Sunday, March 9, 2014

Saint Anastasia

Saint  Anastasia the Patrician  ( Anastasia Patricia ) was the wife of a  consul  and a  lady-in-waiting  to the Byzantine empress  Theodora.  Justinian I, Theodora's husband, Pursued her, arousing Theodora's jealousy. Anastasia tried to avoid any trouble and left for  Egypt . She arrived at a place called Pempton, near  Alexandria, where she founded a  monastery  Which would later be named after her.
Following the death of Theodora in 548, Justianian Attempted to get Anastasia to return toConstantinople, to no avail. Instead, Anastasia left for  Scetis, looking for help from Abba Daniel, hegumen  of the  monastery  one one at that time. [ 1 ]  In order to safeguard Anastasia, I put her in a monastery cell Scetis 18 miles from where she was allowed to dress as a  monk  and take up the life of a  hermit, at a time When This was only permitted of men. I visited her every week and ensured That One of his disciples supplied her with water. Anastasia dwelt in seclusion for twenty-eight years.

Her story comes to us in one recension of the Coptic ArabicSynaxarion
 and by a tale of Daniel of Scetis. Her  feast day  is 10 March in the  Eastern Orthodox,  Latin  and  Eastern CatholicChurches, and on 26  Tobi  in the calendar of the  Coptic Church. She has-been ADOPTED by the modern-dayLGBT  community as an example of a  transgender  saint. [ 2 ]In 567, aware of her approaching death, she wrote several words for Abba Daniel on a piece of broken pottery and Placed at the entrance it to the cave. The disciple found an  ostraconwith the words "Bring the spades and come here." When Daniel heard this, He Knew Anastasia was near death. I went to visit her With His disciple and to give her  communion  and hear her last words. [ 1 ]  Daniel revealed the full details of her story to his disciple after her death.

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