Anastasia the Patrician

Who was Anastasia the Patrician?

Saint Anastasia the Patrician 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 help from Abba Daniel, hegumen of the monastery at that time. In order to safeguard Anastasia, 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. Anastasia dwelt in seclusion for twenty-eight years.

In 567, aware of her approaching death, she wrote several words for Abba Daniel on a piece of broken pottery and placed it at the entrance to the cave. The disciple found an ostracon with the words "Bring the spades and come here."