This week in the Greek Orthodox calendar is marked by the commemoration of great saints and revered bishops, including one of the most beloved modern saints, Saint Nektarios of Aegina. Churches across Greece and the diaspora will be filled with worshippers seeking blessings and remembering these figures.
Sunday, November 9
Names: Nektarios, Nektaria (Νεκτάριος, Νεκταρία); Elladios (Ελλάδιος); Mavra (Μαύρα)
Who’s honored: Saint Nektarios of Aegina, Metropolitan of Pentapolis and wonderworker; Saint Elladios; and Saint Mavra the Martyr.
Monday, November 10
Names: Arsenios, Arsinoe, Orestis, Orion, Rodios, Sosipatros (Αρσένιος, Αρσινόη, Ορέστης, Ωρίων, Ρόδιος, Σωσίπατρος)
Who’s honored: Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia, Apostle Orestes of Tyana, and Saint Sosipatros, one of the Seventy Apostles.
Tuesday, November 11
Names: Minas, Victor, Vincent, Vikentios, Victoria, Drakos (Μηνάς, Βίκτωρ, Βικέντιος, Βικτωρία, Δράκος)
Who’s honored: Great Martyr Minas of Egypt, Saint Victor the Martyr, and Saint Vikentios (Vincent) the Deacon.
Wednesday, November 12
Names: Neilos (Νείλος)
Who’s honored: Saint Neilos the Ascetic, also commemorated with Saint John, Archbishop of Alexandria.
Thursday, November 13
Names: Damaskinos, Damaskini, Chrysostomos (Δαμασκηνός, Δαμασκηνή, Χρυσόστομος)
Who’s honored: Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, and Saint Damaskinos the Confessor of Constantinople.
Friday, November 14
Names: Philip, Philippos, Filippa, Gregory, Grigorios (Φίλιππος, Φιλίππα, Γρηγόριος)
Who’s honored: The Holy Apostle Philip and Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki.
Saturday, November 15
No major namedays are observed today.
The day marks the beginning of the Nativity Fast (Σαρακοστή των Χριστουγέννων), a period of spiritual preparation leading up to Christmas through fasting, prayer, and reflection.