Angina

The name Anastasia in the Orthodox calendar (Saints). Icon of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker

Holy Great Martyr ANASTASIA the Pattern Maker (†c.304)

Holy Great Martyr Anastasia lived during the time of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). She was the daughter of the Roman senator Praetextatus, who professed a pagan faith. Her mother Fausta secretly believed in Christ.

Anastasia was distinguished by her nobility, spiritual and physical beauty, good character and meekness. As a girl, Anastasia was entrusted by her mother to teach the Christian Chrysogonus, known for his learning and piety. Chrysogonus taught Anastasia Holy Scripture and fulfillment of God's law. At the end of the teaching, Anastasia was spoken of as a wise and beautiful maiden.

After the death of her mother, regardless of her daughter’s wishes, her father married her to the pagan Pomplius, who also came from a senatorial family. But under the pretext of a fictitious illness, she retained her virginity. Sometimes, the husband tried to use violence, but Anastasia, with the invisible help of a guardian angel, escaped from his hands.

There were many Christian prisoners in the dungeons of Rome at that time. In beggarly clothes, the saint secretly visited prisoners - she washed and fed the sick, unable to move, bandaged wounds, and consoled everyone who needed it. Her teacher and mentor languished in prison for two years. Meeting with him, she was edified by his long-suffering and devotion to the Savior. Saint Anastasia’s husband, Pomplius, having learned about this, severely beat her, placed her in a separate room and placed guards at the door. The saint grieved that she had lost the opportunity to help Christians. After the death of Anastasia’s father, Pomplius decided to kill his wife in order to inherit all her property and live with another wife using other people’s money. Treating her as a captive and slave, he tortured and tormented her daily. The saint wrote to her teacher: “My husband... torments me as an opponent of his pagan faith in such a grave conclusion that I have no choice but to surrender my spirit to the Lord and fall dead.” In his reply letter, Saint Chrysogon consoled the martyr: “Darkness always precedes light, and after illness health often returns, and after death we are promised life.” And he predicted the imminent death of her husband. After some time, Pomplius was appointed ambassador to the Persian king. On the way to Persia, he drowned during a sudden storm.

Now the saint could again visit Christians languishing in prison. Along with freedom, she received the entire parental inheritance, which she used for clothing, food and medicine for the sick.

At that time, King Diocletian was informed from Rome that the prisons were filled with a great multitude of Christians, that, despite various torments, they did not deny their Christ, and that in all this they were supported by the Christian teacher Chrysogon.

At Roman Emperor Diocletians The most severe persecution of Christians broke out in the empire. The first 19 years of his reign were marked only by martyrdom among the soldiers, because the soldiers continually refused to make the required sacrifices to the gods, and for this they were executed. Christians felt so calm that even opposite the emperor's palace in Nicomedia a large Christian church stood.

But at the end of his reign, Diocletian undertook a widespread persecution of Christians. Within one year, one after another, he issues as many as four edicts (decrees) against Christians, and these edicts predetermine the ever-increasing scale of persecution. First there was confiscation of church property. After the confiscation of shrines and church property, arrests and executions of the clergy followed. Every single clergy person was subject to persecution: not only bishops, but also all lower clergy, of whom there were very many at that time, because there was no firm boundary between clergy and ordinary church employees: for example, gatekeepers in churches or orderlies who served church hospitals and almshouses were also considered clergy. All Christians were forced to return to paganism, and protesters were tortured.

"Last Prayer" Christian martyrs" J.-L. Jerome.

Having learned about Chrysogon, Diocletian ordered him to be sent to him in Aquileia (a city in upper Italy) for trial, and to execute all Christians. Anastasia followed her teacher. Diocletian hoped to convince Chrysogonus to renounce Christ, but could not withstand the free speeches of the saint and ordered his head to be cut off. The body of Saint Chrysogonus, after his martyrdom, according to Divine revelation, was placed in an ark and hidden in the house of the presbyter Zoilus. 30 days after his death, Saint Chrysogonus appeared to Zoilus and predicted the imminent death of three young Christian women who lived nearby - Agapia, Chionia and Irina (†304; Comm. April 16). And he ordered Saint Anastasia to be sent to them. Saint Anastasia had such a vision. She went to the presbyter, prayed at the relics of Saint Chrysogon, then, in a spiritual conversation, strengthened the courage of the three virgins before the torture ahead of them. Saints Agapia and Chionia were thrown into the fire. Here they died, but their bodies remained intact. And one of the soldiers wounded Saint Irene with an arrow from a tight bow, after which the saint died. After the death of the martyrs, Anastasia herself buried their bodies.

Saint Anastasia began to wander.Having mastered the art of medicine by that time, she zealously served Christians imprisoned everywhere. Anastasia spent all her funds to help those in need, and poured gold, silver and copper figurines into money and fed many hungry people, clothed the naked, and helped the weak.

In Macedonia, the saint met a young Christian widow, Theodotia, who, after the death of her husband, was left with three infant sons. Blessed Anastasia often lived with the widow and she helped her in pious labors.

Soon Anastasia was captured as a Christian and handed over to Diocletian (since Anastasia was from a noble Roman family, only the emperor could decide her fate). However, frightened by her wise speeches, with the words “It is not proper for the Tsar’s Majesty to talk with a mad woman,” Diocletian handed her over to the high priest Ulpian, so that he could persuade her to sacrifice to the pagan gods or put her to cruel execution. The priest invited Saint Anastasia to make a choice between rich gifts and instruments of torture, placed on both sides near her. The saint, without hesitation, pointed to the instruments of torture: “Surrounded by these objects, I will become more beautiful and more pleasing to my longed-for Bridegroom - Christ...” Before subjecting Saint Anastasia to torture, Ulpian decided to desecrate her. But as soon as he touched her, he became blind, a terrible pain gripped his head, and after a while he died.

Saint Anastasia was freed and, together with Theodotia, continued to serve the prisoners. Soon Saint Theodotia and her three infant sons were committed to martyrdom (they were thrown into a fiery furnace) in their hometown Nicaea (c. 304; commemorated July 29 and December 22).

Execution of Saint Anastasia

Meanwhile, Saint Anastasia was put on trial in Illyria. The selfish ruler secretly invited her to cede all her wealth to him: “Fulfill the commandment of your Christ, who commands you to despise all riches and to be poor.” To which the wise Anastasia wisely replied: “Who would be so crazy as to give you, a rich man, what belongs to the poor?”

Saint Anastasia was imprisoned for the second time and tortured by hunger for 60 days. Every night Saint Theodotia appeared to the martyr, approved and strengthened her in patience.INBelieving that the famine had not caused harm to the saint, the hegemon of Illyria ordered her to be drowned along with the convicted criminals, among whom was Eutychian, persecuted for his Christian faith (December 22).

The soldiers put the prisoners on the ship and went out to the open sea. Having reached the depths, the warriors drilled several holes in the ship, and they themselves got into a boat and sailed to the shore. The ship began to sink into the water, but the prisoners saw the martyr Theodotia, controlling the sails and guiding the ship to the shore. 120 people, amazed by the miracle, believed in Christ - Saints Anastasia and Eutychian baptized them.

Having learned about what had happened, the hegemon ordered the execution of all the newly baptized. Saint Anastasia was stretched over a fire between four pillars. This is how Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker completed her martyrdom.Her body, undamaged by the fire, was buried in the garden by a certain pious woman, Apollinaria. At the end of the persecution, she built a church over the tomb of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia.

Relics of Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker

In the 5th century, the relics of Saint Anastasia were transferred to Constantinople, where a temple was built in her name. Later, the head and right hand of the great martyr were transferred to the one created near the city of Thessaloniki. Monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker .

Monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker

Iconography

The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia is depicted on icons with a cross in right hand and a small vessel in the left. The cross is the path to salvation; in the vessel there is holy oil, healing wounds.

The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia is called "Pattern maker" , since the Lord has given her the power to heal bodily and spiritual illnesses, to loosen the bonds of those unjustly condemned, and to give consolation to those in prison. They also ask the saint for protection from witchcraft.

Material prepared by Seregey SHULYAK

for the Temple Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills in Moscow

Troparion, tone 4:
On the occasion of the victorious Resurrection / you were called truly eminent, / the martyr of Christ, / you brought victory to your enemies through torments with patience, / for the sake of Christ, your Bridegroom, / whom you loved. / Pray to him to save our souls.

Kontakion, voice 2:
In the temptations and sorrows that exist,/ those who flow to your temple, / receive honest gifts/ from the Divine grace living in you, Anastasia: / for you are ever the source of healing for the world.

Prayer to the Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker:
O long-suffering and wise great martyr of Christ Anastasia! You stand with your soul in Heaven at the Throne of the Lord, and on earth you perform various healings by the grace given to you; look mercifully at the people who are coming and praying before your icon, asking for your help, extend holy prayers to the Lord for us and ask us for forgiveness of our sins, help in merciful works, strengthening of the spirit in service, meekness, humility and obedience, healing for the sick, for the grieving and in the bonds of existence ambulance and intercession, beg the Lord to give us all a Christian death and a good answer at His Last Judgment, so that we too may be worthy to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit together with you. Amen.

Representatives of the fair sex, professing orthodox christianity, the so-called female saints are especially revered. Matrona of Moscow, Ksenia of St. Petersburg, Great Martyr Catherine, Paraskeva, Great Martyr Varvara - there are a lot of them, but each of these intercessors is capable of interceding for the lost soul who turned to her before God. Saint Anastasia, of course, also belongs to this host. They also pray to her for the gift of marriage, motherhood, and healing of illnesses. But first of all, Saint Anastasia is the patroness of prisoners of both sexes, since during her lifetime she provided unselfish help to prisoners. Therefore, the ascetic received a beautiful, symbolic addition to her name - Pattern Maker.

General information about Saint Anastasia

The melodious name “Anastasia” is of Greek origin. Translated into Russian it sounds like “resurrection.” Folk legends invariably contain personification using of this word Sunday afternoon.

Why is Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker? It must be said that the matter is not only about the patronage provided by Saint Anastasia to prisoners. The harmful bonds that dominate specific people are different: these are the bonds of harmful addictions, for example, drunkenness, drug addiction, and the bonds of vice, and the bonds of lack of faith, and the bonds of loneliness. And Saint Anastasia has the power to destroy any of them.

In fact, ascetics of piety who wore Greek name“Resurrection”, there were three: Anastasia the Roman or Elder (III century), Anastasia Patricia or Alexandria (died around 567/568) and Anastasia the Pattern Maker or Younger (died around 304). Often Anastasia the Roman and Anastasia the Pattern Maker are confused, their lives are mixed up. Such confusion could be caused in part by the same period in which the martyrdoms of both ascetics fell: the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284 - 305). However, in iconography it is customary to depict the holy images of Anastasia the Roman and Anastasia the Pattern Maker with different details and attributes. The first is invariably dressed in monastic robes, holding a palm branch and a cross in her hands. Anastasia the Younger has a crucifix in her right hand, and a vessel filled with oil in her left, and she is dressed in a tunic and maforia. But more often it is difficult to identify an icon of a saint, because on most images only “Saint Anastasia” is written without any clarifications or details.

Childhood and youth of the ascetic

Currently, to describe the earthly period of the existence of Saint Anastasia, the Pattern Makers rely on the life of the 10th century, authored by Simeon Metaphrastus.

According to this ancient documentary source, the future ascetic was born into a family of noble Romans: Pretextatus and Fausta. The girl’s mother secretly professed Christianity, so, of course, she entrusted the upbringing of her daughter to the scientist and righteous Chrysogonus. He managed to instill in the child a love for the dogmas of Christianity and an unshakable faith in the Almighty. After her studies and the education process came to an end, people started talking about Anastasia, calling her a beautiful and incredibly wise maiden.

A little time passed, and a misfortune happened: the girl’s mother passed away. Anastasia's father, being a true pagan, forcibly married his pious daughter to an adherent of polytheism. The spouse named by the parent was called Pomplius. But Anastasia was not embarrassed. Having firmly decided to observe the vow of virginity for the rest of her life, she continually avoided fulfilling her marital duty. The ascetic’s excuse was the alleged presence of an incurable disease.

Anastasia had a kind heart. She turned her attention to the prisoners who were in large quantities in prisons. These people were innocently guilty: they were thrown into prison because they belonged to Christianity. Pious Anastasia helped the unfortunate as best she could: she looked after the sick: she bandaged wounds, washed and fed; consoled the disadvantaged. She did all this in secret from her husband.

But the husband still found out about his Christian wife’s activities and began to harass her. When Anastasia’s father died, Pomplius firmly decided to appropriate the ascetic’s inheritance for himself. However, God did not allow such lawlessness to happen. The dishonest pagan died in a shipwreck while sailing by sea to Persia with an embassy. Thanks to the prevailing circumstances, the young widow began to travel around the world, spending money on the needs of prisoners. She morally supported the martyrs Agapia, Chionia and Irina, whose memorial day Orthodox Church honors April 16. By the way, Anastasia learned about these ascetics and their fate from a dream. God also endowed her with the gift of healing.

One step away from death

In the end, the ascetic Anastasia betrayed herself and her affiliation with Christianity, shedding bitter tears about the impending death of all the prisoners in the dungeons. Retribution was not long in coming: Anastasia the Pattern Maker, by the will of the emperor, was sent to the High Priest Ulpian. Target this decision was obvious: either to convert the pious virgin by force into paganism, or to put her to death as a martyr, like thousands before her.

As soon as Anastasia found herself in front of the priest, he invited her to make the appropriate choice. She pointed to the instrument of torture and murder without the slightest hesitation. But Ulpian decided to dishonor the Christian woman before putting her to torture. However, he didn’t even have time to touch her when a terrible pain pierced his head, he went blind, and after some time he died. This is how Anastasia gained freedom.

Death of a Saint

But the life of the ascetic Saint Anastasia did not last long outside the prison walls and pagan captivity. Anastasia was sheltered by an equally pious young Christian woman named Theodotia, who had a pagan husband and three young children.

It was the heretic husband who became the cause of Anastasia’s subsequent suffering. He informed the head of the region, Nikitiy, about the religion of his wife and their lodger. He ordered that Theodotia and her children be martyred, and her friend put in prison, which was done. Anastasia the Pattern Maker was subjected to two months of starvation. But contrary to common sense, the maiden continued to remain alive.

Then the torturers decided to get rid of the rebellious ascetic and other prisoners. To do this, they chose death at sea: they put the indicated persons on a ship with a known hole in the bottom and launched it into the water. However, here too, God saved Anastasia the Patternmaker along with the rest of the Christians from certain death: the holy martyr Theodotia suddenly appeared on the ship in front of everyone and, driving the latter, led it to the shore. 120 Christians escaped death thanks to a real miracle!

This did not stop the pagans. They executed the survivors. Saint Anastasia the Patternmaker was burned alive, stretching the body of the ascetic between 4 pillars. The life of the martyr says that the fire did not touch the remains of the virgin. They were taken by the pious Christian Apollinaria and buried.

At the end of the persecution of Christians, she built a temple of God on this site. When, after many years, miracles began to occur from the relics of Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker, the remains of the ascetic were transferred to Constantinople. Today, large fragments of them are kept in Greece, namely the right foot and head.

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Content:

The article contains, as fully as possible, images of the holy great martyrAnastasia the Pattern Maker,located in churches and museumscollectionsSt. Petersburg -StateHermitage,
State Russian Museum and State Museum of the History of Religion.In the author’s program of the director of the State Hermitage, attached to the article, Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky talks about the icons of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker, stored in the largest museum in Russia.

Icons of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Patternmaker in the churches of St. Petersburg

House Church of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker on Vasilyevsky Island.

Building on Leith Quay. Shmidt, 39, which houses the house church of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker on Vasilievsky Island (photo by Alexander Stepanov)

The home church of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker on Vasilyevsky Island.

In the foreground is the temple icon of St. Anastasia. On the right is the icon of St. Anastasia in the iconostasis (photo by Alexey Gnedovsky)

Fresco of St. VMC. Anastasia Pattern Maker in the vestibule of the temple (author Stanislav Gomenyuk, 2017).

St. Isaac's Cathedral.

Fragment of the mosaic reliquary icon “Four Fathers of the Church” with selected saints"

Byzantium. Beginning XIV century 32x25.7x3 cm.

Winter Palace. Art of Byzantium IV–XV centuries. Hall of monuments of the middle and late Byzantine times: X-mid-XV centuries. Hall 382. 3rd floor

The icon is inserted into a picturesque frame depicting the Deesis and the seven saints with their relics, including the VMC of Anastasia - in the bottom row on the right (Prince P. Chakhoitna “Saint Anastasia - a sacred image and temples in Europe”). According to legend, this icon belonged to the first wife of Ivan the Terrible, Anastasia Romanovna Zakharyina-Yuryeva.

Icon Mother of God"Hodegetria" of Smolensk with selected saints

Novgorod, province. Second half of the 16th century (1565?). Wood, pavoloka, gesso, tempera. 76.5x52.7 cm.

Until 1917 it was with D.I. Silin. On the margins, characteristic of the Novgorod province of the 16th century, are rows of saints in the margins framing the centerpiece. In the bottom row are Saints Anastasia and Paraskeva. (T. B. Vilinbakhova, I. P. Bolotseva “Iconography” in the book “1000th anniversary of Russian artistic culture. Exhibition catalogue”, 1988, photo from the book)

Her life began in the city of Rome. The girl's father Pretextat occupied high rank and belonged to Hellenic paganism. And Favsta’s mother was a Christian. In adolescence, she was sent to study with one of the noble teachers, Chrysogonus, who also confessed Christ. He told young Anastasia about the One who is the Light of the world, who is the Truth. Anastasia believed in the Savior and was grateful to her mother and teacher for the acquired knowledge. Meanwhile, the mother went to the Lord, and the father married the girl to his fellow believer against the will of Anastasia. Day and night she tearfully prayed to God to help her maintain her purity, and the Lord responded to her petitions.
The young wife told her husband that she was very sick and could not be a wife; upon hearing this, he became angry and began to forcibly try to fulfill his desires, but Anastasia escaped from his hands.
She loved, secretly from everyone, dressing up as a beggar and visiting prisoners in dungeons. Having learned about this, her husband severely beat her, so much so that the saint could not even leave the house.
Her torment and oppression from her husband intensified after the death of her father. In order to take possession of the inheritance that Anastasia inherited from her father, the despot decided to kill his wife. But, having conceived a terrible murder, he did not even imagine that he himself would soon depart to another world, drowning in the sea during business trip to Persia.
Saint Anastasia, having recovered from severe beatings and torture, again began to help the prisoners, among whom was her teacher Chrysogon. He rallied the Christian prisoners around himself and preached to them, strengthened and instructed them. The news of this reached the king - the tormentor Diocletian, and he ordered that all those faithful to Christ be executed, and Chrysogonus personally delivered to him. The ruler offered to convert to paganism, thereby saving his life, but the prisoner, faithful to the teachings, refused. After which he was beheaded.
Saint Anastasia began to preach different cities and countries. In one of the villages, the formidable king ordered the death of all Christian prisoners in one night. When Anastasia came to prison in the morning and did not find a single martyr alive, she fell in tears of great sorrow. The guards, learning that she was also a Christian, seized her and took her to Diocletian. On his orders, they tried for a long time to persuade her to renounce Christ, but the saint truly stood in her faith. She was sentenced to be drowned in the sea. The martyrs were put on a ship and a hole was drilled in its bottom, but Saint Theodotia appeared to the Christians, who stood on the sailing ship and helped Anastasia and other believers escape. The pagans, who were also on the ship, immediately believed in God. There were all 120 of them. Having learned about this, the king ordered everyone to be executed, and Saint Anastasia to be stretched between four pillars and burned in the fire. Thus ended the earthly life of the holy martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker.

The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia lived during the time of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). She was the daughter of the Roman senator Praetextatus, who professed a pagan faith. Her mother Fausta secretly believed in Christ.

Anastasia was distinguished by her nobility, spiritual and physical beauty, good character and meekness. As a girl, Anastasia was entrusted by her mother to teach the Christian Chrysogonus, known for his learning and piety. Chrysogon taught Anastasia the Holy Scriptures and the fulfillment of God's law. At the end of the teaching, Anastasia was spoken of as a wise and beautiful maiden.

There were many Christian prisoners in the dungeons of Rome at that time. In beggarly clothes, the saint secretly visited prisoners - she washed and fed the sick, unable to move, bandaged wounds, and consoled everyone who needed it. Her teacher and mentor languished in prison for two years. Meeting with him, she was edified by his long-suffering and devotion to the Savior. Saint Anastasia’s husband, Pomplius, having learned about this, severely beat her, placed her in a separate room and placed guards at the door. The saint grieved that she had lost the opportunity to help Christians. After the death of Anastasia’s father, Pomplius decided to kill his wife in order to inherit all her property and live with another wife using other people’s money. Treating her as a captive and slave, he tortured and tormented her daily. The saint wrote to her teacher: “ My husband... torments me as an opponent of his pagan faith in such a grave conclusion that I have no choice but to surrender my spirit to the Lord and fall dead" In his reply letter, Saint Chrysogon consoled the martyr: “ Light is always preceded by darkness, and after illness health often returns, and after death we are promised life." And he predicted the imminent death of her husband. After some time, Pomplius was appointed ambassador to the Persian king. On the way to Persia, he drowned during a sudden storm.

Now the saint could again visit Christians languishing in prison. Along with freedom, she received the entire parental inheritance, which she used for clothing, food and medicine for the sick.

"The Last Prayer of the Christian Martyrs." J.-L. Jerome.

Having learned about Chrysogon, Diocletian ordered him to be sent to him in Aquileia (a city in upper Italy) for trial, and to execute all Christians. Anastasia followed her teacher. Diocletian hoped to convince Chrysogonus to renounce Christ, but could not withstand the free speeches of the saint and ordered his head to be cut off. The body of Saint Chrysogonus, after his martyrdom, according to Divine revelation, was placed in an ark and hidden in the house of the presbyter Zoilus. 30 days after his death, Saint Chrysogonus appeared to Zoilus and predicted the imminent death of three young Christian women who lived nearby - Agapia, Chionia and Irene (†304; Comm. April 16). And he ordered Saint Anastasia to be sent to them. Saint Anastasia had such a vision. She went to the presbyter, prayed at the relics of Saint Chrysogon, then, in a spiritual conversation, strengthened the courage of the three virgins before the torture ahead of them. Saints Agapia and Chionia were thrown into the fire. Here they died, but their bodies remained intact. And one of the soldiers wounded Saint Irene with an arrow from a tight bow, after which the saint died. After the death of the martyrs, Anastasia herself buried their bodies.

Saint Anastasia began to wander. Having mastered the art of medicine by that time, she zealously served Christians imprisoned everywhere. Anastasia spent all her funds to help those in need, and poured gold, silver and copper figurines into money and fed many hungry people, clothed the naked, and helped the weak.

Soon Anastasia was captured as a Christian and handed over to Diocletian (since Anastasia was from a noble Roman family, only the emperor could decide her fate). However, frightened by her wise speeches, with the words “ It is not proper for the Tsar's Majesty to talk to a mad woman.", Diocletian handed her over to the high priest Ulpian, so that he could persuade her to sacrifice to the pagan gods or put her to cruel execution. The priest invited Saint Anastasia to make a choice between rich gifts and instruments of torture, placed on both sides near her. The saint, without hesitation, pointed to the instruments of torture: “ Surrounded by these objects, I will become more beautiful and more pleasing to my longed-for Bridegroom - Christ..." Before subjecting Saint Anastasia to torture, Ulpian decided to desecrate her. But as soon as he touched her, he became blind, a terrible pain gripped his head, and after a while he died.

Saint Anastasia was freed and, together with Theodotia, continued to serve the prisoners. Soon Saint Theodotia and her three infant sons were martyred (they were thrown into a fiery furnace) in their hometown of Nicaea (c. 304; commemorated July 29 and December 22).

Execution of Saint Anastasia

Meanwhile, Saint Anastasia was put on trial in Illyria. The selfish ruler secretly invited her to cede all her wealth to him: “ Fulfill the commandment of your Christ, who commands you to despise all riches and to be poor" To which the wise Anastasia wisely replied: “ Who would be so crazy as to give you, a rich man, what belongs to the poor?»

Saint Anastasia was imprisoned for the second time and tortured by hunger for 60 days. Every night Saint Theodotia appeared to the martyr, approved and strengthened her in patience. Seeing that the famine did not harm the saint, the hegemon of Illyria ordered her to be drowned along with the convicted criminals, among whom was Eutychian, persecuted for his Christian faith (December 22).

Having learned about what had happened, the hegemon ordered the execution of all the newly baptized. Saint Anastasia was stretched over a fire between four pillars. This is how Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker completed her martyrdom. Her body, undamaged by the fire, was buried in the garden by a certain pious woman, Apollinaria. At the end of the persecution, she built a church over the tomb of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia.

Relics of Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker

In the 5th century, the relics of Saint Anastasia were transferred to Constantinople, where a temple was built in her name. Later, the head and right hand of the great martyr were transferred to the monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker, which was established near the city of Thessaloniki.

Monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker

Iconography

The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia is depicted on icons with a cross in her right hand and a small vessel in her left. The cross is the path to salvation; in the vessel there is holy oil, healing wounds.

The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia is called "Pattern maker", since the Lord has given her the power to heal bodily and spiritual illnesses, to loosen the bonds of those unjustly condemned, and to give consolation to those in prison. They also ask the saint for protection from witchcraft.