When is John’s name day?

Most people named John keep their name day on January 7, the feast of John the Baptist. The Orthodox calendar has 15 other feasts for the name.

Every feast on which John 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

• 

  John Chrysostom

  January 27, Great Feast, Ιωάννης Χρυσόστομος

  St. John Chrysostom, the Golden-Mouthed, was born in Antioch in the fourth century. First a monk and then a priest famed for his preaching, he was taken to Constantinople and consecrated its Archbishop. He preached constantly on the Scriptures, gave generously to the poor, and fearlessly rebuked the luxury and injustice of the powerful, for which he was twice driven into exile, dying with words of thanksgiving, glorifying God for all things.

  Name days: Ioannis, Giannis, Yiannis, Chrysostomos, John, Chrysostom

• 

  Three Holy Hierarchs

  January 30, Great Feast, Τρεις Ιεράρχαι

  The feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs honors together Sts. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, the great fathers and ecumenical teachers of the Church. According to tradition, the common feast was established in the eleventh century after disputes arose in Constantinople over which of the three was greatest; the hierarchs made known in a vision that they are one before God, and a shared commemoration was appointed.

  Name days: Basil, Gregory, John, Vasilis, Grigoris, Giannis

The other feasts are listed in the table above, each with a link to the saint’s life.

Also celebrating on January 7

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

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

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.