St. Anastasia

St. Anastasia is a revered Catholic saint, although much of her life is shrouded in legend. She is believed to have died during the Diocletian persecutions around 304 AD in Sirmium, a city within the Roman province of Pannonia Secunda, now part of modern Serbia. Anastasia is known as the patron saint of martyrs, weavers, and those suffering from poison, earning her the title Deliverer from Potions. Her religious journey began as the daughter of Praetextatus, a pagan noble, and St. Fausta of Sirmium, a Christian. Despite being married to a pagan, Anastasia remained devoted to her faith and secretly supported Christian prisoners during the persecutions. She became renowned for healing and caring for others, often risking her own life. Anastasia's martyrdom has been commemorated in the Roman Canon of the Mass, alongside the Blessed Virgin Mary, solidifying her place in Catholic tradition. While the specifics of her canonization are unclear, her veneration spread widely in the early Christian centuries, particularly in Constantinople and Rome. Today, her relics are found in several locations, including Zadar, Croatia, and Mount Athos in Greece.