Anastasia of Illyria December 22

Anastasia has long been revered as a healer and exorcist. His relics rest in the Cathedral of Saint Anastasia in Zadar, Croatia. She is one of seven women who, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in the Canon

Before the liturgical reforms of the 20th century, this martyr had the distinction, unique in the Roman liturgy, of having a special commemoration at the second mass on Christmas Day. This daytime mass was originally celebrated not in honor of the birth of Christ but rather in commemoration of this martyrdom, and towards the end of the 5th century its name was also inserted into the Canon

There legend makes Anastasia or Anastasia the daughter of Praetextatus, a Roman vir illustris, and states that she had Chrysogonus for master. At the beginning of the persecution of Diocletian, the emperor summoned Chrysogonus to Aquileia where he suffered martyrdom. Anastasia, having gone from Aquileia to Sirmium to visit the faithful there, was beheaded on the island of Palmaria, on December 25, and her body buried in the house of Apollonia, which had been converted into a basilica.

The whole story is purely legendary and has no historical basis. All that is certain is that a martyr named Anastasia gave her life for the faith in Sirmium and that her memory was preserved in that city. In Rome, a church in ancient times bore the name of a certain Anastasia and is listed under the name of titulus Anastasiae in the acts of the 499 Roman synods. At some point in history, this church became dedicated to this martyr of the same name. It has the rank of basilica and is one of the titular churches of Rome attributed to a cardinal-priest.

The Orthodox Church venerates Saint Anastasia as a great martyr, commonly referring to her as "Anastasia the Deliverer of Potions", "Anastasia the Healer", or "Anastasia of Sirmium". She is often given the epithets "Deliverer of Bonds" and "Deliverer of Potions", because her intercessions are credited with protecting the faithful from poison and other harmful substances. Her feast day is celebrated on December 22 on the Eastern Orthodox Church calendar. According to the Synaxarion, she was the daughter of Praepextatus (a pagan) and Fausta (a Christian).

In the 5th century, the relics of Saint Anastasia were transferred to Constantinople, where a church was built and dedicated to her. Later, the relics, including her skull, were transferred to the Monastery of Saint Anastasia the Pharmokolitria in Chalkidiki. Greece, near Mount Athos.