ear 621.

Anastasius was always the first at all spiritual duties, especially in
assisting at the celebration of the divine mysteries. His attention to
pious discourse testified the earnest thirst of his soul; nor was he
less fervent in practice. He never read the triumphs of the martyrs
without abundance of tears, and burned with an ardent desire of the like
happiness. Being molested beyond measure with blasphemous thoughts of
magic and superstitions, which his father had taught him, he was
delivered from that troublesome temptation by discovering it to his
director, and by his advice and prayers. After seven years spent in
great perfection in this monastery, his desire of martyrdom daily
increasing, and having been assured by a revelation, that his prayers
for that grace were heard, he left that house, and visited the places of
devotion in Palestine, at Diospolis, Garizim, and our Lady's church at
Caesarea, where he stayed two days. This city, with the greatest part of
Syria, was then subject to the Persians. The saint seeing certain
Persian soothsayers of the garrison occupied in their abominable
superstitions in the streets, boldly spoke to them, remonstrating
against the impiety of such practices. The Persian magistrates
apprehended him as a suspected spy; but he informed them that he once
enjoyed the dignity of Magian with them, and had renounced it to become
a humble follower of Christ. Upon this confession he was thrown into a
dungeon, where he lay three days without eating of drinking, till the
return of Marzabanes, the governor, to the city. Being interrogated by
him, he confessed his conversion to the faith, and equally despised his
offers of great preferments, and his threats of crucifying him.
Marzabanes commanded him to be chained by the foot to another criminal,
and his neck and one foot to be also linked together by a heavy chain,
and condemned him in this condition to carry stones. The Persians,
especially those of his own province of Rasech, and his former
acquaintance, upbraided him as the disgrace of his country, kicked and
beat him, plucked his beard, and loaded him with burdens above his
strength. The governor sent for him a second time, but could by no means
prevail with him to pronounce the impious words which the Magians used
in their superstitions: he said, "That the wilful calling them to
remembrance would defile the heart." The judge then threatened he would
write immediately to the king agai