Today, every Christina, Christine, Cristina and Kristina you know shares a name day with the Greek community. It is the kind of tradition that slips easily into Canadian life: a text to the Christina in your contacts, a quick hello to the Christine at work, a small cultural surprise for someone who never knew their name had a day.
Christina comes from the late Latin name Christina, the feminine form of Christianus, meaning “a Christian” or “follower of Christ,” built on Greek Christos, “anointed.” Saint Christina of Tyre, also known as Christine of Bolsena, was remembered as a virgin martyr of the third century. Archaeological excavations of an underground cemetery built over her tomb show that she was already being honoured at Tyre by the fourth century.
That gives Christina an unusual path across languages: from Greek Christos into Latin Christianus and Christina, then into English, French, Spanish, Italian, Slavic and Scandinavian forms that still sound at home in Montreal. It is one of those names that feels international without losing its Greek thread.
You can hear that thread today in the cousin Christina who always carries herself with quiet resolve, in the colleague Christine who never misses a deadline, and in the old friend Kristina whose messages arrive exactly when they are needed. A name day works best this way, scattered naturally through ordinary life, from family tables to office kitchens to the local café.
Athinagoras is rarer but deeply Greek in structure, from Athena, the goddess name tied to wisdom and the city of Athens, and agora, the public gathering place or marketplace. Boris travelled into Greek use from the Slavic world, most likely through the Bulgarian royal name Борис, and has spread widely across eastern and central Europe before landing in modern North American life.
Chronia Polla! to everyone celebrating today, Greek and non-Greek alike: Christina and her many international forms, Athinagoras, and Boris. If you know a Christina, Christine, Cristina or Kristina who has never heard of a name day, today is a perfect day to send the wish and share the tradition.
