Orthodox believers honor January 4 the memory of the holy great martyr Anastasia Putorozhershnytsia. Anastasia was born in the family of the pagan senator Pretextatus and the secret Christian Fausta in the city of Rome. It was the mother who entrusted the upbringing and education of her daughter to Chrysogon, known for his knowledge at the time.

After Fausta’s death, her father married Anastasia to Pomplius, a wealthy opponent of the Christian faith. The marriage with Pomplius was difficult, but Anastasia even managed to preserve her virginity (she told her husband that she had an incurable disease). During those times, she actively helped the enslaved Christians in Roman prisons, came there in beggar’s clothes, washed, gave food, bandaged the wounds of the sick. Anastasia comforted the needy, relieved their fear, took away sadness and despair, that’s why she is called the wayfarer. When the saint’s husband found out about her forays, he severely beat her, locked her in a room and posted guards. And after the death of Pretextatus, Pomplius tortured his wife constantly, wanting to take possession of the inheritance.

Anastasia managed to survive her executioner, after his death she used her inheritance to help believers. Emperor Diocletian found out about this, got angry and ordered to burn Anastasia, tying the woman to a stake. The hearth did not touch the saint’s body, and her soul flew to God.