ABSTRACT
Magundat-Anastasius, one of the last Christian martyrs in the Sasanian empire, 1 was executed by order of the shah Chosroes II on 22 January 628. 2 His biographer reports that the holy martyr at the time of his execution rendered thanks to God that his desire to suffer martyrdom for the sake of Christ was now fulfilled. 3 The seeds of his wish to become a martyr for Christianity were, in fact, already sown before his baptism. After his desertion from the Persian army, Magundat found shelter with a Persian Christian goldsmith in Hierapolis (Mabbug). 4 In this town he visited the Christian churches, where he saw the pictures of the holy martyrs, 5 and, having been informed about the meaning of these representations, Magundat's interest in these holy men was aroused. 6 Later on, after having received baptism in Jerusalem and having entered the monastery of Anastasius to the north of the Holy City, 7 Magundat, now called Anastasius, read the Lives of the holy martyrs of the Church and began secretly to cherish the desire to become likewise a martyr for Christ. 8 Just how this wish of Anastasius was realized, forms the subject of the account given by his biographer.
