Anthusa

Saint Anthusa was the mother of Saint John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, and is commemorated on 13 November (new style). The Church honours her as a model for widows and for mothers who raise their children in the faith, alongside the mothers of the other Three Hierarchs.

From her son's writings it is known that she was widowed young, after the death of her husband, an officer, and that she refused to remarry so as to bring up her child. She saw to it that John received a fine education and remained for him a support beside whom he grew toward faith and service. On the occasion of a conversation with her, the pagan rhetor Libanius, John's teacher, is said to have exclaimed how wonderful Christian women are. Nothing certain is preserved about her end.