When is Vasileios’s name day?

Vasileios can be celebrated on 3 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 Vasileios is celebrated

The saints behind the name

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  Basil the Great

  January 1, Great Feast, Βασίλειος

  St. Basil the Great was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia in the fourth century, to a family of saints. Educated in Athens alongside his friend St. Gregory the Theologian, he set aside a brilliant secular career for the monastic life, and later served as Archbishop of Caesarea. He defended the divinity of Christ against Arianism, gave the Church the Divine Liturgy that bears his name, and organized one of the first great centers of Christian charity for the poor and the sick.

  Name days: Vasilis, Vasileios, Vassilis, Vasile, Basil, Bill, Vasilios, Vassilios, Vasos, Vasily, Vasil, Billy, Vasiliki, Vassiliki, Vasilia, Vaso, Vasso, Vasia

• 

  Basil the Confessor

  February 28, Venerable, Βασίλειος

  St. Basil the Confessor was a monk of the eighth century and the companion in asceticism of St. Prokopios of the Dekapolis. When the iconoclast heresy broke out, he stood with his fellow ascetic in defense of the veneration of the holy icons, and for this confession he endured imprisonment and ill-treatment.

  Name days: Vasilis, Vasileios, Basil

• 

  Basil of Ancyra

  March 22, Martyr, Βασίλειος

  St. Basil was a priest of the church of Ancyra in Asia Minor in the fourth century. A faithful shepherd who strengthened his flock against both paganism and heresy, he was seized during the reign of Julian the Apostate, when the emperor sought to restore the worship of idols. Refusing to deny Christ, he endured cruel tortures and completed his course as a martyr around the year 362.

  Name days: Vasilis, Vasileios, Basil

Also celebrating with Vasileios

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

Vasilis, Vassilis, Vasile, Basil, Bill, Vasilios, Vassilios, Vasos, Vasily, Vasil, Billy, Vasiliki, Vassiliki, Vasilia, Vaso, Vasso, Vasia

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.