The 40 Holy Ascetic Virgin Martyrs of Thrace and their teacher Ammon the Deacon.
The 40 Holy Virgins were ascetic women of Thrace who, with their teacher Ammon the Deacon, confessed Christ during the persecution under Licinius in the early fourth century. Refusing to sacrifice to idols, they endured imprisonment and torture with their teacher, and received together the crown of martyrdom at Heraclea in Thrace.
Greek tradition preserves their forty names — among them Ourania, Aspasia, Penelope, Margarita, Erato, Kleio, and Melpomeni — and on September 1 women bearing these names celebrate their name day. The holy virgins and St. Ammon are honored as examples of steadfast faith at the very opening of the church year.
Feast day
On the New Calendar, 40 Holy Virgin Martyrs of Thrace is commemorated on September 1. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on September 14 of the civil calendar.
Who celebrates a name day
People with these names keep their name day on this feast:
Ammon, Adamantia, Adamantini, Diamanto, Athina, Athena, Akrivi, Antigoni, Antigone, Arivoia, Aspasia, Afroditi, Aphrodite, Dioni, Dodoni, Elpiniki, Erasmia, Erato, Ermioni, Hermione, Efterpi, Euterpe, Thalia, Thaleia, Theano, Theanoi, Theonymfi, Theofano, Kalliroi, Kallirroi, Kallisti, Kleio, Clio, Kleoniki, Kleopatra, Cleopatra, Koralia, Coralia, Lambro, Margarita, Marianthi, Melpomeni, Moscho, Ourania, Urania, Rania, Pandora, Pinelopi, Penelope, Polymnia, Polyniki, Sapfo, Sappho, Terpsichori, Troada, Chaido, Haido, Charikleia, Hariklia, Penelopi
Also commemorated on September 1
Beginning of the Church Year
Great Feast, Αρχή της Ινδίκτου
The Indiction — beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year.

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Venerable, Συμεών Στυλίτης
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Saint, Ιησούς του Ναυή
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Name days: Joshua
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Holy Woman, Μάρθα
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Name days: Martha
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Holy Woman, Ευανθία
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Venerable, Μελέτιος ο Νέος
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Martyr, Εύοδος, Καλλίστη και Ερμογένης
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Name days: Evodos, Hermogenes, Ermogenis, Kallisti, Callista, Callisti
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Martyr, Αγγελής
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Name days: Angelis
Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.