Saints and their cults
Julia M. H. Smith
In 628, the Persians executed a Christian monk at Kirkuk. The death of Anastasius was minor episode in decades conflict between Byzantine and Sasanian empires, but his no ordinary fate. A Persian soldier who converted from Zoroastrianism to Christianity become near Jerusalem, had strengthened new identity by contemplating wall-paintings early martyrs, then set out seek hands former comrades. Three years after decapitation, fellow monks managed retrieve head, as they carried it back their Palestinian monastery, started working miracles. potent symbol triumph desperate times, when monastic community fled Rome fall Jerusalem Arabs 638, took head with them. There, accounts martyrdom miracles were soon rendered Greek into Latin. Taken England later seventh century, stories form Old English late ninth testimony popularity throughout medieval Christendom.
Cambridge University Press eBooks