05/08/2025
Thank you to everyone who shared your questions and stories in the comments here and on instagram! We have a winner for our Saint Olympia bundle drawing. The randomly drawn winner from among commenters was comealongrissy on Instagram. Read the beautiful comments here and on Instagram to see more inspiring connections with this deaconess saint who supported the Three Holy Hierarchs in their ministries.
Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Olympia the Deaconess, one of the great benefactors and noble servants of the Church who was best friends with Saint John Chrysostom and friend and benefactor of St. Gregory the Theologian and friend of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa. It is often noted that St. Gregory the Theologian restored the Orthodox faith by preaching his theological orations from the only remaining Orthodox chapel in Constantinople, a house chapel dedicated to Saint Anastasia the Martyr. At only 17 years old at the time, Saint Olympia was the patroness of that chapel, making possible the preaching and conversion of the empire back to the Orthodox faith. She was ordained a deaconess later and built many churches, serving faithfully. In his letters to her, St. John Chrysostom extends encouragement to St. Olympias, extolling her great intellect, faith, and courage, and he uses liturgical references from the time they served together in the great church Hagia Sophia. In honor of her feast, we are giving away a copy of The Letters to Saint Olympia and a sticker of Saint Olympia the Deaconess by No purchase to enter. To be considered, please leave a comment here or on our Facebook post with your interest in the history of women deacons and saints. We will choose randomly from the commenters on Monday, July 28th. Please share!