St. Athanasius, May 2
Bishop of Alexandria for 45 years, Athanasius (c. 296-373) defended the divinity of Christ against Arianism, the faith of the Council of Nicaea. He was exiled five times by four emperors. His Life of Anthony spread the ideal of monasticism across the empire.
On the General Roman Calendar, May 2 is a memorial: Saint Athanasius, bishop and doctor.
Other saints on May 2
- Sts. Boris and Gleb, princes of Kyiv (1015)
- St. Zoe, martyr (2nd century)
Name days on May 2
In countries that keep name days, May 2 is the day for people named Athanasius, Boris, and Zoe. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Athanasius | May 2 |
| Boris | May 2 |
| Zoe | May 2 |
May 2 on the calendar
May 2 is the 122nd day of the year (the 123rd in a leap year), with 243 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Thursday |
Keeping May 2
May 2 falls in May, the month of Mary. As a memorial, the saint is named in the opening prayer of every Mass celebrated that day. 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 Athanasius, Boris, and Zoe, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around May 2
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| April 29 | St. Catherine of Siena |
| April 30 | St. Pius V |
| May 1 | St. Joseph the Worker |
| May 3 | Sts. Philip and James |
| May 4 | St. Florian |
| May 5 | St. Hilary of Arles |
The day before, May 1, is the day of St. Joseph the Worker. The day after, May 3, belongs to Sts. Philip and James. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.