I ask you a favorite...

My boyfriend is Greek, and as I know about his nameday is tomorrow: DIMITRIS.

Would you be able to send me via email a text which describes things about this day.

How very considerate of you to want to help your boyfriend celebrate his Nameday of St Demetrius!

St Demetrius of Thessalonika is often portrayed as a mounted soldier about to plunge a spear into a kneeling enemy.

This is a symbolic representation of Demetrius who was a Christian missionary. The pagan Roman king opposed Demetrius and his teaching and had him consigned to the gladiatorial arena.

There the king's gladiator-champion, Lius, brutally martyred St Demetrius for the Name of Christ.

Demetrius' associate, St Nestor, was always athletically inclined and challenged Lius to another contest in which he handily defeated the king's champion. The king had St Nestor martyred nevertheless.

In terms of celebrations of Namedays, you could purchase an inexpensive icon of  St Demetrius at a Greek store or bakery. You could then tape a picture of your boyfriend to the back or else have a double frame where your boyfriend is displayed with his Saint.

The two of you could even attend his Greek Orthodox Church for the Feast.

You might get his mother to prepare some "Kolliva" or a mixture of boiled wheat and honey which is brought to the Church and blessed by the priest following the Liturgy.

This is then brought home and eaten by in memory of the Patron Saint.

Since Namedays are the Orthodox equivalent to a birthday, a gift, often of a spiritual nature, is in order as well. Perhaps even a pin or a medal with St Demetrius . . .

You could take him to your favourite Greek restaurant and perhaps the crew there could bring out a small cake with a candle and sing a song for him in honour of St Demetrius.

St Demetrius is a patron of children. And, as you know, we men are all children at heart . . .

May God and St Demetrius bless you both!