When is Despoina’s name day?

Despoina can be celebrated on 2 feasts in the Orthodox calendar. People keep the feast of the saint they were named for, or the one their family has always kept.

Every feast on which Despoina is celebrated

The saints behind the name

• 

  Dormition of the Theotokos

  August 15, Great Feast, Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου

  The Great Feast of the Dormition commemorates the falling asleep of the Most Holy Theotokos. According to tradition, the Apostles were gathered from the ends of the earth to her bedside in Jerusalem, where she gave her soul into the hands of her Son; her body was laid in a tomb in Gethsemane and was found to have been taken up, for the Mother of Life was translated to life.

  Name days: Panagiotis, Panayiotis, Panos, Marios, Mario, Maria, Mary, Maro, Marika, Marianna, Mariam, Marie, Panagiota, Giota, Despina, Despoina, Panayiota, Yiota, Maroula, Marietta, Mairi, Despo

• 

  Nativity of the Theotokos

  September 8, Great Feast, Γέννηση Θεοτόκου

  The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, celebrated on September 8, is the first Great Feast of the church year. According to tradition, the righteous Joachim and Anna remained childless into old age, bearing reproach with patience and prayer; God heard them and granted them a daughter, Mary, who was to become the Mother of the Saviour.

  Name days: Maria, Mary, Maro, Marika, Panagiota, Giota, Despina, Despoina

Also celebrating with Despoina

These names share the feast, many of them other forms of the same name:

Panagiotis, Panayiotis, Panos, Marios, Mario, Maria, Mary, Maro, Marika, Marianna, Mariam, Marie, Panagiota, Giota, Despina, Panayiota, Yiota, Maroula, Marietta, Mairi, Despo

What to say on a name day

The Greek wish is Χρόνια Πολλά (Chronia Polla), “many years.” A call or a short message on the day is what people remember. See name day wishes you can send and what a name day is.