Before the revolution of 1917 in Russia were called newborns name, which is listed on the day of their birth in the special book of the church - the church calendar.Calendar published by the Orthodox Church and represent a list of names of saints canonized by all-time history of the church.The final version of the calendar does not exist, but a part of this book may enter only the names of saints canonized.Nowadays Church Calendar is available in the church, they can also be found on many sites on the Internet.
What is the Church Calendar
Names boys calendar chosen by the birthday child.For every day usually have one or (more often) several church names.As a rule, the names firmly included in the Russian vocabulary.At the time, through the church in society it included many names of Greek origin, such as Alexander, Andrew Makar, Hilarion.Perhaps at a certain time, they even accounted for most of the names, along with the "biblical" names of Jewish descent (Isaiah, Daniel, Mary, David, Moses, Solomon, etc.).Thanks all the same church traditions in the Russian language, and includes the names of Roman (Latin) origin, such as Adrian, Vitali, Valery, Concordia, Matron, Julius and others.In the calendar you can find the names of the boys, and the church originally Slavic origin.It names two roots (ending with "Glory"): Yaroslav, Vyacheslav, Stanislav.In addition, names such as Vsevolod, Bogdan, Lyudmila, Hope and Vladimir are also ancient Slavic names.In short, the Church Calendar offers a fairly wide selection of names for your baby.
if that date fell on a very rare names
But what if the church boys' names written in the calendar on the date of birth of your child, you do not like?For example, a baby was born on April 7, and three proposed name - Gabriel James, Ivan, and you want to give the child a more modern name.Well, according to church tradition, you can use the names of the boys, the church calendar coinciding with the 8th and 40th day from the day of birth of the baby.Iein our example we added more names: Makar (April 14) and Arseny and Pimen (May 21).According to church law, on the 8th day of the naming rite is performed, and on the 40th child baptized, which is why these days are chosen as an alternative.
At baptism a person gets a new name
However, many people in the modern Russian society at the time received not church names.Boys are often called names that are not on the calendar, such as Velizar, Robert, Andron, Stanislav, Anton (in the church books do not have this name, only Anthony).If these people have not been baptized as a child, and they want to be baptized Orthodox priest pick up their name, which is similar in meaning, sounding or close to the date of birth.So, Yuri, is likely to be given the name George (from which the name of Yuri happened);Anton probably will call Anthony.The new name given at baptism, can be used when visiting the church to confession and communion, church name shall also be indicated in the notes on the health and repose.
ancient tradition
Church names of the boys show their heavenly protector, guardian angels.It is believed that the saint whose name he called his parents at the birth of a child, to accompany and protect the child throughout his life.So maybe it's not just a fad, but a long-standing tradition that has ancient roots and deeper meaning.
