agios

Agios is the Greek word meaning “holy” or “saint” and is used as a title before the names of saints in the Greek Orthodox tradition. In modern Greek, the masculine nominative form is Ágios (Άγιος), with feminine and plural forms used in other grammatical contexts. The prefix is commonly transliterated into English as Agios or Ayios.

In geography, Agios functions as a common toponym component in Greece and Cyprus. Places named Agios Nikolaos, Agios Georgios, or Agios Demetrios are widespread, often indicating a village, town, or neighborhood that centers on or was founded beside a church dedicated to that saint. The prefix may appear alone or combined with other elements, such as Agios Konstantinos or Agios Athanasios, and is frequently retained in international maps and travel references.

Religiously, many churches, monasteries, and ecclesiastical districts bear names beginning with Agios, reflecting patron saints or devotional associations. These names reinforce local religious identities and are integral to liturgical life, calendars, and annual feast celebrations.

Linguistically, Agios is an equative marker linking sacredness to persons, places, or objects in Greek usage. The form Ayios is another common transliteration, especially in older or more informal English spellings, and appears in various transliterations of Greek place names.

Overall, Agios embodies a core aspect of Greek religious and cultural heritage, linking sainthood, place-naming, and parish devotion across Greece and the Greek-speaking world.