The turn of the month brings a mix of early autumn light, village feasts, and church bells honoring saints whose names have been cherished for generations. This week offers celebrations from the final days of September into the first Saturday of October.
Sunday, September 28
Name: Hariton (Χαρίτων)
Who’s honored: Saint Hariton the Confessor, remembered for his endurance in the face of persecution and his devotion to the Christian faith
Monday, September 29
Name: Kyriakos, Kiriakos, Kyriakis, Kiriakis (Κυριάκος, Κυριάκης)
Who’s honored: Saint Kyriakos the Anchorite, revered for his life of prayer and asceticism in the desert
Tuesday, September 30
Names: Stratonikos, Stratos, Stratis (Στρατόνικος, Στράτος, Στρατής)
Who’s honored: Saint Stratonikos, companion of Saint Jason, known for his missionary work and martyrdom
Wednesday, October 1
Names: Ananias (Ανανίας), Hananiah, Nino (Νίνο); Romanos (Ρωμανός); Thiresia, Theresea (Θηρεσία)
Who’s honored: Saint Ananias the Apostle, one of the Seventy; Saint Romanos the Melodist, a great hymnographer; and Saint Theresia, venerated for her dedication to Christ
Thursday, October 2
Names: Cyprianos, Kiprianos (Κυπριανός); Iousta, Jousta (Ιούστα); Justine, Ioustini (Ιουστίνη)
Who’s honored: Hieromartyr Cyprian, Saint Justina, and Saint Iousta, remembered for their courage and steadfast faith
Friday, October 3
Names: Dionisis, Dionysius, Dionysis, Dionisos, Dionysios, Dionysos, Nionios, Denis, Dennis, Denise, Sissy (Διονύσιος, Διονύσης, Νιόνιος, Ντενίς, Σίσσυ)
Who’s honored: Saint Dionysios the Areopagite, disciple of Saint Paul and first bishop of Athens
Saturday, October 4
Names: Ierotheos (Ιερόθεος); Kallisthenis (Καλλισθένης); Verina, Vera (Βερίνα, Βέρα)
Who’s honored: Saint Hierotheos of Athens, one of the earliest bishops; Saint Kallisthenis; and Saint Verina