Holy Great Martyr ANASTASIA the Pattern Maker (†c.304)

Holy Great Martyr Anastasia lived during the time of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). She was the daughter of the Roman senator Praetextatus, who professed a pagan faith. Her mother Fausta secretly believed in Christ.

Anastasia was distinguished by her nobility, spiritual and physical beauty, good character and meekness. As a girl, Anastasia was entrusted by her mother to teach the Christian Chrysogonus, known for his learning and piety. Chrysogon taught Anastasia the Holy Scriptures and the fulfillment of God's law. At the end of the teaching, Anastasia was spoken of as a wise and beautiful maiden.

After the death of her mother, regardless of her daughter’s wishes, her father married her to the pagan Pomplius, who also came from a senatorial family. But under the pretext of a fictitious illness, she retained her virginity. Sometimes, the husband tried to use violence, but Anastasia, with the invisible help of a guardian angel, escaped from his hands.

There were many Christian prisoners in the dungeons of Rome at that time. In beggarly clothes, the saint secretly visited prisoners - she washed and fed the sick, unable to move, bandaged wounds, and consoled everyone who needed it. Her teacher and mentor languished in prison for two years. Meeting with him, she was edified by his long-suffering and devotion to the Savior. Saint Anastasia’s husband, Pomplius, having learned about this, severely beat her, placed her in a separate room and placed guards at the door. The saint grieved that she had lost the opportunity to help Christians. After the death of Anastasia’s father, Pomplius decided to kill his wife in order to inherit all her property and live with another wife using other people’s money. Treating her as a captive and slave, he tortured and tormented her daily. The saint wrote to her teacher: “My husband... torments me as an opponent of his pagan faith in such a grave conclusion that I have no choice but to surrender my spirit to the Lord and fall dead.” In his reply letter, Saint Chrysogon consoled the martyr: “Darkness always precedes light, and after illness health often returns, and after death we are promised life.” And he predicted the imminent death of her husband. After some time, Pomplius was appointed ambassador to the Persian king. On the way to Persia, he drowned during a sudden storm.

Now the saint could again visit Christians languishing in prison. Along with freedom, she received the entire parental inheritance, which she used for clothing, food and medicine for the sick.

At that time, King Diocletian was informed from Rome that the prisons were filled with a great multitude of Christians, that, despite various torments, they did not deny their Christ, and that in all this they were supported by the Christian teacher Chrysogon.

At Roman Emperor Diocletians The most severe persecution of Christians broke out in the empire. The first 19 years of his reign were marked only by martyrdom among the soldiers, because the soldiers continually refused to make the required sacrifices to the gods, and for this they were executed. Christians felt so calm that even opposite the emperor's palace in Nicomedia a large Christian church stood.

But at the end of his reign, Diocletian undertook a widespread persecution of Christians. Within one year, one after another, he issues as many as four edicts (decrees) against Christians, and these edicts predetermine the ever-increasing scale of persecution. First there was confiscation of church property. After the confiscation of shrines and church property, arrests and executions of the clergy followed. Every single clergy person was subject to persecution: not only bishops, but also all lower clergy, of whom there were very many at that time, because there was no firm boundary between clergy and ordinary church employees: for example, gatekeepers in churches or orderlies who served church hospitals and almshouses were also considered clergy. All Christians were forced to return to paganism, and protesters were subject to torture.

"The Last Prayer of the Christian Martyrs." J.-L. Jerome.

Having learned about Chrysogon, Diocletian ordered him to be sent to him in Aquileia (a city in upper Italy) for trial, and to execute all Christians. Anastasia followed her teacher. Diocletian hoped to convince Chrysogonus to renounce Christ, but he could not withstand the free speeches of the saint and ordered his head to be cut off. The body of Saint Chrysogonus, after his martyrdom, according to Divine revelation, was placed in an ark and hidden in the house of the presbyter Zoilus. 30 days after his death, Saint Chrysogonus appeared to Zoilus and predicted the imminent death of three young Christian women who lived nearby - Agapia, Chionia and Irina (†304; Comm. April 16). And he ordered Saint Anastasia to be sent to them. Saint Anastasia had such a vision. She went to the presbyter, prayed at the relics of Saint Chrysogon, then, in a spiritual conversation, strengthened the courage of the three virgins before the torture ahead of them. Saints Agapia and Chionia were thrown into the fire. Here they died, but their bodies remained intact. And one of the soldiers wounded Saint Irene with an arrow from a tight bow, after which the saint died. After the death of the martyrs, Anastasia herself buried their bodies.

Saint Anastasia began to wander.Having mastered the art of medicine by that time, she zealously served Christians imprisoned everywhere. Anastasia spent all her funds to help those in need, and poured gold, silver and copper figurines into money and fed many hungry people, clothed the naked, and helped the weak.

In Macedonia, the saint met a young Christian widow, Theodotia, who, after the death of her husband, was left with three infant sons. Blessed Anastasia often lived with the widow and she helped her in pious labors.

Soon Anastasia was captured as a Christian and handed over to Diocletian (since Anastasia was from a noble Roman family, only the emperor could decide her fate). However, frightened by her wise speeches, with the words “It is not proper for the Tsar’s Majesty to talk with a mad woman,” Diocletian handed her over to the high priest Ulpian, so that he could persuade her to sacrifice to the pagan gods or put her to cruel execution. The priest invited Saint Anastasia to make a choice between rich gifts and instruments of torture, placed on both sides near her. The saint, without hesitation, pointed to the instruments of torture: “Surrounded by these objects, I will become more beautiful and more pleasing to my longed-for Bridegroom - Christ...” Before subjecting Saint Anastasia to torture, Ulpian decided to desecrate her. But as soon as he touched her, he became blind, a terrible pain gripped his head, and after a while he died.

Saint Anastasia was freed and, together with Theodotia, continued to serve the prisoners. Soon Saint Theodotia and her three infant sons were martyred (they were thrown into a fiery furnace) in their hometown of Nicaea (c. 304; commemorated July 29 and December 22).

Execution of Saint Anastasia

Meanwhile, Saint Anastasia was put on trial in Illyria. The selfish ruler secretly invited her to cede all her wealth to him: “Fulfill the commandment of your Christ, who commands you to despise all riches and to be poor.” To which the wise Anastasia wisely replied: “Who would be so crazy as to give you, a rich man, what belongs to the poor?”

Saint Anastasia was imprisoned for the second time and tortured by hunger for 60 days. Every night Saint Theodotia appeared to the martyr, approved and strengthened her in patience.INBelieving that the famine had not caused harm to the saint, the hegemon of Illyria ordered her to be drowned along with the convicted criminals, among whom was Eutychian, persecuted for his Christian faith (December 22).

The soldiers put the prisoners on the ship and went out to the open sea. Having reached the depth, the warriors drilled several holes in the ship, and they themselves got into a boat and sailed to the shore. The ship began to sink into the water, but the prisoners saw the martyr Theodotia, controlling the sails and guiding the ship to the shore. 120 people, amazed by the miracle, believed in Christ - Saints Anastasia and Eutychian baptized them.

Having learned about what had happened, the hegemon ordered the execution of all the newly baptized. Saint Anastasia was stretched over a fire between four pillars. This is how Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker completed her martyrdom.Her body, undamaged by the fire, was buried in the garden by a certain pious woman, Apollinaria. At the end of the persecution, she built a church over the tomb of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia.

Relics of Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker

In the 5th century, the relics of Saint Anastasia were transferred to Constantinople, where a temple was built in her name. Later, the head and right hand of the great martyr were transferred to the one created near the city of Thessaloniki. Monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker .

Monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker

Iconography

The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia is depicted on icons with a cross in her right hand and a small vessel in her left. The cross is the path to salvation; in the vessel there is holy oil, healing wounds.

The Holy Great Martyr Anastasia is called "Pattern maker" , since the Lord has given her the power to heal bodily and spiritual illnesses, to loosen the bonds of those unjustly condemned, and to give consolation to those in prison. They also ask the saint for protection from witchcraft.

Material prepared by Seregey SHULYAK

for the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills in Moscow

Troparion, tone 4:
On the occasion of the victorious Resurrection / you were called truly eminent, / the martyr of Christ, / you brought victory to your enemies through torments with patience, / for the sake of Christ, your Bridegroom, / whom you loved. / Pray to him to save our souls.

Kontakion, voice 2:
In the temptations and sorrows that exist,/ those who flow to your temple, / receive honest gifts/ from the Divine grace living in you, Anastasia: / for you are ever the source of healing for the world.

Prayer to the Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker:
O long-suffering and wise great martyr of Christ Anastasia! You stand with your soul in Heaven at the Throne of the Lord, and on earth you perform various healings by the grace given to you; look mercifully at the people who are coming and praying before your icon, asking for your help, extend holy prayers to the Lord for us and ask us for forgiveness of our sins, help in merciful works, strengthening of the spirit in service, meekness, humility and obedience, healing for the sick, for the grieving and in these bonds, quick help and intercession, beg the Lord to give us all a Christian death and a good answer at His Last Judgment, so that together with you we may be able to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Anastasia the Pattern Maker appeared in Teply Stan quite recently, but despite this, it already has its own legends and history. At the origins of the creation of the Orthodox community at the Church of Anastasia the Pattern Maker is a wonderful person - Archpriest Sergius Zhigulin. In 1996, a resident of Teply Stan, Father Sergius, on behalf of the Patriarch, was sent to Grozny, where he was captured by militants. For more than 5 months he was kept in inhumane conditions, systematically beaten and starved. And all this time Father Sergius prayed to Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker.

Mosaic image of Anastasia the Patternmaker on the wall at the entrance to the temple

The patron saint of the temple, Anastasia, lived in the 3rd century. n. e. in Rome during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, a persecutor of Christians. Anastasia, being a noble and wealthy Roman woman, helped Christians imprisoned in prison as best she could: with money, food, care. She suffered a martyr's death and was subsequently canonized as a saint. They pray to her for Christian prisoners, calling her the Pattern Maker, that is, the one who eases bonds. The Greeks, at the same time, call her Pharmakolitria - “healing” (for the fact that she provided medical assistance to prisoners and cared for the sick).

Temple icon of the Kaluga Mother of God

Having been freed from captivity and returning to his homeland, Fr. Sergius took monastic vows with the name Philip and set about creating an Orthodox community. Around the same time, the authorities received a petition from another community asking for the construction of a temple in honor of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God. But as a result, the construction of the Church of St. was approved. Anastasia with the chapel of the icon of Our Lady of Kaluga.

Great Temple Construction Project

15.06.2003
Consecration of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God

Another miracle can be called the fact that before Trinity in 2003, an ancient (18th century) image of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the church, which was bought by parishioners “with the whole world.” January 4, 2004 marked 1700 years since the repose of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker, and the patronal feast was solemnly celebrated in the church.

In 2005, on Christmas Eve, another additional altar of the temple was consecrated - the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God, to which the Kaluga highway that once passed through Teply Stan led.

Anastasia Pattern Maker in Teply Stan today it cannot always accommodate everyone who wants to pray and receive spiritual support. Therefore, parishioners are preparing to build a large stone church for 1000 people, collecting donations for it bit by bit.

In one of the districts of Moscow - Tyoply Stan - there is a temple of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker. Residents of the area have long dreamed of a church and appealed to various authorities, but the requests of believers were satisfied only at the end of the last century.

In the absence of a temple, people gathered in a vacant lot and said prayers. Later, Archpriest Boris Razveev began conducting services. The priest specially came to the construction site to perform services. With the formation of the parish, a change house appeared on the site of the future church, in which akathists were read.

The Temple of Anastasia the Pattern Maker in Tyoply Stan was built in 2003. The first rector of the church was Alexander Kovtun, who performed a prayer service on Palm Sunday.

The history of the construction of the temple would be incomplete without a story about the founder of the parish.

Creation of an Orthodox community

The initiative to unite the Christians of Tyoply Stan belongs to Father Sergius. In 1996, the holy father was sent to serve in Chechnya, where he was captured. The prayer of Anastasia the Pattern Maker helped the priest to withstand the tests.

Upon returning from captivity, Fr. Sergius became a monk, took the name Philip and became concerned with the formation of a Christian community. Around the same time, representatives of another association approached the authorities with a request to build a church. As a result, it was decided to build a temple of Anastasia the Pattern Maker in Tyoply Stan with a chapel of the icon of Our Lady of Kaluga. Construction began in 2002.

The first one in the temple was named Anastasia. The appearance in the Kaluga Church (13th century) is considered a real miracle among parishioners. The whole world contributed to the ransom of the images. Now the temple of Anastasia the Pattern Maker in Tyoply Stanera houses a miraculous shrine.

January 2004 marked the 1700th anniversary of the death of St. Anastasia. The date January 4 became the day of the patronal feast for clergy and people visiting the Church of Anastasia the Pattern Maker and other Orthodox churches.

On Christmas Eve 2005, an additional altar was consecrated in honor of the Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God.

Saint Anastasia

The Great Martyr, in whose honor the church was consecrated, lived and did good deeds in Ancient Rome. The word “Patterner” means “deliverer from bonds.” Saint Anastasia is also called the Healer.

The ruler of the empire, Diocletian, persecuted the zealots of the Christian faith and subjected them to severe torture. The young girl, who learned the faith from her mother and spiritual teacher Chrysogon, took care of Christian prisoners, visited believers in prison, bandaged their wounds, fed them and strengthened them in the faith.

Anastasia’s mother died, and the girl was not supported in her aspirations by either her father or her husband, whom the saint did not marry of her own free will. Anastasia endured a lot of suffering from her unloved one. It became especially difficult after the death of her father, who left his daughter a huge inheritance. But God heard the prayers of the young maiden, and one day the hated husband, along with the crew of a ship sailing to Persia, drowned at sea during a storm. Now no one stopped Anastasia from taking care of the zealots of the faith.

Words and deeds of St. Anastasia left a mark on the minds and hearts of people, and there were more and more Christians on Roman soil. Representatives of the authorities did not put up with this state of affairs, and one day Anastasia was stretched between four pillars and burned. The saint's relics were transferred to Constantinople, and then to the city of Thessaloniki, where a monastery was subsequently founded.

The prayer of Anastasia the Pattern Maker helps to get rid of illnesses, safely be released from places of imprisonment and be relieved of burdens.

Temple shrines

The southern facade of the church is decorated with a mosaic temple icon of St. Anastasia. Inside the temple there are particles of the saint’s relics, which can be venerated daily from 8.00 to 20.00.

Helps believers and Our Lady of Kaluga. The appearance of the icon occurred in the 18th century, when the Queen of Heaven punished and, after repentance, healed a daring courtyard girl. Later, the Mother of God restored the hearing of the master's servant Prokhor, saved the boyar's daughter Evdokia from death, and helped other Christians in the village of Kaluzhka.

Activities of the temple today

The Temple of Anastasia the Pattern Maker in Teply Stan is designed for 200 people, so it cannot accommodate everyone who wants to pray to God. Parishioners are eagerly awaiting the completion of the new church, which will seat 1,000 people.

There is a Sunday school at the church, where students learn about God, the Christian faith, and prayer. The children study liturgics, Old and Old Russian traditions, learn floristry, appliqué, choral singing, learn about church holidays and Orthodox icons, and make pilgrimages to holy places.

Parishioners visiting the Church of the Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker take an active part in social programs and providing targeted assistance to the sick and poor. The clergy conduct public conversations. There is a youth movement in the church, whose members organize children's parties, participate in Orthodox Youth Congresses, honoring saints and other events.

The church is located at Teply Stan Street, 4, not far from the metro station of the same name.