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According to After the ancient mythologyrepose of St. John Chrysostom on [[September 14]], 407, Olympia passed away in exile somewhere in [[Nicomedia]] on July 25, these sites were 408. Shortly before her death, Olympia gave instructions that she wanted her remains to be placed in a sanctuary for the god Zeus coffin and tossed into the site of the ancient Olympic gamessea, leaving her final resting place to divine providence.
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Saint '''Olympia, deaconess of the Deaconess''' (also ''Olympias'') lived in Constantinople during the fourth century. Her [[feast day]] is commemorated by the Church on [[July 25]].
== The name 'Olympia' Life==Olympia is the feminine variant was born 361 AD into a wealthy family of high ranking. Her father was the Ancient Greek Olympios. There exists a mountain in northern Greece called Olympussenator Anicius Secundus and through her mother, whichAlexandra, according to Ancient Greek mythology she was the home granddaughter of the twelve godsnoted 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 name 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 a plain in Constantinople, including Amphilochius, the western Peloponnese in Bishop of Iconium, Onesimus of Pontum, [[Gregory of Nazianzus]] (the ancient ElisTheologian), Peter of Sebaste, this also Ephiphanius of Cyprus. She was great friends with all of these holy great fathers of the church. She was considered a sacred site 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 mythological gods other deaconesses (Pentadia, Proklia, and Salbina) were deeply upset. Her generosity also greatly benefited the Patriarch [[Theophilus of Ancient GreeceAlexandria|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.
== Born 361 Relics==Upon her repose, her memory was celebrated by many since she was very charitable due to her considerable wealth. Olympiaappeared in a dream to the Bishop of Nicomedia and commanded that her body be placed in a wooden coffin and cast into the sea. ''"Wherever the waves carry the coffin, there let my body be buried,"'' said the [[saint]]. As requested, the coffin was born tossed into the sea and was brought by the waves to a place named Brokthoi (Vrocthee), a wealthy family with high ranksuburban shore near Constantinople. The inhabitants, informed of this by God, took the holy [[relics]] of Olympia and placed them in the monastery and church of the holy [[Apostle Thomas]] (see the ''Prologue from Ochrid'', Bishop Nikolai Velimorovic). Her father Afterwards, somewhere between 616-620 AD, the church wasburned during an invasion of the Persians, but the relics were preserved. Under the Patriarch [[Sergius I of Constantinople|Sergius]] (610-638), the relics were translated to the convent of 'the house of Olympia' in Constantinople, Count Anysios Secondos founded by Olympia. Many miracles and healings were recorded by this monastery attributed to her mother's name was Alexandra Seconodosrelics.
== Cricial relationships See also==<!---* 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]]
* Emperor Theodosios I, the Spaniard
* Patriarch of Constantinople, Nectarios
--->* Patriarch of Constantinople, St . [[John Chrysostom]], Patriarch of Constantinople<!---
* 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]]. ==Source==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102087 Holy Woman Olympias (Olympiada) the Deaconess of Constantinople] ([[OCA]]) ==External link==*[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html?month=July&day=25 Saint Olympias, the Deaconess] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'') [[Category:Saints]][[Category:Byzantine Saints]][[Category:4th-century saints]]