St. Anastasia lived in Constantinople and came from an aristocratic family. The pious Patrician was for many a model of virtue and was highly respected by Emperor Justinian (527-565). Having been widowed early, Anastasia decided to leave the world and save her soul away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. She secretly left Constantinople and went to Alexandria. She founded a small monastery near the city and devoted herself entirely to God.
A few years later, Emperor Justinian became a widow and decided to find Anastasia in order to marry her. Upon learning of this, Blessed Anastasia immediately went to a distant hermitage to Abba Daniel (March 18) for help. To save Anastasia, the elder dressed her in male monastic clothes and called her Anastasia the eunuch. Having settled her in one of the most remote caves, the elder gave her a prayer rule and ordered her never to leave the cave and not to receive anyone. Only one monk knew this place: he was in the habit of bringing a small loaf of bread and a jug of water to the cave once a week, leaving them at the entrance. Saint Anastasia lived in such strict seclusion for twenty-eight years. Everyone believed that the eunuch Anastasius labored in the cave.
The Lord revealed to the blessed one the day of her death. When she learned of her impending death, she wrote a few words about it to Abba Daniel on a shard and placed it at the entrance to the cave. The elder soon came and brought everything necessary for her burial. He found the holy ascetic already at death, confessed and gave communion to the Holy Mysteries. At the request of the Abba, Blessed Anastasia blessed him and the monk who accompanied him. With words: "Lord, into Your hands I commit my spirit," the saint died quietly (+ c. 567-568).
When the grave was ready, the elder gave his disciple his robe and ordered him to dress his deceased brother. While putting on his cassock, the monk realized that she was a woman, but he did not dare to say anything. When, after burying the monk, they returned to their monastery, the disciple asked the abba if he knew that the imaginary brother was a woman, and the elder told the young monk the story of St. Anastasia. Later, the elder's story was recorded and became widely known.
The relics of St. Anastasia were transferred to Constantinople in 1200 and laid near the Church of St. Sophia.