Venerable Martyr Anastasia the Roman

Life

Born in Rome of noble parents, she was left an orphan at the age of three. As an orphan she was taken into a women's monastery near Rome, where the abbess was a certain Sophia, a nun of a high degree of perfection. After seventeen years Anastasia became known far and wide, among Christians as a great ascetic and among the pagans as a rare beauty. The pagan governor Probus heard of her and sent soldiers to bring her. The good abbess Sophia counseled Anastasia for two hours on how to hold fast to the faith, how to endure flattering deceptions, and how to bear torments. Anastasia said to her: "My heart is ready to suffer for Christ, my soul is ready to die for the sweetest Jesus." Brought before the prince, Anastasia publicly professed her faith in Christ the Lord. And when the prince tried to dissuade her from the faith, first with promises then with threats, the holy martyr said to him: "I am ready to die for my Lord not once but — oh, if only it were possible — a hundred times!" When they had stripped her for mockery, she cried out to the servants: "Strike me, and cut me, and tear me, cover my naked body with wounds, and with blood hide my shame!" She was beaten, torn, and cut. Twice she felt great thirst and asked for water. And a certain Christian named Cyril gave her drink, for which he was blessed by the martyr of Christ and beheaded by the pagans. Her breasts and tongue were cut off. An Angel of God appeared and sustained her. Finally she was beheaded by the sword outside the city. The blessed Sophia found her body and honorably buried it. Anastasia was crowned with the martyr's crown in the time of Emperor Decius.

From the Hymn of Praise

Holy Abraham left his brideAnd directed his life to the difficult struggle.Through the struggle of salvation he saved himself,And wisely guided others toward salvation.