Olympias the Deaconess

Venerable Olympias the Deaconess of Constantinople, friend of St. John Chrysostom.

St. Olympias was a noblewoman of Constantinople who, widowed young, devoted her great wealth to the Church and the poor and was ordained a deaconess. She was a close friend and supporter of St. John Chrysostom, and shared his sufferings when he was exiled.

She herself was persecuted and exiled, and reposed in the early fifth century. Chrysostom's letters to her are preserved.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Olympias the Deaconess is commemorated on July 25. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on August 7 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Olympia, Olympias, Olympiada, Olymbia, Olimpia, Olympie

Also commemorated on July 25

• 

  Dormition of Anne

  Holy Woman, Κοίμηση Αγίας Άννας

  Dormition of Saint Anne, mother of the Theotokos.

  Name days: Anna, Anne, Annie, Anneta, Annita, Annitsa

• Eupraxia of Tabenna

  Holy Woman, Ευπραξία

  Venerable Eupraxia, virgin of the Thebaid.

  Name days: Eupraxia, Efpraxia, Evpraxia, Praxia

• Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council

  Saint, Πατέρες Ε' Οικουμενικής Συνόδου

  Commemoration of the 165 Holy Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople.

• Blandina and the Martyrs of Lyon

  Martyr, Βλανδίνα

  Holy Martyrs Sanctus, Maturus, Attalus and Blandina of Lyon in Gaul.

• Gregory Kallidis

  Hierarch, Γρηγόριος Καλλίδης

  St. Gregory Kallidis, Metropolitan of Heraclea, hierarch of the twentieth century.