Name day
Silas: Name Day and Patron Saint
Silas keeps the name day on 30 July, or 12 August on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Silas the Apostle.
By Greek custom the name day is 26 March: St Silas.
- Patron saint
- St Silas the Apostle
- New Calendar
- 30 July
- Old Calendar
- 12 August
- Next name day
- 30 July 2027 (New Calendar) · 12 August 2027 (Old Calendar)
- Greek custom
- 26 March: St Silas
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of July · The feasts of August
The patron saint: St Silas the Apostle
Kept on 30 July, or 12 August on the Old Calendar · Holy Apostles Silas, Silvanus and their companions
St Silas was one of the Seventy Apostles, a disciple of the Lord and one of the leading men of the Church in Jerusalem; the Acts of the Apostles calls him one of the “chief men among the brethren.” After the Council of the Apostles in Jerusalem, around the year 51, he was sent to Antioch with St Paul and St Barnabas to carry the Council’s letter, which told the Gentile believers that they need not keep the Law of Moses but should keep from idol sacrifices, from blood, from things strangled and from fornication. Silas stayed on in Antioch and then became St Paul’s companion on his second journey, preaching through Syria, Cilicia and Macedonia. At Philippi the two were falsely accused of stirring up the city, beaten with rods and thrown into prison. At midnight an earthquake shook the prison and set them free. The jailer, about to take his own life, instead came to faith, and he and all his household were baptized. Silas went on with Paul to Thessalonica and other cities, gathering and strengthening the young churches. According to tradition he was made Bishop of Corinth, worked many signs there, and finished his life in peace. The Church keeps his memory with others of the Seventy on 30 July (12 August on the Old Calendar).
What the faithful pray for
- those who preach the Gospel and serve as missionaries
- those in prison or unjustly accused
- joy and prayer in the midst of suffering
- faithful companionship in the work of the Church
- peace and unity in the Church
Other saints named Silas
St Silas
Kept on 26 March, or 8 April on the Old Calendar
Silas in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Silas, Silvanus, Sylvanus | |
| Greek | Σίλας, Silas | |
| Russian | Сила, Sila |
An icon for Silas
We don't carry an icon of St Silas the Apostle yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
Folding diptychSt John the Warrior & Guardian Angel
Kept on the same day, 30 July$99$69
Folding diptychSt Mark the Apostle & Guardian Angel
Another apostle$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 Silas
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 Silas’s name day?
Silas keeps the name day on 30 July on the New Calendar and on 12 August on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Silas the Apostle. By Greek custom it is kept on 26 March: St Silas.
Who is the patron saint of Silas?
St Silas the Apostle. St Silas was one of the Seventy Apostles, a disciple of the Lord and one of the leading men of the Church in Jerusalem; the Acts of the Apostles calls him one of the “chief men among the brethren.” After the Council of the Apostles in Jerusalem, around the year 51, he was sent to Antioch with St Paul and St Barnabas to carry the Council’s letter, which told the Gentile believers that they need not keep the Law of Moses but should keep from idol sacrifices, from blood, from things strangled and from fornication.
How is Silas written in other languages?
Greek: Σίλας (Silas) and Russian: Сила (Sila). Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Silas?
We don’t carry an icon of St Silas the Apostle 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