When is Irini’s name day?

Most people named Irini keep their name day on May 5, the feast of Irene the Great Martyr. The Orthodox calendar has 2 other feasts for the name.

Every feast on which Irini is celebrated

The saints behind the name

• 

  Irene the Great Martyr

  May 5, Martyr, Ειρήνη η Μεγαλομάρτυς

  The Holy Great Martyr Irene lived in the early centuries of the Church. According to tradition she was the daughter of a pagan ruler and came to faith in Christ in her youth, receiving in baptism the name Irene, which means peace. Confessing the Lord openly, she endured many tortures with courage, and her endurance drew multitudes to belief.

  Name days: Eirini, Irini, Irene, Rena, Reni

• 

  Irene, Agape & Chionia

  April 16, Martyr, Ειρήνη

  The holy virgins Agape, Irene, and Chionia were sisters from the region of Thessaloniki who suffered in the year 304, during the persecution of Diocletian. Arrested for their faith and for keeping the holy Scriptures when the emperor had ordered them destroyed, they refused to eat food sacrificed to idols or deny Christ, standing firm through interrogation.

  Name days: Irene, Irini, Eirini, Rena

• Irene Chrysovalantou

  July 28, Holy Woman, Ειρήνη Χρυσοβαλάντου

  St. Irene was a noblewoman of Cappadocia in the ninth century who, on her way to Constantinople to be considered as bride of the emperor, chose instead the monastic life at the convent of Chrysovalantou. She became abbess and was renowned for asceticism, discernment and miracles.

  Name days: Irene, Eirini, Irini, Eirene, Rena, Irena, Rina, Irina

Also celebrating on May 5

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

Eirini, Irene, Rena, Reni

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.