The Akathist to the great martyr Anastasia the Lawbreaker is considered one of the liturgical texts that most strongly contributes to proper penitential prayer, performed with reverence and gratitude to God and heavenly patroness, Anastasia. In this article, the meaning of the term "akathist" will be revealed. Also, the article contains a brief retelling of the life of St. Anastasia the Decisive.
Akathist
First, a few words about what an akathist is. This is a special genre of Orthodox chants. Translated from Greek, its name translates as “not sitting,” that is, these works are usually performed standing up. As a rule, it is dedicated to the Savior, the Virgin Mary or some saint, glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church. For example, an akathist to the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Decisive. The texts of akathists are laudatory in nature and, unlike the more ancient similar genre, kondak, contain a series of exclamations beginning with the word "Rejoice." These phrases are called “highretisms.”
For a long time there was only one church anthem written in this genre - an akathist to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Later, other works appeared, written on the principle of imitation of the original model. Thus, the hymn dedicated to the Blessed Virgin determined the structure of all subsequent works of this genre, including the text of an akathist Anastasia Uzoreshitelnitse.
The heyday of the genre
In the Russian Orthodox tradition, this type of chants received the greatest distribution rather late. By the mid-nineteenth century, the number of Akathists began to increase year by year. So, by the beginning of the twentieth century, a special church council, censorship of church literature, approved about a hundred and fifty chants written by Russian authors. Almost twice as many Akathists were not accepted by censorship because of their inconsistency in content or structure.
Even more songs of this genre were created after the October Revolution, during the years of severe persecution of the Orthodox Church, when many churches were destroyed, and part of the clergy was subjected to severe repression. Then, due to the circumstances, many people were forced to hide their religious views. People’s need for joint prayer was often satisfied at home services. Then akathists came to the aid of believers, among which, one of the most popular was akathist Anastasia the Decisive, who guards from the court and prison. This genre was in demand at that difficult time for the Russian Orthodox Church for the reason that worship with the performance of akathist does not require the presence of clergy. It is not even necessary to have a deep knowledge of the canonical structure of worship.
Truly folk chants
Due to the comparative simplicity of the Akathist language (they are usually written in a Church Slavonic version adapted to modern Russian language) and the small volume of such works, they quickly began to spread among the people by word of mouth. Also, there were many collections of akathists printed in amateur clandestine printing houses. Akathist of Anastasia the Decisive has always been an indispensable part of the content of such publications.
The post-revolutionary time brought with it one advantage for the creators of works of this genre. Now the texts did not have to undergo severe censorship. Thus, a vast field was opened for the activity of the authors of spiritual verses.
The genre was reborn already in the last decade of the twentieth century. After perestroika, when the publishing house of spiritual literature went underground, many new authors appeared who became interested in the akathist genre. According to some experts in the field of spiritual literature, currently about fifty new akathists are created annually in Church Slavonic. On the World Wide Web there are sites specializing in the publication of works of this genre. Among the followers of these spiritual poems, one can single out such writers as Yevgeny Khrapovitsky and Alexander Trofimov. In addition to samples written in Church Slavonic, there are a significant number of texts written in other languages, including modern Russian. According to authoritative sources, at present the total number of akathists is approaching two thousand.
The Life of Anastasia the Decisive
The Akathist, dedicated to this saint, rightfully takes his rightful place among the best examples of this kind of spiritual hymns. Saint Anastasia suffered torment in the area that was part of the Roman Empire, on the site of which modern Serbia is located.
Her years of life have not been established for certain. It is only known that she lived in the fourth century from the Nativity of Christ during the terrible persecution of Christians. In the tradition of different peoples, this great martyr is called differently, according to the norms of pronunciation of one or another language. In Greece. For example, it is customary to call her Aghiyya or Aya, and in the west her name is added the Sirmian nickname, by the name of the city of Sirmium, where she was martyred.
The Great Martyr Anastasia the Lawbreaker was born in the capital of the Roman Empire. Her father was a statesman. He adhered to the official religion of Rome at that time - he worshiped the pantheon of the gods of Olympus. Mother Anastasia secretly professed Christianity from everyone. In the traditions of her faith, she decided to raise her daughter, St. Anastasia the Decourer, in which Saint Chrysogon helped her, who became a wise and understanding mentor for her daughter. When the mother died, the father decided to marry his daughter to a noble and wealthy Roman. Anastasia opposed this marriage with all her might, but fate was decided against her will.
Prisoner Care
Christianity in that era was persecuted by the Roman authorities. Adherents of the new religion were brutally tortured in prisons. One of the most popular spectacles among all classes of Roman citizens was feeding Christians to lions. Thousands of people were about to see this terrible execution.
But even in such a formidable era for Christians, Anastasia took care of her brothers and sisters by faith. She visited them in prisons, bringing them food and healing them for illnesses.
Upon hearing this, her husband severely beat Anastasia and put her under house arrest. Her teacher, Saint Chrysogonos, was also in prison with other Christians at that time. Therefore, Anastasia could communicate with her mentor only in correspondence. Even in conditions of imprisonment, Chrysogon found strength not only not to lose faith in the Lord God and not to lose heart, but also to instill confidence and hope for a bright future in his student. Thanks to his example, Anastasia developed an extraordinary stamina in herself, and her faith in the Lord was strengthened many times.
Exemption
After the death of the father of Anastasia the Decisive, her husband, being an evil and self-serving man, decided to appropriate the rich inheritance left by his father. He began to starve his wife, in every possible way mocking her. Anastasia admitted to her teacher in letters that her existence is so bleak that her death seems to be the only way out of her unhappiness. Chrysogon supported his student in every possible way, wrote to her that one should not give in to despondency, and reminded that as soon as a disease comes to recovery, so imprisonment usually does not last forever. It ends sooner or later with freedom.
One fine day, the saint wrote to Anastasia that her torment did not last long, since her husband would soon die. These prophetic words came true very soon. The husband of Anastasia was appointed ambassador to Persia. Going on a long journey, he strictly ordered his servants, as before, to keep Anastasia locked up under the pretext that he wished her to abandon heretical views. On the way to his destination, he drowned during a storm.
The death of a teacher and three martyrs
Now Anastasia was free and could again visit the prisoners of Christian prisoners and communicate with her teacher. She spent all her rich inheritance on providing the prisoners with everything necessary. She supplied them with clothes, food, and bought the necessary medicines for the seriously ill. Anastasia herself bandaged their wounds, put compresses, healed fractures and stopped bleeding after severe beatings. Soon her teachers were taken to another province of Italy, where he was to be executed. Anastasia was so devoted to the mentor that without hesitation she went after him. After martyrdom, the body of St. Chrysogon was taken and buried by one of his disciples.
After several days, the saint appeared to him in a dream and predicted the speedy execution of three more Christians - young girls.
Anastasia also had a similar dream, in which the teacher asked her to take care of the martyrs in the last days of their lives. The pious Christian immediately went to prison, where she helped the sufferers not to give in to despondency, but to spend the last moments of their earthly life in prayers. After the execution, the saint herself took care of the burial of the bodies.
Wanderings
After this, St. Anastasia went to wander the world, wherever necessary, to provide all possible assistance to the believing people languishing in prison. For this reason, in the Orthodox tradition, it is customary to read an akathist Anastasia the Decisive in difficult moments of life. At that very time, she received the gift of healing from the Almighty. The saint also helped prisoners to get rid of the bonds of fear, despondency, unbelief, loneliness. Anastasia urged the prisoners to pray for their salvation and to thank the Lord for his mercy. Therefore, in the Russian Orthodox tradition, this saint is called the Decreeder, and the reading of akathist Anastasia the Decreeder protects from the court and prison. During her wanderings, Anastasia met Theodotia, who became her faithful assistant in her righteous works. Both Christians, in word and deed, supported other Christians in distress.
The interrogation of the emperor
Soon the fame of her good deeds spread throughout the Roman Empire and reached the emperor himself. The lord also became aware that the daughter of a noble Roman adheres to a religion that is under the strictest ban in the empire. At his command, the Christian was captured. After some time, he himself decided to interrogate Anastasia. During interrogation, she confessed that she had used up all the inheritance inherited from her father, who was a senator, to help Christians imprisoned. She sold precious metal figurines that were passed down from generation to generation in their family and bought food for those in need with the money she received.
The ruler of a powerful empire invited Anastasia herself to determine her future fate. Rich gifts were placed on her left hand, and terrible instruments of torture on her right. Anastasia pointed to the right side, saying that thanks to these items she would become more pleasing to the Lord. Before the execution, the emperor decided to commit violence against her, but as soon as he approached her, he immediately became blind and soon died in unbearable torment.
Salvation from execution
So St. Anastasia regained her freedom and, together with the faithful comrade-in-arms Theodotia, continued to engage in the work of her life - to help Christian martyrs.
Therefore, it is believed that Akathist Anastasia the Lawbreaker saves from the court of the unrighteous. Soon, Theodotius was executed, and with it two of her sons, who were also deeply religious Christians. Anastasia herself was again put in prison, convicted of speedy execution. Throughout the time of her imprisonment, the holy martyr Theodotia appeared to her every night and, with her parting speeches, helped Anastasia survive the hardships of imprisonment and overcome fear.
When the day of execution came, Anastasia, along with many other Christian prisoners, was put aboard a huge ship. When the ship turned out to be in the open sea far from the coast, the guards punched several large holes in the side of the ship and, convinced that the ship, along with all its passengers, was doomed to inevitable death, boarded the boat and sailed to the shore. Before they even sailed a few miles, they saw that the ship miraculously changed course and was sailing towards land. When the ship lined up with their boat, the guards saw a woman standing at the helm, and directing the ship to the shore. It was St. Theodotia. So, thanks to her faith in the Lord and a righteous life, Anastasia once again escaped death. Therefore, the prayer of Anastasia the Lawbreaker for deliverance is so popular among Orthodox Christians.
Martyrdom
Upon learning of the incident, the new emperor came up with another punishment for Anastasia. The new execution was much more terrible than the previous one. He ordered the crucifixion of Anastasia over a fire between four pillars. The saint took her fate with dignity, having spent the last hours of earthly life in prayers.
The veneration of the saint in Orthodoxy
What does Saint Anastasia the Patternbreaker help in? It is known that any saint can be addressed with any request, if only the prayer was sincere. However, it is sometimes customary to associate certain saints with specific blessings.
In the Orthodox tradition, it is customary to read the akathist to the great martyress Anastasia the Decreeder for protection against illegal punishment, with the hope of an early release from prison. Also among the Slavic peoples, St. Anastasia is considered an assistant in childbirth, a liberator from the bonds of pregnancy. It is believed that since the baby is connected with the mother’s body with the umbilical cord, he is in a kind of conclusion in which both the mother and the child suffer suffering. Successful childbirth frees both from suffering. Therefore, during childbirth in the old days, the Akathist of Anastasia the Decourer was often read.
Also, in the folk traditions of the Eastern Slavs, special symbolic significance was given to the nodes. So, many Slavic peoples had a belief that during pregnancy a woman should not tie knots, do needlework, and also dress in outfits sewn using any knots. Currently, these superstitions are considered forgotten, but the Akathist of Anastasia the Decisive is still read by many Orthodox women waiting for a child.
Saint's day
The Day of Anastasia the Solvers is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on December 22. The saint is also revered in Western Christianity. In the Catholic tradition, the day of her memory coincides with the Nativity of Christ.
In the Bulgarian Orthodox tradition, on the day of St. Anastasia, women were forbidden to engage in any kind of work. The reading by women of akathist Saint Anastasia the Decisive was welcomed. In this country, the holy great martyress is called the Black Baba.
There are also many iconographic images of Anastasia. The icon of Anastasia the Solvers is usually an image of a woman holding a vessel with healing oil in her hand. This vessel is a symbol that the saint possessed during her life the divine gift of healing.
Reading the text of Akathist Anastasia the Concealer in front of the icon can be a good addition to prayers for the recovery of seriously ill patients.
The holy relics of the saint, a century after her martyrdom, were transferred from Sirmium to the capital of Byzantium. In the ninth century, part of the relics was donated to the Archbishop of Serbia and transferred to the Serbian city of Zadar. The head of the saint was for a long time in a temple on the peninsula of Halkidiki, near the city of Thessaloniki.
It is worth remembering that according to the consensus teachings of the holy fathers of the Orthodox Church, any prayer should be read with attention, reverence and repentance. Do not forget that thoughtless reading of religious texts not only does not bring any benefit to the worshiper, but can even be harmful. This applies to church rites and sacraments. For example, the apostle Paul said that Christians who approach Communion without faith often “get sick and die from it.”