64 - Paterikon for Kids - Saint Kalliopi

June 8/21.

Have you noticed how it is not unusual to meet at a Greek church with ladies named after saints martyred in the first centuries of the Church?
Saints Kalliopi, Paraskevi, Marina, Dorothy, Barbara, Julitta, Thekla, Sophia, and Kyriake are some holy martyrs of the first centuries of the persecutions who wisely chose to give their life rather than bow down to lifeless idols.

Did you know that Greeks traditionally dedicate their children to the patron saints of their parents? Therefore, you often will meet Greek grandchildren sharing their grandparents' name/patron saint. So, next time you meet a yiayia named Kalliopi, it could be that both her grandmother and her granddaughter are named after Holy Martyr Kalliopi.

Now in a third edition!