Saint Spas Strumishki

Anastasius of Strumica (Bulgarian: Spas Strumski (Solunski), Greek: Anastasios ek Voulgarias; 1774, Radovish, Strumica province — August 8 or 29, 1794, Thessaloniki) was an Eastern Orthodox saint venerated as a martyr. His feast day is celebrated according to the Julian calendar: on August 29 in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and on August 8 in the Church of Greece. Anastasius was an armorer (or a clothing merchant, according to Greek sources). At the age of 20, he traveled to Thessaloniki in search of work. The master to whom he was apprenticed instructed him to wear Turkish clothing to avoid the market tax levied on Christian merchants. Anastasius complied, but at the market, he was ordered to recite the Muslim profession of faith. He refused and was imprisoned. Anastasius was subjected to torture and subsequently sentenced to be hanged for "blaspheming Muhammad." The saint died from his injuries on the way to the place of execution.