Name day
Victoria: Name Day and Patron Saint
Victoria keeps the name day on 17 November, or 30 November on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Victoria of Cordoba.
By Greek custom the name day is 11 November: Sts Victor and Stephanida.
- Patron saint
- St Victoria of Cordoba
- New Calendar
- 17 November
- Old Calendar
- 30 November
- Next name day
- 17 November 2026 (New Calendar) · 30 November 2026 (Old Calendar)
- Greek custom
- 11 November: Sts Victor and Stephanida
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of November
The patron saint: St Victoria of Cordoba
Kept on 17 November, or 30 November on the Old Calendar · Holy Martyrs Acisclus and Victoria of Cordoba
St Victoria was a young Christian woman of Cordoba in Spain, martyred together with her brother St Acisclus in the great persecution under the emperor Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century. The two were arrested for confessing Christ and refusing to honour the Roman gods. By the order of the governor Dion they were tortured long and cruelly, but neither would deny the Lord. The tradition of Cordoba tells that they were cast into a fiery furnace and kept unharmed in it, like the Three Youths in Babylon. At last Acisclus was beheaded with the sword, and Victoria was put to death by arrows shot into her breast and side; in icons she holds an arrow and the palm of victory. Few details of their lives are certain, and their story comes to us through the old martyrologies and the ancient Spanish (Mozarabic) liturgy, but the Christians of Cordoba have honoured the brother and sister since at least the fifth century as the heavenly patrons of their city. The Orthodox Church remembers St Victoria of Cordoba on 17 November (30 November on the Old Calendar). Her name means victory, and the faithful see in her the victory of Christ in a young life given wholly to Him. They ask her prayers, with those of her brother, for steadfastness under pressure, for love between brothers and sisters, and for the Church in Spain and the West where she first shone.
What the faithful pray for
- steadfastness in the faith under pressure
- brothers and sisters, that they help one another toward Christ
- the city of Cordoba and the Christians of Spain
- young people who confess Christ among unbelievers
Other saints named Victoria
Sts Victor and Stephanida
Kept on 11 November, or 24 November on the Old Calendar · Holy Martyrs Menas, Victor, Vincent and Stephanida
St Victor was a soldier in the Roman army in the second century, in the reign of the emperor Marcus Aurelius. When the emperor began to persecute the Christians, soldiers were ordered to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods as a test of their loyalty to the gods, the emperor and the state. Victor was a Christian, and he refused. He was handed over to cruel tortures, but he came through them unharmed. A sorcerer was brought against him, and through Victor’s prayer the sorcerer was overcome, gave up his sorcery and became a Christian. Through the saint’s prayers some blind soldiers also received their sight. Watching all this was Stephanida, the young wife of one of his tormentors, a girl of about fifteen. Seeing Victor’s endurance and the miracle, she openly glorified Christ before everyone. For this she was condemned to a terrible death: she was tied to two bent palm trees, and when they were let go they tore her apart. After her, Victor was beheaded. The two martyrs suffered at Damascus, and their holy relics were laid to rest there. Her name, Stephanida, means a crown, and both received the crown of the martyrs. The Church remembers them together on 11 November (24 November on the Old Calendar). The faithful ask St Victor’s prayers for courage and steadfastness, and they ask St Stephanida’s prayers for the boldness to stand with those who suffer for Christ.
What the faithful pray for
- soldiers and all who serve under orders
- steadfastness under pressure to deny Christ
- courage to speak the truth openly
- the healing of the blind
- young people and young wives
Victoria in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Victoria, Vittoria, Viktoria, Victoire, Viktoriya | Vicky, Vicki, Tori, Torie |
| Greek | Βικτωρία, Βικτώρια, Viktoria | |
| Russian | Виктория, Viktoriya | Вика, Vika |
| Ukrainian | Вікторія | |
| Bulgarian | Виктория | |
| Serbian | Viktorija | |
| Romanian | Victoria | |
| Polish | Wiktoria |
An icon for Victoria
We don't carry an icon of St Victoria of Cordoba yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
Folding diptychSt Alina (Alena) of Brussels & Guardian Angel
Another saint of the early Church in the West$99$69
Folding diptychSt Gertrude of Nivelles & Guardian Angel
Another saint of the early Church in the West$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 Victoria
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 Victoria’s name day?
Victoria keeps the name day on 17 November on the New Calendar and on 30 November on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Victoria of Cordoba. By Greek custom it is kept on 11 November: Sts Victor and Stephanida.
Who is the patron saint of Victoria?
St Victoria of Cordoba. St Victoria was a young Christian woman of Cordoba in Spain, martyred together with her brother St Acisclus in the great persecution under the emperor Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century.
How is Victoria written in other languages?
Greek: Βικτωρία (Viktoria), Russian: Виктория (Viktoriya), Ukrainian: Вікторія, Bulgarian: Виктория, Serbian: Viktorija and Romanian: Victoria. Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Victoria?
We don’t carry an icon of St Victoria of Cordoba 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
- Roman Martyrology: 17 November
- Christian Iconography: St. Acisclus and St. Victoria in Art
- Catholic Online: St. Acisclus
- Iconological Synaxarion: 17 November (Holy Martyr Victoria in Cordoba)
- Holy Trinity Orthodox: The Holy Martyrs Victor and Stephanida
- OrthoChristian: Martyr Victor at Damascus
- Mystagogy (John Sanidopoulos): Holy Martyrs Victor and Stephanie
- eortologio.net, Greek name-day calendar (Εορτολόγιο)
- azbyka.ru, Месяцеслов (the Russian Church's calendar of saints by name)