Orthodox saint

St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions

Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions (Pharmakolytria)

Αγία Μεγαλομάρτυς Αναστασία η Φαρμακολύτρια · Свѧта́ѧ великому́ченица А҆наста́сїѧ Оузорѣши́тельница · Великомученица Анастасия Узорешительница

St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions is remembered on 22 December (4 January on the Old Calendar). Orthodox Christians pray to St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions for the release of prisoners, especially the innocent, deliverance from poisons, potions and harmful substances and deliverance from sorcery and evil spirits.

Feast days

Feast: Martyrdom
Kept on: 22 December (4 January on the Old Calendar)
Next, New Calendar: 22 December 2026
Next, Old Calendar: 4 January 2027

The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.

The life of St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions

St Anastasia was the daughter of a noble Roman family, taught the faith by the martyr Chrysogonus. Married against her will to a pagan, she put on beggar's clothes and secretly visited the prisons of Rome, washing and feeding the sick, binding their wounds and ransoming captives who suffered for Christ. After her husband's death she gave everything to the poor and went from city to city ministering to Christian prisoners, healing them with the medicine of her day and by her prayers. For freeing so many from the bonds of despair she was called "Uzoreshitelnitsa" (Loosener of Bonds) in Slavonic and "Pharmakolytria" (Deliverer from Potions) in Greek. She was martyred under Diocletian around 304. Orthodox Christians pray to her for prisoners, for deliverance from poisons and spells, for healing, and in Russian tradition for a safe delivery in childbirth.

What the faithful ask of St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions

The faithful pray for

the release of prisoners, especially the innocent
deliverance from poisons, potions and harmful substances
deliverance from sorcery and evil spirits
healing of the sick
a safe delivery in childbirth (Russian popular tradition)
comfort in temptation and sorrow
freedom from the bonds of despair, fear and helplessness

St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions protects

from poisoning
from spells and sorcery
prisoners from despair
from unjust condemnation

Patron of

prisoners and captives
the unjustly imprisoned
those who visit and care for prisoners
healers
expectant mothers (Russian tradition)

Miracles

The OCA records that by her intercessions she has healed many from the effects of potions, poisons and other harmful substances.
Source: OCA: Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Poisons
Her church in Constantinople became the place where the faithful sought deliverance from possession, potions, spells and poison.
Source: John Sanidopoulos: Why is Saint Anastasia Known as the Deliverer From Potions?

Where the traditions differ

Slavs call her 'Loosener of Bonds' (prisoners) and Greeks 'Deliverer from Potions' (poisons/spells). Her patronage of expectant mothers is Russian popular custom, read as release from the 'bond' of pregnancy. In the Roman rite she is commemorated on 25 December (second Christmas Mass) and in the Roman Canon.

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Prayer services

Name days

These names keep their name day on a feast of St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions:

Prayed to for

Enemies, injustice and court cases

Questions

When is the feast day of St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions?

Martyrdom: 22 December (4 January on the Old Calendar).

What do Orthodox Christians pray to St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions for?

Orthodox Christians pray to St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions for the release of prisoners, especially the innocent, deliverance from poisons, potions and harmful substances, deliverance from sorcery and evil spirits, healing of the sick, a safe delivery in childbirth (Russian popular tradition) and comfort in temptation and sorrow.

What is St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions the patron saint of?

St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions is the patron of prisoners and captives, the unjustly imprisoned, those who visit and care for prisoners, healers and expectant mothers (Russian tradition).

What does St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions protect from?

St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions protects from poisoning, from spells and sorcery, prisoners from despair and from unjust condemnation.

Whose name day is on a feast of St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions?

The name day of Anastasia, Nastasia and Nastya.

Sources

OCA: Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Poisons (read 14 October 2026)
Азбука веры: Великомученица Анастасия Узорешительница (read 14 October 2026)
Азбука веры: Молитва великомученице Анастасии Узорешительнице (read 14 October 2026)
John Sanidopoulos: Why is Saint Anastasia Known as the Deliverer From Potions? (read 14 October 2026)
Calend.ru: Настасьин день (read 14 October 2026)