March 10: Saint Anastasia the Patrician

One time, a glorious patrician, Venerable Anastasia,

Money, flattery, abandoned she all,
To Christ, her entire life she directed;
Christ, her bread; Christ, her water;
Christ, her joy and freedom,
Christ, the restorer of her soul,
Christ, the bridge over death.
Anastasia became shriveled,
The spirit through her withered face shines;
The spirit raises her higher to God,
With the Spirit of God, she breathes,
Until illuminated, she became,
By Grace enlightened,
By the power of God strengthened
And among the Living inscribed.
All she forgave, all she loved,
And for the entire world, she prays,
Like an angel, she was indeed,
Wholly fixed on Christ;
By the power of God, more powerful was she
And by riches, more wealthy
Than the Empress Theodora
Amidst the opulence of the imperial court.
(St. Nikolai Velimirovich)

Today, March 10, we celebrate the feast of Saint Anastasia the Patrician (died 567), a young woman who gave up all she had to avoid breaking her vow of chastity, fleeing a privileged and noble life to life in the desert as a monk. Saint Anastasia’s sacrifice reminds us of our own opportunities to sacrifice and life in repentance and conversion during this Lenten season.

Anastasia was born a Christian Byzantine noble and lady-in-waiting to the Empress Theodora in the court of Emperor Justinian of Constantinople. An image of virtue and chastity from birth, she was greatly admired and respected by the emperor, which concerned her a great deal. Wishing to give up the world and it’s trappings, Anastasia fled Constantinople, moving to Alexandria and founding a small monastery there. She spent her days in prayer and penance, devoting herself fully to the Lord.

Upon the death of Empress Theodora, Emperor Justinian launched a search for his fair Anastasia, whom he had never forgotten. When Anastasia learned of this, she left her monastery, journeying further into the remote desert, and searching for a well-known and pious monk, Abba Daniel, for assistance.

To protect her, Daniel dressed her as a male monk, and referred to her only as “the eunuch Anastasius.” He settled her in an extremely remote cave, and provided her with a rule of prayer and cloister. From that moment on, Anastasia never left her cave, nor did she receive any visitors. Only one other monk knew of her existence, and it was his task to bring her a pitcher of water and a loaf of bread once each week, leaving it at the entrance. In this manner, Anastasia lived in solitude with the Lord for twenty-eight years, avoiding the detection of Justinian.

During her communion with the Lord, it was revealed to Anastasia the hour and day of her death. Understanding fully, she wrote “Bring the spades and come here” on a piece of pottery, and left it at the entrance of her cave. The monk who found this message brought it to Abba Daniel, who immediately understood that her time approached. He brought all that was necessary for burial, and upon his arrival found her still alive. Together they contemplated the Holy Mysteries, and following a blessing (which Abba Daniel requested from the pious woman), Anastasia said, “Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” With that she died peacefully, in the year 567.

While dressing Anastasia for burial, the monk noticed that she was a woman, and upon questioning, Abba Daniel related her life of sacrifice, commitment, and love for the Lord. The monk, in turn, recorded her story. Eventually, in 1200, Saint Anastasia’s relics were translated to Constantinople, and placed near the Church of Hagia Sophia, where they are venerated today.

The life of Saint Anastasia the Patrician inspires us today. When Anastasia identified those things in her life that might lead her into temptation and away from the Lord, she took measures—drastic measures—to ensure the safety and sanctity of her soul. During this Lenten season, we might pause to consider her example. What in our lives leads us into sin?

Year 2: Day 69 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Conversion and turning from sin.
Requested Intentions: Healing (E); For a son struggling with depression (B); Successful conception (M); Freedom from social anxiety; confidence in the Lord (J); Improved success in employment and studies (D); Freedom from illness (T); For a wife’s employment (E); Healing of a husband’s knee (M); Freedom from sickness (R); Healing (C); Restoration of marriage (F); Freedom from medical difficulties, employment, successful relationship (D); End to suffering for sick brother; reconciliation of estranged family (E); End to husband’s addiction; Improved relationship; strength (M); Successful God-centered marriage; Sacramental life (M); Healing, successful relationship (S); For successful marriage (A); For a husband’s freedom from addiction (C); Freedom from pain and illness for a friend (M); Financial freedom (J); Successful passing of occupational examination (S); Healing and conversion, sale of house (L); Occupational success for employee and colleagues (J); Employment for a son (C); Successful attainment of an important appointed position (J); Recovery from cancer for a friend (Z); For a family’s freedom from sin (M); For a daughter with Diabetes (A); Healing of a father following stroke (S).