Saint Anastasia of Sirmium – Early Christian Martyr and Healer

ST. ANASTASIA OF SIRMIUM

St. Anastasia of Sirmium was an early Christian martyr revered for her unwavering faith during the Diocletian persecution. Known as “the Deliverer from Potions,” she is honored as a protector against poison and a healer.

St. Anastasia of Sirmium, also known as Anastasia the Pharmakolytria (Deliverer from Potions), was a noblewoman and early Christian martyr who lived in the Roman Empire during the late third and early fourth centuries. Born around 280 AD to a wealthy Roman family, her father was a pagan, but her mother was a secret Christian who baptized Anastasia in infancy and nurtured her in the faith.

Following her mother’s death, Anastasia was entrusted to the care of the Christian philosopher and priest Chrysogonus, who became her spiritual mentor. Despite being forced into a marriage with a Roman nobleman named Publius, who was hostile to Christianity, she continued to practice her faith and secretly minister to imprisoned Christians. After the death of her husband, she devoted herself entirely to charitable works, especially visiting and caring for persecuted Christians in prison.

Her compassion extended to healing the sick and ministering to those suffering from poisoning or abuse—hence her title “Deliverer from Potions.” She distributed her wealth among the poor and used her medical knowledge to treat victims of torture.

During the Diocletian persecution, Anastasia was arrested for aiding Christian prisoners and refusing to renounce her faith. She was condemned to death and burned alive around 304 AD in Sirmium (modern-day Serbia). Her martyrdom was a powerful testimony of unwavering faith, and her reputation for healing led to widespread veneration across both the Eastern and Western Churches.

She is one of the few female saints mentioned by name in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) of the Mass, reflecting her early and prominent veneration. Her relics were later transferred to Constantinople, and a basilica was dedicated to her in Rome, ensuring her legacy would endure for centuries.

Feast Day

25-12-

Birth Date

--280

Died Date

25-12-304

Canonised Date

--N/A

Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia

"St. Anastasia of Sirmium, pray for us to remain strong in our faith, even in the face of suffering. Help us to trust in God's plan for our lives. Amen."
ST. ANASTASIA OF SIRMIUM

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ST. ANASTASIA OF SIRMIUM

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Credits & Acknowledgments

Anudina Visudhar (Malayalam) – Life of Saints for Everyday
by Msgr. Thomas Moothedan, M.A., D.D.
Saint Companions for Each Day
by A. J. M. Mausolfe & J. K. Mausolfe
US Catholic (Faith in Real Life) – Informational articles
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