St. Anastasia, also known Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions, is a Christian martyr who suffered for Christ during the time of Diocletian's Christian persecutions.
She is one of the seven women commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass.
During the persecutions of Diocletian, Anastasia visited the prisons and cared for the confessors of faith. Once her pagan husband found out, he locked her up and beat her.
Anastasia began secretly corresponding with her adviser, St. Chrysogonus.
After the death of her husband, she set off to follow Chrysogonus to Aquileia. Chrysogonus was interrogated by Diocletian, but never renounced his faith. He was beheaded and thrown into the sea.
Anastasia spent her time caring for Christian prisoners. She was given her title Deliverer from Potions, because she would often heal many from the effects of poisons and potions.
Anastasia was arrested and taken to the prefect of Illyricum at Sirmium. Anastasia could not be swayed away from her faith, so she was given to the pagan priest Ulpian in Rome.
Enamored by her beauty, Ulpian decided he would defile her purity. However, once he went to touch her he was struck blind and his head burst into extreme pain.
The now-freed Anastasia set out to continue her care for imprisoned Christians.
She was recaptured and ordered death by starvation. But Anastasia was not harmed.
The judge decided his prisoners, including Anastasia, would be put to death by drowning. However, St. Theodota, Anastasia's martyred friend, appeared to them and steered the boat to shore.
Following yet another escape, Anastasia was found and staked to the ground with her arms and legs stretched out and was burned alive.
St. Anastasia is the patron saint of martyrs and those suffering from poison. Her feast day is celebrated on December 25.
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