Name day
Joanna: Name Day and Patron Saint
Joanna keeps the name day on 27 June, or 10 July on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer.
By Greek custom the name day is 7 January: St John the Baptist.
- Patron saint
- St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer
- New Calendar
- 27 June
- Old Calendar
- 10 July
- Next name day
- 27 June 2027 (New Calendar) · 10 July 2027 (Old Calendar)
- Greek custom
- 7 January: St John the Baptist
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of June · The feasts of July
The patron saint: St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer
Kept on 27 June, or 10 July on the Old Calendar · Holy Myrrh-bearer Joanna
St Joanna was the wife of Chuza, the steward who managed the household of King Herod Antipas. The Gospel of St Luke names her among the women who had been healed by the Lord of evil spirits and infirmities, and who then followed Him and the apostles from town to town, providing for them out of their own means. She stayed faithful through the Passion. Because the Lord’s body had been laid in the tomb in haste by Joseph and Nicodemus before the Sabbath, Joanna went with the other women very early on the first day of the week, carrying spices and myrrh to finish the burial. They found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty except for the grave clothes, and they heard the angels announce that Christ was risen. The women ran to tell the apostles, and so became the first to proclaim the Resurrection. Church tradition also remembers that, after St John the Baptist was beheaded and Herodias had his holy head thrown into an unclean place, Joanna secretly recovered it and buried it with honor on the Mount of Olives. She reposed in peace in the first century. The Church remembers her on 27 June (10 July on the Old Calendar), and again with all the myrrh-bearing women on the third Sunday of Pascha. The faithful ask her prayers for steady devotion to Christ, for those who serve the Church with their work and means, and for the joy of the Resurrection.
What the faithful pray for
- faithfulness to Christ in every circumstance
- those who serve and support the Church from their means
- women who care for the sick and the dying
- Christians who work in public life
- the joy of the Resurrection
Other saints named Joanna
St John the Baptist
Kept on 7 January, or 20 January on the Old Calendar · Synaxis of St John the Baptist
The last of the prophets, who preached repentance in the wilderness, baptized Christ in the Jordan and was beheaded by Herod.
What the faithful pray for
- repentance and a change of life
- relief from headaches (the Russian custom
- for he was beheaded)
- the courage to speak the truth
Joanna in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Joanna, Johanna, Joan, Jane, Jean, Janet, Janice, Jana, Jeanne, Jeannette, Juana, Giovanna, Ivana, Yana, Ioana, Joanne, Jeanine, Janine, Johana | Jo, Janie, Jan, Jeanie, Joni, Janey, Netta |
| Greek | Ιωάννα, Γιάννα, Ioanna, Gianna, Yianna | Γιαννούλα, Ζαννέτα, Giannoula, Zanneta |
| Russian | Иоанна, Яна, Жанна, Ioanna, Yana, Zhanna | Яночка, Yanochka |
| Ukrainian | Іванна, Яна, Ivanna | |
| Bulgarian | Иванка, Ивана, Йоана, Яна, Ivanka, Ivana, Yoana, Yana | |
| Serbian | Јована, Ивана, Јованка, Jovana, Ivana, Jovanka | Joka |
| Romanian | Ioana | Ionela, Oana, Nela |
| Georgian | Ioana | |
| Spanish | Juana | |
| Italian | Giovanna | |
| French | Jeanne | |
| Polish | Joanna |
An icon for Joanna
We don't carry an icon of St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
Folding diptychHoly Foremother Eve & Guardian Angel
Another holy woman$99$69
Folding diptychSt Alexandra (passion-bearer Empress) & Guardian Angel
Another holy woman$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 Joanna
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.
Questions
When is Joanna’s name day?
Joanna keeps the name day on 27 June on the New Calendar and on 10 July on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer. By Greek custom it is kept on 7 January: St John the Baptist.
Who is the patron saint of Joanna?
St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer. St Joanna was the wife of Chuza, the steward who managed the household of King Herod Antipas.
How is Joanna written in other languages?
Greek: Ιωάννα (Ioanna), Russian: Иоанна (Ioanna), Ukrainian: Іванна (Ivanna), Bulgarian: Иванка (Ivanka), Serbian: Јована (Jovana) and Romanian: Ioana. Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Joanna?
We don’t carry an icon of St Joanna the Myrrh-bearer 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