When is Joan’s name day?

Joan 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 Joan is celebrated

The saints behind the name

• 

  John the Baptist

  January 7, Great Feast, Ιωάννης ο Πρόδρομος

  On the day after Theophany, the Church gathers to honor St. John the Forerunner and Baptist, the greatest of the prophets, who was found worthy to baptize the Lord in the Jordan. Son of the priest Zacharias and the righteous Elizabeth, John lived in the wilderness in fasting and prayer, preaching repentance and preparing the way of the Lord.

  Name days: Ioannis, Giannis, Yiannis, Yannis, Yanni, Giovanni, John, Jean, Juan, Ivan, Vanya, Yianni, Gianni, Giannakis, Prodromos, Johnny, Ioanna, Gianna, Yianna, Giannoula, Joanna, Joanne, Joan

• Joanna the Myrrhbearer

  June 27, Holy Woman, Ιωάννα η Μυροφόρος

  Saint Joanna was the wife of Chuza, the steward of Herod Antipas. The Gospel of Luke names her among the women who followed Christ and ministered to Him from their means, and among the myrrhbearers who found the tomb empty on the morning of the Resurrection.

  Name days: Ioanna, Joanna, Gianna, Yianna, Joanne, Joan, Jane, Zanna, Yanna, Giannoula

Also celebrating with Joan

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

Ioannis, Giannis, Yiannis, Yannis, Yanni, Giovanni, John, Jean, Juan, Ivan, Vanya, Yianni, Gianni, Giannakis, Prodromos, Johnny, Ioanna, Gianna, Yianna, Giannoula, Joanna, Joanne, Jane, Zanna, Yanna

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.