Anastasius of Paramythia

Saint New Martyr Anastasius of Paramythia (Paramithia) was born in Paramythia in Thesprotia (Epirus), under Turkish rule, around 1730, and was beheaded on 18 November 1750, near a monastery close to the town. He is venerated in the Church of Greece. The Serbian source commemorates him on 18 November (1 December by the new calendar); the Greek source gives no day. The church of Saint Anastasius is at Paramythia.

According to his hagiography, while he was in the fields with other Christians and his sister, she was attacked by young Muslims led by the pasha's son, Musa, who tried to dishonour her. Anastasius grappled with them and gave his sister the chance to escape. According to Bishop Gregory of Mesaoria, the attack was directed at many young Christian women. The Muslims considered his act an insult and reported it to the pasha, saying that Anastasius had attacked them and had promised to change his faith and become a Muslim. The arrest and imprisonment of Anastasius was ordered. The pasha, Musa's father, tried to persuade him to convert to Islam, giving him in exchange freedom and rich gifts. Anastasius refused, and so he was subjected to torments every day. The Serbian source says that he answered that he had never said such a thing, that he was born a Christian and would die a Christian with the help of the Lord Christ.

Musa felt guilty for having caused the torment of Anastasius. One day he visited him secretly in prison and saw in a vision two angels standing beside Anastasius. Anastasius explained the vision to the Muslim and taught him about the Christian faith. Since the saint did not yield to the torments and did not change his faith, the beheading of them was ordered, which was done on 18 November 1750, outside Paramythia, near a monastery. His relics remained at the place of execution, unburied, because the pasha had forbidden Christians to approach them; many saw at night a light descending from heaven upon the holy relics. One night the martyr appeared to the pasha in a dream and commanded him with threats to give the body to a nearby monastery. Terrified, the pasha informed the monks, and they, with candles and funeral chants, buried the martyr's remains in the monastery. After these testimonies the pasha's son Musa received Christianity and was baptized at Venice with the name Demetrius, then became a monk on Corfu with the name Daniel, until the end of his life.