Today is the name day of Yiannis, John, Ioanna, Gianna, Joanna and all the derivatives of names related to Ioannis.
Saint John feast days are celebrated several times thoughout the year, however because John’s main role in his life was played out on Epiphany Day, the Church has dedicated the day following Theofaneia to his memory.
John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ and was of such moral purity that he was called an ‘angel’ in the Holy Scripture rather than a mortal man.
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Considered a great prophet, he was beheaded by Herod in Sebaste between 28 to 36AD after he rebuked him for divorcing his wife and unlawfully wedding the wife of his brother. Following his execution, St John’s body was moved to Antioch, his place of birth. Later, it was transferred to Constantinople before it disappeared during the time of the Ottomans.