Description

Oil Dedicated to St Anastasia of Sirmium (martyr)

St Anastasia of Sirmium, also known as Anastasia of Sirmium and Anastasia the Pharmakolytria or “Deliverer from Potions,” is a Christian saint and 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.

The “passio,” or suffering of, Anastasia tells that her father a noble pagan named, Praetextatus and her mother St. Fausta of Sirmium. Because her mother a Christian, Anastasia baptized as an infant and secretly raised with Christian values.

Following the death of her mother, Anastasia’s father gave her in marriage to the pagan Publius, but she preserved her virginity.

During the persecutions of Diocletian, Anastasia visited the prisons and cared for the confessors of faith. She would feed, doctor and ransomed suffering captives. Anastasia’s servant informed Publius; he locked her up and beat her.

Anastasia began secretly corresponding with her adviser, St. Chrysogonus, who had gone to Aquileia. He told her tobrave, patient and accept the Lord’s will.

After the death of her husband while he on embassy to Persia, Anastasia distributed her property to those less fortunate and suffering.

She then set off to follow Chrysogonus to Aquileia. Chrysogonus personally interrogated by Diocletian, but he never renounced his faith. Chrysogonus ordered to beheaded and thrown into the sea.

After his death, Chrysogonus appeared to Zoilus, a presbyter who found his relics and foretold the martyrdoms of Ss. Agape, Chione and Irene. He asked Zoilus to send Anastasia to the three sisters as encouragement.