Name day
Despina: Name Day
Despina keeps the name day on 15 August, or 28 August on the Old Calendar: the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
- New Calendar
- 15 August
- Old Calendar
- 28 August
- Next name day
- 15 August 2027 (New Calendar) · 28 August 2027 (Old Calendar)
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of August
The feast: the Dormition of the Mother of God
Kept on 15 August, or 28 August on the Old Calendar · Dormition of the Mother of God
The Most Holy Theotokos, the Virgin Mary who gave birth to God the Word in the flesh, is honored by Orthodox Christians “more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim.” Her icons follow types the Church received from antiquity: the Hodegetria, “She who shows the way,” pointing to her Son as the path of salvation, and the Eleousa, “Tenderness,” in which the Child presses His cheek to His Mother’s. Her great feasts trace her life: her Nativity, her Entry into the Temple, the Annunciation and her Dormition, and the Slavic churches keep the Protection, when she was seen spreading her veil over the faithful at Blachernae. Orthodox Christians end almost every service crying, “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” They pray to her for their children, their families, healing and comfort, and above all ask her to pray to her Son for their souls.
What the faithful pray for
- her intercession before her Son for the salvation of our souls (‘Most Holy Theotokos, save us’)
- protection under her veil from enemies visible and invisible
- the health and wellbeing of children
- comfort in sorrow and grief
- a good marriage and a peaceful family
- healing of illness
- guidance on the right path (Hodegetria, ‘she who shows the way’)
- a peaceful Christian death
Protection
- from enemies visible and invisible
- the family and the home
- children and mothers
- from despair
- travelers who ask her guidance
Miracles
- In tenth-century Constantinople, during the vigil in the Blachernae church, St Andrew the Fool-for-Christ saw the Theotokos spread her veil over the people, protecting them from enemies visible and invisible; this is the feast of Pokrov. (source)
- The original Hodegetria, said to have been painted by St Luke, was the most venerated icon of Byzantium; the Smolensk Hodegetria in Russia is held by many to descend from it. (source)
Despina in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Despina, Despoina | |
| Greek | Δέσποινα, Despoina, Despina | Δέσπω, Πέπη, Despo, Pepi |
Icons of the Dormition of the Mother of God
Folding diptychChrist (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God
$99$69
Folding diptychChrist Pantocrator & Our Lady of Kazan
$99$69
IconOrthodox Virgin Mary Holding Jesus
Gold Color · Icon$41$29
IconOrthodox Virgin Mary and Child Jesus
Silver&Gold Color · Icon$41$29
IconOrthodox Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Kazan, Rectangular)
Silver&Gold Color · Wooden Icon$41$29
IconOrthodox Mother of God
Gold Color · Wooden Icon$41$29
IconOrthodox Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary
Folding Wooden Icon$56$39
IconOrthodox Christ & Virgin Mary
Silver&Gold Color · Folding Wooden Icon$56$39
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.
A name-day gift for Despina
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 Dormition of the Mother of God's diptych is chosen and the name is filled in.
Other names with this saint
Questions
When is Despina’s name day?
Despina keeps the name day on 15 August on the New Calendar and on 28 August on the Old Calendar, the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
Which feast is Despina’s name day?
the Dormition of the Mother of God. The Most Holy Theotokos, the Virgin Mary who gave birth to God the Word in the flesh, is honored by Orthodox Christians “more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim.” Her icons follow types the Church received from antiquity: the Hodegetria, “She who shows the way,” pointing to her Son as the path of salvation, and the Eleousa, “Tenderness,” in which the Child presses His cheek to His Mother’s.
What is a good name-day gift for Despina?
An icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God, the saint Despina bears: the Christ (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God Folding Diptych ($69), or the Name-Day Gift Set ($149) with that diptych, a crucifix and a prayer rope in a gift box.
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