Holy Martyr Anastasius (+1794)

The holy Martyr Anastasius the Bulgarian was born in 1774 in the village of Radovish in the diocese of Strumitsa. His parents apprenticed him to a tailor to learn the craft. Once, when the young man was twenty, he had to travel to Thessalonica with his master. The craftsman wished to avoid paying duty on at least a few suits of Turkish clothing, and so he persuaded Anastasius to dress like a Turk. The customs officers stopped him and demanded a receipt for the payment of duty. The youth answered that he was a Turk. Then the officials demanded that he recite the salawat, the Muslim prayer. Anastasius was confused and fell silent. After this he was taken to the governor. The latter questioned the Lord’s chosen one and demanded that he become a Turk. The young man refused. Then he was brought to the chief customs officer. The official tried first with flattery and then insistently to bend the martyr. Anastasius admitted the civil offence but would not agree to deny Christ. The lamb of Christ was tortured and at last sentenced to be hanged. Even on the way the Turks urged the youth to renounce his faith, but he, exhausted and tortured, lost all his strength, collapsed, and on 29 August 1794 commended his soul to the Lord.