The history of the appearance of the akathist to Anastasia the Pattern Maker
Roman emperors tried to fight the spread of Christianity for 2 centuries. The teachings of Jesus Christ, as the rulers of Rome believed, undermined the foundations of the state. The biography of Saint Anastasia the Pattern Maker, a noble and wealthy Roman woman, dates back to this period. Her mother secretly professed Christianity, her father worshiped the Roman gods.
From an early age, the mother raised the girl according to the commandments of God, making her the teacher of the Christian preacher Chrysogon. After the death of her mother, the young girl found herself at the mercy of her despotic father, who married her to the pagan Pomplius.
Anastasia wanted to preserve her virginity and deceived her husband by telling him that she was sick with a contagious female disease. She began to live in a separate room from her husband. At night, dressed in a beggar's robe, accompanied by a slave, a young girl visited prisons where Christians were languishing.
Generous bribes to the guards helped them gain access to prisoners, to whom she brought food and drink. Anastasia looked after sick and tortured people, including the teacher Chrysogon. The husband learned from the slave about his wife’s nightly vigils and became furious.
Pompley mocked Anastasia and did not allow her to leave the house. Realizing that he could not break the spirit of the Christian woman, he decided to kill her and become the heir to enormous wealth. But it so happened that a quick death overtook him: Pompleius drowned in the sea along with the ship during a storm. Widowed Anastasia sold her property and gave away gold and silver figurines of gods for melting down and minting coins.
Chrysogonus was transferred from a Roman prison to Aquileia, where he was executed. Anastasia followed the teacher. After his death, she began to wander, helping persecuted Christians everywhere with words of consolation and money, for which she was nicknamed the Pattern Solver (solver of problems/ties). In Macedonia, fate brought Anastasia together with Theodotia, who also helped suffering Christians.
Anastasia was identified as a Christian and taken into custody. By order of the emperor, she was taken to the high priest so that he could either convince her to renounce Christ or put her to death.
The priest could not get the Christian woman to refuse. For his wicked desires towards a virgin, God punished him with death. The pattern maker was freed and continued her godly work with Theodotia.
Theodotia and her sons were executed, Anastasia was imprisoned. After an unsuccessful attempt to drown the saint along with 120 convicted criminals, the governor of the province ordered the death of all those who escaped at sea. The criminals who believed in Christ and were baptized after the miracle of salvation had their heads cut off. Anastasia was put to a painful death, tied to 4 pillars over a fire.
After the death of Anastasia, the body, not disfigured by fire, was buried. Subsequently, a temple was erected above it. Since the 5th century, the great martyr has been canonized by all Christian churches. In the 12th century, an akathist was compiled in her honor, adopted by the Russian Orthodox Church for general church use.
The rise of the genre
In the Russian Orthodox tradition, this type of chant became most widespread quite late. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the number of akathists began to increase year by year. Thus, by the beginning of the twentieth century, a special church council that censored church literature approved about one hundred and fifty hymns written by Russian authors. Almost twice as many akathists were not accepted by the censor due to their inconsistency in content or structure.
Even more chants of this genre were created after the October Revolution, during the years of brutal persecution of the Orthodox Church, when many churches were destroyed and part of the clergy was subjected to brutal repression. Then, due to the prevailing 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 whom one of the most popular was the akathist to Anastasia the Pattern Maker, protecting them from trial and prison. This genre turned out to be in demand at that difficult time for the Russian Orthodox Church for the reason that worship with the performance of an akathist does not require the presence of clergy. It is not even necessary to have deep knowledge of the canonical structure of worship.
Full text of the akathist to Anastasia the Pattern Maker in Russian
In the prayer book you can find an akathist and a prayer addressed to Anastasia the Pattern Maker.
Kontakion 1
To the chosen saint of Christ, the all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, we offer a song of praise, for she has great boldness in the Lord to free the faithful from all troubles, sorrows and illnesses, and with love we cry out to her:
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Ikos 1
You have become like an angel with a pure mind, having cognized Him who is the eternal beginning and one end of all the visible and invisible desires of all the pious; We, praising your wise teaching from the holy martyr Chrysogonus, cry out to you with love:
Rejoice, thou who has loved the faith of Christ; Rejoice, thou who followed the piety of thy mother Fausta.
Rejoice, having preserved the purity of your virginity; Rejoice, always invisibly guarded by Angels.
Rejoice, having drawn closer to God through your purity.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 2
Saint Anastasia, seeing that many Christians were suffering in prison for the Name and teaching of Jesus Christ, began to serve them with zeal, and to console and heal, I cooperate with God, singing with reverence: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The god-wise Anastasia understood that the whole red world of this world is involved in corruption, and for this reason, having despised bright clothes and valuable utensils, secretly putting on the clothes of the poor, entering into prisons to serve as a confessor of Christ; We, mentally following her, appeal to her with love:
Rejoice, visitor to prisoners in prison; Rejoice, consoler of Christ's confessors.
Rejoice, you who squandered your gold and silver on them; Rejoice, you who have acquired the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, you who washed the hands and noses of the saints and cleansed their hair; Rejoice, imitator of Christ.
Rejoice, you who healed their ailments; Rejoice, you who buried their bodies honestly.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 3
We are strengthened by strength from above, holy martyr, serve piously to the saints and disgrace the hater of all virtues, the devil, who instigated a slave to reveal your deeds to an unfaithful husband; We, praising your goodness, Anastasia, sing with you: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having great love in the Lord for all those who suffer in prison for the name of Christ, even though they suffered many blows from an unfaithful husband, you finally found a prison for yourself in his house; Also marveling at her courage, we cry out to her:
Rejoice, zealous keeper of the commandments of Christ: Rejoice, having fulfilled this not in word, but also in deed.
Rejoice, ready to lay down your soul for others; Rejoice, you who accepted much bitterness for Christ.
Rejoice. with her patience she became like strong adamant.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 4
Your wicked tormentor husband raised a storm of his rage against you, as a captive and a slave, imputed to you, Saint Anastasia; We, remembering the bitterness from him and your suffering, sing to the Lord who strengthened you: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Blessed Anastasia heard how much her holy teacher Chrysogon had endured for Christ, and she followed him with her suffering and secretly wrote to him: “Teacher! I want to die and there is nothing else left, but having given up the ghost, I will fall dead.” We, marveling at your patience, say to you:
Rejoice, you who did not spare your honest flesh; Rejoice, you who wished to squander your wealth of God for the sake of the poor.
Rejoice, you who act wisely will buy; Rejoice, you who alone have care for those suffering in chains.
Rejoice, you who served them with zeal; Rejoice, thou who fearlessly entered prisons.
Rejoice, you who entered the Heavenly Palace without restraint.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 5
Like a godly star, you appeared in the Roman land, to the Great Martyr Anastasia, visiting those suffering for Christ in prison and strengthening their hearts in faith, so that they may ever cry with you to the Savior of all, God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing you, your God-bearing teacher Chrysogonus, in the confusion and excitement of this world, I commanded you to cry out to you with the prophet: “In every way you are sorrowful, my soul, and in every way you are troubling me, trust in God,” but we, remembering your sorrow and sorrow, even according to God , we call you:
Rejoice, you who have placed all your trust in the Lord; Rejoice, you who endured the cramped conditions of the Kingdom for the sake of the Heavenly One.
Rejoice, through your purity you have been deemed worthy to live in heaven with the Angels; Rejoice, having drawn closer to God through your sorrows.
Rejoice, thou who hast been granted to see with understanding the hair of the Lord Almighty; Rejoice, through your prayers you deliver us from many sorrows.
Rejoice, through your intercession you free us from temptations.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 6
The whole Christian world preaches your honest deeds, Great Martyr Anastasia, and glorifies your suffering, pleases your martyrdom and sings to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You shone more than the sun with your virtues in the great city of Rome, when the prophecy of your teacher Saint Chrysogon about the death of your godless husband was fulfilled. For being free, you began to care for the martyrs of Christ with great zeal; We, looking with love at your deeds, say to you:
Rejoice, zealous helper of the suffering; Rejoice, you who consoled the friends of Christ with divine words.
Rejoice, teacher, who had great care for three virgins: Agapia, Chionia and Irina; Rejoice, you who strengthened those for the feat of martyrdom.
Rejoice, O venerable One who laid their bodies in the chosen place; Rejoice, you who had sorrow in your mind.
Rejoice, having made your heart the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, completely ignited with the fire of love for God.
Rejoice, you who have found His heavenly cover in the shelter of His blood; Rejoice, for by your courage you have completely overthrown the enemy of salvation.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 7
The desire of Saint Chrysogonus to die for Christ, being fulfilled by God's Providence; When you saw the honorable relics of your teacher, the passion-bearer, lovingly kissing them, you burst into tears, from the depths of your soul singing to God a song: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Our Lord gave you new grace and strength, when you accepted the feat of moving from city to city, visiting those in chains. We, following your wanderings, touchingly cry out to you:
Rejoice, follower of the footsteps of Christ; Rejoice, servant of many saints.
Rejoice, consolation to those who are sorely tested; Rejoice, hope of the unreliable.
Rejoice, thou who with thy gold buys freedom for the faithful from the bonds of prison; Rejoice, you who resolve the bonds of fear through Divine words.
Rejoice, through your prayers you free us from the bonds of sin; Rejoice, named pattern maker.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 8
Your journey with the holy martyr Theodotia has weakened many: healing has been granted to the sick, burial has been prepared for many who have died, and strengthening to the living for greater deeds of virtue; Vouchsafe us unworthy, holy one, to sing intelligently to God with your prayers: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
The whole temple of the prison was filled with many tears and sobs of yours, having always flown in early according to your custom and having not received a single thing from the prisoners who were imprisoned for the name of Christ, all of them were put to death one night by the command of the evil king; We, remembering your sorrow for the friends of God, cry out like this:
Rejoice, you who diligently searched for the servants of Christ in prison; Rejoice, having once again found those in the heavenly villages.
Rejoice, you who took up the cross of the Lord with love on your frame; Rejoice, thou who hast been granted the power to see everywhere with intelligent eyes the eyes of the Lord Almighty.
Rejoice, for your love for your neighbors you have gained great boldness towards God; Rejoice, you who send down healing to the sick.
Rejoice, raising up the half-dead by God’s command; Rejoice, you who were ignorant of Christ’s purity.
Rejoice, glorified great martyr.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 9
I created wicked tormenting advice against you, the invincible passion-bearer, wanting to incline you to idolatry; You fearlessly called out to them: “I am the Servant of Christ, and I sing to Him day and night: Alleluia.”
Ikos 9
The chief priest of the idolatry is with you, although he might catch your holy soul with flattery; But you, having learned all the cunning of the enemy, shamed the tormentor and changed all the evil into good, fearlessly looking at the tools of torment and all the torment; We, marveling at your courage, call your voices tender:
Rejoice, red one who has rejected all this world; Rejoice, you who chose to accept various torments for Christ.
Rejoice, you who wished to go to death with love; Rejoice, you who astonished your tormentors with your patience.
Rejoice, having adorned the Church of Christ with your sufferings; Rejoice, you who have chosen eternal life - Christ.
Rejoice, thou who has put to shame the priest of idols; Rejoice, demons who have straightened your legs.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 10
Make it possible for all those who want to be saved through your prayers, great martyr, before the Lord and ask for remission of the sins of those who honor your suffering, so that we cry with you: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Saint Anastasia loved the Heavenly King with all her heart and was quickly thrown into prison for the Sweetest Jesus, having been consumed by hunger and thirst and strengthened by prayer; Likewise, glorifying that honest suffering, we send to her the following singing:
Rejoice, follower of the passion of Christ; Rejoice, adorned with victorious glory.
Rejoice, having ascended through earthly prison into the Heavenly Palace; Rejoice, thou who art settled there with the martyrs.
Rejoice, you who remember us through your prayer at the Throne of God; Rejoice, soon resolving the bonds of sin.
Rejoice, you who drive away demons from people; Rejoice, teaching thieves on the path of righteousness.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 11
We offer you an all-contrite song, glorifying your suffering for Christ, and we pray to you: holy passion-bearer, ask the merciful Lord for health, long life, and victory and victory over your enemies. Grant to us, who praise your torment, peace and salvation, so that we may sing to God forever: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
With a bright and joyful face you followed the suffering prepared for you from your tormentors, as we call with joy as we think:
Rejoice, starved to death in the prison of Illyria; Rejoice, you who were nourished by your hope - Christ.
Rejoice, having been delivered from drowning on the sea by God’s vision; Rejoice, you who are extended between the four pillars.
Rejoice, thou who has become like the Son of God crucified on the Cross; Rejoice, being burned by fire even to death.
Rejoice, Pattern Maker, loosed from bonds and flesh.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 12
Grant grace from above to all of us who flow with love to your icon, and ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins, healing for the sick and suffering, and let us all cry out in gratitude to the wondrous God among the saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing the feats of your free martyrdom for Christ, we bow to your suffering, venerable great martyr, we honor your holy death and pray to you, extend your help from heaven to us, who live in the darkness of passions and temptations and cry out to you:
Rejoice, holy great martyr; Rejoice, having offered your body as a God-pleasing sacrifice in manifold torments.
Rejoice, turtledove, who flew up to Jerusalem on High; Rejoice, pure and immaculate bride of Christ.
Rejoice, spiritual censer, bringing incense of prayer for us to God; Rejoice, infinite treasury of healings.
Rejoice, abundant cup of God's gifts; Rejoice, all good wishes are speedy to the fulfiller.
Rejoice, bright way of life for all who hope for salvation.
Rejoice, all-blessed great martyr Anastasia, holy visitor of prisoners and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 13
O long-suffering and devoted saint of the Great Martyr Anastasia! Accept our present little prayer from your unworthy servants, offered to you with love, and ask Christ the God of our sinful bonds for permission, so that through your prayers we may be delivered from the wrath of God and eternal condemnation, and may we be worthy in the Kingdom of Heaven, together with you, to sing to God forever: Alleluia .
(This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “Thou art like an angel...” and the 1st kontakion “The chosen servant of Christ...”).
Care of prisoners
Christianity in that era was persecuted by the Roman authorities. Adherents of the new religion were brutally tortured in prison. One of the most popular spectacles among all classes of Roman citizens was the feeding of Christians to lions. Thousands of people gathered to watch this terrible execution.
But even in such a threatening era for Christians, Anastasia showed concern for her brothers and sisters in faith. She visited them in prison, bringing them food and treating their illnesses.
Having learned about this, her husband severely beat Anastasia and put her under house arrest. Her teacher, Saint Chrysogonus, was also in prison with other Christians at that time. Therefore, Anastasia could communicate with her mentor only by correspondence. Even in conditions of imprisonment, Chrysogon found the 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 extraordinary fortitude of character, and her faith in the Lord strengthened many times over.
Interrogation by the Emperor
Soon the fame of her good deeds spread throughout the Roman Empire and reached the emperor himself. The ruler also learned that the daughter of a noble Roman adheres to a religion that is strictly prohibited in the empire. At his command, the Christian woman was captured. After some time, he himself decided to interrogate Anastasia. During interrogation, she admitted that she had spent all the inheritance she received from her father, who was a senator, to help Christians who were in prison. She sold figurines made of precious metals, which were passed down from generation to generation in their family, and used the money to buy food for those in need.
The ruler of a powerful empire invited Anastasia to determine her own future destiny. Rich gifts were placed on her left hand, and terrible instruments of torture were placed 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.
