronged. Her story is a testament to her unwavering dedication to the Christian faith and her commitment to helping the less fortunate. Despite her privileged background, St. Olympia chose a life of selflessness and service, using her resources to provide for widows, orphans, and those who had been marginalized by society.
St. Olympia's impact extended beyond charity work. She played an active role in Church affairs, even in an era when ecclesiastical politics were tumultuous. Her steadfast loyalty to her spiritual mentors, including St. John Chrysostom, showcased her resilience in the face of adversity.
In an age marked by both spiritual fervor and worldly turmoil, St. Olympia's story emerges as a beacon of compassion, resilience, and unwavering faith. Her legacy reminds us that even in the most challenging of times, individuals can make a lasting impact by embodying the virtues of kindness, justice, and devotion to higher ideals.