Venerable Martyr Anastasia of Rome (III)

The Venerable Martyr Anastasia of Rome suffered for Christ, according to one account in the reign of the Emperor Decius (249–251), and according to another source in that of Valerian (253–260). The saint was three years old when her parents died. A devout deaconess, Sophia, took charge of the orphan and brought her up in the fear of God. When the persecution of the Orthodox began, Probus, the head of the city, ordered Anastasia to be brought to him. The lamb of Christ, to whom her foster-mother and teacher had given her blessing for the labour of martyrdom, met the armed soldiers calmly. When Probus saw the saint’s youth and charm, he at first tried to win her over with flattery: “Why do you waste your youth, why do you flee from pleasure and delight? What is to be gained by suffering and death for the Crucified? Worship our gods, and you will gain a worthy husband, glory and honour.” Anastasia answered firmly: “My Bridegroom, my treasure, my life and my joy is Jesus Christ. You will not part me from the Lord by fear of torture!” The cruel torture of God’s chosen one began: the people who witnessed the inhuman torture and mockery of the martyr were filled with indignation and forced the head of the city to stop Anastasia’s torments, and he gave orders for her to be beheaded. The blessed one’s body was thrown out of the city for the beasts to tear, but the Lord did not allow the holy thing to be dishonoured: at a sign from on high Saint Anastasia’s foster-mother Sophia found the martyr’s remains and, with the help of two other Christians, committed them to the earth.