Anastasia the Patrician
Encyclopedia
Saint Anastasia the Patrician (Anastasia Patricia) was the wife of a consul
and a lady-in-waiting to the Byzantine empress Theodora
. Justinian I
, Theodora's husband, pursued her, arousing Theodora's jealousy. Anastasia tried to avoid any trouble and left for Egypt
. She arrived at a place called Pempton, near Alexandria
, where she founded a monastery
which would later be named after her.
Following the death of Theodora in 548, Justianian attempted to get Anastasia to return to Constantinople
, to no avail. Instead, Anastasia left for Scetis, looking for Apa Daniel, hegumen
of the monastery
at that time. He put her in a monastery cell 18 miles from Scetis where she was allowed to dress as a monk
and take up the life of a hermit
; at a time when this was only permitted of men. He visited her every week and ensured that one of his disciples
supplied her with water.
In 576, 28 years after her arrival at Scetis, the disciple found an ostracon
with the words "Bring the spades and come here." When Daniel heard this, he knew Anastasia was near death. He went to visit her with his disciple and to give her communion
and hear her last words. Daniel revealed the full details of her story to his disciple after her death.
Her story comes to us in one recension of the Copto-Arabic Synaxarion and by a tale of Daniel of Scetis. Her feast day
is 10 March in the Eastern Orthodox, Latin and Eastern Catholic Churches, and on 26 Tobi
in the calendar of the Coptic Church. She has been recognised by the modern-day LGBT
community as an example of a transgender
saint.
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
and a lady-in-waiting to the Byzantine empress Theodora
Theodora (6th century)
Theodora , was empress of the Roman Empire and the wife of Emperor Justinian I. Like her husband, she is a saint in the Orthodox Church, commemorated on November 14...
. Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
, Theodora's husband, pursued her, arousing Theodora's jealousy. Anastasia tried to avoid any trouble and left for Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. She arrived at a place called Pempton, near Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, where she founded a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
which would later be named after her.
Following the death of Theodora in 548, Justianian attempted to get Anastasia to return to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, to no avail. Instead, Anastasia left for Scetis, looking for Apa Daniel, hegumen
Hegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
of the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
at that time. He put her in a monastery cell 18 miles from Scetis where she was allowed to dress as a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
and take up the life of a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
; at a time when this was only permitted of men. He visited her every week and ensured that one of his disciples
Disciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
supplied her with water.
Ostracon
An ostracon is a piece of pottery , usually broken off from a vase or other earthenware vessel. In archaeology, ostraca may contain scratched-in words or other forms of writing which may give clues as to the time when the piece was in use...
with the words "Bring the spades and come here." When Daniel heard this, he knew Anastasia was near death. He went to visit her with his disciple and to give her communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
and hear her last words. Daniel revealed the full details of her story to his disciple after her death.
Her story comes to us in one recension of the Copto-Arabic Synaxarion and by a tale of Daniel of Scetis. Her feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is 10 March in the Eastern Orthodox, Latin and Eastern Catholic Churches, and on 26 Tobi
Month of Tobi
Tobi , also known as Touba, is the fifth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between January 9 and February 7 of the Gregorian calendar...
in the calendar of the Coptic Church. She has been recognised by the modern-day LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
community as an example of a transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
saint.