Honorific Prefix: | Saint |
Anysia of Thessalonica | |
Birth Date: | 284 |
Death Date: | 304 |
Feast Day: | 30 December[1] |
Venerated In: | Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church |
Birth Place: | Thessalonica, Macedonia, Roman Empire |
Death Place: | Gate of Cassandra, Thessalonica, Macedonia, Roman Empire |
Titles: | Martyr |
Canonized Date: | Pre-Congregation |
Attributes: | Veil, cross |
Major Shrine: | Basilica of Saint Demetrios, Thessaloniki, ![]() |
Saint Anysia of Thessalonica (Greek: Άγία Άνυσία) was a Christian virgin and martyr of the 4th century. Anysia was born to a wealthy and pious Christian family in Thessalonica. She dedicated herself to vows of chastity and poverty, praying and helping the poor.
The legend of her martyrdom states that, in 304, a Roman soldier apprehended her as she was on her way to Mass. Discovering she was a Christian, he beat her, and intended to drag her to a pagan temple to sacrifice to Roman gods. When he tore off her veil (a reminder of her vow of chastity), she spat in his face, and he murdered her.[2]