Greek Saints & Feast Days

A Greek name day is the day associated with the feast of a saint or religious figure after whom a person is named. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, many days of the year commemorate saints and martyrs, and people who share their names traditionally celebrate on the corresponding feast day. Name days remain an important part of Greek religious and cultural tradition.

How do I find out when a Greek name day is celebrated?

To find a Greek name day, search for the person's Greek first name and the saint or feast associated with it. Many Greek names have a specific date every year, while others are connected to movable Orthodox feast days. Some names may also be associated with more than one saint, meaning the traditional name day can vary.

What is the difference between a saint's feast day and a Greek name day?

A saint's feast day is the date on the Orthodox calendar when the Church commemorates a particular saint. A Greek name day is the personal celebration of people named after that saint. For example, Saints Constantine and Helen are commemorated on May 21, which is also a traditional name day for people named Konstantinos, Konstantina, Eleni and related forms.

Do Greek name days fall on the same date every year?

Many Greek Orthodox name days are celebrated on a fixed date every year, but some change because they are connected to Orthodox Easter or another movable feast. For example, the celebration of Saint George is normally April 23 but can be transferred when April 23 falls before Orthodox Easter. For movable name days, the date should be checked for the specific year.

What do you say to someone celebrating a Greek name day?

The most common Greek name day greeting is “Chronia Polla” (Χρόνια Πολλά), which literally means “many years” and is used to wish someone well. Friends and family commonly call, message or visit someone celebrating their name day, and the phrase is also widely used for birthdays and major holidays in Greece.