Anastasius of Sinai

Our holy father Anastasius (also spelled Anastasios) is a 7th century saint who left the world and everything in it. He took up his cross according to the Lord's commandment, was tonsured, and became a monk, following the Lord willingly. He became a lover of the greatest struggles for virtue. He went to Jerusalem and, after he had venerated the saints and the venerable places, he came to mount Sinai. There Anastasius found a group of monks who led a strict ascetic life, so he stayed and submitted himself to them as a servant. Thus he became very humble and received from God gifts of knowledge and great wisdom, through which he wrote the lives of holy fathers and composed edifying sermons. Anastasius eventually became abbot of the whole ascetic community at the Sinai. He departed to the Lord full of years.

Saint Anastasius is commemorated on April 20 and along with his fellow ascetics each Bright Wednesday, the Synaxis of the Monastic Fathers of the Sinai.

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We have the following understanding and opinion concerning those who receive the holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of the Lord, that if persons have some small human sins that are readily forgiven, such as: being robbed [committing a sin] by the tongue or hearing or eyes or by vainglory or by sorrow or anger or such things as these, that once they rebuke themselves and make confession to God let them thus receive the holy Mysteries. We believe that the reception of the holy Mysteries for such persons is unto the cleansing of sins.^[1]

Sources and further reading

• Lives of the Saints for the Whole Year by St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (18th century)
• St. Anastasius the New Moses, Abbot of Sinai (St. Pachomius Library)
• St. Anastasius Sinaita (1912 Catholic Encyclopedia)
• Venerable Anastasius the Abbot of Sinai (from OCA)