September is in full swing, and with it comes a week filled with beloved name days. Across Greek-American homes, it is a time for phone calls to old friends, visits to relatives, and perhaps a plate of koulourakia or a slice of cake left at a neighbor’s door.
Sunday, September 7
Names: Casiani, Kasiani (Κασιανή); Sozon, Sozonas (Σώζων, Σώζωνας)
Who’s honored: Saint Kassiani the Hymnographer, known for her beautiful hymns sung during Holy Week, and Saint Sozon the Martyr
Monday, September 8
Names: Maria, Mary, Maro, Marios, Mario, Mariori, Marika, Maroula, Maritsa, Margiori, Marigoula, Manio, Marietta (Μαρία, Μαίρη, Μάρω, Μάριος, Μάριο, Μαριώρη, Μαρίκα, Μαρούλα, Μαρίτσα, Μαργιώρη, Μαριγούλα, Μάνιο, Μαριέττα); Skiadeni (Σκιαδενή); Tsampika, Tsabika, Mika, Tsampikos, Tsabikos (Τσαμπίκα, Τσαμπίκος)
Who’s honored: The Nativity of the Theotokos, one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, and the miraculous icon of Panagia Tsampika on the island of Rhodes
Tuesday, September 9
Names: Joakim, Ioakeim (Ιωακείμ); Kiaran, Kieran, Kyran, Ceran, Queran, Ciaran, Kiara (Κιαράν, Κιάρα)
Who’s honored: Saints Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Theotokos
Wednesday, September 10
Names: Erasti (Εραστή); Erastos (Εραστός); Klimentini, Clementine (Κλημεντίνη); Klimis, Clement (Κλήμης); Minodora (Μηνοδώρα); Mitrodora (Μητροδώρα); Nymfodora (Νυμφοδώρα); Poulcheria (Πουλχερία)
Who’s honored: The holy martyrs Minodora, Mitrodora, and Nymfodora, and Empress Saint Pulcheria
Thursday, September 11
Names: Efrosynos (Ευφρόσυνος); Evanthia, Evathia, Eve (Ευανθία); Theodora, Thodora (Θεοδώρα)
Who’s honored: Saint Euphrosynos the Cook, patron of chefs and kitchen workers, and Saint Theodora of Alexandria
Friday, September 12
Today has no widely celebrated name day in the Greek Orthodox calendar. It can be a moment to reflect, to honor the saints privately, or to simply enjoy a quiet day before the weekend’s gatherings begin.
Saturday, September 13
Names: Aristidis, Aristides, Aristeides, Aristeidis (Αριστείδης); Cornelius, Kornelios, Kornilios, Kornelia (Κορνήλιος, Κορνηλία)
Who’s honored: Saint Aristides the Athenian and Saint Cornelius the Centurion