Name days are a special day. As St. John of Kronstadt said, we celebrate the day of the angel so that our heavenly patrons remember us and pray to the Lord for the he alth of our soul and body.
Name day is the most important day of the year, when you should direct all your thoughts to God and thank him for everything. It will be good if the day of the angel Anastasia takes place in the church. This is the best time to reflect on the eternal and the transient. It is worth thinking about what is good for the soul, and what is not.
John of Kronstadt said many wise things about prayer, righteous living and love of God. He advises everyone who turns to their patron saints for help to think more about eternity and try to lead a modest lifestyle, one might even say ascetic. Let the day of Angel Anastasia pass in thought about this. Don't forget to help others as well. John recommends that we all learn from our patrons sincere love for the Almighty, detachment from worldly fuss, proper prayer, fasting, selflessness. Attention should also be paid to how the saints experienced illnesses, troubles and grief: they did not complain about their hard life, but withDignity out of difficult situations.
When is Anastasia's name day?
Angel Anastasia Day falls on January 4, April 28, March 23, November 11 and 12.
Name days are celebrated on the day that follows shortly after the birthday.
Saint Anastasia the Destroyer
Saints give us an example, show us how to live. Let's remember the martyr Anastasia the Destroyer of Patterns, whom the church honors on January 4.
This great woman was born in Rome. Her father worshiped pagan gods, and her mother believed in Christ, but she did not tell anyone about it - in those days it was dangerous to talk about it. The girl's teacher in her youth was the righteous and reasonable Chrysogon, who professed Christianity.
When Anastasia's mother died, her father forced the unfortunate woman to marry Pomplia. He was a pagan, and the girl was very bitter that she had to live with him.
Pious deeds
Anastasia had deep compassion for the prisoners who were convicted for believing in Jesus. She often put on rags so that everyone would take her for a beggar, and penetrated into the dungeons with her maid. If you bear the name of this saint, think about what you are ready to go for the sake of your neighbors. By the way, we already know when Anastasia celebrates the day of the angel. What date this holiday, we stipulated above. The girl brought food to the prisoners, treated them, and often redeemed them for considerable sums of money. When her husband learned all this from a maid, he beat her and forbade hergoing out. But the girl found consolation in correspondence with her teacher, who asked her not to lose heart and more often remember the suffering that Christ endured on the cross. It was supposed to give her strength. The teacher wrote to Anastasia that her husband would die while traveling by sea. Soon Pomplius went to Persia, but never arrived at his destination - he drowned. Freed from the tyranny of her husband, Anastasia began to give away everything she had to the poor.
The saint began to wander around the world. Shortly before that, she acquired some medical knowledge, and then put it into practice, helping the prisoners. It was not for nothing that the saint began to be called the Setter of Patterns - she made great efforts to free many Christians who were in trouble from the bonds. On the day of the angel, Anastasia (the date, as we remember, is determined by her birthday) should pray that the heavenly patroness would save her from misfortune.
Arrest and imprisonment
After some time, Anastasia met with the young and righteous Theodotia, whose husband also recently died. The girl began to help the saint in her good deeds. But in those days there were persecutions against Christians, they began to be persecuted. Anastasia was captured while she was in Illyria. One day the guards decided to take her to the governor of the region. He, of course, invited her to renounce her faith and began to describe in colors what suffering awaits her if she does not. But everything was limited only to words, and soon the ruler of the region sent her to Ulpian, who at that time was the Capitoline priest. He was a very cruel person, to mock people washe is happy. He put the saint before a choice: in the case of renunciation of Christ - a chic life, we alth, countless treasures, the best outfits, and otherwise - terrible torment and terrible torture. But he failed to persuade Anastasia to betray her faith - she preferred suffering.
On the day of the angel Anastasia, one should reflect on the courage of this girl. What would you do in her place? But the saint was not destined to die so early - an incident occurred that extended her life. The priest was impressed by the beauty of the girl and decided to rape her, but he did not even manage to touch her - in an instant he lost his sight. A terrible pain in his eyes made him run out of the house screaming, he headed towards the pagan temple, begging the gods to heal him, but suddenly he fell to the ground and died. Anastasia and Theodotia thus escaped captivity.
Martyrdom
The saint was not free for long, soon they seized her again and decided to drown her in the sea. But again a miracle happened: people managed to escape, they went ashore. However, soon after this, the unfortunate were destined to die. Saint Anastasia was also executed: four pillars were driven into the ground, a fire was kindled between them, and the unfortunate woman was stretched over the fire.
As during her life the saint helped suffering people, so now she continues this good deed. Don't forget to pray on January 4th if you bear her name. Also on the day of the angel (name day), Anastasia should set the festive table and invite everyone who is dear to her to visit.
