Hierarch
Blessed Anastasius the Sinaite, Patriarch of Antioch
April 20 Old CalendarMay 3 New Calendar
Life
As a monk of Mount Sinai he was elected Patriarch of Antioch in the time of Emperor Justinian. To this position his virtue raised him, his purity of life, great spiritual learning, and firm faith. But Emperor Justinian fell into the Docetist heresy, against which the Patriarch of Constantinople Eutychios and this Blessed Anastasius sharply protested. The emperor banished Eutychios and wished to banish Anastasius as well, but could find no fault in his life. When Justinian died, having previously repented and restored Eutychios to his throne, then Justin, his successor, managed to banish Anastasius on the basis of certain slanders. Anastasius spent twenty-three years in exile and was again restored to the throne of Antioch in the time of Emperor Maurice. He governed the Church of God for six more years and completed his earthly journey in the year 599.
From the Prologue from Ochrid by St. Nikolai Velimirovich, April 20. Translated by Marcian Sakarya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Also commemorated on April 20
The full reading for April 20 includes the hymn of praise, a reflection, a contemplation and a homily.
Open April 20 in the reader