The more serious the trials, the more capable we are of the sciences of prayer. Prison is a test that is much more serious. In freedom, the warnings, exhortations, and tears of loved ones did not touch the lost souls, did not reach the darkened consciousness. And here it comes. And the soul trembled with living pain, joyful pain, because if it hurts, it means it can be healed.
And it is not surprising that prison churches are now a common phenomenon. They build chapels in the zones and organize prayer rooms. Even a small holy corner with icons and a lamp is a consolation for prisoners.
There is such a city in Siberia - Mariinsk. Local priest Alexy Baranov said that among the prisoners there are more and more people wishing to be baptized in Christ. Lost souls ask and ask for healing... Prison churches are built mainly in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker.
There is nothing surprising here. She is the one Anastasia Pattern Maker, a very long time ago, back in the first years of Christianity, took upon herself the feat of helping prisoners languishing in prison. An ascetic from Rome, she was forcibly married to a pagan. But with the help of a fictitious illness, she preserved her virginity for the sake of the heavenly Bridegroom - Christ.
Pattern maker is a rare and beautiful word. There is a kind of silence and inconspicuousness in it - mandatory conditions for Christian achievement. Saint Anastasia lived like this - she distributed alms to the poor, hiding from prying eyes, visited prisoners, and strengthened their spirit with quiet but firm words.
Anastasia the Pattern Maker also had another godly deed: she buried the remains of executed martyrs in a Christian manner. The pagans found out about this. Anastasia was captured and set on fire. This happened 1700 years ago...
“...Ask us forgiveness of our sins,” we ask in prayer to Saint Anastasia. And in thousands of prison churches people fall to her icon, begging for forgiveness and hope.
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 the most terrible wounds. Pattern solver means deliverer from bonds. From the bonds of sins, passions, lack of faith.
Despite the passing of 1,700 years, Anastasia the Pattern Maker still goes to prisoners in prison, healing their souls and giving hope for salvation. She also came to the prisoners of the maximum security colony in the city of Norilsk. Muscovite Valeria Vladimirovna Pronina told me about this colony. For 8 years now, she, a poor pensioner, has been sending her small contribution to this prison temple - icons, spiritual literature.
— Why exactly there, Valeria Vladimirovna?
“I came across a letter from there in one of the newspapers.
I noticed: people are not asking for food or clothing, but for spiritual books. How could I not respond?
I responded. And now he helps as best he can. And a kind word, and a penny, and a new book. And that’s how interesting it is. Valeria Vladimirovna lives in Teply Stan. And they began to build a temple here. Which? Anastasia the Pattern Maker! For a year now, services have been going on in the church, and the servant of God Valeria is one of its most active parishioners. We recently received a transfer. Valeria Vladimirovna looked at the receipt - and her heart sank: her charges, prisoners from Norilsk, collected 500 rubles from the world for the temple in Tyoply Stan. Both here and there - Anastasia the Pattern Maker.
And if in the colony itself people who have committed a crime pray in front of her icon, then in Tyoply Stan, and throughout our Russia, in churches in the name of St. Anastasia, mothers, daughters, brides, and sisters blackened with grief offer prayers. They pray for their imprisoned relatives. Anastasia the Pattern Maker united them in a feat of prayer. She is ready to come to the aid of all those who suffer - those who have taken at least a step towards salvation.
Quietly, humbly, but courageously and steadfastly, Saint Anastasia lived a short life, like the dawn... But for 1700 years, candles have been burning in front of her icon, akathists are being read, prayers are being served. Her life enters our lives as an example of service to God and neighbor.
How good it is that there are saints whom we can ask for our secret and in front of whose icon we are not ashamed of our own tears. After all, the more serious the test, the more capable we are of the science of prayer.
ANASTASIA THE PATTERN maker
Troparion, tone 4
Your Lamb, Jesus, Anastasia / calls with a great voice: / I love You, my Bridegroom, / and, seeking You, I suffer, / and I am crucified and buried in Your Baptism, / and I suffer for Your sake, as if I reign in You, / and I die for You, and I live with You, / but as an immaculate sacrifice, accept me, sacrificed to You with love. / Through prayers, as the Merciful, save our souls.
Another troparion, tone 4
On the occasion of the victorious Resurrection, you were truly named / you were named 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, tone 2
In the temptations and sorrows that exist, / flowing to your temple, / honest gifts are received / from the Divine grace living in you, Anastasia: / for you are ever the source of healing for the world.
Prayer
Oh, long-suffering, wise great martyr of Christ Anastasia! You stand with your soul in heaven at the throne of the Lord, and on earth, by the grace given to you, you perform various healings: look mercifully at the people who are coming and praying before your relics, asking for your help: extend your holy prayers to the Lord for us and ask us for forgiveness of our sins, healing for the sick, quick help for the grieving and distressed; pray to the Lord to give us all a Christian death and a good answer at His Last Judgment, so that together with you we may be able to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.
Life of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker
It happens that we live - nothing particularly bad happens, but good things don’t often make us happy, some things work out, but some things don’t work out at all. Somewhere we will hear that someone turns to the holy saints with prayer and everything changes, but for some reason it’s not like that with us. Why don't the saints help us? - we think. Yes, because we don’t ask. And if we ask, it will be by the way, hastily, quickly, without much hope. And only serious life trials are capable of awakening fervent prayer in our frozen heart - and there is time, and zeal, and strength. And the more serious the trials, the more capable we are of the sciences of prayer.
Prison is a much more serious test. And it is not surprising that prison churches are now a common occurrence. Lost souls pray and ask for healing... Prison churches are often built in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker. There is nothing surprising here. It was she, Anastasia the Pattern Maker, who, a long time ago, even in the early years of Christianity, took upon herself the feat of helping prisoners languishing in custody.
Saint Anastasia was born in the beautiful city of Rome. Her father, named Praetextatus, was a senator and professed the Hellenic pagan faith. And her mother, named Favsta, was a Christian. At a young age, Anastasia was entrusted by her mother to study with one worthy husband, Chrysogonus, known for his learning and piety. He was a Christian, knew the Divine teachings of Christ well and subsequently became a martyr. From this holy husband, Anastasia learned not only to read and write; she also learned the Law of God. She fell in love with reading Christian books, studying the law of the Lord, strengthening her heart day and night in love for God.
Meanwhile, Anastasia's blessed mother, Favsta, died. Saint Anastasia’s father, against her wishes, married her to a certain Pomplius, a senator and pagan.
But God, to Whom the sobs of the unfortunate girl ascended, before Whom she prayed day and night, preserved her. Anastasia pretended that she had a constant and incurable female illness, and said that she could not be a wife to her husband - and so she remained an immaculate virgin.
Often, dressed as a beggar, Anastasia left the house, went around all the dungeons, buying entrance into them with gold from the guards, visited those suffering for the sake of Christ, and served them as much as she could. She washed the prisoners’ hands and feet, wiped away their blood, bandaged their wounds, and served everyone food and drink. In these activities she often had to leave the house, and this did not hide from her husband.
Having severely beaten Anastasia, he imprisoned her in a separate room, placing guards so that she could not leave the room. And the saint grieved in spirit for the prisoners for Christ, because she did not visit them, did not serve them, and did not supply them with everything they needed. Anastasia’s heart especially ached for her teacher, Saint Chrysogonus, that she did not see him. For two years now Saint Chrysogonus endured many different torments while in prison. While free, Anastasia often came to see him. Now, being herself imprisoned and under watchful supervision, she could not visit her teacher.
Her husband especially began to oppress Anastasia when her father Pretextatus died; the entire significant estate of Pretextatus passed to Anastasia, as to her only daughter. And then Pomplius, taking advantage of the death of his father-in-law, out of hatred for Anastasia for her refusal to be his wife, plotted to kill her in order to inherit all her property and live with another wife. Treating the saint as a captive and slave, he tortured and tormented her daily. This is known from her letter, secretly written by her to Chrysogonus: “...I, as a sorceress and an opponent of his pagan faith, am tormented by my husband in such a grave imprisonment that I have no choice but to surrender my spirit to the Lord and fall dead... I call on Christ as a witness that if I am free, I will spend my life in the service of the saints...”
The following answer came to this letter: “Chrysogon-Anastasia. Light is always preceded by darkness, and after illness health often returns, and after death we are promised life. The same end for everyone, both for the happy and for the suffering, so that those who mourn are not overcome by despair and so that in joy people do not indulge in conceit... The time of death is near for those who do not think of coming to the saving haven. And you, immaculate servant of Christ, cleave with all your thoughts to the Cross of Christ and prepare yourself for the work of the Lord; and when you serve Christ according to your own desire, then from torment you will triumphantly move into a blessed life with Christ.”
With this letter, Saint Chrysogonus prophesied about the imminent death of her cruel husband Pomplius. And indeed, he was soon sent to Persia as an ambassador. During this journey, during a storm, Pomplius drowned in the sea.
Saint Anastasia, having retained her virginity, received freedom and all the inheritance left to her from her parents. And she began, without interference from anyone, to go around the prisoners in the dungeons. She served the holy passion-bearers of Christ not only with her property. Along with this, she consoled them, with prudent speeches she aroused them to courageous patience and to fearless death for Christ.
At that time, Emperor Diocletian was the ruler of the Roman Empire. Under him, the most severe persecution of Christians broke out in the empire. The first nineteen 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 subject to torture.
Emperor Diocletian directed all his efforts to ensure that not a single Christian could escape from his hands. He was informed that the prisons in Rome were filled with a great multitude of Christians, that, despite various torments, they did not abandon their Christ, and that in all this they were supported by the Christian teacher Chrysogon, to whom they were submissive, following his instructions in everything.
The emperor ordered all Christians to be executed and Chrysogon to be sent to him. He thought that if his stubbornness overcomes him, he will easily overcome other Christians. When Chrysogon was led to the king, Anastasia followed her teacher from afar. Seeing the holy man, the emperor first began to talk with him, exhorting him to renounce Christ. “Take, Chrysogon, my good advice,” said the ruler, “join our faith, do what is pleasing to the gods and choose for yourself the pleasant instead of the sorrowful, the useful instead of the unprofitable. Know that not only will you get rid of torment and receive the much-desired freedom, but also then you will become governor of the great city of Rome."
The saint answered this: “I have come to know the One God, and He is dearer to me than all light and more desirable than all freedom. He is dearer to me than all life, more useful than all treasures. I believe in Him alone with my heart, I confess Him with my lips, I honor Him with my soul and before my eyes.” I bow my knees to Him all. But I will not honor many of your gods in whom demons live; I think about them in the same way as Socrates, who said about them: “We must avoid them in every possible way, because they seduce people and they are well-known murderers." But I value the gifts and honor that you offer me no more than sleep and darkness." The emperor could not hear such free speeches of Chrysogon and ordered his head to be cut off. The body of the saint was thrown on the seashore, not far from the dwelling of one presbyter Zoil, a man of holy life. This presbyter, by revelation from God, learned about the body of Saint Chrysogon, took it along with the truncated head and, putting it in the ark, hid it at home.
Anastasia began to move from city to city and from country to country; The saint served the captive Christians everywhere, provided them with food and drink, clothing and everything they needed at her own expense, and provided medical care to the sick. She was a joy for all people who were seriously tested and exhausted in body, and often ransomed prisoners. That is why Anastasia was called the Pattern Maker, since she loosed the bonds of many of her own.
She did not disdain to carry in her arms those who could not control either their arms or their legs, who had been broken or sacrificed for Christ - and she herself fed and watered them, cleaned out the pus, and bandaged the wounds. And her only joy was to serve Christ Himself in the person of those who suffer for the confession of the sweetest name of Christ.
While in Macedonia and doing her usual business there, Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker met one very young widow, Theodotia, who was from the country of Bithynia, from the city of Nicaea. After the death of her husband, she was left with three infant sons and lived in Macedonia, spending her days in the zealous profession of Christianity and in pious deeds. Blessed Anastasia often lived with the widow and loved her as a faithful servant of Christ.
Over time, they learned about Theodotia that she was a Christian, and the widow was captured and brought to the emperor for interrogation. A certain courtier Levkady was seduced by her beauty. He asked not to kill Theodotia, but to give it to him so that he could marry her. The emperor agreed, hoping that her husband would soon convert her to idolatry. Leucadius took Theodotia and the children into her house, and did and said everything he could, begging her, exhorting her, caressing her and threatening her so that she would reject Christ and become his wife.
However, Leucadius needed to accompany the emperor, who was going somewhere. And he left, leaving Theodotia in his house, and did not return for a long time. All this time, Theodotia served the prisoners together with Saint Anastasia, healed the sick, and buried the dead.
And so Diocletian is again informed that the dungeons in the cities are filled with Christians and that there is no place to put other prisoners. Then the wicked tormentor ordered all the prisoners to be killed at night so that the dungeons could accommodate other Christians.
Arriving the next morning in one of the dungeons and not finding any of the sufferers, Anastasia began to cry. When the soldiers who were there asked her why she was crying so much, she answered: “I am looking for the servants of my God, who yesterday were in this prison, but now I don’t know where they are.” The soldiers, seeing that she was a Christian, immediately took her and took her to the head of the Illyrian region, Flora.
He asked her: “Are you a Christian?” Saint Anastasia answered: “Truly I am a Christian. What seems vile to you is dear to me. And the name of a Christian, which is considered a disgrace among you, is honorable and glorious to me.”
Then Flor began to ask Anastasia about her origin and, learning that she was from a famous Roman family, asked in surprise: “What prompted you to leave Rome, your glorious fatherland, and come here?” The saint answered him: “Nothing other than the voice of my Lord, calling me to Himself. Listening to this voice, I left my fatherland and friends, took up the Cross of my Christ and cheerfully and joyfully followed Christ.” Florus said to this: “Where is the Christ whom you confess?” Anastasia answered: “There is no place in which Christ would not be. He is in heaven, in the sea, and on earth, He dwells in all those who call and fear Him, enlightening their minds and always being with them.” Florus asked: “Where are the people who fear your Christ, of whom you speak? Tell us so that we can recognize them.” The saint answered: “Until now they were with us on earth, living in the body, but now, having left the earthly world, they are in heaven and look at us from above. This bliss was brought to them by death, accepted for Christ. And I want to be among them and follow the same path as them.”
Since Anastasia was from a noble Roman family, only the emperor could decide her fate. Diocletian knew Anastasia's parents and her husband. Realizing that she was spending her estate, which she received from her parents, on poor Christians, he ordered the saint to be brought to him and began to ask about her condition, since he loved wealth more than his gods: “Where are your riches left to you after your father?” . The saint courageously answered: “If I still had some of the treasures and property with which I could still serve the servants of my Christ, then I would not give myself into the hands of people seeking Christian blood. But now I have already exhausted all my property, which I sacrificed to Christ, and all I have left is my body; therefore I strive to bring it as a gift to my God.”
Seeing how the saint spoke freely, the emperor lost hope of defeating her with words and getting anything from her wealth, the depletion of which he had just heard. He was afraid to enter into further conversation with her, lest she should shame him with her wise words, and ordered her to be taken to the regional governor, saying: “It is not proper for the Tsar’s Majesty to talk with a mad woman.”
The regional governor greeted Saint Anastasia with gentle words: “Why don’t you want to make sacrifices to the gods, as your father made them; Why did you leave them and honor Christ? After all, you do not know Him: He was born among the Jews and was killed by them as a villain.” Anastasia answered: “And in my house there were gods and goddesses, gold, silver and copper. I saw how they stood idly, serving only as a seat for birds, a home for spiders and flies. So I threw the gods and goddesses into the fire, freeing them from the dishonor that the birds, spiders and flies had inflicted on them. And they came out of the fire as gold, silver and copper coins. With their money I fed many hungry people, clothed the naked, and helped the weak. And so from those gods who stood idle and useless, I benefited many.”
Hearing such words, the regional governor exclaimed with rage: “I don’t want to hear about your godless act.” Then the saint answered with a grin: “I am amazed at your intelligence, judge. How can you call my action an ungodly act. If those soulless idols had at least one feeling or one force, then what would prevent them from freeing themselves from the hands of their destroyers, or taking revenge on the destroyers, or, finally, screaming and asking for help from you? And they don’t even know about themselves, they don’t know what’s happening to them.” Interrupting the saint’s speech, the judge said: “Our Divine King commanded you, putting aside all unnecessary conversations, to do one of two things: either agree to sacrifice to the gods or die an evil death.”
The saint answered that to die for Christ does not mean to perish, but to enter into eternal life.
Seeing that the saint was adamant, the regional commander reported this to the king. Diocletian, in great anger, began to think about what to do with Saint Anastasia. One of those close to him advised the king to hand her over to Ulshan, the priest of the Capitol, so that he would persuade her to renounce Christ, or force her through torture, or, if she did not submit, would execute her and, if any property remained after her, would take it to the Capitol . The king liked this advice, and he handed over Saint Anastasia to Ulshan, the high priest of all the gods. Ulshan honorably brought her to his house, hoping to catch her with flattery rather than threats.
After much gentle persuasion, he took a cunning move, in his opinion: he offered a choice of opposing objects, containing all the splendor of the world and all kinds of instruments of torment, placing all this against each other: on the one hand, precious stones, and on the other, swords; here are golden beds, decorated with precious crystal trim, and there are red-hot iron beds filled with burning coals; here are various gold and pearl decorations, and there are shackles and chains. But she didn’t pay attention to anything: she didn’t want anything that would amuse her, she wasn’t afraid and didn’t want to run away from objects that brought sorrow and despondency, and looked with more eagerness at the instrument of torture than at women’s attire.
When they told the saint: “Choose for yourself what you want on both sides,” she, looking at the luxury items and jewelry laid out before her, said: “All this, devil, is yours and those who work for you, with whom you will be betrayed eternally.” destruction." Looking at the chains and instruments of torment, Saint Anastasia said: “Surrounded by these objects, I will become more beautiful and more pleasing to my longed-for Bridegroom - Christ. This I choose, and this I reject; this I love for the sake of my beloved Lord, and this I hate.”
Then the priest, sparing her and not losing hope that she would change her desire, gave her three days to think. Three days later, the high priest Ulshan, seeing that Saint Anastasia was firm in her confession of faith, condemned her to torment. But at first this madman, wounded by her beauty, wanted to desecrate the pure dove of Christ with his uncleanness. However, when this wicked man wanted to touch her, he suddenly went blind, a terrible pain squeezed his head and, like a madman, he screamed and cried out to his gods, asking for help, until he died.
The rumor about this miracle spread among many, and the holy martyr Anastasia remained free. She went to the aforementioned spiritual sister of her Theodotia, who was still in the house of the mayor Leucadius, and told her in detail about everything that she had endured, and about the miracle that God performed through her, showing His mercy over her. Soon after this, Levkady also returned. He again returned to his old ways and, as before, tried, either by kindness or by threats, to persuade Theodotia to two iniquities - to worship his wicked gods and enter into a shameful and hateful marriage with him.
Finally, having exhausted all his efforts and seeing that nothing was working because Anastasia was here, the villain flared up with even greater anger: he chained and brought Anastasia to trial, and sent Theodotia and the children tied up to the proconsul Nikitios, telling him in a letter everything concerning Theodotia. When blessed Theodotia was brought to this proconsul, he began to threaten her with torment.
To this, Theodotia’s eldest son, named Evod, a small boy, said: “We, judge, are not afraid of torment, which gives the body incorruptibility and the soul immortality. We fear God, who can destroy both soul and body in fiery hell.” The judge, having heard such speeches, ordered immediately, in front of his mother, to beat the boy with rods until he bled. The mother, looking at this, rejoiced and strengthened her son with Divine words, convincing him to courageously endure all suffering.
After this torture, Theodotia was given to a shameless person to desecrate her. But as soon as he approached the chaste servant of God, he wanted to touch her, when he saw a bright young man standing next to her, who, looking at him menacingly, hit him in the face so hard that he was bleeding.
The proconsul also clearly saw this miracle; but instead of recognizing God, who preserves the purity of the chaste, he became even more mad, attributing it to witchcraft. He ordered the stove to be lit and a mother and three children thrown into it. And Saint Theodotia and her children became a sacrifice acceptable to God: they died in fire.
At this time, Saint Anastasia was kept in chains by the Irish ruler. This man was selfish, and having heard that Anastasia owned great wealth, he ordered her to be secretly brought to him and told her: “I know that you are rich and have a lot of money and estates. At the same time, you adhere to the Christian faith, which you yourself do not hide. Fulfill the commandment of your Christ, who commands you to despise all riches and to be poor. Give me your wealth and make me heir to your estate. By doing this, you will receive a double benefit: you will fulfill the commandment of Christ and, freed from our hands, you will fearlessly and without restraint serve your God.”
The wise Anastasia wisely answered this: “In the Gospel there is the word of my Lord: sell what you have and give to the poor, and have treasure in heaven (Matthew 19.21). Who would be so crazy as to give you, a rich man, what belongs to the poor? Who would be so unreasonable as to give you, drowning in luxury and living in sweets and self-indulgence, the food of the poor? If I see you hungry and thirsty, naked and sick and thrown into prison, then I will do for you, as necessary, everything that Christ commanded us: I will feed you, give you something to drink, clothe you, visit you, serve you, help you, giving you everything you need.”
The ruler was angry at these words and in a rage ordered to imprison the saint and starve her for thirty days. But she fed on her hope - Christ the Lord: He was her sweet food and consolation in sorrow. Every night the holy martyr Theodotia appeared to her, filled her heart with joy and strengthened her. Anastasia talked about many things with the blessed one, asked her about many things. By the way, she asked her: “How do you come to me after death?” Theodotia explained to her that the souls of the martyrs were given special grace from God, so that even after their departure from the earth they could come to whomever they wanted, talk with them and console them. After thirty days, seeing that Anastasia was not exhausted from hunger and remained healthy and fair in complexion, the ruler suspected the guards of delivering food to her.
Finally, he ordered her to be put in a stronger prison, sealed the entrance with his seal and, having assigned the most faithful guards, starved Saint Anastasia with hunger and thirst for another thirty days. And during this time the holy martyr, day and night, fed only with tears and fervently prayed to God.
After another thirty days, Anastasia was taken out of prison and, seeing that she again had not changed her face, they condemned her to death along with others sentenced to death for various atrocities. They decided to drown them all at sea.
Among those condemned was one pious man, Eutychian; deprived of all his property for the sake of Christ, he was condemned to the same death. And so they were all put on a ship and sailed out to sea. Having reached the depth, the warriors drilled several holes in the ship, and they themselves got into a boat and sailed to the shore.
And when the ship was about to plunge into the water, suddenly the people on it saw the holy martyr Theodotia, steering the sails and leading the ship to the shore, which it soon reached. All the condemned, seeing their salvation from drowning, were amazed and, falling at the feet of two Christians, Eutychian and Anastasia, begged to enlighten them into the faith of Christ.
Coming ashore unharmed, they accepted the teaching of faith from Eutychian and Anastasia and were baptized. All the souls who were saved from drowning and believed in Christ were one hundred and twenty.
Anastasia was captured again and ordered to be stretched between four pillars and burned. So the blessed Pattern Maker accomplished her suffering feat: she freed herself from the bonds of the flesh and departed to the heavenly desired freedom.
Her body, undamaged by the fire, was begged by one pious wife, Apollinaria, who buried him with honor in her vineyard.
Over time, when the persecution of the Church ceased, Apollinaria erected a church over the grave of the martyr. Many years passed, and the honest relics of Saint Anastasia became glorified. Then with great honor they were transferred to the reigning city of Constantinople.
Pattern maker is a rare and beautiful word. There is a kind of silence and inconspicuousness in it - mandatory conditions for Christian achievement. Saint Anastasia lived like this: she gave alms to the poor; hiding from prying eyes, she visited prisoners; with a quiet but firm word she strengthened their spirit; Christianly buried the remains of the executed martyrs. This happened 1700 years ago. The memory of Anastasia the Pattern Maker is celebrated on December 22 (January 4 according to the present day). “Ask us forgiveness of our sins,” we ask in prayer to Saint Anastasia. And in thousands of prison churches people fall to her icon, begging for forgiveness and hope.
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 the most terrible wounds. Pattern solver means deliverer from bonds. From the bonds of sins, passions, lack of faith.
The Holy Martyr Anastasia is called the “Pattern Maker”, since the Lord gave her the power to heal physical and spiritual illnesses. Through her intercession the bonds of those unjustly convicted are resolved and consolation is given to those in prison. They also ask the saint for protection from witchcraft.
The Greeks call this saint Pharmakolytria, that is, the Healer. As the Monk Andrei the Fool-for-Christ narrates, at the Church of Anastasia the Pattern Maker there was once a hospital for the mentally ill.
The holy Pattern Maker provides special assistance to nervously ill people and all those who suffer from headaches.
A particle of the relics of Anastasia the Pattern Maker has long been in Russia - in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
It is known that in the summer of 1995, at the Russian orbital station “Mir”, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, as part of the mission “St. Anastasia - Hope for Peace,” two icons of Anastasia the Pattern Maker were sent into space.
Quietly, humbly, but courageously and steadfastly, Saint Anastasia lived a short life, like the dawn... But for 1700 years, candles have been burning in front of her icon, akathists are being read, prayers are being served. Her life enters our lives as an example of service to God and neighbor. How good it is that there are saints whom we can ask for our secret and in front of whose icon we are not ashamed of our own tears.
Prayer
O long-suffering and wise great martyr of Christ Anastasia! You stand in soul in heaven at the Throne of the Lord, but on earth you performed 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 , in the bonds of those who are present, quick help and intercession, beg the Lord to give us all a Christian death and a good answer at His Last Judgment, so that together with you we may be able to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saint Anastasia, patroness of prisoners(year of death - 304) was born in the famous city of Rome. She was distinguished by her nobility, spiritual and physical beauty, good disposition and meekness. Her father, named Praetextatus, was a senator and professed the Hellenic pagan faith. And her mother, named Favsta, believed in Christ. At a young age, Anastasia was entrusted by her mother to study to a worthy husband, known for his learning, and even more so for his piety. His name was Chrysogonus. He was a Christian, knew the Divine teachings of Christ well, and subsequently became a martyr. From this holy husband, Anastasia learned not only to read and write; she also learned to know the One who is the beginning of everything visible and invisible, the goal of all heartfelt pious desires, the One true God, the Creator and Performer of everything. And she began to diligently read Christian books, studying the law of the Lord day and night and strengthening her heart in love for God. When Anastasia completed her studies with Chrysogonus, she was secretly glorified as a wise and beautiful maiden.
Meanwhile, Anastasia’s blessed mother, Favsta, departed from this life. The saint's father, against her wishes, married her to a certain Pompius, who also came from a senatorial family and professed the Hellenic faith; and Anastasia was taken to the house of the groom, faithful to the unfaithful, the lamb of Christ to the wolf. But God, to Whom her sobs ascended, before Whom she prayed day and night, preserved her. The saint did not lose her virginity, and the unclean husband did not defile her pure body. Anastasia pretended that she had a constant and incurable female disease, and said that she could not be a wife to her husband. Sometimes the husband forcibly, through struggle, wanted to get her to satisfy his lust; but Anastasia, with the invisible power of a guardian angel, tore herself out of his hands, and so she remained an immaculate virgin.
Often, taking off her luxurious clothes and precious jewelry and secretly putting on beggar's rags, Anastasia left the house, unknown to everyone except one slave who constantly accompanied her. With this slave, Anastasia went around all the dungeons, buying entrance into them with gold from the guards, visiting those suffering for the sake of Christ, serving them with reverence and zeal as much as she could. She washed the hands and feet of the prisoners, cleaned their tangled hair, full of dirt, wiped away their blood, tied their wounds with clean linen, served everyone food and drink. Then, having served them enough, she returned home.
In these activities she often had to leave the house and this did not hide from her husband. He learned that Anastasia was visiting prisoners, and became even more angry with her, especially since he had previously been annoyed with the saint for her refusal to lead a married life with him, and annoyed her a lot for that. And he learned about Anastasia’s affairs from the slave who accompanied her; this treacherous woman told him everything.
Having brutally beaten Anastasia, her lawless husband imprisoned the saint in a separate room, placing guards on her so that she could not leave the room. And the saint grieved in spirit for the prisoners for Christ, because she did not visit them, did not serve them, and did not supply them with everything they needed. Anastasia’s heart especially ached for her teacher, Saint Chrysogon, that she did not see him. For two years now Saint Chrysogonus endured many different torments while in prison. While free, Anastasia often came to see him. Now, being imprisoned and under watchful supervision, she could not visit her teacher.
Anastasia’s husband especially began to oppress her when the father of this pious wife, Pretextatus, died; the entire significant estate of Pretextatus was inherited by Anastasia, as his only daughter, for he had no more children or relatives. And then Pomplius, taking advantage of the death of his father-in-law, out of hatred for Anastasia for her disagreement with his carnal desires, planned to kill her in order to inherit all her property and live with another wife with other people’s money. Treating the saint as a captive and slave, he tortured and tormented her daily. This is known from her letter, secretly written by her to Chrysogon and sent through one old woman. Here is the letter: “To the Holy Confessor of Christ Chrysogon from Anastasia.” “My father was an idolater; but my mother Fausta always lived a pure and pious Christian life. And she made me a Christian from the very shrouds of infancy. After her death, I took upon myself the heavy yoke of marriage with a pagan. But, out of God’s mercy towards me, I successfully avoided his bed, pretending to be sick, and now, day and night, I embrace the feet of my Lord Jesus Christ. My husband, with the unworthy, nasty idolaters, is wasting my inheritance, boasting of my wealth, as if it were his own, and me, as a sorceress and adversary; His pagan faith, he languishes in such a difficult conclusion that I have no choice but to surrender my spirit to the Lord and fall dead. Of course, I should rejoice that, having suffered for the Lord, I will die confessing Him; that I see how all my riches promised to God are being squandered by the hands of wicked and godless people. Therefore, I ask you, man of God, pray diligently to the Lord Christ, so that He will either leave my husband alive if he knows that he will ever believe, or, if he continues to remain in unbelief, then let him command him to come out from among the living and give a place to those who honor God. It is better for him to die than not to confess the Son of God and to hinder those who confess Him. I call Christ as a witness that if I am free, I will spend my life serving the saints and will diligently take care of them, as I have already begun to do... Save yourself, man of God, and have mercy on me.”
To this letter to Saint Anastasia, the following answer came: “Chrysogon-Anastasia. To you, confused by the storm and unrest of this world, Christ, walking on the waters, will soon come, and with one word he will calm the winds of the enemy’s slander rising against you. Being in the middle of an indignant sea, wait patiently for Christ, who will come to you, and tirelessly cry out in the words of the prophet: “Why are you discouraged, my soul, and why are you troubled? trust in God; for I will still praise him, my savior and my God. (Psalm 41, v. 6.) "Expect double reward from God. For both the temporary inheritance will be returned to you and the heavenly inheritance will be given: the Lord then from time to time allows evil and slows down his good deeds, so that we do not sleep in danger. Do not be embarrassed when you see that evil befalls people who live in godliness. The Lord does not reject you, but also know that the protection given by human hands is not durable, according to the word of Scripture: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord (Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 17, Art. 6). Guard yourself firmly and cheerfully from all sins and seek consolation from the One God, keeping His holy commandments. Peace will soon return to you. Just as a bright day shines after the darkness of the night, and just as a warm spring comes after a cruel winter, so golden and clear days will come to you, and then you will give temporary consolation to all those who suffer for the sake of the name of Christ, and you yourself will undoubtedly be worthy of eternal bliss... Save yourself in the Lord and pray for me."
Soon Anastasia was destined to experience new mortal insults from her ruthless wicked husband, and she again wrote a letter to Saint Chrysogonus. This is what was written in it: “To the Confessor of Christ Chrysogon from Anastasia. Remember me and pray for me, so that the Lord, out of love for Whom I endure the torment that the old woman sent to you will tell you about, will accept my soul.”
The saint answered her: “Chrysogon-Anastasia. Light is always preceded by darkness, and after illness health often returns, and after death we are promised life. The same end for everyone, both for the lucky and for the sufferer, so that the mourners are not overcome by despair , and so that in joy people do not indulge in self-conceit. One sea on which the boats of our lives set off, and with a single Pilot our souls make their voyage. The ships of some are stronger and pass through the waves without harm, while others have fragile boats. who, even in calm, are close to drowning. The time of death is near for those who do not think of coming to the saving haven. And you, immaculate servant of Christ, cling with all your thoughts to the Cross of Christ and prepare yourself for the work of the Lord and when you serve Christ according to your own desire; , then from torment you will move triumphantly into a blessed life with Christ.” With this letter, Saint Chrysogonus prophesied about the imminent death of her cruel husband Pomplius. And indeed, the latter was soon sent to Persia as an ambassador to the Persian king. Setting out on a journey, he had to sail on the sea; the ship on which he was sailing sank and drowned during a sudden storm. This is how this damned man died. Saint Anastasia, having preserved her virginity, like a bird got rid of the catcher's net.
Along with her freedom, she received the entire inheritance left to her from her parents. And she began, without interference from anyone, to go around the prisoners in the dungeons. She served the holy passion-bearers of Christ not only with her property. Along with this, she consoled them, with her prudent speeches she aroused them to courageous patience and to fearless death for Christ. At that time, King Diocletian was in Aquila and directed all his concerns to ensure that not a single Christian could secretly escape from his hands. He 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, to whom they were submissive, following his instructions in everything. The king ordered all Christians to be put to torture and death, and Chrysogon to be sent to him. He thought that if his stubbornness overcomes him, he will easily overcome other Christians.
When Chrysogon was led to the king for testing, Anastasia followed her teacher from afar. Seeing the holy man, the king first began to talk with him, with meekness exhorting him to renounce Christ.
“Take, Chrysogon, my good advice,” said the lawless ruler, “join our faith, do what is pleasing to the gods and choose the pleasant instead of the sorrowful, the useful instead of the useless. Know that not only will you get rid of torment and receive the much-desired freedom, but in addition to this you will become governor of the great city of Rome." The saint answered this: “I have come to know the One God, and He is dearer to me than all light and more desirable than all freedom. He is dearer to me than all life, more useful than all treasures. I believe in Him alone with my heart, I confess Him with my lips, I honor Him with my soul and before with the eyes of all I bow my knees to Him. But I will not honor many of your gods, in whom demons live; and they are known murderers." The gifts and honor that you offer me, I value no more than sleep and darkness."
The king could no longer hear such free speeches of Chrysogon, and ordered the soldiers to take him and, leading him to a deserted place, cut off his head. The body of the saint was thrown on the seashore, not far from the dwellings of one presbyter Zoilus, a man of holy life, and three maiden sisters in body and spirit, Agapia, Chionia and Irina. This presbyter, by revelation from God, learned about the body of Saint Chrysogon, took it along with the truncated head, and, putting it in the ark, hid it at home. After thirty days, Saint Chrysogon appeared to him in a vision and said: “Know that during the coming nine days the three maidens of Christ living near you will be taken to torture. You tell the Lord’s pa6e Anastasia to take care of them, exciting them to the feat of courage, until they are crowned with martyrdom. May you also have the good hope that you will soon be freed from this life and will be led to Christ with those who suffered for Him.”
Saint Anastasia had the same revelation. And so, inspired by the Spirit of God, she came to the house of the presbyter whom she had never known, and asked him: “Where are those girls whose martyrdom was revealed to him in a vision.”
Then, having learned where they lived, she went to them and spent the night with them, talking with them about the love of God and the salvation of the soul. And with her speech she exhorted them to stand courageously, even to the point of bleeding, for Christ, their Bridegroom. At the presbyter Zoilus, she saw the relics of the holy martyr of Christ Chrysogon, her dear teacher, and cried a lot over them with warm tears, entrusting herself to his prayers. She then returned to Aquileia.
Soon after this, Saint Chrysogon's prediction to presbyter Zoilus was fulfilled. This presbyter, after nine days, passed over to the Lord, and the holy virgins Agapia, Chionia and Irina were taken and brought for questioning to King Diocletian. For a long time he exhorted them to sacrifice to idols, resorting now to caresses, now to threats, but he did not succeed in doing so and finally imprisoned them.
Saint Anastasia, visiting prisoners according to her custom, came to those holy virgins and consoled them, arousing in them hope in the constant help of Christ and hope for a glorious victory over the enemies of the Lord. Meanwhile, the king had to go to Macedonia on state affairs; Therefore, the holy virgins were entrusted to the tormentor Dulcetius, who tortured and tormented them, and then handed them over to one committee, Sisinius, for torture. The latter threw Saint Agapia and Chionia into the fire. Here they gave up their spirit to God, leaving their bodies in the fire whole and undamaged. And Saint Irene was wounded by one of Sisinius’s soldiers with an arrow from a tight bow, after which the saint died. Saint Anastasia took their clean bodies, wrapped them in white shrouds with aromas and reverently laid them in a chosen place, appeasing their suffering.
Then Anastasia began to move from city to city and from country to country; The saint everywhere served Christians held in prison, delivered food and drink, clothing and everything necessary to the prisoners at her own expense, and provided medical care to the sick. She was a joy for all people who were seriously tested and exhausted in body, and with gold she bought them relief from long-term, difficult bonds. That is why Anastasia was called the Pattern Maker, since with her secret care she resolved the bonds of many. For some it brought relief; others, healing with her own hands, she cured from incurable wounds, others who were half-dead, she revived with her care, giving them health and strength for the new torment that awaited them.
Wanting to help the sick and unfortunate, she learned the art of medicine and treated the wounded herself. She did not disdain to carry in her arms those who could not control either their hands or their legs, broken or sacrificed for Christ, and she herself put food into their mouths, gave them something to drink, cleaned out their pus, and tied up the scabs. And her only joy and joy was to serve Christ Himself in the person of those who suffer for the confession of the sweetest name of Christ. She cared about this with all her might, strove for this in every way, and, working in this matter with all her soul, she overcame her natural weakness, distinguished by generosity and courage, love for God and neighbors and care for the holy sufferers who are always close to God and about whom she said together with David: “How exalted are your thoughts to me, O God, and how great are their number!” (Psalm 138, v. 17.)
While in Macedonia and doing her usual business there, Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker met one very young widow, Theodotia, who was from the country of Bithynia, from the city of Nicaea. After the death of her husband, she was left with three infant sons and lived in Macedonia, spending the days of her widowhood in the zealous profession of Christianity and in pious deeds. Blessed Anastasia often lived with that widow, loved her as a faithful servant of Christ, and was consoled by sweet conversation with her about the sweetest love of God, for which so many saints laid down their souls. Over time, they learned about Theodotia that she was a Christian, and the honest widow was captured and brought to the king for interrogation.
When she stood at this wicked trial, one of those surrounding the king, named Leucadius, was seduced by her beauty, since she was beautiful and splendid. He asked the king not to kill Theodotia, but to give her to him so that he could marry her. The king agreed, hoping that her husband would soon convert her to idolatry.
Leucadius took Theodotia and the children to her house, and did and said everything, begging her, exhorting her, caressing and threatening her, so that she would reject Christ and become his wife. Theodotia answered him: “If you are trying to have me be your wife because you want my riches and POSSESSIONS, THEN I voluntarily give you everything; leave me to work for Christ, so that instead of all riches I may inherit Christ alone. If But you desire me out of attraction to my beauty, and you think to turn me away from my Christ, then know that you are striving for the impossible, for it is easier for you to turn my beauty into ugliness and life into death than to tear my mind away from Christ and force it from me. consent to marry you."
At that time, Leucadius needed to accompany the king, who was going somewhere. And he left, leaving Theodotia in his house, and did not return for a long time. Theodotia, somewhat relieved, served, together with Saint Anastasia, the prisoners, healed the sick, buried the dead, strengthened the living for great feats. And so Diocletian is again informed that the dungeons in the cities are filled with Christians, and that there is no place to put other prisoners. Then the wicked torturer ordered to kill all the prisoners with various executions, so that the dungeons, once freed, could accommodate other Christians. One night was appointed for this, during which a great number of martyrs were called to the unflickering Day of Christ the Lord. Some died from the sword, others were drowned by water, some were burned in fiery furnaces, and others were taken alive by the bowels of the earth: deep ditches and pits were filled with people and covered with earth and stones.
In the morning, the Christ-loving and blessed Anastasia, according to her custom, came to one of the dungeons and, not finding any of the honest sufferers, filled the air with pitiful cries and sobs. When the soldiers who happened there asked her why she was crying so much, she answered:
- “I am looking for the servants of my God, who yesterday were in this prison, but now I don’t know where they are.”
The soldiers, seeing that she was a Christian, immediately took her and took her to the head of the Illyrian region, Flora. When the saint was brought to the hegemon, he asked her: “Are you a Christian?” Saint Anastasia answered: “Truly I am a Christian. What seems abominable to you is dear to me. And the name of a Christian, which is considered a disgrace among you, is honorable and glorious to me.” . Then the hegemon began to ask Anastasia about her origin and, having learned that she was from a famous Roman family, asked in surprise: “What prompted you to leave Rome, your glorious fatherland, and come here?” The saint answered him: “Nothing other than the voice of my Lord, calling me to Himself. Listening to this voice, I left my fatherland and friends, took up the Cross of my Christ and cheerfully and joyfully followed Christ.” The hegemon said to this: “Where is the Christ whom you confess?” Anastasia answered: “There is no place in which Christ would not be. He is in heaven, in the sea, and on earth, He dwells in all those who call and fear Him, enlightening their minds and always being with them.” The hegemon asked: “Where are the people who fear your Christ, of whom you speak? Tell us so that we can recognize them.” The saint answered: “Until now they were with us on earth, living in this world, but now, having left the earthly world, they are in heaven and look at us from above. This bliss was brought to them by death, accepted for Christ. And I want to be in theirs.” number and go the same way as them." The hegemon could not do anything with the noble Roman woman before the king knew about her, and therefore he, having described everything concerning Anastasia, sent it in a special report to Diocletian. Diocletian knew Anastasia's parents and her husband, as well as herself. Realizing that she was spending her estate, which she had received from her parents, on poor Christians, he ordered the saint to be brought to him and, seeing her, began to ask about her condition, since he loved wealth more than his gods. - “Where are your riches left to you after your father?” The saint courageously answered: “If I still had any of the treasures and property with which I could still serve the servants of my Christ, then I would not have given myself into the hands of people seeking Christian blood. But now I have already exhausted everything.” my property, which I sacrificed to Christ, and I have only my body left; therefore, I strive to offer it as a gift to my God.” Seeing how the saint spoke freely and foreseeing her courage, the king lost hope of defeating her with words and getting anything from her wealth, the depletion of which he had just heard. He was afraid to enter into further conversation with her, lest she should shame him with her wise words, and ordered her to be taken to the regional governor, saying: “It is not proper for the Tsar’s Majesty to talk with a mad woman.” The regional governor kindly asked Saint Anastasia: “Why don’t you want to make sacrifices to the gods, as your father made them; why did you leave them and honor Christ? After all, you don’t know Him: He was born among the Jews and is killed by them as a villain.” Anastasia answered: “And in my house there were gods and goddesses, gold, silver and copper. I saw how they stood idly, serving only as a seat for birds, a home for spiders and flies. So I threw the gods and goddesses into the fire, freeing them from the dishonor that birds, spiders and flies inflicted on them. And from the fire they came out of me with gold, silver and copper coins. With their money I fed many hungry people, clothed the naked, helped the weak, satisfied the needy. And so from those gods. who stood idle and useless, I benefited many." Hearing such words, the regional commander exclaimed with rage:
- “I don’t want to hear about your godless act.” Then the saint answered with a grin: “I am amazed at your intelligence, judge. How can you call my act a godless act. If those soulless idols had at least one feeling or one force, what would have prevented them from freeing themselves from the hands of the destroyers?” them, or take revenge on the destroyers, or, finally, scream and ask for help from you? And they don’t even know about themselves, they don’t know what’s happening to them.” Interrupting the saint’s speech, the judge said: “Our Divine King commanded you, putting aside all unnecessary talk, to do one of two things: either agree to sacrifice to the gods or die an evil death.”
The saint responded to this that to die for Christ does not mean to perish, but to enter into eternal life. Seeing, after a long conversation, that the saint was adamant, the regional commander reported this to the king. Diocletian, in great anger, began to think about what to do with Saint Anastasia. One of those close to him advised the king to hand her over to Ulshan, the priest of the Capitoline, so that he would persuade her to renounce Christ, or force her through torture, or, if she did not submit, he would execute her mortally, and if any property remained after her, he would take it for himself. Capitols. The king liked this advice, and he handed over Saint Anastasia to Ulshan, the high priest of all the gods.
Ulshan honorably brought her to his house, hoping to catch her with flattery rather than threats. After much gentle persuasion, he offered her a choice of opposing objects, containing all the splendor of the world and all kinds of instruments of torment, placing all this opposite each other: on the one hand, precious stones, and on the other, double-edged swords; here are golden beds, decorated with precious crystal trim, and there are red-hot iron beds filled with burning coals; here are monists, earrings, various gold and pearl jewelry, and there are shackles, chains and iron bonds. Here there are light mirrors and all kinds of women's clothes, and there there are iron combs and spears intended for tearing the body. On one side are precious robes, on the other are fragments and sawdust, with which the torturers usually irritated the wounds inflicted on the martyrs. Why did this treacherous and crafty man do this? Why did he put against luxury items - objects of torture and torment, against those that please - those that cause despondency, and against those that caress - terrible objects? In order to deceive with some or frighten with others the bride of Christ. But she didn’t pay attention to anything: she didn’t want anything that sinned, she wasn’t afraid and didn’t want to run away from objects that brought sorrow and despondency, and she looked more willingly at the instrument of torture than at women’s attire. Thus, what the prophet said happened to the accursed: the insidious priest, without a presentiment, arranged everything for his own disgrace and shame; for Anastasia then showed even greater courage and love for Christ, so that all the vanity of the insidious intent of the pagan priest, and the futility of his guile, was revealed. When he said to the saint: “Choose for yourself what you want on both sides,” she, looking at the luxury items and jewelry laid out in front of her, said: “All this, devil, is yours and those who work for you, with whom you will be consigned to eternal destruction." Looking at the chains and instruments of torment, Saint Anastasia said: “Surrounded by these objects, I will become more beautiful and more pleasing to my longed-for Bridegroom, Christ. This I choose, and this I reject, I love this for the sake of my beloved Lord, and this I hate.” Then the priest, sparing her and not losing hope that she would change her desire, gave her three days to think. But the martyr, saddened, said: “Why put it off? Why don’t you want to torment me now? You won’t hear anything else from me except what I say now: I will not make a sacrifice to your gods, I will not fulfill your will and yours.” king; but I will offer a sacrifice of praise to the King of ages. To my only immortal God, for whom I lay down my soul. But I despise the torment with which you threaten, since I desire to gain nothing but Christ alone, in whom is eternal life.” The priest asked her: “Are you really choosing for yourself a death similar to Christ’s?” The martyr, having heard about the death of Christ , was filled with joy and said: “Amen, amen! May it be so with me, Christ, my King!” The priest asked: “What does this word “amen” mean? The saint answered: “You are not worthy to understand or pronounce this word. None of the reasonable people pours precious myrrh into a rotten vessel.” Then Ulshan ordered that Saint Anastasia be taken for three days to the women she knew, who had once been her neighbors and friends, so that they would persuade her to return to the gods of her fathers. What did those crafty and wicked women do! What advice, what affectionate and pleasant words for women did they not whisper to Anastasia, reminding her of the beauty and sweetness of the world! But the saint was like a deaf woman who does not hear, and like a dumb woman who does not open her mouth. In those three days she did not take any food or drink into her mouth, but she constantly cried out in her heart to her Bridegroom, Christ. Three days later, the high priest Ulshan, seeing that Saint Anastasia was firm in her confession of faith, like an unshakable pillar and a motionless mountain, condemned her to torment. But at first this accursed man, wounded by her beauty, wanted to defile the pure dove of Christ with his uncleanness. However, when this wicked man wanted to touch her, he suddenly went blind, a terrible pain squeezed his head and, like a madman, he screamed and called out to his gods, asking for help. He ordered himself to be carried to the idol temple, hoping to receive help from those whom he served, but, instead of help, he received greater harm, and instead of life - death; for he cast out his evil soul and moved to his gods - to hell. The rumor about this miracle spread among many, and the holy martyr Anastasia remained free. Coming out of there, she went to the aforementioned spiritual sister of her Theodotia, who was still staying in the house of the mayor Leucadius, and told her in detail about everything that she had endured, and about the miracle that God performed through her, showing His mercy over her. Soon after this, Levkady also returned from Vieinsh. He again took up the old ways and, as before, tried, either with caresses or threats, to persuade Theodotia to two iniquities - to worship his wicked gods and enter into a shameful and hateful marriage with him. Finally, having exhausted all his efforts and seeing that he could not succeed in anything because of Anastasia’s presence here, the cruel one flared up with even greater anger: he chained and brought Anastasia to trial, and sent Theodotia and her children tied up in Vieisha to the anoipath Nikitius, telling him The letter contains everything concerning Theodotia. When blessed Theodotia was brought to this proconsul, the latter, during interrogation, began to threaten her with torture. To this, the eldest son of Theodotia, named Evod, a small boy, said to the proconsul: “We, judge, are not afraid of the torment that gives the body incorruptibility and the soul immortality. We fear God, who can destroy both soul and body in fiery hell.” ". The judge, having heard such speeches, ordered immediately, in front of his mother, to beat the boy with rods until he bled. The mother, looking at this, rejoiced and strengthened her son with Divine words, convincing him to courageously endure all suffering. After this torture, Theodotia was given to one shameless man named Girtaku, so that he could desecrate her. But as soon as he, approaching the chaste servant of God, wanted to touch her, he saw a bright young man standing next to her, who, looking at him menacingly, hit him in the face so hard that he was bleeding. The anoipath also saw this miracle clearly; but instead of knowing God, who preserves the purity of the chaste, he became even more mad, attributing this to the spell of sorcery. He ordered the stove to be lit as hot as possible and a mother and three children were thrown into it. And Saint Theodotia, with the blessed fruits of her womb, became a sacrifice acceptable to God: she died in fire. At this time, Saint Anastasia was kept in chains by the Illirish hegemon. This man was selfish, and having heard that Anastasia owned great wealth, he ordered her to be secretly brought to him and told her: “I know that you are rich and have a lot of money and estates. At the same time, you adhere to the Christian faith, which you yourself do not you hide. Fulfill the commandment of your Christ, who commands you to despise all riches and be poor. Give me your wealth and make me the heir of your property. By doing this, you will receive a double benefit: you will fulfill the commandment of Christ and, freed from our hands, you will be fearless. It is not forbidden to serve your God." The wise Anastasia prudently answered this: “Who would be so crazy as to give you, a rich man, what belongs to the poor? Who would be so unreasonable as to give you, drowning in luxury and living in sweets and self-indulgence, the food of the poor.” “If I see you hungry and thirsty, naked and sick and thrown into prison, then I will do for you, as necessary, everything that Christ commanded us: I will feed you, give you something to drink, clothe you, visit you, serve you, help you, giving you everything you need.” The hegemon was angry at these words and in a rage ordered to imprison the saint in a dark prison and starve her for thirty days. But she fed on her hope - Christ the Lord: He was her sweet food and consolation in sorrow. Every night the holy martyr Theodotia appeared to her, filled her heart with joy and strengthened her. Anastasia talked about many things with the blessed one, asked her about many things. By the way, she asked her: “How do you come to me after death?” Theodotia explained to her that the souls of the martyrs were given special grace from God, so that even after their departure from the earth, they could come to whomever they wanted, talk with them and console them. After thirty days, the hegemon, seeing that Anastasia was not exhausted from hunger and remained healthy and fair in complexion, became furious against the guards, thinking that they were delivering her food. Finally, he ordered her to be put in a stronger prison, sealed the entrance to it with his seal and, having assigned the most faithful guards, starved Saint Anastasia with hunger and thirst for another thirty days. And during this time the holy martyr, day and night, fed only with tears and fervently prayed to God. After another thirty days, the hegemon took Anastasia out of prison and, seeing that she again had not changed her face, condemned her to death along with others sentenced to death for various atrocities. All of them were determined to be drowned in the sea.
Among the condemned was one pious man named Eutychian; deprived of all his property for the sake of Christ, he was condemned to the same death. And so they all put them on a ship and sailed with them to the sea. Having reached the depth, the warriors drilled several holes in the ship, and they themselves moved into a boat, specially prepared for this purpose, and sailed to the shore. And when the ship was about to dive, suddenly those on it saw the holy martyr Theodotia, steering the sails and leading the ship to the shore, which it soon reached. All the condemned, seeing their salvation from drowning, were amazed and, falling at the feet of two Christians, Eutychian and Anastasia, begged to enlighten them into the faith of Christ.
Coming ashore unharmed, they accepted the teaching of faith from Eutychian and Anastasia and were baptized. All the souls who were saved from drowning and believed in Christ were one hundred and twenty. The hegemon, soon learning about this, became angry and issued an order to seize them and execute them with all kinds of executions, and to stretch the martyr Anastasia between four pillars and burn them. So the blessed Pattern Maker accomplished her feat of suffering: she was freed from the bonds of the flesh and departed to the desired heavenly freedom. Her honorable body, undamaged by the fire, was begged from the hegemon's wife by one pious wife, Apollinaria, who buried him with honor in her vineyard. Over time, when the persecution of the Church ceased, she erected a church over the grave of the martyr. Many more years passed, and the honest relics of Saint Anastasia became glorified. Then, with great honor, they were transferred to the reigning city of Constantinople, for the protection and salvation of the city, to the glory of Christ our God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, glorified in one Godhead forever. Amen.
Saint Anastasia is commemorated on December 22, according to the new style - on January 4. She is considered the patroness of prisoners.
Not far from the city of Thessaloniki, in the picturesque mountainous area of Halkidiki, there is one of the oldest Orthodox monasteries. It was founded in honor of Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker in 888 by Queen Theophania, also canonized. She ordered the holy relics of Anastasia to be brought to the monastery.
Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker
(December 22, old style)
The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker (U ca. 304) suffered during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284-305). Born in Rome, in the family of Senator Praetextatus. The father was a pagan, Favsta's mother was a secret Christian, who entrusted the upbringing of the little girl to Saint Chrysogonus, famous for his learning (U c. 304; commemorated December 22). 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. After the death of her mother, regardless of her daughter’s wishes, her father married her to the pagan Pomplius. In order not to break the vow of virginity and avoid the marital bed, Anastasia constantly referred to an incurable illness and remained pure.
There were many Christian prisoners in the dungeons of Rome at that time. In beggarly clothes, the saint secretly visited prisoners, 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, in order to take possession of a rich inheritance, constantly tortured his wife. The saint wrote to her teacher: “My husband... torments me as an opponent of his pagan faith in such a grave imprisonment that I have no choice but to surrender my spirit to the Lord and fall dead.” In his response 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; she used the inheritance she received for clothing, food and medicine for the sick. Saint Chrysogonus was sent to Aquileia (a city in upper Italy) for trial before the Emperor Diocletian - Anastasia followed her teacher. The body of Saint Chrysogonus, after his martyrdom, according to Divine revelation, was hidden by 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 (U 304; commemorated 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. After the death of the martyrs, she herself buried their bodies.
Saint Anastasia began to wander in order to serve Christians imprisoned wherever possible. This is how she received the gift of healing. With her works and words of consolation, Saint Anastasia eased the imprisonment of many people; by caring for the bodies and souls of the suffering, she freed them from the bonds of despair, fear and helplessness, which is why she was called the Pattern Maker. In Macedonia, the saint met a young Christian widow, Theodotia, who helped her in her pious labors.
It became known that Anastasia was a Christian, she was taken into custody and taken to Emperor Diocletian. Having questioned Anastasia, Diocletian learned that she spent all her money on helping those in need, and poured gold, silver and copper figurines into money and fed many hungry people, clothed the naked, and helped the weak. The emperor ordered the saint to be taken 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 sons were martyred by the anthipat (region commander) Nikitios in their hometown of Nicea (U c. 304; commemorated July 29 and December 22). 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 (U c. 304; commemorated December 22). The soldiers put the prisoners on the ship and went out to the open sea. Far from the shore, they got into a boat, and made several holes in the ship so that it sank. 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 the fire between four pillars. This is how Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker completed her martyrdom.
The saint’s body remained unharmed; the pious Christian Apollinaria buried him. At the end of the persecution, she built a church over the tomb of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia.