Saint Anthusa, Mother of Saint John Chrysostom, Honored November 13

Saint Anthusa was a prominent fourth-century Christian woman born around 347 in Antioch. She was intelligent and well-off. She married Secundus, an illustrious officer in the imperial Roman army. Tragedy struck early when her husband died, leaving her a widow at twenty with their infant son John.

Rather than seeking a second marriage or yielding to social pressures, she chose to dedicate her entire life, energy, and wealth to raising her child and serving God. Anthusa personally oversaw her son's early education, immersing him in the Holy Scriptures and sharing her own classical knowledge. She later placed him under the guidance of the pagan orator Libanius and the Christian theologian Diodore of Tarsus, laying the foundation for his future eloquence.

Her deep maternal and spiritual influence shaped her son into a titan of the early Church. That son grew up to become Saint John Chrysostom, whose name means "Golden-Mouthed." He became one of the most celebrated preachers and Archbishop of Constantinople.

Honored as a model of Christian motherhood, sacrifice, and virtue, Saint Anthusa is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on November 13 alongside her son. Her legacy lives on through charitable institutions such as the Philoptochos Society's Anthousa Chapter. The post includes an image showing a prayer of Saint Anthusa in Greek and a commemoration of Saint Gregory and Saint Nana in Georgian.