Synaxis of the Theotokos

Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos — day after Nativity.

On the day after the Nativity of Christ, the Church gathers in synaxis to honor the Most Holy Theotokos, from whom the Saviour was born in the flesh. Having celebrated the birth of the Lord, the faithful turn with gratitude to His Mother, through whose obedience the Incarnation came to pass.

This is among the most ancient feasts of the Mother of God, and it follows a pattern kept throughout the church year, in which the day after a Great Feast honors the principal servant of the mystery. The synaxis proclaims Mary truly Theotokos, the Birth-giver of God.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Synaxis of the Theotokos is commemorated on December 26. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on January 8 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Emmanuel, Emmanouil, Manolis, Manos, Manuel, Maria, Mary, Maro, Marianna, Panagiota, Emmanouela, Emmanuela, Manuela

Also commemorated on December 26

• King David, Joseph, James

  Saint, Δαβίδ, Ιωσήφ, Ιάκωβος

  Sunday after Nativity — Synaxis of Joseph, David the Prophet, and James.

  Name days: David, Davit, Joseph, Iosif, Iossif, Josef

• Euthymius of Sardis

  Hierarch, Ευθύμιος Σάρδεων

  Hieromartyr Euthymius the Confessor, Bishop of Sardis.

• Flight into Egypt

  Saint, Φυγή εις Αίγυπτον

  The flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.

• Constantine the Jew

  Venerable, Κωνσταντίνος ο εξ Ιουδαίων

  Venerable Constantine of Synnada, a convert from Judaism.

• Evarestus of Studion

  Venerable, Ευάρεστος

  Venerable Evarestus of the Monastery of Studion.

• Constantius the Russian

  Martyr, Κωνστάντιος ο Ρώσος

  New Hieromartyr Constantius the Russian of the Great Lavra on Mount Athos.

• Nikodemos of Tismana

  Venerable, Νικόδημος της Τισμάνα

  Venerable Nikodemos the Sanctified of Tismana, founder of monasteries in Romania.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.