St. Anastasius the Fuller

St. Anastasius the Fuller (died c. 304) was a Christian layman of Aquileia in northern Italy who worked at the trade of a fuller, cleaning and finishing cloth. During the persecution of Diocletian he moved to Salona, the chief city of Roman Dalmatia, on the coast of present-day Croatia. There, according to tradition, he boldly painted a cross on the door of his workshop and openly professed his faith, refusing to conceal his allegiance to Christ.

Denounced for this fearless witness, he was arrested and put to death, drowned in the sea with a millstone tied around his neck. His body was recovered and honored by a devout matron, and his relics were venerated at Salona and later at nearby Split, where the cathedral — set within the mausoleum of the very emperor who had persecuted him — came to hold his memory. He is honored as one of the martyrs of Dalmatia and a patron of fullers and weavers.