Dimyana

[Maryann Shenoda]

Dear all,

Does anybody know the meaning of the name Dimyana/Demiana.  This is the name of a Late Antique  Egyptian saint.  I assume the name is the feminine form of Damian/os.  Is this correct?  

peace,

Maryann

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Maryann M. Shenoda

Doctoral Candidate

Harvard University 

Department of History

Robinson Hall

35 Quincy Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

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[Armanios, Febe]

Maryann -  It is not entirely clear that “Dimyana” was originally a Greek name (feminized "Damian/os"). In fact, within Coptic-Arabic tradition, “Dimyana” is known as “Gimyana” (as the name would be pronounced in the Egyptian dialect). On my research of the origins of her cult, I have studied her Arabic hagiographies and a number of travelers' accounts, and most refer to her as "Gimyana" (or a version thereof). The reasoning behind the variation is unclear, but some have suggested that it could be due to regional and/or liturgical uses of her name.

 

Best,

Febe

 

 

Febe Armanios

Assistant Professor of History

Middlebury College

Middlebury, VT  05753

Tel: 802-443-5212

farm...@middlebury.edu