Princess Anthusa of Constantinople (Istanbul) (d. AD 801)

Anthusa was the only daughter of emperor Constantine V and empress Eudokia. Although she had tremendous royal privileges, she rejected them all to seek first the kingdom of God. As a member of the imperial court she wore royal clothing, but underneath she wore a hair-shirt. After her father died, she gave her riches to the poorest of the poor, founded a monastery, and gave money to many churches. Rejecting all honor, wealth, and power, she became a mother to orphans and a protector of widows. Anthusa became a nun and devoted herself to a consecrated life of holiness, constantly praying, and reading the Bible. She modeled a life of true Christlike humility, dying at the age of fifty-two in 801.