During the 4th century, a Christian woman named Anthusa lived in Antioch, one of the four leading cities in the Roman Empire and the first city on the Apostle Paul’s three missionary journeys.
Anthusa married young, as was the custom, to Secundus, an Imperial Army officer of Syria. They had a son they named John.
Secundus died when John was only an infant and Anthusa twenty years of age. He left his young widow a large monetary inheritance to care for their son.
Being a Christian, Anthusa hesitated to put her son into the world’s educational system. Only half of Antioch was Christian. She chose to home-school him to avoid his being corrupted. She also chose not to marry again, but instead dedicate herself to educating her son, teaching him about Jesus, God, the Bible, and instilling in him a Christian character.
Later in life, Anthusa said rearing her son was eased by God’s support. She delighted in watching him grow and seeing her husband’s image in him.
Being an educated woman herself, she gave her son a classic education and taught him to love beauty and memorize scriptures. She encouraged him to pursue a career as a preacher and suggested he study theology, which he did, with Diodore, a noted theologian in Tarsus.
When she felt she had gone as far as she could, she sent John to Libanius, a famous orator, for further study. While he was gone, she wrote him letters. Her one on friendship was translated and published in book form, The Gift of Friendship by Alfred H. Hyatt through J. B. Lippincott Publishing in 1910.
John continued to become one of the great Christian leaders of his time. He was known for his spiritual interpretations with practical applications of Genesis, Matthew, John, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Timothy, and Titus. He was given the name Chrysostom, which means “golden-mouthed.”
Anthusa had dedicated her life to the most important role in this world: raising her son for Jesus. The scriptures and virtues she inculcated in John stayed strong in his life. She could be proud of her parenting as well as of her golden-mouthed son.
O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee