New Martyr18th century

New Martyr Anastasius of Epirus

18th century (d. 1750)

Also known as Anastasius

A peasant who defended his sister from abduction and later confessed Christ before Ottoman authorities, suffering martyrdom after refusing to convert.

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Life

Anastasius of Epirus was a mid-18th-century Greek peasant who lived in Epirus under Ottoman rule and is venerated in the Orthodox Church as a new martyr. According to the synaxarion, when a band of Turks entered his village, their leader, Musa, was struck by the beauty of Anastasius' sister and attempted to seize her. Anastasius fought off the attackers, allowing his sister to escape, and was arrested in her place.

Imprisoned and tortured, Anastasius was pressed to renounce Christianity and refused. The synaxarion relates that while in his cell he saw two young men of shining appearance, understood in the tradition as angels, and that he used his imprisonment as an occasion to speak to Musa about the Christian faith and the Gospel. He was beheaded in 1750 by order of Musa's father, the local Pasha.

By tradition, Anastasius' steadfast witness so moved Musa that he later converted to Christianity, became a monk under the name Daniel on the island of Corfu, and founded a church dedicated in the saint's honor. Anastasius is commemorated on November 18.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance,
which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Anastasius;
extinguishing the allure of false gods,
you enlighten the faithful,
always interceding for us all.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 3

Your holy martyr Anastasius, O Lord,
through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God.
For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline5 momentsReadHide

mid-18th centuryLife in Ottoman EpirusAnastasius lived as a peasant, together with his sister, in a village in Epirus during the period of Ottoman occupation.
mid-18th centuryDefense of his sisterWhen a band of Turks entered the village, their leader Musa tried to seize Anastasius' sister for her beauty. Anastasius fought off the attackers so that she could escape, and was arrested.
before 1750Imprisonment and confessionImprisoned and tortured, Anastasius refused demands to renounce Christianity. The synaxarion relates that he saw two shining young men in his cell and spoke to Musa about the Christian faith and the Gospel.
1750MartyrdomAnastasius was beheaded by order of Musa's father, the local Pasha, for his refusal to convert to Islam.
after 1750Conversion of MusaBy tradition, Musa was moved by the saint's witness, converted to Christianity, became a monk named Daniel on Corfu, and founded a church in honor of Saint Anastasius.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

Historical Context

Anastasius belonged to the Christian peasantry of Epirus in northwestern Greece during the era of Ottoman rule. His life and death are recorded among the new martyrs, Orthodox Christians who suffered under Ottoman authority and who were commemorated as a distinct category of martyrs of the later centuries.

The account preserves a concrete social setting: an armed band entering a village, the vulnerability of a Christian household, and an ultimatum to abandon the faith. Anastasius' arrest followed directly from his resistance to the abduction of his sister.

Legacy

Anastasius' martyrdom is chiefly remembered for its effect on Musa, the man responsible for his arrest. By tradition, Musa was so moved by the saint's constancy that he embraced Christianity, took monastic vows on Corfu under the name Daniel, and built a church dedicated to Saint Anastasius.

The Church commemorates Anastasius of Epirus on November 18, together with Martyr Platon of Ancyra, Martyr Romanus the Deacon of Caesarea, Martyr Barulas the Youth, and the Martyrs Zacchaeus and Alphaeus of Caesarea.

Hymnography

The service to the saint includes a troparion in Tone 3 and a kontakion in Tone 2, which honor Anastasius as a martyr who received an incorruptible crown and who bore witness to Christ against false teaching, and which invoke his continuing intercession.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints