Background
Olympias was born and raised either in Constantinople or Antioch.
Olympias was born and raised either in Constantinople or Antioch.
She was the daughter born to the Antiochian Greek noblewoman, Alexandra and the wealthy Greek Rhetor, Seleucus. Olympias had a sibling, who was a parent of Olympias and Seleucus. Olympias is described as the ‘beloved daughter’ born to Seleucus and Alexandra.
In her adult years, Olympias would later go to marry a nobleman called Nebridius who served as Prefect of Constantinople.
Her good works included building a hospital, an orphanage and even looking after Monks who had been led in exile from Nitria. All of this even led to John Chrysostom telling her that she had done almost too much.
Her support for John Chrysostom led her to being exiled in 404, which resulted her in losing her house and living the rest of her life in exile at Nicomedia, where she would die on July 25, 408, after a long illness. Olympias is one of the 140 Colonnade saints which adorn Saint Peter"s Square.