Giota can be celebrated on 3 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 Giota is celebrated
| New Calendar | Feast | Old Calendar (civil date) |
|---|---|---|
| August 15 | Dormition of the Theotokos | August 28 |
| September 8 | Nativity of the Theotokos | September 21 |
| November 21 | Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple | December 4 |
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
Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 21, Great Feast, Είσοδος Θεοτόκου
The Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple, kept on November 21, commemorates the day the child Mary, at the age of three, was brought by her parents Joachim and Anna to the Temple in Jerusalem in fulfillment of their vow. According to tradition she was received by the priest Zacharias and dwelt in the Temple, nourished in prayer and prepared to become the living temple of God.
Also celebrating with Giota
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, Despina, Despoina, 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.
The calendar, on your phone each morning
Today’s saints, whether it is a fast day, and the people in your contacts who have a name day. Free, with no ads.
