This work presents the only full translation of the original manuscript of The Life of Saint Annasimone.
Her upbringing
Anasimon was an only child. She was raised like a royal princess, and when she was seven years old, her father brought her a chaste, virtuous priest and philosopher, to teach her writing, reading, and the fear of God.
This pure teacher devoted himself to nurturing holiness within the soul of his little student, often reading to her stories about the pure saints, the hermits, the monks, the pilgrims, the heroic fathers, and the miracles they had performed by the power of God, such as raising the dead, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Thus, she longed to have her own place among the saints, so she persisted in reading their biographies and meditated upon their lives with the focused devotion of a jeweller carefully examining a precious gem.
Her struggle to fulfil her desire to pursue monasticism
Her study of the lives of the saints had a clear impact on her lifestyle. She cast aside the adornment and clothing of royals, and secretly took under her robe a garment of coarse wool. She ate nothing except dry bread and salt, devoting herself to fasting, prayer, and vigils, quietly abstaining from the pleasures of food, without anyone knowing. She longed to go to the monastery.
Anasimon was attentive, taking care to constantly pray, day and night. She gave away in charity whatever food she received, living an ascetic life even while in her father’s palace. She was filled with sadness, often weeping and raising her eyes to the sky while saying, “O Lord, You know the secrets of hearts. Make easy for me the path I must follow in obedience to You and in pleasing You.”
It is worth noting her vigilance in sincere worship even while living in the palace. Perhaps her generous acts of charity were pleasing sacrifices, offered to God in a manner similar to what was said of Cornelius: “your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” (Acts 10:4)
The passing of the queen mother and the king
The subjects were deeply saddened by their passing, especially because of the queen’s piety and righteousness. It is no wonder that the death of the virtuous queen, whose life was fragrant and full of mercy, brought sorrow throughout the kingdom. The king followed his wife to the grave before a month had passed.
Soon after, the nobles of the kingdom gathered and, against her will, crowned Anasimon as queen over seven provinces. The patriarch placed the crown on her head and blessed her. This moved the people deeply, and they all shouted and cheered, saying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” A joy and happiness unseen for many years filled the land.
Queen Anasimon
She bestowed gifts upon her ladies-in-waiting (bridesmaids), blessings upon the needy, and cared for hospitals, struggling monasteries, the poor, the widows, and the orphans. She continued to practice fasting, prayer, and constant vigil, just as she had before, and she remained steadfast in this way of life for an entire year.
One night, she was alone with herself and said, “Anasimon, God has granted your desires and fulfilled your will. So why do you remain in the world? Don’t you know that the world is vanity, and everything in it is the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life and that the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God remains forever? Do you not realise, my soul, that there are many obstacles to good thoughts and to receiving grace within it? If you seek the Kingdom of Heaven, the great Kingdom that will not pass away, cannot be destroyed, and will never end, then now is your time. The Lord Christ, to whom be glory, has given you time, place, and ability, for you are in the prime of youth and freedom, able to go and move as you will. You now have the strength to pursue your holy desires.
Oh my soul do not be deceived by the adornments of the world. O my soul, do not be deceived by the world’s glitter and glow. Do not let its charms and false bliss mislead you, for the world has no permanence, it is fleeting. O my soul, do not abandon the everlasting blessing of the Kingdom of Heaven. Did you not hear the words of the Lord Jesus in the Holy Gospel: "Everyone who does not carry his cross and follow me is not worthy of me?” So she put the words into action: she removed the crown of the kingdom and said, “For the sake of Your love, O my Lord and my God, Jesus Christ, I reject the kingdom of this mortal world. If I work as a woman, then You, as God, will work with me, for You are able to fulfil Your true promises.”
Then she took off the crown and, with great joy, said, “O my Lord Jesus, I gave this up for Your love.”
She left the royal robe on the throne and wrote a letter to the patriarch, asking him to administer the kingdom as the Lord Christ would guide him. In her letter, she wrote: “Before the face of my Lord Jesus Christ, I bid farewell to the kingdom I inherited from my fathers and grandfathers, leaving it for the sake of His great love.”
Then she took a small book containing stories of the monks. She dressed herself in torn garments from the kitchen, covered her head with a piece of cloth, and took neither shoes on her feet nor a staff in her hand. She made three prostrations in her bedroom, kissed the ground and bid it farewell, saying, “The Lord is with you from now until the fulfilment of the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.” She contemplated her palace and its beauty one last time, came to its door, knelt in three prostrations, kissed the earth, and said with Christ’s meekness: “Open to me, Lord, the door of Your mercy, before me, behind me, and all around me. For You know, O my Lord, that I am by nature a weak and poor woman, so be my help, O Lord, do not forsake me.”
It was a dark night. She signed the cross over her face and set out toward the wilderness, walking all night as the angel of the Lord watched over her. She did not know what land she was walking through, nor where she had reached. Still, she walked until the morning light rose. She encountered no one on her path and continued walking until the night’s dew and the heat of the sun met her. Her feet cracked open, and blood flowed from them, yet she walked on, joyfully praising God.
Her adversities while she was walking
And while she was walking, thoughts began to attack her, the enemy troubled her, and hunger tormented her. So she began to eat from the grass she found along the way, as she wandered in the wilderness day and night, not knowing how far she had traveled or where she had arrived.
Then she paused for a while and saw many wild beasts gathering around her, listening quietly to her praises and prayers before returning to their dens. Each beast brought its companions, showing a strange and peaceful submission to the saint. As for her, she thought to herself and said, “Woe to you, wretched and sorrowful soul, you left a kingdom over people and became queen of beasts!”
She began eating the pits of dates she came across, soaking them first in water she found in the wilderness. Then she began to reflect and said to herself: “I want to make myself as a madwoman, to go to some monasteries and serve in the most despised places, to strive, to suffer, to be humiliated and endure, to be rejected and remain patient, all for the sake of God.” Then she prayed, asking the Lord to grant her heart’s desire, if it was pleasing to His goodness and would lead to the salvation of her soul.
Armeus Monastery
She continued walking until our Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, guided her to the Armeus Monastery, where there were three hundred nuns. Saint Queen Anasimon arrived like a fugitive, whose mind was shaken, appearing as though she were mad.
The nun in charge of the monastery gate saw her and informed the mother superior. She and the other nuns came out, took hold of Anasimon, and brought her into the monastery. The mothers were astonished and amazed, and they said, “Let us leave this poor woman to serve in the monastery restrooms.” So she began to work as they instructed, pretending to be insane, doing strange things, and sleeping on the monastery’s garbage heap. She remained this way for some time.
Bishop Daniel, the hegumen of Shiheet
This prudent and venerable father—the spiritual guide of the wilderness—was praying and beseeching the Lord Christ, to reveal to him the ranks of the saintly fathers. The Lord granted his request and showed him their ranks. Then he heard a voice saying: “All of these have not reached the rank of Saint Anasimon, who gave up her kingdom and authority and made herself as one who is mad.”
So Bishop Daniel, accompanied by a disciple, went to the Monastery of Anba Armeus. When the disciple knocked on the monastery door, the nun in charge of the gate said, “Who are you? And what do you want?” The elder replied, “I would like to speak with the abbess.” She answered, “The Mother does not speak with anyone. Tell me what you need, and I will inform her.” He said, “Tell her, ‘Behold, a monk wishes to speak with you.’” So she went and summoned the abbess. When the abbess came to the door, she spoke to them through the gatekeeper nun. The disciple said, “Show an act of love and allow us to stay in the monastery tonight—me and my father—lest the wild beasts devour us.” She replied,“It is not our custom for a man to stay among us. It is better for you to be devoured by wild beasts than to be devoured by the inner hyenas—the devils, the true enemies.” When the disciple heard this, he said, “It is our father, Abba Daniel, who sent me to you.”
Upon hearing that it was Bishop Daniel, the hegumen of the desert, the saint and spiritual father, she immediately went out to the door, with the virgins running joyfully behind her, to greet the holy elder. The nuns rushed forward, bringing a bowl of water to wash the saint’s feet. After the washing was done, the virgins took the water and washed their faces with it, except for the sister known as Habila (meaning fool), who was lying by the door in very ragged, filthy clothing.
Bishop Daniel looked to the right and to the left, until he saw that saint, radiant with a luminous crown upon her head and clothed in a heavenly robe, but the other nuns saw nothing except her black, tattered garments.
Saint Anasimon revealed
She did not come to meet the Father of the Desert, nor did she pay attention to his words, despite the sisters’ urging her to approach him. The nuns said to Bishop Daniel, “Father, stay away from this lunatic sister.” The abbess added,“I even considered sending her out of the monastery, but I was afraid it might be a sin.” Then Bishop Daniel said, “Truly, I am the fool. I am the ignorant one. I am the poor one.” The mothers then brought food to Bishop Daniel, and he and his disciple stayed awake into the night, hoping to witness the virtues of the one they all called Habila.
After some time had passed, that sister rose in the darkness, lifted her hands to the sky, opened her mouth in prayers and praises, blessed the Holy God, and made many prostrations. Her tears flowed like a spring, driven by her great love and the fire of the Spirit that burned within her heart. This was her nightly practice, and whenever she sensed anyone nearby, she would throw herself to the ground and pretend to be asleep. This had been her way from the moment she entered the monastery.
Then Bishop Daniel said to his disciple,“Go quickly and call the Mother.” When the abbess came, she saw Anasimon, burning with spiritual fire, and behold, light was shining from her hands, and angels accompanied her in her prostration and standing. When the abbess saw this, she cried out, “Woe to me, I am a wretched sinner.”
Then she rang the monastery bell, and the sisters gathered. Bishop Daniel took hold of the saint and said to them, “Open your eyes and behold this pure, chosen, wondrous saint, the great queen.” Anasimon stood trembling as he continued,“This is Anasimon, ruler of seven provinces. This is she—of whom our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to me that even most of the fathers did not reach her level—for she left the gates of her palace open, desiring to be filled with the love of Jesus Christ, with all her heart, all her mind, and all her strength.” Then the abbess told the sisters what she herself had seen. So the nuns wept and threw themselves at her feet, saying, “Forgive us our sins, O our pure, noble, and great Lady.” And the sisters remained there, weeping until evening.
When Anasimon realized that her secret had been revealed, she wrote a note and hung it on the door of the monastery. In it was written: “I am wretched because of my misery, and the enemy’s stubborn opposition has driven me from your house and distanced me from your life-filled faces. Your insults toward me were a gain for my soul, and your weariness of me became a harvest I gathered each day.
Your detachment from me was a treasure, an account that grew richer with time. Blessed was the hour when it was said, ‘O Habila, you crazy woman.’ You are forgiven by me, and you are innocent of wrongdoing. And before you, and before the pulpit, I will stand to answer on your behalf—for my sake. Among you, there is no mocker, no one who chases after voices, nor clothing, nor fame—but you are all pure.”
Seeking to flee from false glory and fearing the praise of others, she left the monastery—and no one knew where she had gone.
A Priest of Alexandria visits the anchorites
This struggling and devout priest tells us that one day, while he was praying in the church, he smelled a sweet, fragrant scent coming from the Sanctuary. He said,“I thought an ember of fire had fallen into the incense tray, causing the fragrance to spread. So I hurried and opened the Sanctuary door, and there I saw someone standing and praying, with the doors closed.”
The priest continued,“I was overcome with trembling and fell face-down. But he took my hand, lifted me up, and said, ‘Do not be afraid.’ Then he called me by name, and my fear left me.” The mysterious man said to him, “Permit me, and give me a little flour and a little wine. I want to prepare an offering for four hundred brethren on Great Thursday.” The priest asked, “Where are these brethren?” But the man replied, “You don’t need to know where they are. Just give, and receive a blessing.” So the priest gave him what he asked for and pleaded, “For God’s sake, take me with you and show me these brethren.” The man answered, “You do not need to see them.” But the priest insisted, and finally, the man said, “On this day, wait for me here, and I will come and give you an answer.” When the appointed day came, and the fragrance again filled the church, the priest quickly rose and opened the door. He found the same man standing there, so he threw himself to the ground in prostration and said,
“Bless me, my master.” The man blessed him, helped him to his feet, and the priest kissed his hands and asked again about the brethren. The man replied, “They are praying for you.” Then the priest said, “Fulfill the promise you made to me.” But the man answered, “Not now. First, give me a blessing to take to the brethren for the offering of Great Thursday.” The priest did as he asked but was saddened by his departure. Seeing this, the man said,
“On this day and at this hour, prepare another blessing like this one and wait for me outside Alexandria. I will come to you by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then he took the offering and departed.
When the time came, the priest prepared the blessing and went outside the city. Suddenly, the man appeared, coming like lightning or a powerful wind, and the priest was filled with great fear. The man said, “Give me the blessing.” Then he asked, “Do you wish to see the brethren?” The priest answered, “Yes, Father, for the love of our Lord Jesus.” The man asked again, “Do you insist?” The priest replied, “Yes, my lord.” So the man said, “Put your clothes in order, and do not be frightened by what you will see.”
Then he held him tightly, signed the cross on his face, and told him to be strong. They walked three steps, and then, “I don’t know what happened to me or how I passed through. I could only hear the sound of a rushing river and the roaring of great seas. A powerful fear overtook me.” After some time, they arrived at a magnificently built monastery, radiant in beauty. The man took him into a church unlike any other in the world, and the brethren entered—one by one, two by two. The sight was marvelous. Because of their weakness, they looked like ghosts, and the priest was overwhelmed with awe at their appearance.
These struggle-mantled hermits prayed the liturgy, and I received communion among them. The father who brought me encouraged me to come forward and partake of the Body of the Lord Christ, the God of the Holy Ones. I saw an old man standing at the door of the Sanctuary, supported on either side by two others. Then the priest said to them, “Bless this priest who brings us the blessing.” They blessed me and said, “Prepare yourself, we are taking you back to your home and your church, for your people need you.” I pleaded, “Father, for God’s sake, let me stay here with the fathers.” He replied, “This is not possible. These four hundred brethren, no one joins them unless one of them departs. Then the Lord brings another to take their place. Their number will never increase or decrease.” Then I asked him, “Father, who is that old man being supported by the two brothers?”
He answered, “This is not a man, my brother. This is the pure, holy virgin Queen Anasimon, daughter of the Byzantine king. She inherited the kingdom after her father but left the gates of her palace open and returned in search of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no one in this wilderness today greater in age, higher in rank, or more elevated in spiritual stature than her. She is the saintly leader.”
I was amazed and asked, “How do these people find their livelihood?” He answered, “From the fruit of the trees and the plants of the earth.” “On Maundy Thursday, the blessed hermits gather to receive communion of the Holy Mysteries. They observe Good Friday and Great Saturday together, and on Resurrection Sunday they receive the Holy Body and the Precious Blood. Then they bless one another and depart and they do not see each other again for the rest of the year.” I was very surprised. Then he said to me, “Go to your land and your church.” I was saddened, and he said, “May our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you.”
After I had walked for a while, I became thirsty and fell to the ground. When I looked behind me, I saw that same man and I was filled with joy at his presence. He cut a green plant from the earth and said, “Eat this grass.” When I ate it, my hunger, thirst, and fatigue disappeared. Then he said to me, “Go to your house.” I didn’t know what had happened to me but suddenly, I found myself at the door of the church where I serve. Then he commanded me not to speak about what I had seen until the time of my passing. He blessed me, and then he departed.
The saint continued to visit the priest every year, receiving the blessing of wine and flour, until the time of the priest’s death drew near. This priest would often ask the hermit saint, during his visits, whether one of the hermit brethren had passed away, hoping he might be granted the chance to see them again. But the saint always told him, “It is not possible.”
May the blessings and prayers of the Great Queen Saint Anasimon be with us all and Glory be to God forever Amen.