Then by the divine will she was ordained deaconess of this holy cathedral of god. Olympias the deaconess antiochian orthodox christian. Olympius was born in constatinople in 368 into a wealthy family. She belonged to a pagan family of high rank, and was born about 368. The title of this book is the making of a deaconess handbook and it was written by fran a. Olympias encyclopedia volume catholic encyclopedia. Her father, anysius secundus, was a senator and her mother was the daughter of the famous nobleman eulavius who is mentioned in the hagiography of st. When did the church stop ordaining women as deacons and why. Her parents died, however, while she was still young, leaving her a huge inheritance. The deaconess olympias to whom seventeen of chrysostoms extant letters are addressed was the most eminent of his female friends. The life and struggles of our holy mother among the saint. Deacon, deaconess encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.
A book on lives of the saints which i am reading lists a st. The deaconess olympias, to whom 17 of chrysostoms extant letters are addressed, was born about 368 to a pagan family of high rank. The twentyfirst century deacon and deaconess reflecting the biblical model foreword by elder j. Fliedner chapel ncp 01089925, national museum of health.
The greek orthodox archdiocese of america, with its headquarters located in the city of new york, is an eparchy of the ecumenical patriarchate of constantinople, the mission of the archdiocese is to proclaim the gospel of christ, to teach and spread the orthodox christian faith, to energize, cultivate, and guide the life of the church in the united states of america according. Justinians legislation in the mid6th century regarding clergy throughout his territories in the east and the west mentioned men and women as deacons in parallel. Deaconess hospital evansville, indiana hospital facebook. Church and the alpha movementwomen deacons catholic san. John chrysostom commemorated on july 25 the wrestlings of virtue do not depend upon age, or bodily strength, but only on the spirit and the disposition.
Olympias the deaconess greek orthodox archdiocese of america. Nectarius, archbishop of constantinople, had a high esteem for the saintly widow, and made her a deaconess of his church, the duties of which were to prepare the altar linen and to attend to other matters of that sort. The blessed theosebia the deaconess was the sister of ss. It is indeed always fitting to admire those who pursue virtue, but especially when some are found to cling to it at. Fliedner chapel ncp 010899 25, national museum of health and medicine description. I would not recommend this book to help with either deacon or deaconess ministry.
Her father seleucus who was a count of the empire died when she was a young girl and she was brought up under the guardianship of an uncle procopius, who has a devout. About us deaconess was founded in 1892 by a group of protestant ministers and laymen who felt called to care for the sick. The altar and nave end of the large fliedner chapel. Olympia olympiada the deaconess of constantinople ca. She was orphaned when a child and was given over to the care of theodosia by her uncle, the prefect procopius. Olympias insensibly reflected the virtues of this estimable woman. Olympias, was born into a wealthy noble constantinople family in 368. This statue of olympias is one of 140 statues of saints that surround st peters square in vatican city. It was published by fourg publishers and has a total of 128 pages in the book. Some of chrysostoms letters to olympias can be read here. Olympias, one of the closest friends and supporters of the archbishop of constantinople john chrysostom, was known as a wealthy and influential deaconess during the 5th century. The sovereign state of georgia in eastern europe has a long christian history that can be traced back to the 300s. Olympias was still very young, her parents betrothed her to a nobleman. The health system also includes deaconess clinic, a fully integrated multispecialty group featuring primary care physicians as well as specialty doctors.
Her father, secundus or selencus was a count of the empire. She served in the church as a deaconess, first in the time of patriarch nectarius and, after his death, under st john chrysostom. Thus the four deaconesses could stay together in the convent that olympias had founded. Olympias the deaconess was the daughter of senator anicius secundus, and was the maternal granddaughter of the noted eparch eulalios who is mentioned in the life of st. When chrysostom went into exile, he advised olympias to remain in the church as before and serve it, whichever patriarch should succeed him. Saint olympias the deaconess was the daughter of the senator anicius secundus, and by her mother she was the granddaughter of the noted eparch eulalios he is mentioned in the life of saint nicholas. She was left orphaned and raised by her sister theodosia who was quite pious. Irene of chrysovalanton 9th c and numerous other holy women. After the death of her father seleucus, she was brought up under the guardianship of her uncle procopius who was a devout.
John chrysostom became bishop of constantinople 398, he acted as spiritual guide of olympias and her companions, and, as many undeserving approached the kindhearted deaconess for support, he advised her as to the proper manner of utilizing her vast fortune in the service of the poor sozomen, hist. Basil the great, gregory of nyssa, and peter the bishop of sebaste. We can rnot be sure that any formal recognition of deaconesses as an institution of consecrated women aiding the clergy is to be found in the new testament. Georgia, or iberia as it was then known,1 was one of the very first countries to accept christianity and make it their state religion. Godwilling, may they sooner rather than later discern throughcheirotonia ordination faithful and tested female servants of god to the diaconate. The theodore theodor fliedner deaconess institute for lutheran nuns in kaiserswerth, germany, located in the british zone, near dusseldorf was the first nursing school ever attended by florence nightingale, famous british. I love the book, we have some new deaconess, i wanted them to read this book because of the helpful information, it is such a great book, i am hoping that it will go into print again. But when he died shortly thereafter, she refused many offers for remarriage so she could dedicate her time and wealth to the service of the church. Gregory nazianzus, who wrote the epithalamion for her wedding. Olympia the deaconess born of a noble family born c. Chrysostom, who succeeded nectarius, had no less respect than his predecessor for olympias, but refused to attend to the. John also ordained as deaconesses of the cathedral her three relatives, elisanthia, martyria and palladia. Susanna the deaconess st olympias december a widow with an immense fortune, became a devoted disciple of st john chrysostom alexandria john chrysostom saint feast days catholic online december 17 july 25 catholic saints catholic herald religious icons.
She married nebridius, also a prefect, was widowed soon after, refused several offers of marriage, and had her fortune put in. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. We dont know the exact year that olympias was born, but it was between the years 360365. Schedule now now accepting new patients at the deaconess clinic respiratory immediate care. Theosebia was a member of a very distinguished orthodox christian family of the fourth century.
Published by avas book publishers 109 ellacott drive huntsville, al 35806. Reviewed in the united states on september 14, 2016. Reviewed in the united states on february 17, 2014. Olympias born into a wealthy noble constantinople family. Olympias in the fourth and fifth centuries and says that she was a deaconess of the church, an office which existed at that time. More than 125 years later, deaconess health system continues to provide highquality health care with a compassionate spirit, just as our founders envisioned. Commemorated on july 25 by saint nikolai velimirovic olympias was born in constantinople of very distinguished parents. Left an orphan at a tender age, she was brought up by theodosia, sister of st. Book is in ancient greek and translated into french. Deaconess clinic pediatric respiratory immediate care. The life and struggles of our holy mother among the saint, olympia, deaconess of constantinople, whose memory the holy church celebrates on the 25th of july early life our holy mother, olympia1, was born in 3612 to a wealthy family of high rank. The full collection of letters written by john chrysostome to the deaconess st. Holy woman olympias olympiada the deaconess of constantinople commemorated on july 25.