Anastasius of Persia

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Anastasius of Persia
Detail of a Holy card depicting the martyrdom of Anastasius
Saint & Martyr
Born 6th Century, Persia
Died 22 January 628, Euphrates Valley
Venerated in Eastern Orthodox Churches, Eastern Catholic Churches, Roman Catholic Church
Canonized pre-congregation
Feast 22 January
Saints Portal

Saint Anastasius of Persia (born with the name Magundat), once a magician, became a convert of the Holy Cross and was martyred in 628.

Anastasius was a soldier in the army of Chosroes when that monarch carried the True Cross from Jerusalem to Persia. The occasion prompted him to ask for information; then he left the army, became a Christian, and afterwards a monk in Jerusalem. His Persian name, Magundat, he changed to Anastasius. After seven years of the monastic observance, he was moved, as he thought, by the Holy Ghost to go in quest of martyrdom and went to Caesarea, then subject to the Persians.

Reproaching his countrymen for their magic and fireworship, both of which he had once practised, he was taken prisoner, cruelly tortured to make him abjure, and finally carried down near the Euphrates, to a place called Barsaloe (or Bethsaloe according to the Bollandists), where his tortures were renewed while at the same time the highest honours in the service of King Chosroes were promised him if he would renounce Christianity. Finally, with seventy others, he was strangled to death and decapitated, on January 22, 628. His body, which was thrown to the dogs, but was left untouched by them, was carried from there to Palestine, afterwards to Constantinople, and finally to Rome.

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This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.

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