"NAME DAYS IN GREECE" a Greece Travel Page by janetanne

One of the nice things about living in a country such as Greece, where so many of the holidays are connected with the church, is that we have many holidays, which means days off work and school!

Here on this page, I would like to give a brief description of the Holidays as they are being celebrated throughout the year, so keep coming back to see which Name Day it is and which holiday is being celebrated in Greece each day!

I am not in anyway, promoting any religous rhetoric, but merely trying to present a part of Greek Culture that is siginificent, if only from the standpoint of Art and History. I am sure that many tourists, as they visit Greece, have entered a Byzantine Church, admired the icons, great works of art in themselves, and wondered what the symbolic meaning of each icon might represent. In fact, I believe that many Greeks do not know the meaning behind the icons.

Of course, there is far more than meets the eye when studying Byzantine Iconography. As I have actually taken some courses in 'painting icons and egg tempera technique, I have a very personal interest from the standpoint of an artist and from my interest in historical references they have.

If you have any specific questions regarding how an icon is painted or what it represents, please write me your e-mails and I will try to do my best in finding the information if I can.

In addition, I will try to change the ICON of the Saint that is being celebrated daily. So, if you have a Greek first name or perhaps you would like to know what your English name might be translated into Greek, such as John, Joan, Joanna, Nick, Nickoletta, George, Georgia, etc., you will know when you must have a big party to celebrate your Saint's Name Day. Don't forget to say 'Kronia Pola' whenever there is a holiday! In fact, you can say that almost every day...since everyday is a holiday in Greece:):)

Lent is the time of the year, which begins 40 days before Easter. It is the time that the Orthodox community in Greece and around the world, prepare for the ressurection of Christ. It is a sombre time of strick fasting and attending church services. Every Saturday during Lent, a special church service is held.

The icon of the Sunday of Orthodoxy commemorates the “restoration” of icons in the churches and to their use in Orthodox worship. The focal point of the icon is an icon itself, the Virgin Hodegetria, a popular depiction of the Theotokos as “Directress,” or literally “She who shows the way to God.” The icon is carried by two angels.
To the left of the icon is the Empress Theodora and her son Michael III. To the right of the icon are the Patriarchs Methodios and Tarasios.
The icon is surrounded by numerous saints who struggled against the Iconoclastic heresy.
The icon also represents the triumphant procession that was made on Sunday, March 11, 843, from the Church of the Theotokos in Blachernai to Hagia Sophia, where a Liturgy was celebrated to mark the restoration of icons.