Saint Anastasia "The Holy and Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds."

The Prologue of Ochrid calls her "The Holy and Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds." Her father was a pagan, Roman senator and her mother was a Christian. She chose to follow Christ, but was forced by her father to marry a wealthy pagan, Publius. She refused physical relations with her husband under a guise of feminine weakness. This and the fact that she was secretly using his wealth to minister to Christians in prison enraged Publius, so that he imprisoned her and tortured her. Publius was sent by the emperor to Persia and drowned on the voyage. Anastasia then used her great inheritance to openly minister to the Christians who were suffering. Emperor Diocletian went to Aquileia and summoned Chrysogonus (the holy man who had discipled Anastasia as a girl) and beheaded him. He also killed 3 sisters, Agapia, Chionia and Irene. Anastasia had followed her teacher to the town and witnessed these martyrdoms. She took their bodies, wrapped them in white linen and aromatic spices and buried them. She then went to Macedonia and continued ministering to those who were suffering for Christ. She was arrested and repeatedly interrogated. Ulphian, a pagan priest, reached out in lust toward Anastasia and was suddenly blinded, then fell dead. They tried to starve her for thirty days in prison. Then they put her in a boat with other Christians to drown her, but she survived. Finally they bound her to four wheels over a fire. She endured martyrdom in the year 304.

December 22nd

Troparion (Tone 5)
As a martyr thou didst emulate the deeds of the martyrs, to whom thou didst minister, and striving didst overcome the enemy. Thou art an abundant, copious source of grace for all who fervently come to thee, O godly-minded Anastasia.

Troparion in Tone 4
Your lamb Anastasia, calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice:
"I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering.
In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You,
and I died so that I might live with You.
Accept me as a pure sacrifice,
for I have offered myself in love."
Through her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.

Kontakion in Tone 3
Purified by the waters of virginity,
righteous Anastasia, you were crowned by the blood of martyrdom.
You grant healing and salvation to those in need,
and who call on you from their hearts,
for Christ gives you strength, pouring out on you ever-flowing grace!