Sicilian Culture: Roman Catholic Patron Saint Anastatius

St. Anastatius

Patron Saint of Goldsmiths

Born January 22, 628

Magundat (his original Persian name) was once a magician, but later converted to Christianity. He was a soldier in the army of Chosroes when that monarch carried the Cross from Jerusalem to Persia. It was on this occasion that he was prompted to ask for information, he left the army, became a Christian, and later became a monk in Jerusalem. He explained to others later that worshipping fire and magic was wrong and he was tortured, strangled to death, decapitated and fed to the dogs, but they would not touch the parts of his body.

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