The Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!." The Archangel Gabriel had also announced the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias the Priest (Luke 1:11-22).
As much as we experience great joy and gladness
for his annunciation, we should also rejoice in his feast and
pray intently with supplications, asking his intercession before
God, to deliver us from evil and to grant us salvation from our
sins.
He devoted much of his attention to the churches and he ordained bishops and priests to fill the vacant posts. He built several churches and regained the ones that were being taken over by the Melkites (those who were appointed by the Roman Emperor), for he was loved by them because of his knowledge, his virtues and his righteousness. He brought many of them back to the Orthodox faith.
When the Emperor of Constantinople died, a few wicked people spoke evil of the Pope to his successor, telling him that the Pope had excommunicated the Emperor and his household. The Emperor was exceedingly angry and sent for the Governor of Alexandria commanding him to take the church of St. Cosmas and St. Damian and all its possessions and give it to Abba Ologius, the Roman Patriarch.
St. Anastasius was exceedingly sad but the Lord comforted him. Peter the heretic, Bishop of Antioch, died and a well learnt saintly monk called Athanasius was ordained Pope in his place and he renewed the union between the Church of Antioch and the Church of Alexandria, He wrote an article stating in it his Orthodox faith and sent it to St. Anastasius who rejoiced with all the bishops and the priests who were with him when he read it.
Abba Anastasius wrote back to Abba Athanasius indicating his desire to meet him. Abba Athanasius went to Alexandria with his bishops and priests to meet Abba Anastasius. At that time Abba Anastasius was in one of the monasteries of "Scetis." He departed to Alexandria and went directly to the port with the bishops and priests to receive and welcome him to Alexandria with great respect and honor.
They held a council together in one of the monasteries that was at the sea coast, and the council lasted one month, discussing the doctrines of the Church. Then, the Patriarch of Antioch went back to his See in peace.
St. Anastasius continued to teach his flock in person and through his books. He was able to write a book every year because of his great knowledge. He remained on his throne for twelve years, six months and ten days. During this period he wrote twelve books and gave them the Coptic Alphabet as titles. His first book was entitled the Coptic Alpha, his second was the Coptic Betta and so on. He departed in peace.