Greek Orthodox Feast Day Calendar: Major Saints and Celebrations
- Greece Media
- 4 days ago
- 12 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The Greek Orthodox Church keeps one of the richest calendars in Christianity. Every day honors a saint, a feast, or a sacred event. For centuries, this calendar has shaped the rhythm of Greek faith and culture, guiding worship, fasting, name days, and village festivals.
This guide begins with a complete month-by-month calendar of major feast days. Afterward, you will find explanations of why these dates matter, how they are celebrated, and how modern saints continue to inspire the faithful today.
Quick Links to Feast Days by Month
What Is the Greek Orthodox Feast Day Calendar?
The feast day calendar honors saints and sacred events throughout the year. It is part of the Orthodox liturgical cycle, which includes both fixed dates and movable feasts that depend on the date of Pascha.
Every day in the year commemorates at least one saint. Some dates celebrate pivotal events in Christian history, such as the Nativity of Christ or the Dormition of the Theotokos. This structure provides the rhythm for worship and guides the cycle of fasting and feasting in Orthodox life.
Feast Days of Greek Orthodox Saints (Month by Month)
January Feast Days
January begins with the feast of St. Basil on the first day of the year and quickly moves to Theophany, one of the greatest celebrations in the Orthodox calendar. The month emphasizes renewal, light, and the start of the liturgical journey.
January 1 — St. Basil the Great
January 2 — St. Seraphim, St. Silvestros, St. Juliana
January 3 — St. Genovefa, St. Gordios
January 4 — St. Sosthenes
January 5 — St. Syglitiki, St. Theoni, St. Theopemptos
January 6 — Theophany, Baptism of Christ
January 7 — St. John the Baptist, Synaxis
January 8 — St. Agathon, St. Domnica, St. Kelsios, St. Parthena, St. Vasilissa
January 9 — St. Efstratios
January 11 — St. Theodosios the Cenobiarch
January 12 — St. Tatiana, Martyr Mertios
January 13 — St. Ermilios, St. Hilary
January 14 — St. Nina of Georgia
January 17 — St. Anthony the Great
January 18 — St. Athanasios, St. Cyril of Alexandria
January 19 — St. Makarios of Egypt, St. Theodoula, St. Efrasia
January 20 — St. Efthimios the Great, Martyr Fabianos, St. Thyrsi, St. Agnes
January 21 — St. Maximos the Confessor, St. Neophytos, St. Patroklos, St. Evgenios
January 22 — St. Anastasios the Persian
January 23 — St. Agathangelos, St. Dionysios of Olympus
January 24 — St. Filon, St. Xeni
January 25 — St. Gregory the Theologian, St. Margaret, St. Xenofon
January 26 — St. Timothy
January 27 — St. Haris, St. Palladios
January 28 — St. Varsamia
January 29 — St. Timothy
January 30 — Three Hierarchs: St. Basil, St. Gregory, St. John Chrysostom
January 31 — St. Evdoxia, St. Kyros
February Feast Days
February highlights both ancient martyrs and revered hierarchs, with the Presentation of Christ in the Temple standing out as the central celebration. It is a month that balances remembrance with joy.
February 1 — St. Tryphon
February 2 — Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Ypapanti)
February 3 — St. Simeon, St. Anna the Prophetess
February 4 — St. Isidore of Pelusium
February 5 — St. Agatha of Palermo
February 6 — St. Photios the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople
February 7 — St. Parthenios of Lampsakos
February 8 — St. Theodore Stratelates
February 9 — St. Nicephoros of Antioch
February 10 — St. Haralambos the Hieromartyr
February 11 — St. Blaise (Vlasios)
February 12 — St. Meletios of Antioch
February 13 — St. Martinianos
February 14 — St. Auxentios of the Mountain
February 17 — St. Theodore the Tyro
February 18 — St. Leo the Great, Pope of Rome
February 21 — St. Eustathios, Patriarch of Antioch
February 22 — St. Anthousa of Constantinople
February 23 — St. Polycarp of Smyrna
February 24 — 1st and 2nd Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist
February 26 — St. Photini the Samaritan Woman
February 27 — St. Asklepios
February 28 — St. Kyra, St. Mariana
February 29 — St. Cassian the Roman (Leap Year)
March Feast Days
March carries a strong Lenten character, often including the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste and the Annunciation of the Theotokos. The season of preparation and expectation comes into clear focus.
March 1 — St. Eudokia the Martyr of Heliopolis
March 2 — St. Hesychius the Martyr
March 4 — St. Gerasimos of Jordan
March 5 — St. Conon the Gardener
March 7 — Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
March 9 — The Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
March 11 — St. Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem
March 17 — St. Alexios, the Man of God
March 19 — St. Chrysanthos and St. Daria
March 20 — St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
March 21 — St. Thomas, Patriarch of Constantinople
March 25 — Annunciation of the Theotokos
March 26 — Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel
March 28 — St. Hilarion the New
March 29 — St. Mark of Arethusa
March 30 — St. John Climacus (of the Ladder)
March 31 — St. Hypatios the Wonderworker
April Feast Days
April is often shaped by the celebration of Pascha when it falls in this month, along with the feast of St. George and the memory of several key martyrs. It is a month of both solemn reflection and triumphant joy.
April 1 — St. Mary of Egypt
April 4 — St. George the Younger of Mytilene
April 5 — St. Claudius, Diodoros, Victor, and Victorinus
April 6 — St. Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople
April 7 — St. Calliopios the Martyr
April 8 — St. Agathopodos the Deacon and Theodoulos the Reader
April 9 — St. Eupsychios of Caesarea
April 11 — St. Antipas of Pergamum
April 13 — St. Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome
April 14 — St. Ardalion the Actor
April 17 — St. Symeon of Persia and Companions
April 20 — St. Theodore the Trichinas
April 22 — St. Theodore of Sykeon
April 23 — St. George the Great Martyr
April 24 — St. Elizabeth the Wonderworker
April 25 — St. Mark the Evangelist
April 26 — St. Basil of Parium
April 27 — St. Symeon the Holy Martyr
April 28 — St. Jason and St. Sosipater of the 70 Apostles
April 29 — St. Jason of Tarsus
April 30 — St. James the Apostle, Brother of John the Theologian
May Feast Days
May centers on saints who shaped the life of the early Church, including Constantine and Helen, as well as St. John the Theologian. The month connects imperial history with apostolic witness.
May 2 — St. Athanasios the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria
May 3 — St. Timothy and St. Maura the Martyrs
May 8 — St. John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist
May 9 — St. Christopher the Martyr
May 10 — St. Simon the Zealot, Apostle
May 12 — St. Epiphanios, Bishop of Cyprus
May 15 — St. Pachomios the Great
May 16 — St. Theodore the Sanctified
May 20 — St. Thallelaios the Martyr
May 21 — Sts. Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the-Apostles
May 22 — St. Basiliskos the Martyr
May 25 — St. Therapon of Cyprus
May 29 — St. Theodosia the Virgin-Martyr of Constantinople
May 30 — St. Isaacius, Founder of the Dalmatian Monastery
May 31 — St. Hermias the Martyr of Comana
June Feast Days
June features the commemoration of the apostles Peter and Paul, the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles, and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. It reflects the missionary zeal of the early Church.
June 1 — St. Justin the Philosopher and Martyr
June 4 — St. Metrophanes, Patriarch of Constantinople
June 5 — St. Dorotheos, Bishop of Tyre
June 8 — St. Kalliope the Martyr
June 11 — St. Bartholomew and St. Barnabas, Apostles
June 15 — Prophet Amos
June 19 — St. Thaddeus (Jude), Apostle
June 20 — St. Methodios, Patriarch of Constantinople
June 24 — Nativity of St. John the Baptist
June 26 — St. David of Thessaloniki
June 29 — Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles
June 30 — Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
July Feast Days
July is filled with beloved saints such as St. Kyriaki, St. Marina, St. Paraskevi, and St. Panteleimon. The Prophet Elias is also honored, linking biblical prophecy with Orthodox faith.
July 1 — Sts. Cosmas and Damian, the Holy Unmercenaries
July 2 — Deposition of the Precious Robe of the Theotokos
July 5 — St. Athanasios of Athos
July 7 — St. Kyriaki the Great Martyr
July 11 — St. Euphemia the Great Martyr
July 17 — St. Marina the Great Martyr
July 20 — Holy Prophet Elias (Elijah)
July 22 — St. Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles
July 25 — St. Anna, Mother of the Theotokos
July 26 — St. Paraskevi the Virgin-Martyr
July 27 — St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer
July 29 — St. Kallinikos the Martyr
July 31 — St. Joseph of Arimathea
August Feast Days
August is marked by the Dormition of the Theotokos, one of the great feasts of the Church, along with the Transfiguration of Christ. The month carries a deeply devotional spirit for Orthodox Christians worldwide.
August 1 — Procession of the Holy Cross
August 6 — Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
August 15 — Dormition of the Theotokos (Koimisis tis Theotokou)
August 16 — St. Gerasimos of Cephalonia
August 23 — St. Irene of Cappadocia
August 25 — St. Titus, Apostle of the 70
August 27 — St. Phanourios the Great Martyr
August 29 — Beheading of St. John the Baptist
August 31 — Sts. Floros and Lavros
September Feast Days
September begins the ecclesiastical year and includes the Nativity of the Theotokos, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the commemoration of saints who embody both family and faith. It is a month of beginnings and blessings.
September 1 — Indiction: Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year
September 5 — Prophet Zacharias, Father of St. John the Baptist
September 8 — Nativity of the Theotokos
September 9 — Sts. Joachim and Anna, Parents of the Theotokos
September 14 — Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 17 — St. Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Hope, and Love
September 23 — Conception of St. John the Baptist
September 24 — St. Thekla the Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles
September 26 — Falling Asleep of St. John the Theologian
September 28 — St. Chariton the Confessor
September 30 — St. Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop of Armenia
October Feast Days
October honors apostles, evangelists, and great martyrs, with the feast of St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki as a major highlight. The month is also tied to the Protection of the Theotokos, a feast deeply celebrated in Greece.
October 1 — Feast of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos
October 6 — St. Thomas the Apostle
October 9 — St. James, Son of Alphaeus, Apostle
October 18 — St. Luke the Evangelist
October 23 — St. James the Apostle, Brother of the Lord
October 26 — St. Demetrios the Myrrh-Streamer of Thessaloniki
October 28 — Holy Protection of the Theotokos (celebrated with Ohi Day in Greece)
November Feast Days
November includes archangels, hierarchs, and martyrs, with St. Nectarios of Aegina, also known as St. Nektarios of Aegina among the most beloved modern saints. It also opens the season of the Nativity fast, preparing for Christmas.
November 1 — Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian
November 8 — Synaxis of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel
November 9 — St. Nectarios of Aegina
November 13 — St. John Chrysostom
November 14 — St. Philip the Apostle
November 15 — Beginning of the Nativity Fast
November 16 — St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist
November 21 — Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
November 25 — St. Katherine the Great Martyr
November 30 — St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle
December Feast Days
December closes the calendar with the Nativity of Christ, preceded by the commemorations of St. Nicholas, St. Spyridon, and St. Eleftherios. It is a month filled with expectation, joy, and hope.
December 4 — St. Barbara the Great Martyr
December 5 — St. Savas the Sanctified
December 6 — St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
December 9 — Conception of the Theotokos by St. Anna
December 12 — St. Spyridon the Wonderworker of Tremithousa
December 15 — St. Eleftherios the Hieromartyr
December 20 — St. Ignatios the God-Bearer of Antioch
December 25 — Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Christmas)
December 27 — St. Stephen the First Martyr
Movable Feasts in the Orthodox Calendar
Pascha (Easter) — The greatest feast of the Orthodox Church, celebrating the Resurrection of Christ. Its date changes each year, falling on the Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. It usually occurs between April 4 and May 8.
Palm Sunday — Celebrated one week before Pascha, commemorating Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Holy Week — The week leading up to Pascha, including Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, and Holy Saturday, marked by solemn services.
Ascension of Christ — Celebrated on the 40th day after Pascha, recalling Christ’s ascension into heaven.
Pentecost — Celebrated 50 days after Pascha, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.
All Saints Sunday — Celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost, honoring all known and unknown saints of the Church.
Fixed and Movable Feast Days
Feast days come in two types.
Fixed feast days always fall on the same date, such as Christmas on December 25 or the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15.
Movable feast days shift each year based on the date of Pascha. Pentecost, for example, is celebrated fifty days after Easter.
This is why the Orthodox calendar looks slightly different each year, and why Orthodox Easter often falls on a different date than Western Easter.
Why Feast Days Are Important in Greek Culture
Feast days go beyond the church service. They are moments of celebration and community.
Name days are as important as birthdays. A Giorgos celebrates on April 23, the Feast of St. George. A Maria celebrates on August 15, the Dormition of the Theotokos.
Village festivals, or panigyria, bring entire towns together with food, music, and dancing. These often take place on the feast day of the local patron saint.
National traditions are tied to feast days. OXI Day, October 28, is also the Feast of the Holy Protection.
Through feast days, faith and culture remain deeply intertwined.
Major Greek Orthodox Holidays and Feast Days
Among the hundreds of feast days, certain ones stand at the center of the Church’s life.
Pascha is the Feast of Feasts, the most important day of the Orthodox year.
The Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15 is sometimes called the summer Pascha.
Christmas on December 25 celebrates the Nativity of Christ.
Theophany on January 6 commemorates the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan.
These, along with others such as the Annunciation and Transfiguration, are part of the Twelve Great Feasts.
How Feast Days Are Celebrated in Greece
Celebrations of feast days in Greece blend worship and culture.
Church services are marked with hymns, processions, and blessings.
Icons are carried through streets or villages.
Families and communities share festive meals, often with traditional foods tied to the day.
Panigyria bring music and dancing to public squares.
These celebrations preserve community bonds and offer a living expression of faith.
Name Days and Their Connection to Feast Days
In Greece, name days are often more significant than birthdays. The day is celebrated on the feast day of the saint for whom a person is named.
For example, Panagiotis and Panagiota celebrate on August 15, the Dormition of the Theotokos. Andreas celebrates on November 30, the Feast of St. Andrew. Friends and family visit without invitation, and the person celebrating often opens their home for guests.
Regional Traditions and Local Saints
Each region of Greece celebrates feast days in unique ways.
On Kalymnos, pilgrims honor St. Savvas of Kalymnos (1862–1948) at his monastery overlooking the harbor.
On Kefalonia, thousands gather for St. Gerasimos (1509–1579), carrying his relics in processions twice each year.
On Tinos, pilgrims crawl on their knees to the Church of Panagia Evangelistria on August 15, honoring the Dormition.
These regional customs highlight how the calendar lives differently across Greece.
Modern Saints in the Greek Orthodox Church
In addition to ancient saints, the Church has canonized holy people from modern times who continue to inspire the faithful.
St. Nectarios of Aegina (1846–1920) is known for his miracles and for the monastery of Aegina, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Greece.
St. Savvas of Kalymnos (1862–1948) lived as a humble monk and became known as a wonderworker, especially in the Dodecanese islands.
St. Paisios of Mount Athos (1924–1994) is beloved worldwide for his spiritual counsel, writings, and humility.
St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia (1906–1991) is remembered for his wisdom and compassion, offering guidance to countless people in modern Greece.
Their presence in the calendar shows that holiness is not only ancient history, but alive today.
Old Calendar and New Calendar Differences
In Greece, most churches follow the Revised Julian Calendar, which aligns closely with the Western Gregorian calendar. However, some communities follow the Old Julian Calendar.
This means certain feast days are celebrated on different dates depending on the community. For example, Christmas falls on December 25 for most, but on January 7 for Old Calendar believers.
Conclusion
The Greek Orthodox Feast Day Calendar is more than a schedule of dates. It is the living heartbeat of Greek faith and culture, guiding worship, community, and tradition from generation to generation. From the Resurrection of Christ at Pascha to the Dormition of the Theotokos in August, from ancient martyrs to modern saints, the calendar connects past, present, and future.
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