The day when all Christians celebrate their name day is usually called the day of the angel. It is associated with the saint after whom the person is named. How do you know when your name day is? What to do on this significant date? Why are church name days established in Orthodoxy? All this is our article.
What is name day?
Angel's Day, or the day when all Christians celebrate name days, is the date of remembrance of a saint. That is, if a child is born in a believing family, he is given a name for a reason, but based on the church calendar. It contains the names of saints for each day, which should be remembered on this date. The chosen name is given to the child either at birth or at baptism.
Orthodox believe that God gives every person two angels - a guardian and an intercessor. The last one is a dead saint who prays to God for us. By the way, let's say that in the Bible itself nothing is written about the connection of the dead righteous with angels and about the need to pray to your saint. Orthodox leanonly to the words of the elders - for example, Theodore of Edessa.
If you do not know the day of your name day (and this happens very often, because few of us grew up in a truly believing family), then it is easy to recognize it. Find the namesake saint in the church calendar (he may not be alone). If he has several days of memory during the year (for example, John has as many as 80!), Then find the date that first follows your own birthday. This will be your name day according to the Orthodox calendar.
The saint who is honored on this day is considered your heavenly patron. But if you wish, you can choose any of them for yourself - there are no strict rules here.
Such different saints
The Orthodox have many saints:
1. Prophets who delivered the words of the Lord to the people.
2. Apostles - founders of the church, 12 disciples of Christ.
3. Martyrs - who accepted torture and death for believing in Jesus.
4. Saints are priests who pleased the Lord with righteousness and performed a great service.
5. The monks are hermits and saints who simply renounced the worldly charms of life. They were chaste, fasting and praying.
6. The righteous are people who led a charitable life, but were married.
7. Unmercenaries - saints who healed the body and soul of people without taking any payment.
8. Holy fools for the sake of Christ or blessed - those who committed acts unusual for the people of the world, but before God they were special people.
Should we celebrate this date?
Why is the day set when all Christians celebrate name day? Of course, this was done by the church for a reason, but for the edification of the flock. What do priests advise people to do after they know the day of their angel?
1. Learn as much as you can about the life of your saint.
2. Imitate your intercessor in character, deeds, ministry, life.
3. On the day of the angel, visit the temple, confess and take communion.
If your saint led a monastic life, this does not mean that you also need to follow his example. Your feat will be in humble service to God, in a righteous life. If your saint is a martyr, then you must fearlessly confess the faith of Christ before people, tell others about the truths written in the Gospel. In short, lead a God-fearing and virtuous Christian life.
On the day when all Christians celebrate name days, it is not forbidden to invite friends to the festive table, accept congratulations.
