When is Paul’s name day?

Most people named Paul keep their name day on June 29, the feast of Peter and Paul the Apostles. The Orthodox calendar has 2 other feasts for the name.

Every feast on which Paul is celebrated

The saints behind the name

• 

  Peter and Paul the Apostles

  June 29, Great Feast, Πέτρος και Παύλος

  The feast of Sts. Peter and Paul honors together the two chief Apostles. St. Peter, the fisherman of Galilee who confessed Christ as the Son of the living God, was foremost among the Twelve and, after his denial and restoration, strengthened the brethren and preached to the end. St. Paul, once a persecutor of the Church, was converted by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus and became the Apostle to the Nations.

  Name days: Petros, Peter, Pietro, Pete, Pyotr, Pavlos, Paul, Pablo, Pavel, Panos, Petroula, Petra, Pavlina, Paula, Paulina

• 

  Paul of Thebes

  January 15, Venerable, Παύλος

  St. Paul of Thebes is honored as the first Christian hermit. Fleeing the persecution of Decius in the third century, he withdrew into the inner desert of Egypt, where he lived unknown to the world for many decades in fasting, solitude, and unceasing prayer.

  Name days: Pavlos, Pavlos, Paul, Pablo, Pavel

• 

  Paul the Confessor

  November 6, Hierarch, Παύλος ο Ομολογητής

  St. Paul the Confessor was Archbishop of Constantinople in the fourth century, in the years when the Arian heresy was upheld by the powerful. A firm defender of the Nicene faith, he was driven from his see repeatedly by Arian opponents and finally exiled to a remote place, where he was put to death by those who hated his orthodoxy.

  Name days: Pavlos, Paul, Pablo, Pavel

Also celebrating on June 29

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

Petros, Peter, Pietro, Pete, Pyotr, Pavlos, Pablo, Pavel, Panos, Petroula, Petra, Pavlina, Paula, Paulina

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.