Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology. By the Greeks on July 24 and 25. Authorities: —The letters of S. John Chrysostom to her, and the Life of S. Chrysostom by Palladius. ] S. Olympias was bom about 368, and left an orphan under the care of Procopius, apparently her uncle. She was brought up by Theodosia, sister of S. Amphilochius. At an early age she married Nebridius, treasurer of Theodosius the Great, and sometime praefect of Constantinople; but he died twenty days after the marriage. The emperor then pressed Olympias to marry Elpidius, a noble Spaniard, his near relation; but she declined the honour, having made up her mind to remain single for the rest of her days. She put her fortune in the hands of the praefect of Constantinople, and asked him to act as her guardian till she had reached the age of thirty. She thenceforth led an ascetic life, fasting and keeping vigils, and denying herself the use of a bath, under the impression that dirtiness, not cleanliness, was next to godliness. Her alms were most abundant, and S. Chrysostom had to urge her to greater moderation in the bestowal of her bounties. From not eating sufficient nourishing food she destroyed her health and suffered painful disorders for many years. She was ordained deaconess by Nectarius, patriarch of Constantinople, and she made a vow of perpetual celibacy. S. John Chrysostom, when he was raised to the see of Constantinople, held her in high esteem, and she was one of the last persons to whom he said farewell when he went to his place of exile in 404. After his departure, she had to suffer persecution along with the rest of his party. She was summoned before the praefect, Optatus, who was a heathen, and she assured him that she would not communicate with Arsacius, who had been intruded into the see of S. John.