The Twenty-Second Day

of the Month of January

The Life and Passion of the

Holy Monastic Martyr

Anastasius the Persian

When Chosroes, King of Persia, seized Jerusalem, the Holy Places sanctified by the voluntary passion, crucifixion death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Christ became possessions of the impious barbarians. They took back to their homeland much plunder, including the saving wood of the Cross, which shone with miracles as brilliantly as the sun. Because of the marvels worked by the Cross, the name of Christ was glorified throughout Persia.

While in the hands of the heathen, the divine fishing rod caught many souls for God. Among those who came to knowledge of the truth and believed wholeheartedly in the Saviour was Anastasius, the future martyr. Anastasius was born in Rasuna, a village in the region called Raza, and as a pagan was named Magundat. His father, Bavi, was a magus famous for his knowledge of sorcery, which he began imparting to Magundat in his childhood. By the time Magundat enlisted in the army, he had learned all the secrets of wizardry. Now it happened that Magundat was assigned to the royal bodyguard and stationed in the capital, where he heard about the power, glory, and miracles of the Cross. All were amazed by the wonders and said, “The God of the Christians has come to Persia.” Magundat tried to find out as much as he could about the Cross, and in the course of his investigations the fire Christ came to send on earth fell upon his soul. He asked everyone what sort of wood could have such power, and was told that the Cross derived its might from the Son of God, Whom the Christians confessed and worshipped. Beyond this, the faithful explained that God had descended and became man, that for our salvation He deigned to be crucified by the Jews, and that He had returned to heaven. Thus apprised of the mysteries of our redemption, Magundat lovingly accepted the seeds of piety. The grain of faith sprouted in his heart, and he set it as his life’s purpose to emulate the Saviour.

Magundat’s regiment, which was under the command of the renowned General Sain, was sent by Chosroes to attack the Greeks. It advanced with the rest of the army as far as Chalcedon, where the Persians were confronted by the pious Emperor Heraclius. Sain beat a hasty retreat, and in the confusion, Magundat deserted. It was painful for the saint to abandon his comrades (especially a close relative who shared his tent), but he preferred to live in poverty and as a stranger among Christians rather than as a man of wealth and distinction among a people alien to God. In Hierapolis he found a Persian Christian goldsmith, so he settled there and learned the man’s trade. While doing his work, Magundat cleaved in his mind to Christ God, for Whom his love burned hotter daily. He requested his teacher to help him prepare for Holy Baptism, but nothing came of this, since everyone feared the Persians’ return and no presbyter was willing to perform the rite. Nonetheless, Magundat went to church frequently with his master. There he saw depictions of the sufferings and miracles of the holy martyrs, and asked, “What are these?” His teacher replied that the frescoes showed the feats of the martyrs, whose blood was shed for Christ and who laid down their souls for the Lord. As he explained the saints’ tortures and their rewards in heaven, Magundat listened in amazement. His heart aflame with divine zeal, the blessed one decided to seek Baptism in Jerusalem.

In the Holy City Magundat attached himself to another pious goldsmith. He revealed his desire to be united with Christ in Baptism, and the smith took him to Elias, presbyter of the great church of Christ’s Resurrection. The blessed presbyter warmly greeted Magundat and informed the Most Holy Patriarch Modestus about him. With the Patriarch.s blessing, Elias baptized Magundat, naming him Anastasius. For eight days after his christening, Anastasius stayed with the presbyter. The holy Elias asked Anastasius whether he wished to remain a layman or become a monk, to which the blessed one replied that he wanted to be clothed in the schema. This came as no surprise to the presbyter, because Anastasius’ meek, devout demeanor clearly pointed to his preference. On the eighth day Anastasius laid aside his white baptismal robe, and Elias took him to one of the monasteries of Jerusalem. This occurred during the tenth year of Heraclius’ reign. Anastasius was entrusted to a wise, virtuous elder, who soon became abbot. The elder not only taught his Greek, but also to read the Psalter and other holy books, and perform monastic labors. Anastasius was an astute pupil, quickly winning the love of the entire brotherhood and especially of his guide who, seeing the novice quickly approach perfection, tonsured him in the angelic schema and made him his true spiritual son.

The blessed Anastasius was an exemplary monk: humble, meek, and industrious. He labored at obediences in the kitchen, the bakery, the garden, and elsewhere, and never missed a church service or omitted to perform his cell-rule. His hands were always busy with work, and prayer was ever on his lips. He was an assiduous student of the divine Scriptures, the Lives of the Fathers, and especially, accounts of the martyrs’ torments, which inevitably moved him to such copious tears that he soaked the text he was reading. His heart burned fiercely with longing to acquire the patience of Christ’s holy passion-bearers: he wished to share their sufferings, marveled at their courage, praised their blessed end, and prayed that he be deemed worthy to die for the Master Christ and be accepted into the choir of martyrs. Enraged by Anastasius’ virtues, the enemy of our souls frequently reminded the saint of his life in Persia, the wealth and respect he enjoyed there, his skill in the black art, and the glory he might have won had he remained in the army. Satan suggested vain thoughts of every kind in the hope of disturbing the blessed one’s tranquility and driving him from the monastery; however, the saint always confessed his temptations to his spiritual father. With God’s help and the prayers of his teacher, Anastasius ever prevailed over the deceiver and remained as unshakeable as a strong pillar.

After the venerable one had lived in the monastery for seven years and accumulated cast spiritual treasure, the Lord called him through a dream to receive the crown of martyrdom. On the evening of Great Saturday, Anastasius lay down to rest. A radiant man approached him, holding a golden chalice adorned with jewels and brimming with wine. He said, “Take this and drink”; and Anastasius emptied the cup. The saint was filled with ineffable delight, and through still asleep, realized that the Lord had called him to the ultimate contest. He awoke overjoyed and rushed to church for the paschal service. Finding his abba in the sacristy, he fell prostrate and showered his feet with tears. Anastasius explained that his end was near and begged for his teacher’s prayers, saying, “I know, holy Father, what concern you have for me, what labors you have undertaken on my behalf, and how frequently I have offended you. Thanks to you, I have seen the light and escaped darkness; wherefore, I implore you to redouble your prayers for me, your slave.”

The abbot asked, “What has happened, child? How did you learn that your departure is nigh?”

Anastasius contritely related the dream, insisting that before long he would certainly die; however, he said nothing about martyrdom, fearing lest the superior convince him that the endeavor was beyond him, the fire of love for Christ be quenched in his heart, and the crown of suffering slop from his grasp. The elder consoled him lovingly, and at the Liturgy the venerable Anastasius partook of the divine Mysteries. Afterwards, he ate with the brethren in the refectory. The next night thoughts urging him to martyrdom hardly let him sleep, and just before dawn he slipped out of the monastery, clad in the habit, but without any possessions.

Saint Anastasius first went to Diospolis in Palestine, then retired to pray on Mount Gerizim. While travelling about, he stopped in Caesarea, another city of Palestine, remaining for two days at the Church of the Immaculate Virgin Theotokos and afterwards visiting the Church of the Holy Great-martyr Euthymia the All-praised. At that time many lands of the East were overrun by the Persians. One day, the blessed one passed by a house taken over by a Persian and saw that a number of his countrymen were performing sorcerous rites. Burning with divine zeal, Anastasius shouted at them angrily, “Why do you persist in error and lead astray others?”

“Who are you to speak so defiantly,” they demanded to know.

“I once professed the false doctrines you hold, and was an expert in wizardry,” answered the saint, who launched a lengthy attack on the atheistic, soul-destroying beliefs of the Persians. He advised his compatriots to follow his example, renounce sorcery, turn to Christ God in repentance, and embrace the truth; but they refused to heed him, and warned him to refrain from further criticism. Since they were unwilling to correct themselves, Anastasius continued on his way to the church of the All-praised Great-martyr. He had not gone very far when Persian soldiers, sitting by the doors of the courthouse, noticed him. They said to one another, “That man is a spy.”

Anastasius stopped, glared at them, and announced, “I am not a spy, but a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. My station in life is far higher than yours, because I am in the service of Him Who descended from heaven for the sake of us sinners. I am a Persian and once served in your army.”

The troops sprang to their feet, seized the holy martyr, dragged him into the building, presented him to their commander, and related what he had said. After learning the saint’s name and confirming that he was a Persian, the officer imprisoned him. Anastasius was left in his cell for three days, but refused to touch the food and drink provided by the impious. He was nourished solely by longing to suffer for Christ.

At the time Marzavan, a Persian prince, arrived in Caesarea, and hearing about the captive, ordered him brought in chains to the judgment hall. Marzavan was occupied with another matter when the saint entered, so the godly Anastasius was told to wait until the Prince was ready to speak with him. Presently a Christian who had seen the martyr in the Church of the Immaculate Virgin Theotokos noticed him and quietly asked why he was bound and awaiting questioning. The saint explained that he hoped to suffer and be slain for Christ. Hearing this, the Christian praised Anastasius and urged him not to fear torments or death for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, but to respond fearlessly to Marzavan’s questions, bearing in mind the saying in the Gospel: He that endureth to the end shall be saved.

The Persians were accustomed to prostrate themselves before their princes, but the venerable Anastasius refused to bow the knee to Marzavan, because he wanted it known from the onset that he could not be intimidated. Marzavan studied him carefully, then asked, “What is your name, and where are you from?”

“I am a Christian,” replied the saint fearlessly,” and my earthly homeland is Persia. I was born in Rasuna, a village in the province of Raza. I was trained to become a magus and served in the army, but forsook darkness and accepted the true light. Formerly I was called Magundat; now, as a Christian, my name is Anastasius.”

Marzavan commanded, “Repudiate Christian error and return to your former beliefs. Obey me, and I will give you horses, money, and other gifts.

Looking up to heaven, the martyr sighed, “I will never renounce Thee, O Christ my King.”

“Can you possibly be satisfied with such dreary, pitiable clothing?” asked Marzavan.

The blessed one answered, “I love the angelic schema, and regard it as far preferable to your princely robes.” “You are possessed, and a demon tells you what to say!” Marzavan shouted.

“When I believed the contemptible, false teachings of the Persians, I was indeed possessed, but now there lives in me Christ the Saviour, Who expels the demons you worship,” retorted the saint.

“Fear our mighty ruler Chosroes. When he hears about you, he will have you crucified.” The Prince threatened.

The saint asked, “Why should I be afraid of a man who, like you, is subject to corruption? You may destroy my body, but you will never snare my soul.”

Marzavan then ordered Anastasius collared and sent him with other prisoners to labor for a crew of masons. While toiling, the blessed one endured many sufferings, mostly at the hands of acquaintances and former neighbors from Rasuna, of whom there were many in Caesarea. They considered that he had brought shame upon them, and they reviled him, saying, “We Persians do not believe in Christ, and you have disgraced yourself by becoming a Christian. Although of noble birth, you wear an iron collar and fetters, and do a slave’s work. This is intolerable.” The unbelievers did not limit themselves to rebukes, but mercilessly pummeled the innocent one, tore out his beard, and ripped his habit. They hung to his neck stones so heavy they could scarcely be carried by four men; nevertheless, God’s favorite continued at his labor. Although abused by the Persians daily, Anastasius gladly endured for the sake of Jesus Christ.

After some time, Prince Marzavan ordered the saint brought to him and said, “If you are truly the son of a magus and a master of sorcery, tell me about your powers.”

God forbid that I should defile my mind and tongue by speaking about sorcery!” exclaimed the saint.

“Why do you remain a Christian?” asked the Prince. “If you fail to return to our faith, I will certainly inform King Chosroes.”

“Do whatever you wish. I thin you have already written him and received his reply,” said Anastasius.

“I have not written, but am about to,” said the Prince. “Let the King decide your fate.”

The saint goaded Marzavan, “Slander me to him as you wish. I repeat: I am a Christian.” At this the Prince ordered him stretched upon the ground and thrashed until he submitted. As the servants were about to fasten the martyr’s hands and feet to stakes, he told them, “Leave me untied: I chose to suffer for my Christ. I thirst for torment for His sake, like another thirst for cool water on a hot day.” With this Anastasius made the sign of the Cross, lay down, and surrendered himself to blows. The torturers beat him mercilessly with staves, until the passion-bearer stopped them, saying, “Wait a moment, and allow me to remove my habit. I do not wish it to be dishonored, for it is holy. Batter my naked flesh: I am happy to be injured for Christ. Even if you cut me to pieces, I will never renounce my Lord Jesus.”

Naked and held by no one, Anastasius withstood blows namfully and without flinching, conquering the weakness of human nature solely by a firm resolve. The Prince and the others were amazed at how he neither cried out nor moaned, and were forced to admit that his mind was fixed on God, for Whom he suffered. When the saint’s flesh had been reduced to pulp, Marzavan ordered his men to stop flailing him. He again threatened Anastasius, saying, “I will write the King and he will order you executed.”

“Do as you wish,” the saint responded.

“Are you not afraid of the King?” asked Marzavan.

“Why should I be afraid of your king? He is a mortal and will rot like you. I fear my Lord Jesus Christ, Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is therein, and Who is a stranger to corruption,” Anastasius said. Frustrated by the martyr’s steadfastness, the haughty Prince sent Anastasius back to the dungeon.

A few days later, Marzavan commanded that Anastasius be brought to him again. He said affably, “Remember what powers you had as a sorcerer and offer oblations to the gods. I do not want you to perish miserably and descend to darkness.”

The venerable one asked, “To which god should I  sacrifice: the sun, the moon, fire, the sea, the mountains, the hills, or to some other created thing? Christ the Son of God made all these to serve man, His rational creation. Or would you have me worship idols? God forbid that I should do anything of the sort! You sin gravely by proffering adoration to animals, as though we were created for their sake and not they for ours; you transgress still more grievously by worshipping demons. How strange that you are fashioned in the image of God, yet despise your Maker! If you knew Christ the Creator, you would turn to the true Light and escape slavery to devils.” The saint’s words astonished everyone, and Marzavan, convinced that kindness would achieve nothing more than had brutality, returned Anastasius to the dungeon and decided to await word from Chosroes. At night the martyr was confined to his cell, but during the day he carried rocks with other prisoners. He remained fettered at all times.

Word of Anastasis’ steadfast endurance of sufferings for Christ reached the monastery where he as tonsured, and the brethren rejoice greatly. Their abba, the saint’s teacher and spiritual father, was especially elated, regarding Anastasius’ bonds and stripes as his own. Unable to visit the blessed one, he sent two monks to him, with provisions and a letter encouraging him to be courageous; then, with the rest of the community, he devoted himself to praying that the Lord grant Anastasius to complete the contest well, win the garland of victory, and be included in the choir of martyrs. As for the venerable one, he unceasingly glorified Almighty God.

In Prison, Anastasius was bound to a servant of Marzavan’s who committed a crime. One chain linked their necks, another their feet. Since the man also carried rocks during the day and collapsed exhausted in the evening. Anastasius considered it a sin to wake him when he rose at midnight to pray. To avoid disturbing him, the godly one frequently refrained from standing when he said his rule; instead, he prostrated himself next to the sleeper. There were other prisoners in the cell, one Jew of noble birth and worthy character. Amazed at how Saint Anastasius carried rocks all day and spent the night praying, the Jew asked himself, “What sort of man is this, and how will it end for him?”

One night, the saint was praying and the Jew was awake. Suddenly the cell became extremely bright, and the Jew saw two radiant men clothed in white approach the holy martyr. Despite the intensity of the ineffable light, everyone else remained asleep. The amazed Jew told himself, “These are God’s holy angels.” Then he noticed that they were wearing omophoria and holding crosses, and he realized that they wee bishops. A moment later, a youth appeared in front of Anastasius, with a lit censer in hand. When he began censing the martyr, the Jew, wanting someone else to see this, tried to rouse the prisoner next to him, a Christian who had been judge of Scythopolis. The judge was sleeping soundly, and it was with great difficulty that the Jew awoke him. As he opened his eyes, the judge muttered, “What is it? Why are you disturbing me?”

Pointing at the saint, the Jew exclaimed, “Look, look!” whereupon, the visitors disappeared. Smitten with compunction, he explained to the Christian everything he had seen, and both men glorified Christ God.

Not many days later, Prince Marzavan received a reply from Chosroes and sent an officer with this message to Anastasius: “The King requires only that you say once. “I am not a Christian.’ Do this and you are free to return to your monastery, or to Persia and the army.”

The saint replied, “May I never renounce Christ in word or thought!”

Marzavan then dispatched a second message, saying, “I understand your shame at repudiating Christ openly, especially before those who know you; however, the King’s command must be obeyed. If you prefer, deny Christ privately, before me and two other witnesses. This will suffice. What harm will you suffer from disavowing your God with your lips, if you continue to believe in Him with your heart?”

“I will never deny my Lord before you or anyone else, openly, in secret, or even in my dreams. I will never violate my conscience,” insisted the saint.

The officer returned to the Prince and related Anastasius’ reply; whereupon, Marzavan had the saint brought to him. He told the martyr, “His Majesty commands that you be sent in bonds to him.”

The holy martyr said, “If you release me, I will go to the King myself. What is the point of leaving me in bonds, when I suffer voluntarily for Christ, my beloved Master?”

Convinced that he could neither cow nor entice Anastasius into renouncing the Christian faith and returning to impiety, the Prince ordered that five days thence he be sent to Persia with two other Christian prisoners, who had been falsely accused. The saint was returned to the dungeon, but not for long. The feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross of the Lord was at hand, and a respected and virtuous Christian nobleman of Caesarea asked the Prince to release Anastasius into his custody so that he could celebrate the holy day with his fellow-believers. Out of respect for this eminent citizen, Marzavan allowed the blessed one to join the other Christians, although he left him in irons. The pious nobleman took Anastasius to church for the Divine Liturgy, greatly delighting the faithful and doubling the joy of the feast for them. Seeing the sufferer loaded with heavy fetters for Christ the Lord Who was crucified for us, men and women alike blessed him, rushed to kiss his bonds, and shed copious tears. After the Liturgy, the devout noble fed at his home the martyr and the monks Anastasius’ elder had sent, then returned the saint to prison. On the fifth day the man of God was sent to Persia in chains with the other two prisoners. Numerous Christians, weeping tears of joy, were on hand to bid him farewell. Among those present were the two monks, one of whom returned at once to the monastery. The other, in obedience to the abbot, followed Anastasius and later recounted his sufferings and martyric end.

Upon arrival in Persia, the holy martyr was imprisoned in the town called Bithsalia. The dungeon was full of criminals and captives, and the latter most were Christians. The monk that accompanied him found quarters with Kortakt, son of the King’s chief steward, a secret Christian named Esdin. Within a few days Chosroes sent a judge and a tribune to question the saint. The judge began by asking Anastasius who he was, where is was from, and why he had abandoned his ancestral faith and become a Christian. Having come to hate the Persian language along with the impious beliefs of his compatriots, Christ’s holy martyr refused to say another word in it, and replied through a translator, “You err gravely, worshipping demons rather than God. I was once deceived, like you, but now I believe in and adore the almighty Master, Jesus Christ, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is therein. You faith was devised by devils and leads to perdition.”

“Wretch, was not Christ, Whom you revere, crucified by the Jews?” shouted the judge. “What induced you to abandon the beliefs of your fathers and become a Christian?”

“It is true that my Christ was crucified by the Jews,” said Anastasius. “It is also certain that He was nailed to the Cross for our salvation in accordance with His divine will. Being the Creator of all things, He descended from heaven to earth, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the immaculate and most blessed Virgin Mary, and voluntarily submitted to crucifixion to rescue the human rave from demonic delusion. Notwithstanding, you persist in honoring the devil and worshipping the sun, the moon, fire, and other created things rather than the Creator.”

“You are a long-winded, contentious fellow,” raved the judge; “nonetheless, the King is willing to give you golden belts and fine horses, to shower high honors upon you, and to make you one of the notables of the realm, if only you return to your former beliefs.”

Saint Anastasius replied, “I disdain wealth, honors, glory, and everything your ruler bestows. What you regard as desirable, I count as refuse or dung. I love the monastic life and am sustained by the hole that through the grace of Christ my God, I will inherit eternal blessings. My torn mandyas and the rest of my habit vouch for what I say. How can I possibly denounce that in which I trust and for which I strive single-mindedly? If I accept your king’s gifts, I will quickly perish.”

The judge related this to the King, who fuming with anger, commanded that Anastasius be tortured the next morning. At dawn the judge removed the saint from the prison and had him beaten mercilessly with staves. Then he ordered that a heavy plank be laid on the martyr’s knees and another fixed beneath them, and that two large men jump on the upper plank. This continued for some time, but the saint remained unyielding, so the judge had Anastasius returned to his cell, and he reported to the King. As it happened, the tribune, who oversaw the prison, was a secret Christian and showed every kindness to those suffering for the Lord. With the aforementioned monk and other believers, he nursed and encouraged the passion-bearer. Among those who visited Anastasius in his cell were the sons of Esdin, the King’s steward also mentioned earlier and a secret Christian. Falling at the martyr’s feet, they kissed his fetters, begged his prayers, and requested that he give them something by which to remember him. Out of humility he requested them to leave, protesting that he was sinful, unworthy, and in need of the entreaties of others. Unwilling to depart empty-handed, the brothers made a wax impression of the saint’s bonds and took this as a blessing. The wax healed various diseases, and the brothers distributed pieces of it to the faithful, who regarded them as priceless blessings.

Before long Chosroes sent the judge back to the prison. After questioning Anastasius and learning that he was still unwilling to obey the King, the persecutor had him flailed with staves again. Anastasius was given the treatment a third time several days later. To this the judge added another grievous torment: he had the holy passion-bearer suspended by a single arm for two hours with a heavy rock tied to his leg. Upon cutting down Anastasius and sending him back to the dungeon, the judge assured Chosroes that the martyr could not be broken. He advised the king to put Anastasius to death quickly, lest Persia and all its might be reduced to a laughing-stock by a single Christian. Fifteen days later, the ruler condemned to death Anastasius and a large number of his fellow-prisoners.

The day before his execution, the holy martyr Anastasius told several of the captives, “Brethren, many of us, including myself, are about to depart this life, but you have nothing to fear, Not many days hence, the impious Chosroes will be murdered.”

A little after sunrise, the judge arrived with soldiers and led away the saint and seventy prisoners, mostly Orthodox Christians. Both Christians sent to Persia in bonds with the holy Anastasius were included among the condemned, but none of those whom the saint predicted would be freed after the King’s slaying were taken. The seventy were strangled with a cord, one by one. After each execution, the judge asked Saint Anastasius, “Do you really want to die now, like these men? Would it not be better to remain alive, and enjoy honors, high rank, and His Majesty’s favor?”

Anastasius taunted the judge, “I want you to cut me into pieces for my Christ. I count the death of the body as nought and thank God for granting me the ineffable and incomparable glory of the martyrs, merely for enduring paltry sufferings.”

After the other were dead, the holy monk Anastasius was also strangled. The martyr met his end joyfully, departing this life on the twenty-second of January. The soldiers took his head to the King, thereby confirming his death. All the bodies were cast to dogs, which gladly fed upon the other corpses; however, they refused to eat Saint Anastasius’ remains and guarded them fiercely. The tribune wished to remove the relics of the martyr, but the soldiers, many of whom were Jews and were watching from afar, prevented this. That night the monk sent from Anastasius’ monastery to witness his death came with servants of Esdin’s sons and purchased the remains from the guards for a large sum of gold. The relics lay untouched amid the scraps of the corpses, and a brilliant ray of light beamed upon them from a star hovering overhead. The Christians wrapped the much-suffering body in a new shroud and buried it in the small nearby monastery of the holy martyr Sergius, where it remained until after Chosroes’ murder. Following the King’s death, the captives to whom the saint had prophesied were released. The monk from Anastasius’ monastery told the superior and the brethren everything, and the entire community glorified God for enabling His servant to suffer nobly. Straightway the abbot sent back the brother to Persia with a number of helpers to return his disciple to him. The relics were enshrined in his monastery, where they healed many and worked numerous miracles, unto the glory of Christ our God, Who is praised forever with the Father and the Holt Spirit.

Amen.

On this same day we commemorate the holy martyrs Manuel, George, Peter, Leontius, Sionius, Gabriel, John, Leontus, Parodus, and 377 others, who were taken captive in Thrace by the Bulgars and slain for Christ in various ways. At that time the Bulgars were impious heathen, not having been illumined in Holy Baptism.