Prodromos 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 Prodromos is celebrated
| New Calendar | Feast | Old Calendar (civil date) |
|---|---|---|
| January 7 | John the Baptist | January 20 |
| February 24 | Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist | March 9 |
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

Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist
February 24, Great Feast, Εύρεσις Κεφαλής Προδρόμου
This feast commemorates the First and Second Findings of the honorable head of St. John the Forerunner. According to tradition, after the Baptist was beheaded by Herod his head was hidden, and in later generations it was revealed and recovered by the faithful; in times of persecution it was concealed again and found anew, each recovery received with rejoicing and accompanied by healings.
Also celebrating with Prodromos
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, 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.