St anysia of thessalonica
- •
Saint Anysia, venerated by the Orthodox Church on December 30, lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (298 AD) and hailed from the city of Thessaloniki, born to parents who were 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 soldier 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 pie
- •
Anysia of Thessaloniki
Life
Anysia was born and lived in Thessaloniki during the Diocletian-Maximian persectutions (284-305). She was the daughter of both rich, but very pious parents. After her parents' death, Anysia lived a very quiet and God pleasing life fulfilling his commandements. She was not overwhelmed by the wealth she inherited rather she took private vows of poverty and chastity and used her wealth to help the poor. Her fear of God became widespread even amongst the idolaters. One day as she was heading off to church she met a Roman pagan soldier. This soldier arrested her against her will and dragged her to a temple to worship to the sun god. Anysia refused and confessed her faith in the one and true God, Jesus Christ. The soldier was so enraged by her response that he abused her even more and started to blaspheme the name of God. Anysia unable to hear his blasphemy spat in his face and covered her face with a veil. Emba
- •
Anysia of Thessalonica
Saint Anysia of Thessalonica | |
|---|---|
The assault and murder of Saint Anysia by the soldier, from the Menologion of Basil II, 10th century | |
| Born | 284 Thessalonica, Macedonia, Roman Empire |
| Died | 304 Gate of Cassandra, Thessalonica, Macedonia, Roman Empire |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Major shrine | Basilica of Saint Demetrios, Thessaloniki, Greece |
| Feast | 30 December |
| Attributes | Veil, cross |
Saint Anysia of Thessalonica (Greek: Άγία Άνυσία) (d. c. 304)[1] was a Christianvirgin 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] choosing to live "a strict life of fasting, vigil, and prayer".[4]
Anysia's biography is related by Symeon the Metaphrast in a volume of his work published in 947;[1]
Copyright ©raldock.pages.dev 2025