Venerable Anna

Life

Anna was a noblewoman who, after her husband's death, was tonsured into monasticism by Saint Stephen the Newer. Emperor Copronymus urged her to say that she had had forbidden bodily relations with Saint Stephen, that he might thus humiliate Stephen before the people. But this holy woman in no way wished to enter into this imperial intrigue against the saint, whom she honored as her spiritual father. For this she was flogged, and then thrown into prison, where she gave up her holy soul to God.