St Philip the Apostle

St. Philip the Apostle Feast Day and Greek Name Day

St. Philip the Apostle is honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ who helped spread the Christian faith after the Resurrection. His feast day is celebrated on November 14, and on this day people named Philip, Filippos, Filipos, Phil, and Philippe, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Was St. Philip the Apostle

St. Philip the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus Christ during His ministry. He was originally from Bethsaida in Galilee, the same town as the apostles Peter and Andrew.

Philip is known for immediately recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and inviting others to follow Him.

A Disciple Who Brought Others to Christ

In the Gospel of John, Philip is remembered for bringing Nathanael to Jesus, telling him that they had found the one spoken of by Moses and the prophets.

Throughout the Gospel accounts, Philip appears as a disciple who sought deeper understanding and encouraged others to encounter Christ.

Missionary Work

According to Christian tradition, after the Resurrection and Pentecost, St. Philip traveled widely to preach the Gospel.

Many traditions state that he carried the Christian message to regions of Asia Minor, where he helped establish early Christian communities.

Greek Name Day for Philip

Because St. Philip the Apostle is commemorated on November 14, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Philip

Filippos

Filipos

Phil

Philippe

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When St. Philip the Apostle Is Celebrated

The feast of St. Philip the Apostle is observed each year on November 14 in the Greek Orthodox Church. The day commemorates one of Christ’s apostles who helped spread the teachings of Christianity in the early Church.