Saint Anastasia Silk Screen Icon – Gold & Engraved Wood

Description

Saint Anastasia, also referred to as the Great Martyr Anastasia and Anastasia the Healer, lived during the 3rd century and was from a wealthy family in Rome. Although her mother taught her the Christian faith, Anastasia was married off to a cruel pagan man, who frequently tormented her. Following his death, Anastasia remained unmarried and quietly worked with the needy, poor, and imprisoned as a healer. She was known to care for their wounds and tend to their pain and anguish.

According to tradition, Saint Anastasia used prayer to aid her in her healing, saving people from the effects of poisons and potions.  Through her work, she received the moniker of Deliverer of Potions or “Pharmakolitria” in Greek , bringing attention to her work as a healer and Christian. This ultimately led to her arrest and eventual torture under Diocletian’s prosecutions and in 290 AD she was burned at the stake and, thus, martyred in Sirmium (modern day Serbia).

The icon depicts Saint Anastasia holding a cross in her right hand, which refers to her martyrdom, and a vase in her left hand, symbolizing her work as the Deliverer of Potions. The Greek and wider Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Anastasia on December 22.