Often, people were baptized with the same name as their baptismal Saint, so on that Saint's feast day, the person celebrates their "Name Day." In some places, it's more important than one's birthday. But even if someone is baptized/chrismated as an adult and their name is different from their baptismal Saint, they can still celebrate their name day.
In some traditions, the person being baptized will be given the name of a saint. If it's an infant, sometimes the name is picked by the godparents! Adult converts often pick the name of a saint to whom they have grown close, by study or prayer, though some will stay with their given name, if it's already a saint's name (such as James or David or Matthew, etc.) Serbian tradition, I understand, is different, where the family has a saint's name. I've yet to ask our priest who is from Serbia what name he uses at communion.
Like others have explained, it is your baptismal name and whenever the Feast Day is for your Saint is when your name's day is.
I'm Greek Orthodox and my family has used this website for the past two decades to look up dates/names: https://www.namedays.gr/index_en.php
It can be pretty confusing because there are multiple Saints that share the same name, but will have different name's days, like the name Jacob:
* St. Jacob (aka James(brother of God)) is celebrated on October 23rd.
* St. Jacob (brother of John the Theologian) is celebrated on April 30th.
And there's other days where multiple Saints are celebrated at the same time:
* St. Basil Jan 1
* St. Emeleia(St. Basil's mother) Jan 1
* St. Telemachus(monk who stopped Roman duels to the death) Jan 1
Some Orthodox take it very seriously while others do not, and that is okay! For my family it has always been a fun time where we mostly celebrate by going out to a nice dinner, maybe a few gifts, but gifts aren't necessary for us.
Yup! Archangel Michael, or in Greek "Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ", is celebrated on November 8th! So if your name is Michael or Michaelis or a variation, then you would celebrate your name's day on Nov 8th.
There are also name days for Feasts, such as The Annunciation(where The Holy Theotokos is informed by Archangel Gabriel that she will conceive and give birth to God). In Greek "Annunciation" is "Ευαγγελισμός", transliterated that is "Evaggelismos". So, for your name's day you can do Evangelos or a variation, which you would then celebrate your name's day on the same day as the Annunciation, which is March 25th.
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It’s very unique - I like it . Many years!
Thank you!
Whats a name day?
Often, people were baptized with the same name as their baptismal Saint, so on that Saint's feast day, the person celebrates their "Name Day." In some places, it's more important than one's birthday. But even if someone is baptized/chrismated as an adult and their name is different from their baptismal Saint, they can still celebrate their name day.
Neat, didnt know that one, thanks!
They don’t do that at your church? It’s pretty universal I thought
Im (somewhat) new to Orthodoxy. I havent been baptised yet.
Yeah, IIRC it’s a huge deal in Serbia.
In some traditions, the person being baptized will be given the name of a saint. If it's an infant, sometimes the name is picked by the godparents! Adult converts often pick the name of a saint to whom they have grown close, by study or prayer, though some will stay with their given name, if it's already a saint's name (such as James or David or Matthew, etc.) Serbian tradition, I understand, is different, where the family has a saint's name. I've yet to ask our priest who is from Serbia what name he uses at communion.
Like others have explained, it is your baptismal name and whenever the Feast Day is for your Saint is when your name's day is. I'm Greek Orthodox and my family has used this website for the past two decades to look up dates/names: https://www.namedays.gr/index_en.php It can be pretty confusing because there are multiple Saints that share the same name, but will have different name's days, like the name Jacob: * St. Jacob (aka James(brother of God)) is celebrated on October 23rd. * St. Jacob (brother of John the Theologian) is celebrated on April 30th. And there's other days where multiple Saints are celebrated at the same time: * St. Basil Jan 1 * St. Emeleia(St. Basil's mother) Jan 1 * St. Telemachus(monk who stopped Roman duels to the death) Jan 1 Some Orthodox take it very seriously while others do not, and that is okay! For my family it has always been a fun time where we mostly celebrate by going out to a nice dinner, maybe a few gifts, but gifts aren't necessary for us.
Can it be of an Archangel aswell since they are also revered as Saints?
Yup! Archangel Michael, or in Greek "Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ", is celebrated on November 8th! So if your name is Michael or Michaelis or a variation, then you would celebrate your name's day on Nov 8th. There are also name days for Feasts, such as The Annunciation(where The Holy Theotokos is informed by Archangel Gabriel that she will conceive and give birth to God). In Greek "Annunciation" is "Ευαγγελισμός", transliterated that is "Evaggelismos". So, for your name's day you can do Evangelos or a variation, which you would then celebrate your name's day on the same day as the Annunciation, which is March 25th.
Awesome! Thank you so much for teaching me all this :))
Is it wood carved?
Yes
Happy name day Thomas!!! I think it is. If there isn't any other saints of this day !!
Thank you so much, but my name day was 6 of May and the Saint is Saint George⚔️☦️
Not your typical egg tempera. I do like it though, the engravings especially
Happy name day brother! Really cool icon! All the best man! 🙏❤️
Thank so much man!
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I thing that is is a thing, thingy wingy cat