In Russia, since ancient times, the names of newborns were given on the basis of the church calendar. Nowadays, this somewhat forgotten tradition is being revived and is becoming more widespread every year. Many young couples who become parents strive to give their child the name of the saint that appears on the calendar. To choose a name in accordance with church tradition, the following points should be remembered.
It is necessary
Detailed orthodox church calendar
Instructions
Step 1
Usually, according to the church calendar, the child is given the name of that saint / saint whose memory is celebrated on the very birthday of the child. However, difficulties of two kinds sometimes arise here. Firstly, there are days of great holidays in the church calendar when the saints are not remembered at all (for example, the Nativity of Christ or the Transfiguration). Secondly, there are days when saints are remembered either only for men or only for women (the former is more common).
Step 2
In this case, you can look and take the name of the saint / saint whose memory is celebrated in the next eight or even forty days (on the 40th day after the birth of children, they are usually baptized). It is also a common practice, approved by many priests, to take for a child the name of that saint who is remembered according to the calendar in the days preceding the actual birthday.
Step 3
This need to choose a somewhat arbitrary name for a newborn often arises for aesthetic reasons. Someone may not like the purely sounding, for example, the name Paphnutius or Eupraxia. And then the above rules provide an opportunity to choose from the calendar another name that is more acceptable to you.
Step 4
It is believed that the saint / saint after whom your baby is named becomes his patron / patroness. Although, from a strictly Christian point of view, all the saints (alone or together), when prayerfully addressing them, can be intercessors and helpers of every person living on earth. Therefore, in what relationship your child will be with his saint or saint, depends largely on the degree of religiosity already at his conscious age.
Step 5
Name days (a holiday celebrated annually on the day when the memory of the saint in whose honor you named your baby is celebrated) is usually celebrated by attending a church service or, if this is not possible, by reading the biography at home (it is also called the life) of the saint in whose honor your baby.
