Philothei

Philothea of Athens (Greek Αγία Φιλοθέη η Αθηναία Agia Filothei i Athinea; * 1522 in Athens, † 1589 in Athens ) is an Orthodox saint and the patron saint of Athens. She is revered as a martyr for the freedom of Greece and the Orthodox faith.

Life

Philothea, with birth name Revoula Benizelou, came from a leading family in Athens, which belonged to the Ottoman Empire, then as the whole of Greece. As a twelve year old, she was given to a rich man to woman who abused her. When he died three years later, she returned to her parents' house. After the death of her parents, she founded the age of 25 a convent and placed it under the patronage of the Apostle Andrew. She took the religious name Philothea - "God's friend" - to. With the sisters of her convent she founded schools, worked in the poor and the sick, protecting young women against forced conversion to Islam and before the harem. Finally, she was abducted from the convent church and beaten to death.

Worship

The shrine of St. Philothea is venerated in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. Your feast day is February 19.