Anastasius of Nauplion

Holy New Martyr Anastasius of Nauplion was the protector of the city of Nauplion (Nafplio) and suffered on 1 February 1655 at the hands of a Turkish mob, confessing his Christian faith. He came from Nauplion and lived in the first half of the seventeenth century, in the time of the first Turkish rule. His commemoration is on 1 February, following a royal decree of 14 November 1935. On that day, at Nauplion, those named Anastasios and Anastasia keep their name day.

Anastasius worked as a painter in the city of Nauplion. According to tradition, when he was compelled, for moral reasons, to break off his engagement to a girl, her relatives, to take revenge, cast spells on him. Under their influence Anastasius lost his reason and went about here and there, and some Turks took advantage and forced him to change his faith. But when, after a few days, he came to himself, he threw from his head the white turban he wore and, before the crowd in the market, cried out that he had been a Christian, was a Christian and wished to be a Christian. At once he was led before the judge, who tried to make him change his mind, but Anastasius confessed his faith with still more warmth, saying that he did not deny his Lord, Jesus Christ, the true God, but believed in him and worshipped him as his Maker and Saviour, and that he had no need at all of their particular faith but turned away from it, from them and from their prophet. After this the judge ordered his death.

Anastasius was led to the place of martyrdom, beside an olive tree, where his executioners hacked him to pieces. Today, at that place there is a monument to him, beside the church dedicated to the saint himself and to the Nativity of the Mother of God. The monument of Saint Anastasius stands opposite the church of the Panagia in the old town.