Saint Anastasius the Persian

Also known as

• Magundat

Memorial

• 22 January

Profile

Pagan magician. Soldier in the army of Persian king Khusrow II during the campaign that brought the Holy Cross from Jerusalem to Persia. Magundat was so impressed by the obvious power of the relic, and the devotion and sanctity of the Christians who flocked to it, that he converted to Christianity, left the army, took the name Anastasius, and became a monk in Jerusalem. After seven years of prayer and solitude, Anastasius returned to Persia to convert his countrymen. He was soon arrested for his faith, and was promised high honours if he would deny Christ and return to the service of Khusrow; he declined. Martyred with about 70 other Christians whose names have not come down to us.

Born

• in Persia as Magundat

Died

• strangled and beheaded in 628 in Persia
• relics translated to Palestine, and then to Rome

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• against headaches
• goldsmiths

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Online
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Anastasius the Persian“. Saints.SQPN.com. 21 January 2013. Web. 25 May 2013. <>