Anna Kolesárová was born on July 14, 1928 at Vysoká nad Uhom to a Kolesárová peasant family. During World War II, Anna undertook the systematic care of her widowed father Ján and her younger brother.
In November 1944, following the Soviet Red Army occupation of Vysoká nad Uhom, the Kolesárová family sheltered in the family cellar.
On November 22, 1944, a Soviet Red Army soldier entered the Kolesárová cellar and attempted to rape Anna. Anna refused — famously declaring: 'Radšej zomriem, ako by som mala zhrešiť!' ('I would rather die than sin!').
The Soviet soldier shot Anna at point-blank range in the presence of her father Ján. Anna died with the words: 'Ježiš, Mária, sv. Jozef!' ('Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph!').
Beatified September 1, 2018 by Pope Francis at Košice — the first Slovak virgin-martyr beatified.