As you welcome and admire the new altar for our church, I thought it would be interesting to appreciate some of the elements that went into the design by Willy Malarcher. After he received the commission for an altar in St. Anastasia Church, he did some research on the life of Anastasia.

Anastasia is a martyr who died around 304 and is honored with a special commemoration in the second Mass on Christmas Day. She is also included in the Roman Canon of the Mass, although she was not venerated in Rome until the end of the fifth century. Probably a native Sirmium, a part of modern Hungary and Yugoslavia, she was martyred during the persecutions initiated by Emperor Diocletian who reigned from 284-305. Tradition states that she was the daughter of Praextatus , a noble Roman. She married a pagan named Pubis who died while on a mission to Persia (now Iran). As a widow Anastasia cared for the Christians who were enduring persecutions. She herself was eventually arrested. On a ship with other prisoners, Anastasia was miraculously saved from drowning by St. Theodata. The prisoners, including Anastasia, landed on the island of Palmiria where they were burned to death. She was made patroness of a basilica in Rome in the sixth century and her Feast Day is December 25. Her life influenced the altar design in various ways. Since Anastasia was from Eastern Europe, the design is related to early eastern Mediterranean /Romanian pattern and form. The 2009 altar design is based on eastern pattern geometry — a circle in a square, in a square. This leads to the octagonal support columns. A threedimensional element is developed and accented with polished metal. The top of the altar, the mensa, is an inlaid cruciform, booked pattern.

Anastasia was a martyr for the Faith so there are faith elements in the design. There are four column supports which are symbolic of the four Evangelists. Each column is divided into three sections which are symbolic of the Trinity. The altar top is in cherry wood to relate to the reserved Eucharistic setting as well as the wood sculpture of the Blessed Mother with the Christ Child which was executed for St. Anastasia by Alain Legros in France. It also relates to the cabinet work of this devotional shrine. Cherry wood has been combined with black lacquer elements. Polished bronze triangles accent the corners of the base supports.

Design by Willy Malarcher

Wood fabrication by Clint Woolery

Bronze by Summit Brass and Bronze

We thank these persons who crafted this beautiful altar which will be the center of our worship space. May it enhance our worship and call us to joyfully gather around the Table of the Lord as the parish family of St. Anastasia.