Sts Anastasius I and Anastasius II, Patriarchs of Antioch

Saint Anastasius I the Sinaite, Patriarch of Antioch, laboured on Mount Sinai, and is therefore called the Sinaite. He ascended the patriarchal throne in 562, in the time of the Emperor Justinian (527–565).

At that time the Monophysite heresy spread widely. Saint Anastasius took up arms against the heretics: he sent letters to the Churches, and himself explained to the people every day the teaching on the two natures of Jesus Christ. The flock, confused by the heresy, listened with hope to the patriarch’s words.

Justinian wanted to throw Saint Anastasius from the patriarchal throne, but suddenly fell gravely ill. Before his death he repented of his error and composed a wonderful prayer, “Only-begotten Son and Word of God, who art immortal”, which is sung at the Divine Liturgy. It expresses the Orthodox teaching on the two natures of Jesus Christ.

After Justinian the Emperor Justin the Younger (565–578) ascended the throne; he began to persecute Saint Anastasius and in 572 even exiled him. In 593 the patriarch returned from exile and once more took the helm of the Church. For six years he governed his flock well, and in the seventh year he peacefully commended his soul to the Lord (+21 April 599).

In exile Anastasius wrote several dogmatic and pastoral works, and translated into Greek the work of Saint Gregory the Dialogist (+604; commemorated 12 March) “On Pastoral Ministry”.

Saint Anastasius II ascended the patriarchal throne of Antioch after Saint Anastasius I the Sinaite. For ten years he headed the life of the Church of Antioch. When the Emperor Phocas (602–610), under Saint Anastasius’s influence, issued a decree that all subjects of the empire must receive holy baptism, the Jews, haters of Christ, were filled with rage and took the holy patriarch’s life (609).