Orthodox name day for the celebrant

01 What a name day is

For Orthodox Christians named after a saint, the name day is the feast day of that saint in the church calendar. A man named Nicholas observes his name day on December 6 (the feast of Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra). A woman named Catherine observes hers on November 25 (the feast of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr). The name day is observed as more spiritually significant than the secular birthday in the Orthodox tradition.

Some Orthodox Christians have more than one possible patron saint (Mary, John, Peter, Anna are examples). In those cases, the family or the priest chooses which feast is principal, normally the saint most venerated in the family's tradition or jurisdiction, or the saint of the parish where the celebrant was baptized.

02 How the name day is observed

A typical name-day observance includes attendance at Divine Liturgy on the day itself if the parish celebrates a Liturgy for the patron saint. Major saints' feasts (Saint Nicholas, Saint George, Saint Catherine, the Marian feasts) are normally celebrated with a Liturgy at the parish; for minor saints, the Liturgy may be celebrated on the nearest Sunday or not at all. After the Liturgy, the priest may give a special blessing to the celebrant.

At home, the family gathers for a meal. In many Greek Orthodox traditions, the celebrant hosts visitors who come throughout the day to wish them well; the tradition is sometimes called the "open house" name-day observance. Russian, Antiochian, Serbian, Romanian, and other Orthodox cultures have their own name-day customs, sometimes including specific foods or songs associated with the patron saint.

03 The relationship to the secular birthday

The Orthodox emphasis on the name day reflects a theological priority: the patron saint's presence in the celebrant's life across the years matters more than the calendar of physical birth. Many Orthodox families observe both the name day and the secular birthday; the name day carries the spiritual weight, the birthday the family-and-cultural celebration of the celebrant's life.

Some Orthodox families observe only the name day; some observe only the secular birthday; many observe both. The choice is the family's. Greek Orthodox practice tends to emphasize the name day; some other Orthodox cultures observe the secular birthday more prominently. In the wider American context where the secular birthday is the default, many Orthodox families incorporate the name day as an additional observance.

04 As a guest sending greetings

For guests, the customary observance is a brief greeting on the day, a card, and a small gift if the relationship warrants. The traditional greetings differ by Orthodox culture: "Chronia polla" (many years) in Greek; "S imeninami" (with name day) in Russian; corresponding forms in other Orthodox languages.

A small religious gift is conventional: an icon of the patron saint, a small cross, a prayer book, a piece of religious art related to the saint. Practical gifts are also appropriate. In some Orthodox cultures, particularly Greek, visiting the celebrant in person on the name day is a strong custom; the celebrant typically hosts visitors with sweets, coffee, or a meal.

05 Children's name days

Children's name days are often observed prominently in Orthodox families, sometimes more prominently than the secular birthday in earlier years. A small religious gift, attendance at Liturgy with the family on a major feast day, and a family meal at home are typical. The child grows up associating the name day with the patron saint who is the child's spiritual companion through life.

06 Common questions

07 Pastoral note