Name day
George: Name Day and Patron Saint
George keeps the name day on 23 April, or 6 May on the Old Calendar: the feast of St George.
- Patron saint
- St George
- New Calendar
- 23 April
- Old Calendar
- 6 May
- Next name day
- 3 May 2027 (New Calendar) · 6 May 2027 (Old Calendar)
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of April · The feasts of May
The patron saint: St George
Kept on 23 April, or 6 May on the Old Calendar · Great Martyr George the Victory-bearer
St George was born in Cappadocia to a devout Christian family. His father died a martyr, and his mother raised him in Palestine. He became a brave and gifted officer in the Roman army and rose to the imperial guard of Diocletian. When the emperor launched his great persecution, George gave his wealth to the poor, freed his servants, and openly confessed Christ before the Senate. He endured terrible tortures: the wheel of blades, the lime pit, and red-hot iron shoes. Each time the Lord raised him up unharmed, and many who saw it came to faith. He was beheaded around 303 and buried at Lydda. The Church calls him the Victory-bearer, the freer of captives, the defender of the poor, and the physician of the sick. He is shown on horseback trampling the serpent. Orthodox Christians pray to him for soldiers and for the homeland. In Russia, where he is lovingly called Yegory, they also pray to him for herds, fields, and farms.
What the faithful pray for
- courage and victory for those in military service
- the protection of one’s homeland from enemies
- the freeing of captives
- help for the poor
- healing of the sick
- the health and safety of livestock
- help in farm work and protection for the herds at the start of the season
- the salvation of our souls
Protection
- soldiers in battle
- livestock from predators and wild beasts
- from the power of the devil, ‘the ancient serpent’
- captives in their bondage
- the defenseless from tyranny
Miracles
- Near Beirut he slew a serpent that was devouring the people, saving the ruler’s daughter, and the whole city turned to Christ. (source)
- From prison he assured the farmer Glycerius that God would restore his dead ox. The ox came back to life, and so St George is honored as protector of livestock and farming. (source)
- Broken on a wheel of blades, he was raised up whole by an angel who said ‘Rejoice!’, and many who saw it believed. (source)
Other saints named George
Right-believing George the Great Prince of Vladimir
Kept on 4 February, or 17 February on the Old Calendar
St George the Confessor and Bishop of Antioch
Kept on 19 April, or 2 May on the Old Calendar
St George
Kept on 16 May, or 29 May on the Old Calendar
George in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | George, Georgios, Georges, Jorge, Giorgio, Jiri | Georgie, Geo, Yorgo |
| Greek | Γεώργιος, Γιώργος, Georgios, Giorgos, Yiorgos, Yorgos | Γιώργης, Γιωργάκης, Γεωργής, Giorgis, Giorgakis |
| Russian | Георгий, Юрий, Егор, Georgy, Georgiy, Georgii, Yuri, Yury, Iouri, Egor, Yegor | Жора, Гоша, Юра, Юрочка, Егорка, Zhora, Gosha, Yura, Yurochka |
| Ukrainian | Юрій, Георгій, Yurii, Yuriy, Heorhiy | Юрко, Yurko |
| Belarusian | Юрый, Yury | |
| Bulgarian | Георги, Georgi | Гошо, Жоро, Gosho, Zhoro |
| Serbian | Ђорђе, Ђурађ, Đorđe, Djordje, Đurađ, Đuro | Ђока, Đoka |
| Romanian | Gheorghe, George | Ghiță, Gică, Gigel |
| Georgian | გიორგი, Giorgi | Gogi, Gia, Goga |
| Arabic | جرجس, جورج, Gerges, Girgis, Jirjis, Georges, Jurji | |
| Spanish | Jorge | |
| Italian | Giorgio | |
| German | Jörg, Jürgen | |
| Polish | Jerzy | |
| Czech | Jiří |
Icons of St George
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.
A name-day gift for George
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 George’s name day?
George keeps the name day on 23 April on the New Calendar and on 6 May on the Old Calendar, the feast of St George.
Who is the patron saint of George?
St George. St George was born in Cappadocia to a devout Christian family.
How is George written in other languages?
Greek: Γεώργιος (Georgios), Russian: Георгий (Georgy), Ukrainian: Юрій (Yurii), Belarusian: Юрый (Yury), Bulgarian: Георги (Georgi) and Serbian: Ђорђе (Đorđe). Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for George?
We don’t carry an icon of St George 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
Sources
- OCA - Greatmartyr, Victory-bearer, and Wonderworker George
- OCA - Consecration of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydda
- Azbyka - Святой великомученик Георгий Победоносец
- Azbyka Molitvoslov - Молитвы великомученику Георгию Победоносцу
- Orthodox Church in America, Lives of the Saints
- eortologio.net, Greek name-day calendar (Εορτολόγιο)
- azbyka.ru, Месяцеслов (the Russian Church's calendar of saints by name)