Anastasius

Holy Hierarch Anastasius was bishop of Thessalonica in the fifth century. In 434 he succeeded bishop Rufus (commemorated on 9 September) on the throne of Thessalonica.

In 435 Pope Sixtus III wrote to Perigenes, bishop of Corinth, reminding him that he must obey the bishop of Thessalonica and papal vicar Anastasius, who had succeeded Rufus. The same year he sent a second letter to the synod about to meet at Thessalonica, repeating the rights that his predecessors had granted to the vicar of the papal see, the bishop of Thessalonica. Later, in 446, Pope Leo I wrote to Anastasius concerning his dispute with Atticus, metropolitan of Old Epirus, and confirmed his rights.

It is not known why he could not attend the Fourth Ecumenical Council in person, held in 451 at Chalcedon. At its first session, on 8 October 451, Quintillus, bishop of Heraclea, signed as his deputy, on behalf of the most holy bishop of Thessalonica Anastasius. At the third session, on 13 October, the bishop of Thessalonica was represented by the presbyter Andrew, and the bishop of Thessalonica is no longer named Anastasius but Euxitheus (or Eudoxius), who succeeded him, evidently after his death. It is supposed that Anastasius died around the end of September 451. He is commemorated on 16 July, together with Euxitheus, according to the calendar of the Church of Greece (new style).