Vincent, the Deacon of Saragossa (†304)
Saint Vincent of Saragossa, also known as Vincent the Deacon, is one of the most renowned martyrs of the early Church. Born in Huesca, Spain, he was trained in the faith and holy virtues under the guidance of his bishop, Saint Valerius of Saragossa. Vincent’s natural eloquence and zeal for Christ earned him the position of deacon, and he was charged with preaching the Word of God.
During the Diocletian persecution, Vincent and Bishop Valerius were arrested and brought before the Roman governor Dacian. Though both were firm in their profession of faith, Dacian hoped to exploit the younger Vincent’s resolve. Valerius, being old and frail, was exiled, but Vincent, vigorous in body and spirit, was subjected to cruel tortures.
Tradition recounts that Vincent was stretched on a rack, his flesh torn with iron hooks, and burned with heated plates. Despite his agonizing suffering, Vincent remained steadfast, proclaiming Christ’s kingship and refusing to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. So unyielding was his faith that even the guards and onlookers were moved by his courage. After his death, his body was thrown to be devoured by wild beasts, but according to legend, ravens protected it until the Christians could bury him with honor. His relics were later enshrined, and his martyrdom became a source of inspiration for the faithful throughout Spain and beyond.
Vincent’s feast day is celebrated on January 22, and he is one of the patron saints of deacons, vine-dressers, and winemakers. He is particularly venerated in Spain and Portugal, where many churches bear his name.
Anastasius the Persian (†628)
Saint Anastasius the Persian, born Magundat, was the son of a Persian Magi and raised in the Zoroastrian faith. A soldier in the army of King Chosroes II, he was present at the Persian conquest of Jerusalem in 614, during which the True Cross was carried off to Persia. Deeply moved by the Christian faith and its mystery of the Cross, Magundat began to inquire about the teachings of Christ.
Renouncing his pagan religion and military service, he left Persia and traveled to Jerusalem, where he received catechetical instruction and was baptized, taking the name Anastasius (“resurrection”). Desiring to live a life of penance and prayer, he became a monk in a monastery near Jerusalem.
His newfound faith, however, brought him into conflict with the Persian authorities. Anastasius was arrested during one of his journeys and brought before the Persian ruler. Refusing to renounce Christ or return to Zoroastrianism, he was cruelly tortured over the course of several days. Finally, he was strangled to death and beheaded around the year 628. His body was thrown to the dogs, but it was miraculously preserved and later recovered by Christians.
Saint Anastasius’s relics were eventually enshrined in Rome, where they became a source of many miracles. His story was widely circulated in both the Eastern and Western Church, inspiring countless conversions. His feast day is observed on January 22 in the Western Church and January 11 in the Eastern Church.