Coming from an illustrious family of Nicomedia, Nicarate dedicated herself to God and the poor in Constantinople, using her medical knowledge to treat the destitute. Faithful to Saint John Chrysostom, she chose exile rather than submit to the usurper Arsaces. She died in piety around 440 after a life marked by profound humility.
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SAINT NICARATE OR NICARATA OF NICOMEDIA, VIRGIN
Origins and Vocation to Charity
Coming from an illustrious family of Nicomedia, Nicarete settled in Constantinople to dedicate herself to virginity and the care of the poor through medicine.
Nicarete or Nicerate Nicarête ou Nicérate Virgin from Nicomedia, known for her humility and healing talents. , whose name means Victory of Virtue, was from one of the most illustrious families of Nicome dia, in B Nicomédie City of origin of Saint Nicarete. ithynia. She was raised with great care in the maxims and sentiments of a solid piety and the practice of all Christian virtues. Her distinctive qualities were a profound humility and an admirable modesty. It is not known when or on what occasion this humble virgin left her native city; it is only certain that she left Nicomedia and came to live in Constantinople, where she made a professi on of living t Constantinople City where the saint exercised his ministry and patriarchate. he rest of her days in the service of God and her neighbor, in perpetual virginity, employing all the riches of her ample patrimony in works of charity. She began to study the properties of medicinal plants, to prepare remedies from them for the poor sick, very often healing those whom the doctors had been unable to relieve, and performing cures that seemed miraculous, and were sometimes truly so.
Humility and Refusal of Honors
Despite the requests of Saint John Chrysostom, she refused to become a deaconess or to lead the virgins, preferring a life hidden in God.
Nicarate lived in Constantinople in deep retirement, taking great care to hide her good works so as not to risk losing their fruit: the applause of men indeed contains a poison that can corrupt everything by inspiring a vain complacency in oneself and one's actions. She would never consent, despite the urgings of Saint John Chrysostom, her bishop, to be raised t o the rank of deacones saint Jean Chrysostome Predecessor of Tryphon cited as an example of a holy and persecuted bishop. s. Nor could he ever persuade her to take charge of the virgins of Constantinople, who lived without being enclosed in monasteries, either alone or within their families. Her only happiness was to remain unknown and to lead a life hidden in God.
Fidelity and persecution
Faithful to her exiled bishop, she refused to recognize the authority of the intruder Arsaces and suffered the persecutions striking the supporters of Chrysostom.
However, such rare virtue could not remain unknown to the world; such brilliant merit attracted envious people and enemies, and the servant of the Lord had to be tested by the fire of tribulations. Having remained inviolably faithful to her great and holy bishop, in whom she venerated the Savior, the sole object of her attachment on earth and in heaven, th e charitable virgin la charitable vierge Virgin from Nicomedia, known for her humility and healing talents. deserved to share in the persecutions that were so malignantly stirred up against this illustrious doctor of the Church. After he was driven from his see, in the year 404, they sought to force Nicarete and many other virgins, S sainte Olympiade Pious widow and companion in persecution of Nicarete. aint Olympias, and many other pious widows, to recognize the autho rity of the int l'intrus Arsace Intruder bishop imposed after the exile of John Chrysostom. ruder Arsaces. None of them would do anything of the sort.
Exile and end of life
She chose voluntary exile and poverty, continuing her works of charity until her death around the year 440 in a place that remains secret.
A good number of these courageous women, for whom conscience comes before all else, rather than being constantly exposed to every kind of insult, preferred to leave Constantinople and condemn themselves to a voluntary banishment. Nicarete took this path: joining great courage and perfect selflessness to her marvelous humility, without complaining of the odious injustice that had stripped her of the better part of her goods, she ran into exile. Through her economy, and above all through her abstinences, the little that had been left to her as strictly necessary sufficed not only for her to live, but also to provide gifts and alms.
This holy maiden spent the rest of her days in the continual exercise of virtues, without ever departing from her initial fervor, until a venerable old age, benefiting many through her good examples, her wise advice, and her pious liberality. The Lord, wishing to reward her for such perseverance, deigned to withdraw her from this world to place her in the company of His virgins in heaven, on the 27th of the month of December, around the year 440. It is unknown which region witnessed her final moments, and in what place her mortal remains were laid: God, who has kept the secret, will know how to find them on the day of His justice.
Source
Mention of the author of the notice, Abbé Chapin.
Abbé Chapin, par M. l'abbé Chapin Author of the hagiographic biography. ish priest of V Vitel Parish of Abbé Chapin. itel.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Settled in Constantinople and lived a life of charity
- Study of medicinal plants and care for the poor
- Refusal of the title of deaconess offered by Saint John Chrysostom
- Loyalty to Saint John Chrysostom during his exile in 404
- Voluntary exile from Constantinople to avoid recognizing the intruder Arsaces
Miracles
- Healing of the sick abandoned by physicians, sometimes described as miraculous