Saint of the Day – 26 August – Saint Anastasius (Died c304) the Fuller or Laundery man,Martyr . Born in Aquileia, Italy and died in Salona in modern Croatia, by being drowned with a stone around his neck during the persecutions of Diocletian in c304. Patronages – of Fulles and Weavers.
Also known as – Anastasius of Salona, Anastasius of Lavandaio, Anastasio…
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Split in Dalmatia, in present-day Croatia, Saint Anastasius the Fuller, Martyr.”
In the Martyrology of St Jerome,Anastasius is commemorated on 26 August with the title of Fuller (Laundery man). In the Roman Martyrology, however, an Anastasius Military Officer) is commemorated on 21 August and an Anastasius of Aquileia on 7 September. These last two names come from a legendary Passio and were introduced into the Martyrology by Adonis.
In reality, there is only one Martyr, Anastasius and precisely the one dated today, 26 August.
According to the Passio, the Author claims to have composed it based on oral tradition but not to be completely disregarded, Anastasius was originally from Aquileia. During the Diocletianic persecution, he was in Salona, where he was arrested and condemned to be thrown into the sea with a stone around his neck. The Matron Asclepia had him buried outside Salona in a splendid two-story mausoleum, around which the Marusinac cemetery grew and which was included in a Sanctuary at the end of the 4th Century. Pope John IV (640-642) had his Relics transported to Rome, along with those of other Dalmatian Saints and placed them in the Chapel of St Venantius near the Lateran Baptistery, where the Martyr is depicted in the splendid mosaic located there.
AnaStpaul 