St. John I, May 18
Pope from 523, John I was sent by the Arian king Theodoric to Constantinople to plead for tolerance toward the Arians. On his return, the king accused him of conspiring with the emperor and threw him into prison at Ravenna, where he died in 526. He is honored as a martyr.
On the General Roman Calendar, May 18 is an optional memorial: Saint John I, pope and martyr.
Other saints on May 18
- St. Eric IX, king of Sweden (1160)
- St. Felix of Cantalice, Capuchin (1587)
Name days on May 18
In countries that keep name days, May 18 is the day for people named Eric and Erik. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Eric | May 18 |
| Erik | May 18 |
May 18 on the calendar
May 18 is the 138th day of the year (the 139th in a leap year), with 227 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | Thursday |
| 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | Saturday |
Keeping May 18
May 18 falls in May, the month of Mary. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Eric and Erik, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around May 18
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| May 15 | St. Isidore the Farmer |
| May 16 | St. Brendan the Navigator |
| May 17 | St. Paschal Baylon |
| May 19 | St. Ivo of Kermartin |
| May 20 | St. Bernardine of Siena |
| May 21 | St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions |
The day before, May 17, is the day of St. Paschal Baylon. The day after, May 19, belongs to St. Ivo of Kermartin. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.