Sts Perpetua and Felicity

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity Feast Day and Greek Name Day

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity are honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as early Christian martyrs remembered for their courage and steadfast faith during persecution in the Roman Empire. Their feast day is celebrated on March 7, and on this day people named Perpetua and Felicity, among other variations celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Were Sts. Perpetua and Felicity

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity lived during the early 3rd century and were among a group of Christians persecuted in Carthage in North Africa during the reign of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus.

Perpetua was a young noblewoman and new mother, while Felicity was a servant who was also expecting a child at the time of their imprisonment. Despite their different social backgrounds, the two women shared a deep commitment to the Christian faith.

Imprisonment for Their Faith

Both women were arrested for openly practicing Christianity during a time when Christians were required to renounce their faith and offer sacrifices to Roman gods.

Even under pressure from authorities and family members, Perpetua refused to deny her beliefs. Felicity also remained steadfast in her faith despite the danger she faced.

Martyrdom in Carthage

According to early Christian accounts, the group of Christians including Perpetua and Felicity were eventually sentenced to death in the arena. Their courage and devotion became widely known among early Christians, and their story was preserved as one of the most powerful testimonies of early Christian martyrdom.

Their sacrifice made them two of the most well known female martyrs of the early Church.

Greek Name Day for Perpetua and Felicity

Because Sts. Perpetua and Felicity are commemorated on March 7, this date is also the Greek name day for:

PerpetuaFelicity

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

When Sts. Perpetua and Felicity Are Celebrated

The feast day of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity is observed each year on March 7 in the Orthodox Christian Church. They are remembered for their courage, faith, and unwavering devotion to Christianity during one of the early periods of persecution.