St. Anastasia

There are two early martyrs named Anastasia. The more well-known saint was martyred in Sirmium, Pannonia about 304 during the persecution of Diocletian. Legendary sources say that she was of a noble Roman family and married to the pagan Publius. Some sources recount that Publius mistreated her once he learned she was a Christian. When Publius died she went to Aquileia to help Christians suffering persecution, where she was also arrested for her faith and burned to death on the island of Palmaria. From the fifth century she was venerated in Rome and her feast was once celebrated on December 25. She is the Anastasia named in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I), the most ancient Eucharistic prayer of the Church. The other Anastasia was martyred in Rome around 257 and is called Anastasia the Elder to distinguish her from Anastasia the Widow.