Saint Anastasia the Patrician

Saint Anastasia the Patrician, also referred to as Anastasia Patricia, was a lady-in-waiting to the Byzantine empress. She later on left for Alexandria in Egypt.

She founded a monastery in Pempton. She then left for Scetis, looking for help from Abba Daniel, hegumen of the monastery at that time. She took up the life of a hermit at a time when this was only permitted of men. Abba Daniel visited her every week and ensured that one of his disciples supplied her with jugs of water. Anastasia dwelt in seclusion for twenty-eight years.

In 576, aware of her approaching death, she wrote several words for Abba Daniel on a piece of broken pottery and placed it at the entrance to the cave. The disciple found an ostracon with the words “Bring the spades and come here.” When Daniel heard this, he knew Anastasia was near death. He went to visit her with his disciple and to give her communion and hear her last words. Daniel revealed the full details of her story to his disciple after her death.