St George is normally commemorated on April 23 in the Greek Orthodox calendar. There is an important exception: if April 23 falls on or before Pascha, the feast is transferred to Bright Monday, the Monday immediately following Pascha. The distinction matters when choosing a date for a particular year.
That is why a list of fixed month-and-day names can give a misleading answer for Giorgos, Georgios or George. The ordinary date and the observed feast date are sometimes different. A reminder should use the observed date for the year and tradition the person follows.
What is Bright Monday?
Bright Monday is the first Monday after Orthodox Pascha, within Bright Week. It moves as Pascha moves. Therefore “St George on Bright Monday” is a rule, not a second permanent date in the calendar. If a year places Pascha after April 23, the St George feast moves with it under that practice.
Take 2025 as a concrete example. Orthodox Pascha fell on April 20, before April 23, so the ordinary April 23 date was not on or before Pascha. The transfer condition in this rule does not apply. For a year where Pascha falls on or after April 23, the transfer condition does apply. The calculation must use the Pascha of the relevant Orthodox tradition, not Western Easter or the date on your device.
How to check a year without guessing
First, identify the church calendar or local tradition the person follows. Next, consult the year-specific Pascha date from that church or its official calendar. Then compare April 23 with Pascha. If April 23 is earlier than or equal to Pascha, locate Bright Monday one day after Pascha. If April 23 is later, keep the ordinary feast date under this rule. Finally, ask whether the person actually celebrates on that feast; baptismal patron and family practice can change the personal answer.
This sequence matters especially to diaspora families. A Greek name in Latin letters can appear alongside Bulgarian, Russian or other Orthodox calendars on the same search page. But those calendars need not place the observance on the same civil date. The Bulgarian calendar, for example, gives May 6 for St George in 2026. Do not convert one result into a universal Orthodox date.
A better reminder
For a Greek friend, label the reminder “Giorgos — Greek name day (check observed feast this year).” Once you verify the year and their preferred tradition, replace the note with the exact date. For future years, keep the rule in the note instead of blindly repeating a date that may move.
The wider Greek name-day guide explains the celebration around the calendar. If the question is why several dates appear for a name, see our date-choice guide.