User:Figureskatingfan/Sandbox 2
Saint Anysia of Thessalonica (Greek: Άγία Άνυσία) was a Christian virgin and martyr of the 4th century. She was born of pious and affluent parents[1][2][3] who "raised her in Christian piety".[4] They died when Anysia was young, leaving her their wealth, which she distributed to the poor,[1][2][3] and chose to live "a strict life of fasting, vigil, and prayer".[4]
Dunbar, p. 79
[edit]Feast day: Dec. 30, d. 304, martyr.
"A young lady of Thessalonica, who was so beautiful and had such all kinds of splendid things, that she knew not not to do. She said to herself, 'How can I be saved with all this wealth?' One Sunday, during the persecution under Diocletian, as she was going through the Cassandriote Gate on her way to church, or to the secret meeting-place of the Christians, she met a soldier, who rudely stopped her, and asked where she was going. In her fright she made the sign of the cross. He though she was making game of him, seized hold of her, and insisted on having an answer. She said, 'I am a servant of Christ, and I am going to my Lord's assembly.' 'I will not let you go there,' said the soldier. 'I will take you to pour a libation to the gods, for to-day we worship the sun.' As she tried to get away from him, he pulled her veil, and rudely touched her face. 'May Christ Jesus rebuke thee, devil!' cried the maiden, angry and terrified. The soldier drew his sword, and plunged it in her side. She fell, and all the ground was stained with her blood. The crowd first pitied her youth, and then abused her for contaminating the gods. The Christians buried her two stadia from the gate, and when the persecution was over, they built a house of prayer on the spot, to the left of the public road."
Story told by Simeon Metaphrastes in 747.
Butler, p. 462
[edit]Martyr, d. 304?
"Anysia was a Christian girl who parents had both died, leaving her wealth with which she generously befriended the needy. Whilst the governor Dulcitius carried on a cruel persecution at Thessalonica to deter the Christians from holding religious assemblies, she one day resolved to go to the meeting of the faithful. As she passed the gate of Cassandra, one of the guards happened to see her and stepping in front of her asked where she was going. Anysia started back and fearing danger, made the sign of the cross of her forehead. The soldier seized hold of her and asked roughly, 'Who are you, and where are you going?' 'I am a servant of Jesus Christ,' she replied, 'and am going to the Lord's assembly.' 'I will prevent that,' he said, 'and will take you to sacrifice to the gods. Today we worship the sun.' As he spoke he tore off her veil to look at her face. Anysia tried to stop him, and struggled with the man, who became so angry that he drew his sword and ran her through the body. She fell in her tracks, and there died, and when peace came to the Church the Christians of Thessalonica built an oratory there. The acta say that the murderer acted on the strength of an (entirely mythical) edict of Galerius who, thinking that the execution of Christians beneath his dignity, had given permission for them to be killed at sight".
The Greek passion of Anysia lacks historical confirmation.
She was commemorated in countries under Byzantine influence.
Orthodox Times
[edit]St. Anysia is venerated by the Orthodox Church on Dec. 30. Lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (298 A.D.), was from Thessaloniki, "born to parents who where both pious and affluent".
"Following the untimely demise of her parents, Anysia faced life with self-reliance. The wealth she inherited did not allure her, and her orphanhood did not lead her astray. Demonstrating prudence and self-control, she consistently sought to discern 'what is pleasing to the Lord.'"
"Her unwavering piety became known even among the pagans. While on her way to the church, she encountered a pagan solider who, in a violent act, seized her and forcibly brought her to the altars of idols. He pressured her to make sacrifices to the Roman gods. However, Anysia fearlessly confessed her unwavering belief in the One and True God, Jesus Christ, emphasizing her daily commitment to pleasing Him".
"The soldier, overwhelmed by fury, cursed God, prompting Anysia to defiantly spit in his face. In the face of this act, he was left embarrassed, drawing his sword in a fit of rage and ruthlessly pierced her ribs. In that moment, Anysia received the eternal crown of martyrdom, a testament to her steadfast devotion and unyielding commitment to her faith".
OCA
[edit]Lived in Thessalonica during the reign of the co-Emperor Maximian (286-305).
"Upon the death of her parents, who had raised her in Christian piety, Saint Anysia sold everything she owned, distributing her riches to the poor, and she began a strict life of fasting, vigil, and prayer".
"During his persecution against Christians, Maximian issued an edict stating that anyone had the right to kill Christians with no fear of punishment. Soon there were many bodies to be found in cities, towns, and by the roadside. Once, when Saint Anysia was on her way to church, a pagan soldier stopped her and demanded that she come along to the festival of the sun to offer sacrifice. Saint Anysia gently pulled herself away from him. When the soldier boldly grabbed her and attempted to tear the veil from her head, she shoved him, spit in his face and said, 'My Lord Jesus Christ forbids you'".
"In anger, the soldier ran her through with is sword. Those gathering over her body wept and loudly complained against the cruel emperor for issuing an edict that resulted in the death of many innocent people. Christians buried the martyr near the city gates, and a chapel was built over her grave".
Works cited
[edit]Common citations:
[edit]Watkins[5]
Butler[6]
Saintly Women[7]
Baring-Gould[8]
Catholic Encyclopedia[9]
- ^ a b Dunbar, Agnes B.C. (1905). A Dictionary of Saintly Women. Vol. 1. London: George Bell & Sons. p. 79.
- ^ a b Butler, Alban (1990). Thurston, Herbert J.; Attwater, Donald (eds.). Butler's Life of the Saints. Vol. 1. Westminster, Maryland: Christian Classics. p. 462. ISBN 0-87061-0457.
- ^ a b "Memory of Saint Anysia of Thessaloniki". Orthodox Times. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Virgin Martyr Anysia at Thessalonica". Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ Watkins, Basil (2015). The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary (8th ed.). London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-567-66415-0.
- ^ Butler, Alban (1995). Butler's Lives of the Saints (2 ed.). Westminster, Maryland: Liturgical Press. p. 470. ISBN 0814623778. OCLC 33824974.
- ^ Dunbar, Agnes B.C. (1901). A Dictionary of Saintly Women. Vol. 1. London: George Bell & Sons. p. 237.
- ^ Baring-Gould, Sabine (1877). The Lives of the Saints (3rd ed.). London: J. Hodges. p. 57.
- ^ Herbermann, Charles G., ed. (1907). The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton.