Philothei

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Saint Philothei
of Athens
Born	about 1522, Athens, Greece
Died	1589, Athens, Greece
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodoxy
Major shrine	None
Feast	February 19
Attributes	Wearing a Nun's habit and holding a cross
Patronage	Athens, Women and Charitable works
Prayer The Faithful of Athens and all the world honor Philothei the martyred nun and rejoic in her holy relics. For she has exchanged this passing life for the life that knows no end through her struggle and martyrdom; and she begs the Savior to have mercy on us all. [1]

Saint Philothei (Greek:Άγια Φιλοθέη) (1522-1589) was born in Athens to an illustrious and wealthy family. Against her will, she was married to a cruel man. When he died three years later, the Saint gave away her worldly belongings, took up the monastic life and established a convent, in which she became a mother to her disciples. Many women enslaved and abused by the Muslim Turks in harems also ran to her for refuge. Because of this, in 1589, the Turkish rulers of Ottoman Greece became enraged and came to her convent and dragged her by force out of the church. They beat her cruelly and after a few days, she died.

Saint Philothei is considered a martyr by the Greek Orthodox Church; her memory is venerated on February 19. Along with Saints Hierotheus and Dionysius the Areopagite, Saint Philothei is considered a patron of the city of Athens. Her relics are interred in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. The Philothei district of Athens is named for her.