The name saint
An icon for a name day: the name saint
In Italy, Greece and throughout the Orthodox world the name day is celebrated as warmly as a birthday, sometimes more: it is the day of the saint whose name one bears. An icon of that saint is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
How to choose the saint
- The saint of one's baptismal name, chosen by parents or godparents.
- If there are several saints with the same name, the one celebrated in the family or one's home town, or the one nearest the birthday.
- For double names, the two saints together on the same panel.
- For names without a saint, the saint of the day of birth or a saint dear to the person.
Every saint can be painted
Besides saints with a traditional iconography (Saint Joseph, Saint George, Saint Nicholas, Saint Michael, the apostles, the women martyrs), the iconographer can paint more recent or local saints, studying the available sources and portraits and translating them into the language of the icon. The name is written on the panel in Greek or Latin; the dedication, with the name day date, goes on the back or in the booklet. Like every icon by Concetta Basile, it is fully gilded with 23¾ karat gold, with inscriptions in Greek or Latin, and is commissioned with an offering proportionate to the time and materials of the work.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should a name day icon be commissioned?
A hand-painted icon requires weeks of work, plus the rest period before the olifa: it is best to contact Concetta Basile a few months in advance. Timing is agreed during the conversation.