Description

Oil Dedicated to St Anastasia (virgin)

The St Anastasia Healing Oil is dedicated to the 4th century Christian saint and martyr who died at Sirmium in the Roman territories. Anastasia of Sirmium was a respected and loved Saint and in her honor, many women were named after her. She is venerated every year during the second Mass on Christmas by the Roman Catholic Church.

Her Early Life

Anastasia was from Rome and belonged to a wealthy family. Her father Praepextatus was a Pagan but her mother Fausta, was Christian. Anastasia was born around 280 AD. She was known to be beautiful and virtuous in every way. Without the knowledge of her father, her mother baptized her, when she was an infant. Fausta secretly educated Anastasia to follow the path of Christianity.  She was raised with Christian values.

When her mother passed away, Anastasia’s father got her married to Publius Patricius, who was also of Pagan faith. Publius was a loving husband to Anastasia until he discovered that she believed in Christ. So, he tortured her and was confined to the house as a slave. Even though she was tormented, she was delighted that she could suffer in the name of Jesus Christ. Fortunately, she had to tolerate these abuses for only a short period of time, as Publius had drowned to his death.

Anastasia became a young widow after Publius’s death and she never remarried. She spent her time helping the poor, treating the sick and provided the prisoners with whatever they needed every day. Anastasia would clean the wounds of injured people and would provide solace to those who were in agony. She was so gifted that she could heal and save many from the ill-effects of potions, evil spells, poisons and other dangerous elements through her interventions and prayers. These actions gained her the title, ‘Deliverer from Potions’.

St Anastasia’s Death

The news of her good deeds and the miracles that she performed spread far and wide. She became so reputed in such short time that she was arrested under the persecutions of Diocletian, the Roman Emperor. She was tortured in the toughest manner. On a voyage by ship with other prisoners, she was miraculously saved from drowning by St. Theodata. Although, she reached the Island of Palmaria safely, she was burned to death soon after. She died in 304 AD.

St. Anastasia of Sirmium is revered and honored for her compassion toward the poor, the sick and the tormented. She was tortured, imprisoned and burnt alive for having immense faith in Christianity. In her memory, a feast is held during the second mass on Christmas Day.