Greek Name Day: Apollonia, Kleopas, Kronos, Markianos, Tertios, Zinovia (and variants)

Greek Name Day

The name Apollonia derives from Saint Apollonia, a virgin martyr who suffered in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christans prior to the persecution of Decius. She suffered grave torture to her teeth, for refusing to denounce Christ, resulting in her being referred to as the patroness of dentistry and tooth problems. In art, she is often depicted holding a dentistry tool such as tongs, holding up a tooth.

The name Kronos, also spelt Cronos, is a Greek name derived from the male deity Cronus, who was worshipped by the pre-Hellenic population of Greece. Cronus is also identified with the Roman God Saturn. Cronus functions were connected with agriculture. In art, he is depicted as an old man holding a sickle or a curved sword.

The name Markianos is derived from the Hieromartyr Marcian, Bishop of Syracuse. Marcian was a disciple of Peter, sent to Sicily and settled in a cave near Syracuse. It was in this city that where he successfully spread the word of Christ.

The names Zinovia, Zenovia, Zenovios, Zinovia, Zinovios, Zelina derive from the hieromartyr Zenobius, Bishop of Aegea, and his sister Zenobia, who suffered martyrdom together in the year 285 in Cilicia. The siblings were raised in the Christian Faith by their parents, and led a pious and cellibate lifestyle, distributing away their inherited wealth and giving it to the poor.

Name Days are often named after a Christian saint or martyr and are mainly celebrated in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries. On this day, the holy person is celebrated, as well as anyone named after this person. Often, these celebrations are more important than birthdays. Celebrated today:
Apollonia

Kleopas, Cleopas

Kronos,

Markianos

Tertios

Zinovia, Zenovia, Zenovios, Zinovia, Zinovios, Zelina