Saint Anastasius, monk and martyr

Saint Anastasius was born in Ray and was the son of a wizard. His original name was Magundat, but he was baptized as Anastasius, in honor of the resurrection of Jesus or Anastasis (in Greek: Anastasis). He was a knight in the army of Khosroes II, who reigned between 590-628. After the sack of Jerusalem in 614, Anastasius became interested in the Christian religion and decided to become a monk at the Mar Saba Monastery in Jerusalem.

The Martyr Mission of Anastasius

After seven years of monastic life, Anastasius found himself compelled by the Holy Spirit to undertake a mission of martyrdom. He went to Caesarea Palestine, which was under Sasanian rule, to admonish his countrymen for their religion. Saint Anastasius was captured, cruelly tortured and taken to the bank of the Euphrates, a place called Barsaloe. He was tortured again and received the highest honors from the court of King Khosroes II if he gave up Christianity, but he remained faithful to his faith and was strangled to death and beheaded on January 22, 628.

Anastásio's legacy

Saint Anastasius was a victim of martyrdom and honored by a “Passio” written in Greek. Adaptations into Latin were made, including one by Theodore of Canterbury. His body, which remained untouched, was taken from there to Palestine, then to Constantinople and finally to Rome.

References:

http://www.christianiconography.info/stAnastasius.html
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Anastasius