Name day
Athanasius: Name Day and Patron Saint
Athanasius keeps the name day on 18 January, or 31 January on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Athanasius the Great.
By Greek custom the name day is 2 May: St Athanasius the Great.
- Patron saint
- St Athanasius the Great
- New Calendar
- 18 January
- Old Calendar
- 31 January
- Next name day
- 18 January 2027 (New Calendar) · 31 January 2027 (Old Calendar)
- Greek custom
- 2 May: St Athanasius the Great
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of January
The patron saint: St Athanasius the Great
Kept on 18 January, or 31 January on the Old Calendar · Sts Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria
St Athanasius the Great was Archbishop of Alexandria in the fourth century and one of the great defenders of the faith in Christ. He was born in Alexandria at the end of the third century. As a young deacon he went with his bishop, Alexander, to the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325, where he stood with special zeal for the truth that the Son of God is consubstantial with the Father, against the teaching of Arius that Christ was a creature. In 328 he became archbishop himself, and for forty-six years he shepherded the Church of Alexandria. Because of the plotting of his enemies he spent much of his life in exile from his see, banished again and again, once hiding among the monks of the Egyptian desert. Through it all he kept confessing the faith of Nicaea and wrote works that still guide the Church, among them On the Incarnation. Near the end of his life he returned to his flock and died in peace in 373. The Church keeps his feast on 18 January (31 January on the Old Calendar), together with St Cyril of Alexandria, honouring both for writings that affirm the Orthodox faith and interpret the Scriptures rightly. The faithful pray to him for steadfastness in the true faith and for courage when standing for the truth costs dearly.
What the faithful pray for
- steadfastness in the Orthodox faith
- a right understanding of Christ, true God and true man
- courage to stand for the truth when it is costly
- pastors and teachers of the Church
- those who suffer exile or injustice
Other saints named Athanasius
St Athanasius the Great
Kept on 2 May, or 15 May on the Old Calendar · Translation of the relics of St Athanasius
St Athanasius the Great was Archbishop of Alexandria in the fourth century and one of the great defenders of the faith in Christ. He was born in Alexandria at the end of the third century. As a young deacon he went with his bishop, Alexander, to the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325, where he stood with special zeal for the truth that the Son of God is consubstantial with the Father, against the teaching of Arius that Christ was a creature. In 328 he became archbishop himself, and for forty-six years he shepherded the Church of Alexandria. Because of the plotting of his enemies he spent much of his life in exile from his see, banished again and again, once hiding among the monks of the Egyptian desert. Through it all he kept confessing the faith of Nicaea and wrote works that still guide the Church, among them On the Incarnation. Near the end of his life he returned to his flock and died in peace in 373. The Church keeps his feast on 18 January (31 January on the Old Calendar), together with St Cyril of Alexandria, honouring both for writings that affirm the Orthodox faith and interpret the Scriptures rightly. The faithful pray to him for steadfastness in the true faith and for courage when standing for the truth costs dearly.
What the faithful pray for
- steadfastness in the Orthodox faith
- a right understanding of Christ, true God and true man
- courage to stand for the truth when it is costly
- pastors and teachers of the Church
- those who suffer exile or injustice
St Athanasius of Athos
Kept on 5 July, or 18 July on the Old Calendar · Venerable Athanasius of Athos
The founder of the Great Lavra, the first great monastery of the Holy Mountain.
Athanasius in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Athanasius, Athanasios | |
| Greek | Αθανάσιος, Athanasios | Θανάσης, Σάκης, Νάσος, Thanasis, Thanos, Sakis, Nasos |
| Russian | Афанасий, Afanasy, Afanasiy, Afanasii | Афоня, Afonya |
| Ukrainian | Опанас, Opanas | |
| Bulgarian | Атанас, Atanas | Наско, Nasko |
| Serbian | Атанасије, Atanasije | |
| Romanian | Atanasie | |
| Arabic | Athanasios, Atanas |
An icon for Athanasius
We don't carry an icon of St Athanasius the Great yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
Folding diptychSt John the Silent & Guardian Angel
Another holy bishop$99$69
Folding diptychSt Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel
Another holy bishop$99$69
Folding diptychChrist (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God
Christ and the Mother of God keep every Christian home$99$69
For every name: the Guardian Angel, given at baptism
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.
A name-day gift for Athanasius
Name-Day Gift Set $213$149
A patron saint's folding diptych chosen by first name, a stainless steel crucifix and a prayer rope, in a gift box with a card giving the saint's life and feast day.
The St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych is chosen, for the Guardian Angel every Orthodox Christian receives at baptism, and the name is filled in.
Other names with this saint
Questions
When is Athanasius’s name day?
Athanasius keeps the name day on 18 January on the New Calendar and on 31 January on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Athanasius the Great. By Greek custom it is kept on 2 May: St Athanasius the Great.
Who is the patron saint of Athanasius?
St Athanasius the Great. St Athanasius the Great was Archbishop of Alexandria in the fourth century and one of the great defenders of the faith in Christ.
How is Athanasius written in other languages?
Greek: Αθανάσιος (Athanasios), Russian: Афанасий (Afanasy), Ukrainian: Опанас (Opanas), Bulgarian: Атанас (Atanas), Serbian: Атанасије (Atanasije) and Romanian: Atanasie. Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Athanasius?
We don’t carry an icon of St Athanasius the Great yet, and you can ask for one on this page. Every Orthodox Christian has a Guardian Angel from baptism, so the Name-Day Gift Set ($149) with the Guardian Angel diptych is always fitting.
More about name days
- Name Days Explained: What They Are, How Families Keep Them, and Gifts
A name day is the feast of the saint whose name you carry. Here is how to find yours on either calendar, how Greek and Russian families keep it, and what to give.
- Orthodox Patron Saint: How to Find Yours (by Name, Day or Choice)
Your Orthodox patron saint is the saint whose name you were given at baptism. Here is how to find yours by name, by the day of your birth or baptism, or by choice, and how to keep the name day.
- Find another name