Anastasius of Persia

Saint Anastasius of Persia was born in the city of Ray, the son of a Zoroastrian priest named Bavi. Known in his youth as Magundat, he served as a soldier in the army of King Khosrow II and took part in the capture of the True Cross from Jerusalem, which was carried to the Persian capital. This encounter with the holy relic stirred his heart to seek the truth of the Christian faith. Leaving military life behind, he embraced Christ, was baptized in Jerusalem by Modestus, and received the name Anastasius in honor of the Lord’s Resurrection. After seven years as a monk, he traveled to Caesarea, then under Persian rule. There his bold confession of faith brought swift arrest. Despite cruel tortures and tempting promises of honor if he would renounce Christ, Anastasius remained steadfast. With seventy companions, he was strangled and then beheaded in 628. His body, left untouched by dogs, was reverently carried to Palestine and later honored in Constantinople and Rome. He is venerated as a martyr and is a patron of Agugliano. His feast day is January 22.