St. Anastasia, Protectress from Poisons, Patroness of Weavers

Here is the finished painting of St. Anastasia:

 

 Saint Anastasia was an early Christian martyr known as a deliverer from poisons, exorcist, and patroness of weavers. This is a painting devoted to her and full of symbolism. The birds are golden weavers because she is the patroness of weavers. In the background, flanking the apothecary cabinet are angel trumpets and foxglove, both very poisonous plants, because she is a deliverer from poisons.

The top of the apothecary cabinet is inscribed with the Latin "Satana Ipse Venina Bibas" which translates into "Satan, take the poison yourself." because she is a noted exorcist. The apothecary cabinet is filled with nine herbs- mugwort, plantain, betony, chamomile, nettle, crab apple, chervil, and fennel- because those are the nine plants named in the ancient Anglo-Saxon nine herb charm that was supposed to be a powerful antidote against poisons, mainly snake venom. In the corner of the apothecary cabinet is the golden weaver bird's nest.

There is a frog at the base of the left potted foxglove, very often thought in medieval time to be venomous, and inhabiting areas of unhealthful miasmas. The saint's dress in raveling and the thread is tangled up in a witch bottle. A bottle with tangled string is called a witch bottle, it is a labyrinth in brief, and if you put a witch bottle outside your home, it was thought to confuse witches and other evil entities and prevent them from coming into your home. Next to the witch bottle is a drop spindle, another sign of the weaver. On the right side corner of the painting is a jar of bezoars, supposed to have great medicinal value in the middle ages. An amphibaena is brought to heel at her hand, the amphisbaena anciently believed to be a reptile with a head at either end of it's body which can poison by it's eyes.

Amongst all these symbols of ancient to medieval wonder and miracle, Saint Anastasia sits offering the apple, the symbol of knowledge, freedom from superstition and folklore, but also a symbol of the fall from grace and of our mortality.

This is an original painting, approximately 8" x 10". Painted and signed by Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler. The black borders and "My Good Babushka" watermark are not on the actual painting. 

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St. Anastasia, Patroness of Weavers, Protectress against Poisons

I've finished my herbs on the shelf for my Anglo-Saxon nine herbs charm, an ancient medicine against venom, with the final additions of chervil and fennel. In the right corner of the second shelf is a golden weaver's nest. the hem of her dress is unraveling and the tangled bit of thread is enclosed in a witch bottle. A witch bottle is a labyrinth in miniature and it is said that evil will get lost amongst the convoluted paths of the thread. Witch bottles were hung outside of houses to ward off bad spirits. Next to the witch bottle is a drop spindle, another sign of the weaver. And at the base of the potted  foxglove on the left is a frog, which were thought to be venomous and to inhabit areas of unhealthful miasmas, like swamps.

St. Anastasia, Patroness of Weavers, Protectress from Poisons

Continuing to put my nine herbs from the Anglo-Saxon nine herbs charm into the apothecary cabinet, I've added chamomile to the top right, then underneath I've added nettles and crab apple. Flanking the apothecary cabinet are angel trumpets and foxglove, both noted for their poisonous properties. In the air are golden weaver birds because St. Anastasia is the patroness of weaver. She was also a noted exorcist, so her apothecary cabinet says "Satana Ipse Venina Bibas" or "Satan, take the poison yourself."

St Anastasia

St. Anastasia was a deliverer from poisons and potions, so in her apothecary cabinet I'm putting the nine herbs from the ancient Anglo-Saxon nine herbs charm that was thought to be an antidote for poison, especially venomous bits. So far I've gotten mugwort, plantain, watercress, and betony into their jars.

St. Anastasia Protectress Against Poisons, Patroness of Weavers

In my portrait of St. Anastasia, so far, I have golden weaver birds because she is the patron saint of weavers. She was an exorcist, so her apothecary cabinet says "Satana, Ipse Venina Bibas" translated- "Satan, Take the Poison Yourself". The first two herbs in the jars on the shelf are mugwort and plantain, the first two herbs of the ancient Anglo-Saxon nine herb charm that was an antidote for snake poisoning. Growing in the background are to angel trumpet plants, very toxic, highly poisonous plants that remain under her watchful care.

St. Anastasia Patroness of Weavers and Protectress from Poisons

Because St. Anastasia is a Patroness of Weavers, I've begun my painting with some golden weaver birds. St. Anastasia was also an exorcist, so on her apothecary cabinet is inscribed the Latin phrase "Satana Ipse Venina Bibas" which translates to "Satan, take the poison yourself."

Saint Anastasia Protectress Against Poisons and Patroness of Weavers

This is my painting of Saint Anastasia, a Christian saint and martyr who died at Sirmium. She is a healer and an exorcist. Her relics lie at the Cathedral of St. Anastasia in Zadar, Croatia. There will be much to describe in this painting. I hope to explain it bit by bit as I proceed.