Namesake: what is it?
In Orthodoxy, this is a day on which the memory of a saint is honored, whose name was received by a person at baptism. On every day of the Orthodox calendar, Orthodox figures and martyrs are commemorated; quite often there can be several of them on one day. When a baby is brought to baptism, it usually receives the name of a saint, whose memory is celebrated on the day of the ceremony. By receiving a name at baptism, a person receives the protection of his heavenly namesake.
Sometimes name days are called “angel’s day,” but this is not entirely true. Saint Theodore of Edessa argued that the Lord gives each person two angels. A guardian angel protects the ward from evil and misfortune, helps to perform good deeds and deeds. People receive a second intercessor after baptism - this is a saint of God. He intercedes before the throne of God, prays for everyone who bears his name. Saint Theodore believed, as did all Orthodox Christians, that the prayers of saints would be heard faster than the prayers of earthly sinners.
Name meaning for Christians
The name has several meanings for an individual:
- It is used to distinguish people.
- In ancient times, a name indicated the social status and position of an individual in society. Today, some monastic names indicate a special place in society.
- The sacred meaning of a name leaves an imprint on a person’s entire life. His successful choice contributed to prosperity, providing the wearer with grace and energy.
Name day is the day of remembrance of the saint whose name an Orthodox Christian bears.
Important! Christianity refers to the naming of a personal name during the Sacrament of Baptism as the establishment of a connection between the human soul and the Lord. By naming a child in honor of a certain saint, parents and the Church outline his life path, in which his heavenly namesake will be an example.
How to determine the name of a saint
When choosing a name for baptism, the priest is guided not by the preferences of his parents or his own sympathies, but by the church Orthodox calendar, also called the calendar.
Modern calendars contain more than two thousand names of saints whom the church canonized at different times. Many of them have the same names, and the days of honor are always different, but there are still difficulties. For example, more than a hundred Saint John are mentioned in the calendar, but there can only be one patron. Therefore, there is also one name day. The name day is the only day of the year when the memory of a specific saint is commemorated.
If at baptism the child was given a name in honor of the martyr Dmitry of Thessalonica (celebrated on November 22 (9 according to the old style), then only on this day will it be a name day (name day, angel day).
Today there are many names that are not indicated in the calendar; in this case, at baptism, the name that is closest in sound is selected. For example, Angelica - Angelina, Alisa - Alexandra, Dina - Evdokia, etc. Sometimes names are chosen based on meaning. So, at baptism Svetlana can receive the name Photinia (photos (Greek) - light).
Congratulations on Angel's Day in verse
I sincerely want to congratulate you on Angel Day, It is an important day by right, Like a fairy tale in reality. Let the angel be strong, You always trust him, He will lead you along a long road. He is your friend and protector And on this important day you are together, you are united, Like the sun's light and shadow!
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A heavenly angel protects us in the world. Everyone has their own guardian angel. He is responsible for you in this life, He protects both life and peace. Maybe he doesn’t always manage to take away people’s troubles with his hand. Know that today your holiday will begin, So today you should be lucky. Name day is a personal day. Only for you today is sunlight. Your name is a real image, There is no such image in the world. A holiday is an event in every home. A new morning brings dawn, the joy of knowledge, the discovery of the world, a fragrant bouquet of bright flowers. Let the warm flow of congratulations bring grace into your soul. Looking from heaven with a never-slumbering eye, your Angel will always help.
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I hasten to congratulate you on Angel Day. May He always guide you on the right path. It will certainly help, protect you from mistakes, and protect you from misfortune with an angelic blessing!
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May an angel protect your life, And may your soul not cry, May everything in life be completely different, May troubles pass you by, May the sun only shine, And may everyone love you More than anything else in the world!!!
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The child's name is given by the parents. God assigns a guardian angel to everyone. From this moment on, a person’s name largely determines his fate. It is important to keep your name - this “divine code” - in spiritual purity. And then the guardian angel will favor and support the person. Happiness to you, our dear birthday boy!
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Day Angel! What a magical holiday for a name that pleases with warmth. Your God-given, righteous messenger will cover your heart with affection and kindness. Let there be as much happiness as you want, May there be a full ocean of mutual love. Take from life what you want, And let joy explode like a volcano. So that the light of happiness warms you in sadness, Friends always help you in problems, And so that angels swing their eyelids on their wings, And snowdrops bloom in your soul!
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We congratulate you on Angel's Day! We wish you successful business and joy, May your friends be faithful to you, May you be content with your destiny! You yourself have always fought with difficulties, You don’t expect anyone else to try for you, You are ready to come to the aid of others - We are proud of our comrade! And on the day of your brightest name day, we wish you to be an Angel!
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May the Angel protect your life, May trouble not know you, May grief flee from you, May your friends not forget, May joy, happiness and success, Luck, tenderness, good laughter, Like a radiant star, always accompany you!
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Let the angel, without looking away, Look after you, Let him protect you all your life, Covering you from troubles with himself. Let the star protect your sleep, shining in the silence of the night, and let the sun rise in the morning, dispelling the darkness of the night. Let the wind disperse the clouds that will be above you, And let the rainbow rise in the rain, Connecting with your soul. May God be merciful, Give a life like this: Where are you out of a thousand roads? You will find your straight line!
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The Bright Angel looks at you intently every hour, foresees everything in advance, and protects you from mistakes. He worked hard for a whole year - He didn’t let troubles come to you. For him, you gratefully raise your glass.
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Happy Angel Day! On this holiday I would like to wish you not to grumble about fate and bad weather, but to walk more confidently towards your goal! Do you remember that somewhere in the world there is an Angel, looking from heaven, Soaring in the heavenly ether, Creating many miracles! He protects you from bad things, He guides you through life, Do not do anything vicious or evil, But go forward with Him boldly!
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Be happy on Angel Day, Doubly cheerful, After all, You are not alone on the vast Earth. The heavenly intercessor is always behind your back, silently walking with your destiny. May he not leave you even for a moment - Friends wish with love today.
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Happy Angel Day, I congratulate you! From the bottom of my heart I wish you a lot of happiness and love! May you, guarded by that Angel, live as we all dream! Name day is a personal day. Only for you now is the sunshine. Your name is a real image, There is no such image in the world. A special day in every home is an event. A new morning brings dawn, the joy of knowledge, the comfort of discovery, a fragrant bouquet of bright flowers. Let the poems bring grace into your soul as a warm stream. Looking from heaven with a never-slumbering eye, your Angel will always help.
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I congratulate you on your name day! I wish you success and joy, May your friends be faithful to you, May you be content with your destiny! You yourself have always fought with difficulties, Don’t wait for someone else to try for you. You are ready to help others - We are proud of our comrade! And on the day of your brightest name day, we wish you to be an Angel!
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Happy Angel Day to you! Congratulations on a good holiday, After all, you can’t forget about name days, but on my own behalf I wish you:
Clear skies and sunny days, Kind, sympathetic, loyal friends, There is always prosperity and comfort in the house, Let no trouble knock on its doors.
Health, success, smiles in the eyes, Faith, hope, good luck in business, In the family - understanding, warmth and love. Let the flame of youth not go out in the blood!
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Happy Angel Day, I congratulate you, I wish you all earthly blessings, And so that the Angel flies without falling behind, So that he protects and that’s the only way! After all, it is he who saves us from everything, And protects us for his relatives, Only he knows your path, Only he, the holiest of saints!
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Live and remember: the Guardian Angel is behind you, guiding you with his Hand invisibly, and always watching over you. Let Angel Day remind you of this unearthly connection. Let your Angel be the most careful and strong!
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On Angel Day, I wish you Spiritual beauty, Patience, understanding, Dreams come true, Love from family and friends, And be friends with your angel with all your pure heart, And believe in miracles with him!
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An angel was given to you from baptism, so that he would always save you. On the day of Orthodox name day, we want to congratulate you. In communication, be as easy as before, In business, be skillful, graceful, dexterous, But in endless conversations, do not get stuck in stupid arguments. And you will be happy, and loved, and forever guarded by an angel!
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Let's raise our glasses and drink to the bottom - After all, everyone is given life to have fun. On your name day we are glad to tell you that life has given you to us as a reward! Today, your relatives wish you with love a lot of happiness, good luck and health and believe that the Angel is protecting you and will always take risks away from you!
How to find out the date of your name day
It is easy for an uninitiated person to get confused in the calendar, but it is still worth deciding which saint is the patron. To do this, you need to find in the church calendar the nearest memorial date with the name of the saint in whose honor you were named at baptism. Strict rule: the name day date follows the birthday.
It is worth getting to know the patron saint and reading his life. If you want to honor a saint, you need to turn to him by reading the appropriate prayers, akathist, kontakion. There is a certain ritual and rules of veneration. Sometimes priests give names at baptism, in accordance with internal church rules, and then the name in the calendar and the name given during the ceremony may not coincide.
Antibodies to coronavirus. What is important to know.
The coronavirus infection has changed the life of almost the entire planet in general and each of us in particular. The infection often occurs without symptoms or is mild. How can I find out whether I have been ill or not (after all, I coughed in winter)? Am I safe for others? Can I visit my grandmother, mother, and friends without fear? These and other questions concern many people. Enough time has passed for the opportunity to answer them. To assess possible immunity, there is a screening test for antibodies to coronavirus (IgM and IgG).
Coronavirus infection
The “name” of the coronavirus that caused the pandemic is CoV-2 (short for Corona Virus 2), or SARS-CoV-2. The disease caused by CoV-2 is called COVID (from the English COrona VIrus Disease). It is dangerous for the development of bilateral pneumonia and acute respiratory failure. The manifestations resemble ARVI, but a dry cough without sputum production, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and a feeling of tightness in the chest are alarming. In case of acute signs of the disease, swabs from the throat are examined using the PCR method, which reveals the genetic material of the pathogen (RNA) and confirms the diagnosis.
What are antibodies to coronavirus?
Antibodies, or immunoglobulins, are special proteins that are produced by the immune system in response to any infectious agent, including CoV-2, entering the human body, even if there were no clear signs of the disease. Antibodies recognize the coronavirus, neutralize it and store information about the infection in case of a new encounter with the infection.
How are antibodies formed?
In the first week of the disease, immunoglobulin M (IgM) begins to be synthesized. They are the first to encounter infection and are therefore considered markers of acute primary infection. However, a test for detecting class M antibodies can give a nonspecific reaction, which in some cases leads to a false positive result. Since class M antibodies are responsible for being the first to fight off infection and to do so as quickly as possible, these proteins are not very specific and may not capture the virus very accurately. A nonspecific reaction with the test system can be caused by processes associated with inflammation in the body: acute and chronic inflammatory processes, autoimmune diseases, problems with the thyroid gland, pregnancy, and so on. This is called a "false positive" result.
With a standard infectious disease (including coronavirus infection), IgM antibodies usually disappear after a month, being replaced by more specific IgG antibodies. However, scientists have found that with coronavirus, IgM can persist for a long time (up to 1.5-3 months from the onset of symptoms, when the virus itself has not been detected for a long time).
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is also produced during the acute period of infection. Their main goal is to protect mucous membranes from coronavirus. IgA is more selective (specific) and is produced strictly for coronavirus. Their level decreases after recovery, approximately 1.5-2 months after infection.
Immunoglobulins G (IgG) are the last to be synthesized, 5-6 weeks after the virus enters the body, and retain information about the coronavirus. Typically, IgG is an archive of memory of past infections, in most cases for life or for several years. The mechanisms of development of the immune response to coronavirus are still being studied. It is unclear whether persistent immunity is formed or not. This remains to be seen. But in any case, the detection of IgG indicates that the coronavirus has entered the body and the body’s immune response.
KDL Laboratory presents a line of tests for determining antibodies to the new coronavirus infection.
Who are they shown to?
- For those who want to know whether he had an infection or not, regardless of whether there were signs of a cold or not. You just need to understand that if there were suspicious signs, it would be more advisable to be tested for IgG after 5 weeks from the expected period. If there are no signs, the timing is not important, get examined at any time.
- For those who suspect a coronavirus infection now or have recently had it, even if a throat swab was tested using PCR and it showed a negative result. Sometimes it happens.
It is also possible to anonymously perform a test for antibodies to coronavirus, indicating age and gender.
Let's talk about each study in order.
IgM/IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
This is a comprehensive screening test. Simultaneously determines immunoglobulins of classes M and G, the result for each antibody. It is performed using the immunochromatographic method (ICH). The response is given in the “detected/not detected” format.
How to understand the result of the study?
If Ig M (+) are detected, IgG (-) are not detected:
- May be a sign of acute infection, especially if there are signs of illness.
- Possible false positive result (for chronic diseases)
Therefore, it is advisable to study a throat swab using the PCR method. If the PCR result is negative or there are no signs of illness, repeat the antibody test after 2-3 weeks.
If IgM (+) are detected, IgG (+) are detected:
- Possible current infection, beginning of recovery, or recent illness
If IgM (-) are not detected, IgG (+) are detected:
- Indicates a previous history of COVID-19
If IgM (-) are not detected, IgG (-) are not detected:
- The patient has not yet encountered the virus
IgA antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
The test is performed using the ELISA method on an analyzer manufactured by Euroimmun, Germany. The result is given as a digital value (positivity coefficient = CP).
IgA, an indicator of early infection, is more accurate than IgM because it is more specific.
How to read the result correctly?
Positive result – more than 1.1. Indicates the detection of IgA and may mean:
- Current infection now (particularly asymptomatic)
- If IgG is detected at the same time, then this is a period of recovery or a recent infection
The borderline result is in the range of 0.8 – 1.1. Requires re-examination after 2 weeks, as it may mean:
- The initial period of infection, when antibodies have not yet formed in sufficient quantities. As a rule, in this case there are signs of illness and confirmation by PCR (throat swab) is required. Then after 2 weeks an increase in IgA will be noted.
A negative result is less than 0.8. Indicates the absence of IgA antibodies, which is possible if:
- The patient has not encountered the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
- The very beginning of the disease, when there is no immune response yet. If manifestations are present, it is correct to examine a throat swab for PCR.
IgG antibodies to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
The study is performed on an ELISA analyzer, manufactured by Euroimmun, Germany. Result as a digital value (positivity rate = CP).
Decoding the results:
A positive result is more than 1.1. IgG has been detected, and this can happen in the following cases:
- Immunity has been formed after a long-term infection. Then IgM and IgA antibodies are absent
- Current infection in the recovery stage or recent infection - if IgA and/or IgM are detected simultaneously
The borderline result is in the range of 0.8 – 1.1.
Perhaps there is still a little IgG, which requires repeating the test after 2 weeks and perhaps when:
- The infection lasts less than 5-6 weeks. Then there are signs of illness, there may be a positive PCR and IgM, IgA antibodies. In this case, IgG antibodies will increase upon repeated testing.
- Nonspecific reaction of the immune system (very rare). Then the test will be negative again.
A negative result is less than 0.8.
IgG is not detected, which could happen if:
- There was no encounter with SARS-CoV-2 (then there is no IgA, IgM)
- Acute infection. If there are manifestations, you should check IgA, IgM and the smear for PCR.
Detection of IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
It is performed using the ELISA method, an automated technique, test systems made in Russia. Conclusion in the form of numbers (positivity rate)
Reference values:
- less than 0.9 – negative result
- 0,9 – 1,0 – borderline result
- more than 1.0 – positive result
The detection of IgG antibodies indicates the presence of an immune response to an encounter with an infection in the past and is a sign of a previous disease
Do you need special preparation to determine antibodies to coronavirus?
No preparation needed. For research, venous blood is donated in the morning on an empty stomach or in the afternoon during medical office hours, 3 hours after meals. You can drink clean water without gas.
Please note that all research results must be interpreted by a doctor! After all, a complete picture consists of data from the medical history, examination, laboratory and instrumental data. Stay healthy with the KDL laboratory, take care of yourself and your loved ones!
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Old Russian rules of celebration
The tradition of celebrating name days began in Rus' in the 17th century. According to ancient rules, a name day is a special day in a person’s life, and they prepared for it with care. Pies and loaves were baked according to a special recipe. On the day of the celebration, the birthday boy and his entire family went to the temple, where a prayer service for health was ordered in front of the icon of the saint in whose honor the birthday boy was named, candles were placed, and veneration was applied to the icon.
In the evening, guests gathered for a gala dinner, where godparents were given pride of place. The main treat was the birthday cake; later, the cake became the highlight of the table. Candles are not placed in it. At the end of the holiday, each guest received a gift - a pie, a roll. The birthday boy himself gave gifts to his guests. If the name day fell on the days of fasting, the celebration was postponed to any day after its end.
How to follow the example of a heavenly patron
The laity often has a question: how can a simple person follow the path of holy men, whose entire earthly life was devoted to serving the Lord. Answering this question, the Church speaks of the need for the following actions:
- Study the life of the heavenly patron saint in order to become imbued with holiness and love him.
- Contact him daily with a prayer request or words of gratitude. It is important to constantly remember that the heavenly patron knows about the thoughts and actions of those under his care, and, through prayer addressed to him, is ready to help and protect.
- Try to follow the Christian commandments and the example of the Lord’s earthly life, regardless of personal convenience, as the holy men did.
Name day gifts
A name day is a spiritual holiday. Gifts are also given on this day, but they are different from those traditionally given on birthdays. On name days, it is customary to give gifts that help a person turn to the intangible fulfillment of life. The most appropriate with this approach are personalized icons, Orthodox literature, accessories (vessels for holy water, beautiful candles, amulet, etc.).
Now the custom of giving a “measured” icon is being revived. At the birth of a child, readings of his height are taken, and then an icon of the same size as the baby’s height is ordered from the master. In this case, the future cross name is first clarified, and the icon is dedicated to the saint in whose honor the baby will be named.
Church ministers and namesakes
For every priest, the day on which his name is celebrated is the day of his spiritual birth. Ordination is accompanied by a certain procedure, according to the rules of which the future minister is given a new name, different from the one given at baptism in infancy. Therefore, the birthday of a person who has taken the path of serving the Lord is not celebrated at all. The higher the priest is in the church hierarchy, the stricter the rules of celebration. On the day of the namesake, the rectors of the churches serve the Divine Liturgy, a festive service in honor of their patron saint.
Congratulations on the priest's name day can be accompanied by gifts, prayers and heartfelt wishes for a long life. As a gift for a church minister, you can present something that will not be burdensome for the giver. This could be a piece of fabric for vestments, church utensils, icons and more significant gifts.
The Patriarch's name day is a holiday for the entire Orthodox world. On this day, the primate of the Orthodox Church personally serves the liturgy in the main cathedral of the country; his name day is celebrated with solemn services in all Orthodox churches. This is a great holiday for all laity and priesthood.
Meaning for the Believer
Photo: Hramrh.ru
Nowadays, this concept is often associated with persons holding higher church ranks or the name day of representatives of the royal family. However, it also applies to ordinary parishioners.
During baptism, each person acquires heavenly patrons. They become the Saint who gave the name to the believer, as well as the guardian angel. They remain with the believer forever. They are the ones who encourage us to lead a righteous life, do good deeds and deeds, and serve the Almighty.
For an Orthodox believer, a name day is an important holiday; it is based on an important spiritual essence. In our country, it has long been customary to go to church with the whole family to order a prayer service for the health of the person celebrating the namesake. They kissed the icon of his patron saint and placed candles in front of it.
Upon returning home, it was customary to have a festive dinner, at which birthday cake became an obligatory treat. Godparents were required to take part in the celebration and were treated with special respect. Inviting other guests was encouraged. They congratulate the person on his name day.
The tradition was so strong that it could not be eradicated even during the Soviet era, when there was a struggle against religious traditions and customs. The best gift for a name day is considered to be an icon, anything that has to do with spiritual life.
