Anastasius of Epirus

Holy New Martyr Anastasius of Epirus was a peasant of Paramythia in Epirus, beheaded in the year 1750 under Ottoman rule for his faith in Christ.

In the middle of the eighteenth century Anastasius and his sister, peasants, were in the fields. When a band of Turks entered the village, its leader, Musa, was struck by the beauty of the sister and tried to seize her, but Anastasius fought off the Turks and let her escape. For this he was arrested, imprisoned and tortured to make him deny the faith. The pasha was told by slander that Anastasius had promised to change his faith, but he answered: "I never gave such a word. I was born a Christian and will die a Christian with the help of Christ. As for the goods you promise me, I care nothing for them, since I have many eternal goods in heaven."

Moved by the way Anastasius bore his suffering, Musa, the pasha's son, wished to learn more about the faith that sustained him. He went secretly to his cell and saw two shining young men beside Anastasius, who vanished when he entered. Anastasius told him that they were the angels who guard every Christian, especially when he suffers for Christ, and explained the Gospel to him. Musa said he wished to embrace Christianity, but Anastasius told him to wait for the proper time, since his conversion would bring persecution on the Christians of the region. A few days later, in 1750, Anastasius was beheaded by order of the pasha, Musa's father. Musa then received a vision of Anastasius encircled in light, who urged him onward on the road to Christ. He fled his father's domain to the Peloponnese, where an aged ascetic instructed him in the faith. After baptism he became a monk on Corfu with the name Daniel and built a church in honour of Saint Anastasius. Other sources say that Musa received the name Demetrius and was himself martyred.

The Saint is commemorated on 18 November, according to the new calendar.