St. Anastasia’s feast day is December 25. In 2026 it falls on Friday. Anastasia of Sirmium was burned on Chrismas or nearby under Diocletian after healing ministry to prisoners. Rome's second Mass at dawn on December 25 venerates her while the world opens gifts. She is called Deliverer from Potions for aid against poison.
If you searched St. Anastasia feast day, St. Anastasia, St. Anastasia Dec 25, this is the 2026 feast-day guide: the life, the doctrine this memorial is for, the liturgy, and what Catholics actually do today. St. Anastasia is remembered as early Christian martyr known as "Deliverer from Potions" for her healing ministry. Patronage listed here: Martyrs, Weavers, Against Poison. Roman martyr honored at second Mass of Christmas Day. The standing biography remains at St. Anastasia — that URL is unchanged.
December 25 is the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord; St. Anastasia's memorial is commemorated within Christmas liturgy, not instead of it.
Pray with the Church: Catholic prayers · Daily Bible verse · Catholic calendar · Saint of the Day.
When Is St. Anastasia’s Feast Day?
December 25 every year. In 2026 that is Friday, December 25. Liturgical rank on this guide: Memorial. It is not a holy day of obligation in the United States. If the date is a Sunday, the Sunday celebration normally takes precedence at Mass; keep the saint in the Liturgy of the Hours, in a votive Mass where allowed, or in family prayer.
People mix this date with other observances. Keep them straight:
| What you searched | The date | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| St. Anastasia feast day | December 25 (Friday in 2026) | Memorial — this guide |
| Christmas | December 25 | Solemnity of the Nativity — Christmas guide |
A collect you can use today asks that we follow St. Anastasia as roman martyr honored at second Mass of Christmas Day — not as a slogan, as a life.
Who Was St. Anastasia?
Anastasia flourished in the late third century, married to a pagan but secretly Christian. She visited Christian prisoners in Rome and became patron of those suffering under persecution. Martyred at Sirmium in Pannonia, traditionally burned alive about 304.
Her name appears in the Roman Canon and the second Christmas Mass at St. Peter's. Feast December 25 shares the day with the Nativity.
During the persecutions of Diocletian, Anastasia visited the prisons and cared for the confessors of faith. She would feed, doctor and ransom suffering captives, showing great courage and compassion in the face of danger. Anastasia's servant informed Publius of her activities; he locked her up and beat her, but her faith remained unshaken.
Anastasia began secretly corresponding with her adviser, St. Chrysogonus, who had gone to Aquileia. He told her to be brave, be patient and accept the Lord's will. After the death of her husband while he was on embassy to Persia, Anastasia distributed her property to those less fortunate and suffering, demonstrating her complete dedication to serving others.
On December 25 the Church is not archiving a celebrity. She is putting St. Anastasia in front of you as roman martyr honored at second Mass of Christmas Day. Read the dates. Then pray. The standing biography remains at St. Anastasia — life, legacy, and feast. That URL is unchanged.
The Martyr Named at Dawn Mass on Christmas
St. Anastasia is remembered as Roman martyr honored at second Mass of Christmas Day. Christmas joy includes memory of blood shed the same season.
Anastasia of Sirmium was burned on Chrismas or nearby under Diocletian after healing ministry to prisoners. Rome's second Mass at dawn on December 25 venerates her while the world opens gifts. She is called Deliverer from Potions for aid against poison.
Anastasia's charity to prisoners extends Incarnation to the jailed. This is not a private hobby of specialists. It is why the calendar still names December 25.
On this feast the Church is not only telling a story; she is keeping a school. Nine days later, Anastasia visited the sisters just before they were tortured. After they were martyred, Anastasia buried them, showing her devotion to honoring the memory of those who gave their lives for Christ. Anastasia spent her time traveling from city to city caring for Christian prisoners. She healed their wounds and relieved their pain, earning her the title "Deliverer from Potions," because she would often heal many from the effects of poisons and potions.
Prisoners, Poison, and the Second Mass of the Nativity
Patronage listed on this site: Martyrs, Weavers, Against Poison. Patronage is a relationship of prayer, not a charm. Ask St. Anastasia, then do the next just thing.
St. Anastasia is remembered as early Christian martyr known as "Deliverer from Potions" for her healing ministry. Category on our saints index: Martyr Saints. That label is a door, not a cage — martyrs teach the baptized, doctors teach the simple, virgins teach the married.
Anastasia was arrested in Illyricum and taken to the prefect of the district for being Christian. He tried to persuade her to deny her faith and threatened her with torture. Anastasia could not be swayed, so she was given to the pagan priest Ulpian in Rome. He presented her with the choice between riches or suffering, luxuries or torture devices. She chose torture, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to Christ.
He gave her three days to reconsider. Enamored by her beauty, Ulpian decided he would defile her purity. However, once he went to touch her he was struck blind and his head burst into extreme pain. On his way to his pagan temple, he fell and died. St. Anastasia, now free, set out to care for imprisoned Christians, along with Theodota, a pious young widow and faithful helper. After Theodota was martyred, Anastasia was caught once again.
If you only have five minutes, skip the folklore and keep the sentence: St. Anastasia, pray for us. Then open Matthew 2 and read until you hit a line you can obey today.
Her name appears in the Roman Canon and the second Christmas Mass at St. Peter's. Feast December 25 shares the day with the Nativity. You do not have to travel to keep December 25. The calendar brings the shrine to the parish and the parish to the table.
What This Feast Is Not
Anastasia is not a rival to Christmas. She is named at the dawn Mass so that the Nativity includes a martyr who visited prisoners. Do not skip the solemnity to “keep her instead.”
If you searched St. Anastasia today, keep roman martyr honored at second Mass of Christmas Day. Skip the souvenir version. The 2026 work is still Mass if you can, Scripture, and one mercy that costs you.
Scripture for December 25
These chapters are not random captions. They are the Bible this witness still opens. Read in the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible. One chapter prayed is enough; three is a feast.
- Matthew 2 — Read this chapter as the Scripture the memorial is for, not as a caption. Christmas joy includes memory of blood shed the same season.
- Hebrews 13 — Read this chapter as the Scripture the memorial is for, not as a caption. Christmas joy includes memory of blood shed the same season.
- Revelation 7 — Read this chapter as the Scripture the memorial is for, not as a caption. Christmas joy includes memory of blood shed the same season.
How to Celebrate December 25, 2026
- Go to Mass — Go to Mass if your parish keeps the memorial of St. Anastasia. Obligatory memorials are kept on weekdays unless a higher rank takes the day. If the parish uses another Mass, add a private collect.
- Read the biography at St. Anastasia so this page does not replace the vita.
- Attend or watch the dawn Mass of Christmas and remember Anastasia's name in the prayers.
- Visit or support ministry to prisoners during the Christmas octave.
- Pray one chapter of Matthew 2 in the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible.
- Say the invocation. Out loud: St. Anastasia, pray for us. Once is enough if you mean it.
If you cannot do six things, do the invocation and one merciful act. St. Anastasia’s whole spirituality can fit in a kitchen before midnight.
Readings and the Prayer of the Church
When this memorial is kept, the Missal ordinarily allows the Common of Martyrs. At home, pray the chapters listed above — especially Matthew 2 — then this collect. At Mass, use the official texts, not a blog’s paraphrase.
Collect. O God, who gave your Church St. Anastasia as Roman martyr honored at second Mass of Christmas Day, grant that we may learn from this feast how christmas joy includes memory of blood shed the same season. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The English collect of a memorial, when the Missal provides one, will be more exact than this home prayer. Use both if you need them. Trust and charity in act — not a slogan.
A Prayer You Can Use Today
"O glorious St. Anastasia, early Christian martyr and Deliverer from Potions, who with courage and compassion cared for prisoners and healed the suffering, help us to be brave in our faith and generous in our service to others. Through your intercession, may we have the strength to face persecution with courage, the compassion to care for those in need, and the trust in God's protection that you demonstrated throughout your life. Help us to be faithful witnesses of Christ's love and healing power. Amen."
Frequently Asked Questions
When is St. Anastasia’s feast day in 2026?
Friday, December 25, 2026. The calendar date is fixed; the weekday changes each year.
Is this a holy day of obligation?
No. In the United States this memorial does not bind like Christmas or the Immaculate Conception. Come to Mass if you can. Do not invent a precept the bishops have not given.
What is St. Anastasia the patron of?
Martyrs, Weavers, Against Poison. Patronage is a relationship of prayer, not a charm and not a substitute for the sacraments. Ask, then act.
How do you pray on this feast day?
Mass if you can, one chapter of Scripture, one concrete mercy, and the words St. Anastasia, pray for us. Details are in the list above.
Why does the Church keep St. Anastasia at all?
Because roman martyr honored at second Mass of Christmas Day is still medicine. Christmas joy includes memory of blood shed the same season. The calendar is a school, not a museum.
What should I avoid treating this feast as?
Anastasia is not a rival to Christmas. She is named at the dawn Mass so that the Nativity includes a martyr who visited prisoners. Do not skip the solemnity to “keep her instead.”
What is the difference between this guide and the saint page?
This page is the 2026 feast-day article — date, liturgy, how to keep today, FAQ. /saints/st-anastasia/ is the standing biography. Neither URL has been renamed.
Related pages on Catholic Bible Online
- St. Anastasia — life and legacy
- Christmas Nativity December 25 guide
- Saints directory · Saint of the Day
- Catholic calendar · Catholic Bible (Douay-Rheims)
- Prayers · Daily Bible verse
Keep the Day
The Church names December 25 so that St. Anastasia can still teach. Pray. Read. Do one merciful act before midnight. Trust is a decision, not a mood.
St. Anastasia, pray for us.
Read: biography · Matthew 2 · more saints