Patron Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker life story. “And are you looking at this?”

We all know the holiday of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker well. Since childhood, we know that on this day all obedient children receive gifts that the saint leaves under their pillow or in their shoes. At the same time, not everyone knows who St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was, what deeds he performed, what kind of traditions are associated with his name in different countries and beliefs.

in memory of St. Nicholas

In Slavic countries, it is customary to celebrate the holiday of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on December 19th. The most interesting and memorable moment of a significant date (especially for children) is the arrival at night of a fairy-tale character who puts presents for the children near the bed, in shoes or in special decorated socks prepared in advance.

It would be interesting to know where this tradition came from and whether the holiday of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker has historical roots? In fact, there was such a story in the life of the saint: a poor family lived in a neighboring house with him, the woman died early, and the man remained a widower, but he had a beautiful young daughter who loved a guy from a rich family. The young man's wealthy parents did not accept a poor girl without a dowry. Nikolai decided to help the beauty, because he had an inheritance from his parents. Then he changed his clothes so that no one could recognize him. Approaching a poor house at night, he threw a bag of gold money into the window of the room. Thus, the saint helped two beloved hearts unite. This made Nikolai himself incredibly happy.

Then the Wonderworker began to walk around the city and bring clothes, food and toys to the poor. He always did this at night, but the residents still tracked him down and were very surprised that a modest guy was bringing selfless good to people. A little later, Nicholas was elected bishop.

Life of a Saint

The life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is not at all shrouded in legends. This saint was a real historical figure. It is believed that he was born in 270 AD. e. and lived until 345. The parents of Nicholas the Wonderworker were very pious and wealthy people: Theophanes and Nona. He was the only child in the family. His parents prayed constantly, since for a long time they had no children at all. When a baby appeared in their family, they promised God that Nicholas’s life would be devoted to worship, faith and religion. Everything did not happen as planned, because the boy was left an orphan. The life of Nicholas the Wonderworker at that time was marked by the fact that he began to live away from people, like a hermit. The man was fully occupied with scientific activities.

Nicholas the Wonderworker was among the participating bishops in the first Ecumenical Christian Council in 325. He performed many holy deeds and wonderful things:

• when three military leaders were slandered, Nicholas saved them from death;
• prevented a severe famine for the inhabitants of his native city called Mira;
• More than once he saved people from misfortune and hunger on water and land.

Nicholas died when he was 75 years old. After this, his relics began to emit the fragrance of a healing substance, which greatly exalted and glorified him. As recently as 2009, based on X-rays and cranioscopy, scientists were able to describe the saint’s facial features. It was determined that he was a man of short stature (about 1 meter 68 centimeters) with a high forehead, prominent cheekbones and chin, he had brown eyes and dark skin.

How does St. Nicholas the Wonderworker help?

During his life, Nicholas the Wonderworker performed many holy deeds and miracles. How does he help us, ordinary people? The saint is believed to be the protector and benefactor of the poor common people and children, as well as those involved in navigation and trade. There is a story that one day Nicholas was able to resurrect a simple navigator who fell from his ship during one of his voyages during a storm and fell to his death. People believe that St. Nicholas the Wonderworker helps not only sailors, but also the military, ordinary workers, and peasants. As popular wisdom says: “Nicholas will save you at sea, Nikolay will help a peasant lift a cart.”

Saint Nicholas helps people:

1. Get rid of evil thoughts and bad intentions.
2. Find and create a harmonious relationship with your other half.
3. Strengthen marriage bonds, preserve the happiness and love of married life.
4. It also helps those who were innocently convicted and convicted.

Nicholas the Wonderworker supports people. What else does he help with and in what cases can you turn to him? The saint will support if an ordinary person has difficult situations in life and material problems. Girls who are not yet married ask him for a successful future marriage. Women who are already united pray for mutual understanding and love with their husbands. People whose profession is connected with a dangerous road (drivers, sailors, travelers, etc.) turn to the saint so that good luck will accompany them and the danger will pass.

Relics

After the death of Nicholas the Wonderworker in 345, his relics became incorruptible and were located in one of the churches in his hometown of Mir. As already mentioned, they began to pour out the fragrance of a healing substance. His myrrh healed many believers from a wide variety of ailments. In the eleventh century, there were military raids on Byzantium: they tried to plunder and desecrate the relics of the saint. Then Christian believers decided to save them and moved them to the city where they are still located. Nowadays, anyone can pray near them and ask for the healing of illnesses. On May 22, Orthodox believers celebrate the spring holiday of St. Nicholas in honor of the transfer of the relics of the Wonderworker.

Worship of the Russian people to the saint

They began to worship him after the Baptism of Rus'. The first icons and prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared only at the end of the eleventh century. Despite this, in Rus' there were a large number of churches and temples dedicated to him. In Kyiv, Saint Olga erected the Church of St. Nicholas, which was the first in the entire Russian land. Today, one of the Kremlin towers bears the name Nikolskaya.

The saint's feast day is December 19. The holiday falls on the Nativity (Filippov) fast, so on this day you can eat fish, but eggs and meat cannot be eaten. Each person can turn to the saint with a request. The first prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker asks for help in a dull and real life, for the remission of sins in deed, word, thought and all feelings, for deliverance from airy ordeals and eternal torment. In the second prayer to the saint, people glorify him, call him the hope of Christians, a protector, a nourisher, joy for those who cry, a doctor for the sick, and ask for a peaceful life. In the third prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker, people praise him, talking about saving souls and bodies from the bitterness of living people.

The history of the appearance of the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

It is generally accepted and known to everyone that December 19 is the holiday of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It is celebrated on the day of the death of the saint. But he is also revered on May 22 - this is the day when his relics were transported to the Italian city of Bari. These two months (May and December) were chosen for a reason, because both are important for grain growers. As our ancestors said: “One Nicholas pleases with grass, the other with frost.”

St. Nicholas Day in December and May is celebrated according to the legend about the peasant.

One day a simple man was driving along a country road and his cart got stuck in the mud. The cart was very heavy: the peasant could not pull it out alone. Just at this time the saints were coming to God. One of them, Kasyan, passed by a man with a cart. Then the peasant begged for help. Kasyan was offended that he was bothered over such a trifle. In clean, beautiful clothes, he walked past the peasant. Then St. appeared near the cart. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The man also asked him for help. The saint helped the peasant without hesitation. Together they pulled the cart out of the mud. But Nikolai got all dirty.

All the saints gathered with God. He began to ask them: why was Nikolai so late, because of which all his clothes were smeared in mud? Then Nicholas the Wonderworker told what story happened to him along the way. God then asked Kasyan why he didn’t help the man and walked past him? He replied that he could not be late for the meeting with God and come in dirty clothes. The Almighty then said that people would celebrate the feast of St. Kasyan only once every 4 years - on February 29. At the same time, St. Nicholas Day will be celebrated twice a year - in May and December. After all, he helps ordinary people without hesitation, let them honor and glorify him.

Signs and beliefs of the winter day of St. Nicholas

Special beliefs are inherent in the holiday, which is celebrated on December 19 (Nicholas the Wonderworker). The signs were known to our ancestors:

• After St. Nicholas Day in winter, girls and boys began to prepare for festivities and sewed costumes for carols.
• There is a belief that the first severe frosts begin on December 19th.
• There is also such a sign: what the weather is like on December 19th, the same should be expected on May 22nd.
• If the roads to Nikolai are completely covered with snow, then the winter will be frosty and snowy.
• A lot of frost foreshadowed a good fruitful summer and autumn.
• The day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, December 19, was considered the last day when it was necessary to pay off all one’s debts. In addition, it was considered the beginning of grain trading.

Summer holiday

1. It was believed that after May 22, all remaining grain reserves from last year could be sold off.
2. On Nicholas, the owner must be the first to go around the entire yard and household so that there is no trouble or misfortune in the house.
3. The holiday of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is famous for its fragrant pies and beer drinks. On this day, all the villagers put together money, brewed beer and went to church to pray and light a candle for a rich harvest. Then they treated each other to beer, beer, pies, drove around the village, sang funny songs. Everything that was left after the festivities was distributed to poor people.
4. They said this: “On the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, call both friend and enemy - everyone will be friends.” After all, it was on May 22 that it was easy to find a common language even with the enemy.

Divination

Fortune telling on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was popular among young girls and boys, as on other days before the Nativity of Christ. But it should also be mentioned that a holiday dedicated to the memory of a saint is not very suitable for such rituals. Despite this, young people actively perform the following rituals:

• Fortune telling for the betrothed. An unmarried girl had to go out into the yard and take off her boot from her left foot, then throw it over the gate. Then you need to watch how the shoe falls: in which direction his toe is pointing, from there you need to wait for the guy who will soon come to woo. If a boot falls with its toe towards a girl’s house, then this does not bode well for marriage in the coming year. You also need to look at how far the shoes flew from the yard. If she lies away from the fence, then the girl will have to travel long distances after the wedding.
• using a sprouted onion. To do this, three unmarried girls gathered on the eve of the holiday, each of them took 1 head of vegetable. They marked each of their bulbs, planted them in the ground or placed them in water. Whose onion sprouted on the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, that of the girls was the first to get married.

Nicholas the Wonderworker was born in Greece. But he is revered by people of the Orthodox and Catholic faiths; even Muslims and pagans believe in the power of his help. His popularity is explained by the fact that Nicholas the Wonderworker is the simplest of all the saints and is closest to the common people, and also quickly fulfills requests and prayers.

There are different icons of the Wonderworker. The faces of the winter Nicholas correspond to the December celebration, and the image of the spring one corresponds to the May celebration. At the same time, the winter Nicholas is depicted on icons in the headdress that bishops wore, and the summer Nicholas - with the top of his head uncovered. There is a legend: Russian Tsar Nicholas was the first to notice that the saint was depicted on the icon without a hat, after which he made a remark to the clergy. The oversight has since been corrected.

It is also believed that Nicholas the Wonderworker served as the prototype for the creation of modern Santa Claus. People in Western European countries believe that he delivers gifts along with the donkey, so children leave not only a decorative sock or shoe, but also a few carrots so that the animal can eat and move on.

Congratulatory words on St. Nicholas Day

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is worshiped and revered by the Slavic peoples. Therefore, congratulations on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are as important as prayer and observance of traditions.

On this day, you can congratulate your family and friends with poems and simple words, the main thing is that they radiate warmth, kindness and gratitude to the saint. You can use the following congratulations on St. Nicholas Day:

• May it be on Nicholas's holiday
  Love and joy will enter the house.
  May the children receive holy gifts
  He'll bring it to his socks.
  And adults - have more patience
  And good mood.
• Let the holiday of Nicholas
  Gives everyone a smile
  Fill the house with laughter.
  And let the children frolic
  And they have fun in it.

You can congratulate your family and friends in your own words: “Happy St. Nicholas Day! I wish that peace, comfort and warmth reign in your home today and all year round. Relatives and friends, to warm you with their love!”

Saint Nicholas is considered the main protector of children. Since time immemorial, on this day, all obedient toddlers were given gifts under their pillows, in their shoes or in decorative socks hung near the fireplace. Those children who were disobedient received rods or stones. Therefore, prepare gifts for kids and adults, as well as pleasant words of congratulations. By doing this you will cheer up not only those around you, but also yourself.

Holiness cannot hide. She is a candle placed on a candlestick and a city standing on top of a mountain. In the first case, it illuminates the space around itself. In the second, it is visible from afar, no matter from which side you approach it.

Holiness overcomes distances between people and eras. Different linguistic environments and different cultural backgrounds do not prevent people, centuries later, from unmistakably recognizing holiness and worshiping it.

This is Nicholas the Wonderworker.

If there had been envy or competition among the saints in human veneration, many would have looked at Nicholas from under their brows. Still would! Not everyone can boast of such massive veneration on all continents. But of course there is no envy between the saints. Prayer and sincere love reign among them. But we, wanderers and aliens making our earthly journey, have a serious topic for reflection.

The reason for the massive and centuries-long veneration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is his inner wealth. Moreover, he so skillfully hid the secret of his inner life from external eyes that we know almost nothing about the facts of his biography. Glory found Nicholas after leaving earth and entering heavenly peace, that is, when the threats from pride and vanity (these inevitable companions of fame and praise) had passed.

We venerate St. Nicholas and at least twice a year, and often every week on Thursdays, we perform services and turn our prayers to him. During the New Year's Eve, this veneration is mixed with a fair amount of clownery, irritating those who really love the saint. It is worth raising the question of such forms and methods of venerating Nicholas that would truly glorify the saint of God and bring us real benefit.

“Imitate me, as I imitate Christ,” said the Apostle Paul in one of his letters. This is not just a private appeal addressed to a specific audience. This is a spiritual law. According to this law, a person acquires useful skills, learns and grows by imitating those who are better than him, those who have gone further and are calling us to follow them. It is also important to note that Paul does not say “imitate Christ,” but “imitate me, as I imitate Christ.”

This means that the height of imitation of the Lord cannot be mastered by everyone at once, but first it is necessary to learn from those who are close to God.

Now let us again turn our mental gaze to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In what ways can we imitate him and through imitation honor this saint as much as possible? For example, by secretly doing good deeds. This is not a very pleasant activity for a person corroded by secret ailments, desiring praise and thirsting for fame. But this is exactly what Nikolai became famous for, anonymously helping people in trouble.

It is no secret that the saints make the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ come alive for us, embodying it in their behavior. Thus, the word of God tells us about “the Father who is in secret,” “who sees in secret and rewards openly,” and calls on prayer, alms and fasting to be done not for show, but for the Lord. However, habitually and frequently reading these words does not always lead to their implementation in practice, and we continue to do good, secretly wanting recognition and praise. We need examples. We need living people who turned words and thoughts into deeds and who were guided by the commandments not occasionally, but constantly.

This is Nikolai. He knew well in his heart what one of the fathers of Egypt said, namely: the most solid and correct good is that which is done in secret. Nicholas also wanted to leave the world so that in monastic solitude, without distractions, he could serve God with fasting and prayer. But God, who knows man better than man knows himself, pointed Nicholas to a different path. This path consisted of caring for the flock and life in the midst of a crowd agitated by passions. Thus the ascetic was deprived of external solitude and was forced to seek internal solitude. You can imitate him in this too.

We have already said briefly that a person rarely understands the beauty and value of secret good deeds. He is inclined to completely ruin his already small good and deprive himself of future rewards because of self-promotion and that “trumpeting before oneself” that Christ condemned in hypocrites. The image of Nicholas in this sense not only sheds its warm light on us, but also teaches us to change our lives in accordance with the newness of the Gospel.

His second lesson to us is the need to protect and educate our inner man. Very few people are inclined towards the monastic lifestyle. But everyone who is not completely turned inside out and lives only on the outside, but who preserves and protects their inner world, is obliged to take a temporary escape from the bustle, to find time for silence and prayer.

The source of strength for a person is his one-on-one standing before the Lord. And the one who has done many great and useful things of the Gospel must be turned to the world and people with only one side. The second half of his life must necessarily be hidden in God, in communion with Him.

Postcards, gifts, red fake noses, bags on shoulders, children's laughter, cotton beards... Nicholas's holiday is, of course, also a children's holiday. But it would be good to introduce evangelical leaven into this cheerful fuss with the expectation of surprises. The fact is that children on this (and not only this) holiday are focused on receiving various benefits: attention, affection, gifts. But from a certain age they themselves can be not only consumers of goods, but also creators of all good.

“Do you love St. Nicholas the Wonderworker? Do you know where the secret of his fame and love for him is? The secret is that he remembered and fulfilled the words of Scripture: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” You will honor Nicholas the Wonderworker if you imitate him in this. Help your parents around the house. Help your lagging comrade master a subject that you know and understand better than he does. Today and always, share a sandwich with your desk neighbor during recess. Think about others, not just yourself. Giving does not mean only transferring money or things from hand to hand. You can give time, strength, knowledge, care, prayer. Everyone should do this, including children.”

Such veneration of the saint is in great demand, and, unfortunately, it is not yet the main and generally accepted way to express one’s love to Nicholas.

And another very important point. Nicholas is now a resident of the Heavenly Kingdom. Talking about him is a wonderful way to talk about the immortality of the soul, about the spiritual world, about the indestructibility of good done in the name of God. If it is often difficult or impossible to talk with children about martyrs because of the terrible bullying they endured, then one can always talk about such a saint as Nicholas. Just don’t “kiss” and “confect” the image of the saint. Just don’t reduce everything to a grandfather with a bag, to children’s letters asking for gifts, in which it is clear that the appetite of the younger generation is inflamed in earnest. They don't care about chocolates anymore. Children are increasingly asking for game consoles and new models of mobile phones. And parents, these “givers” and “blamers,” these frequent egoists and secret atheists, laugh touchingly at the letters and requests of their children.

It is good if the saint does not notice many small and insignificant things in our holidays dedicated to him. What if he notices and gets angry? Tradition tells us about the slap in the face that Arius received at the hands of Nicholas. And this means that the saint is not assigned to the endless distribution of gifts or the care of those floating on the waters. He is jealous of the Truth. You need to honor him so that you don’t feel his palm on your cheek.

It is worth thinking about venerating saints in general. To honor not only with service and feast. After all, you can find other legal and pious ways to express your love to the saints. On the day of remembrance of any of the evangelists, you can organize a reading of the corresponding Gospel in the church. And any of the saints whose books are included in the Bible can be honored in this way. On the day of memory of John the Merciful or Philaret the Merciful, God himself ordered to imitate the saints with deeds of love. On the day of remembrance of Simeon the Stylite, of course, you cannot climb the pillar, but you can try to turn off your mobile phone, TV and computer and sit in silence for three hours.

Creativity and a fresh perspective are needed. Because the saints themselves are not legalists and formalists, but extremely interesting and profound people.

So, winter, a premonition of Christmas, a sense of mystery in the frosty air and another memory of St. Nicholas. How will we celebrate?

One of the most revered saints in Rus'. Born in 258 in ancient Lycia, which was part of Asia Minor. At baptism he received the Christian name Nikolai, which means “conqueror of the people.” He was elected bishop of the port city of Mir, which is why it is called Mir-Lycian.

He became famous as a great saint (helper) of God. Mercy for the suffering (mourning for a dying sinner, at night he secretly threw bags of gold into his window and thereby saved him from spiritual destruction), miracles shown by him during his life (he pacified the raging sea waves with prayer, and then, through his prayer, the broken one was restored to health a ship's sailor who fell from the mast, he miraculously saved three husbands from death, unjustly condemned by a selfish boss, miraculously saved the city of Mir from hunger), and now inspire believers to turn to St. Nicholas with prayers for help.

Nikolai Ugodnik worked miracles during his lifetime, but many miracles happened and are happening after his death. He helps sailors, travelers, children and those in prison. He helps everyone who turns to him for help.

They pray to Nicholas the Pleasant for well-being on the journey, from storms and drowning at sea, for healing from various ailments, for the protection of the family hearth, for help in various troubles, from sadness and despondency, for children, to get their daughters married, for help in poverty and need, about intercession for widows and orphans, about compassion for the defenseless, in captivity among enemies.

Saint Nicholas (translated into Dutch as Santa Claus) must, while no one sees him, enter the house and leave a bag of gifts under the tree.

For a long time, Nikolai Ugodnik has been considered the patron saint of children.

In the Netherlands there is a belief that on Christmas night St. Nicholas rides around on a white horse and gives gifts to good children. A similar belief exists in other European countries. All the children on Christmas evening are full of impatient anticipation that “good grandfather St. Nicholas” will give them something.

Saint Nicholas - patron saint of sailors

During the voyage of Saint Nicholas to Palestine to the holy places, a terrible storm broke out, threatening to sink the ship. The sailors were horrified and turned to the holy saint with a prayer. “If you, holy father, do not help us with your prayer to the Lord,” they told him, “then we will perish in the depths of the sea.”

The holy righteous man, kneeling down, turned to God with fervent prayer, and the storm miraculously subsided, the lives of the sailors were saved.

ST. NICHOLAS - PATRON OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY

Since ancient times, Russian warriors considered the Saint their special heavenly intercessor, along with other holy champions of the Russian land. This is evidenced by the cross-vests that have survived to this day, worn by our warrior-ancestors under their armor, on which there was an image of St. Nicholas.

The Streltsy guard in ancient Moscow, during roll call, proclaimed in the third voice: “St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, pray to God for us!”

The basis of the belief in the patronage of the Wonderworker to Russian weapons is also conveyed by the stanza of the spiritual verse
folk singers:

"Nikola is a famous name,
Victory is the same name,
Hagaryan wins,
Comforts Christians."

When Napoleon left the Kremlin in 1812, he decided to blow up the Nikolsky Gate with a huge amount of gunpowder. The force of the explosion was terrible: stones and logs flew to the sides, walls shook, glass in the windows burst. Only the image of St. Nicholas above the St. Nicholas Gate and even the glass that covered the face of the Pleasant did not suffer any damage. And the candle in front of his face survived.

Among the most revered saints for Orthodox believers and Catholics is St. Nicholas the Pleasant. During his lifetime, he performed miracles, helping people in need, and after his death, believers from different parts of the world turn to him to cope with numerous problems.

Life of Nikolai Ugodnik

The saint was born around 270 in the city of Patara, where modern Türkiye is located. His family was rich and pious. Nikolai lost his parents early. Since childhood, the boy was distinguished by his intelligence and energetic character. He was always interested in studying the Holy Scriptures. Life tells that he was a monk, lived in the Holy Land and even served as the bishop of the city of Myra.

He was always distinguished by his generosity, helping all people in need. Describing who Saint Nicholas the Pleasant is, it is worth noting his active position with which he spread the word of God, for which he was imprisoned during the persecution of Christians. There is a mention that in 325 the Wonderworker struck Arius for his rebellious statements regarding the divine origin of Christ.

Miracles of Nikolai Ugodnik

There are many testimonies regarding how the Wonderworker helped people. Among the most famous stories are the following:

1. During the time when Nicholas was young, a poor man fell into despair because his three daughters could not marry, due to the fact that he was unable to provide them with a dowry. The saint threw purses of gold into their house for three nights in a row to save them from the need to become harlots.
2. Although Nicholas the Pleasant is not mentioned in the Bible, evidence of his help can be found in various sources. For example, many soldiers told how an old man in a priest’s robe appeared to them and reported about the danger, and then disappeared inexplicably.

How does Nikolai Ugodnik help?

The saint is considered one of the main helpers of believers, and different people can turn to him with their problems.

1. The icon of St. Nicholas the Pleasant helps people who have problems at work or cannot find a suitable place for themselves.
2. Prayer requests attract good luck in life, with the help of which you can cope with various life problems and reach new heights.
3. He is considered the patron saint of warriors, as evidenced by cross amulets with the image of the Wonderworker, which were worn by men going into battle.
4. You can ask for help in your personal life. Parents offer prayers to him for a successful marriage for their children. People in the family ask the saint to maintain happiness and improve relationships.
5. There are prayers that promote both physical and mental healing.
6. Nikolai Ugodnik is the patron saint of sailors and travelers, so it is recommended to have the image of the Wonderworker in the interior of your car. You can turn to him with prayers for a safe journey and a happy return.

Prayers to Nicholas the Wonderworker

To turn to a saint for help, you need to have his image before your eyes, which is recommended to be placed in your home iconostasis. Many people are interested in what they ask Nicholas the Ugodnik to do, so the Wonderworker helps in various situations when help is really needed, and it is better not to contact him with trivial requests. It is important to recite sacred texts from a pure heart and with unshakable faith in the Lord. The time of reading prayers does not matter, and you can do this in the morning, evening or at any other time.

Nikolai Ugodnik - prayer for health

They turn to the saint for help when they have health problems. You can pray not only for yourself, but also for loved ones. There are several tips on how to pray to St. Nicholas the Pleasant to receive healing from illnesses:

1. It is recommended to address the saint in front of his image, which should be located in the red corner near the icon of the Lord and the Virgin Mary.
2. Before reading the prayer, you need to get rid of extraneous thoughts and concentrate on the image of the saint.
3. Then you need to ask through Saint Nicholas the Pleasant of God for forgiveness for your own sins. After that, all that remains is to read.

Nikolai Ugodnik - prayer for help

One of the most common is a prayer text directed to the Wonderworker so that he can help in a difficult situation and in solving various issues. Strong prayer will come in handy when the person praying is imbued with the words and believes in the true help of the saint. Nicholas the Pleasant and the Wonderworker helps people who have a sensitive position, that is, before reading the prayer, you need to formulate your request. You can ask not only for yourself, but also for your loved ones.

Prayer for good luck to Nikolai Ugodnik

Believers and the church claim that a person who has secured the support of a saint will be able to cope with any difficulties and achieve the desired heights. Nikolai Ugodnik is the main assistant to people with whose help you can attract good luck. It is better to start your morning with a prayer, which must be repeated in front of the icon, kneeling. She will give and give strength to achieve success. It is recommended to say a prayer before important events.

Prayer to Nikolai Ugodnik about work

Finding a good job is becoming difficult every year, as employers' demands are only growing. In addition, there are many examples where people have a normal position, but at the same time they face other problems, for example, lack of career growth, poor relationships with colleagues and superiors, and so on. Saint Nicholas the Pleasant helps in solving various work-related problems. It is important to understand that prayer is not a magic wand, and it helps people who do not sit still and are constantly looking for new opportunities.

1. You can ask for help in different situations, the main thing is to formulate your thoughts correctly and avoid the ultimatum form.
2. Say the presented text in front of the image of the saint. You can ask for help in your own words, the main thing is to do it sincerely.
3. After prayer, you must begin to actively look for work or make attempts to correct existing problems.
4. When the desired becomes a reality, it is important to once again turn to the saint to thank him for his help.

Prayer to Nicholas the Pleasant for money

Many people have financial problems, and the saint will certainly help them, but only if they really deserve it, that is, they do not expect benefits to fall on their heads, but work hard for it. Orthodox prayers to Nicholas the Ugodnik help to attract financial well-being. To get what you want, it is important to focus on some rules:

1. When turning to a saint, you need to concentrate on your request. It is important to want to receive money for a good cause, and not just for the sake of enrichment.
2. The prayer should be read in front of the image, which can be found in the church or bought in a shop and placed at home.
3. To make it easier to concentrate on the task, it is recommended to light a candle or lamp in front of the icon.
4. Another important point is that Saint Nicholas the Pleasant helps those who themselves provide possible support to others, so be sure to donate at least a small amount to the needs of the temple or people who ask for alms.
5. It is necessary to read the prayer text every day until what you want becomes a reality.

Prayer for the wish of Nikolai Ugodnik

To make it easier to make your dreams come true, you can enlist the help of a saint, who is considered closest to the Lord, so prayers are the most effective and powerful. The Most Holy Nicholas the Pleasant helps to fulfill any good desire that does not have evil intent. You can say the prayer at any time, but it will be especially effective if you turn to the saint on the days of his memory: May 22 and December 19.

1. Stand in front of the image in church or place it in front of you at home. Light a candle nearby and look at the icon for a while, getting rid of otherworldly thoughts.
2. After this, read the prayer, cross yourself and say your cherished desire, which must be clearly formed.

Where is Nikolai Ugodnik buried?

The saint died when he was already 94 years old and was first buried in a church in Myra (modern Turkey). In 1087, when there were wars, Saint Nicholas appeared in a dream to a priest who lived in Bari and ordered his relics to be transferred to the city where he lived. This territory is located in southern Italy. First, the relics of St. Nicholas the Pleasant were placed in the Church of John the Baptist, located near the sea. According to legend, this event was accompanied by numerous miracles.

Three years later, a temple dedicated to the saint was erected in the city, and his relics were transferred there in a rich shrine, which remain there to this day. You can read the prayer to St. Nicholas the Pleasant anywhere, but it is believed that the petition pronounced in the Church of St. Nicholas in Bari, where his relics are located, has special power. Believers have the opportunity to venerate the cancer to receive healing and blessing.

Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the miracle worker, became famous as a great saint of God. He was born in the city of Patara, Lycian region (on the southern coast of the Asia Minor Peninsula), was the only son of pious parents Theophanes and Nonna, who vowed to dedicate him to God. The fruit of long prayers to the Lord of childless parents, baby Nicholas, from the day of his birth showed people the light of his future glory as a great miracle worker. His mother, Nonna, was immediately healed of her illness after giving birth. The newborn baby, still in the baptismal font, stood on his feet for three hours, unsupported by anyone, thus giving honor to the Most Holy Trinity. Saint Nicholas in infancy began a life of fasting, taking his mother's milk on Wednesdays and Fridays only once a day, after the evening prayers of his parents.

From childhood, Nikolai excelled in the study of Divine Scripture; During the day he did not leave the temple, and at night he prayed and read books, creating within himself a worthy dwelling of the Holy Spirit. His uncle, Bishop Nicholas of Patara, rejoicing at the spiritual success and high piety of his nephew, made him a reader, and then elevated Nicholas to the rank of priest, making him his assistant and instructing him to speak instructions to the flock. While serving the Lord, the young man was burning in spirit, and in his experience in matters of faith he was like an old man, which aroused the surprise and deep respect of the believers.

Image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Constantly working and vigilant, being in unceasing prayer, Presbyter Nicholas showed great mercy to his flock, coming to the aid of the suffering, and distributed all his property to the poor. Having learned about the bitter need and poverty of one previously rich resident of his city, Saint Nicholas saved him from great sin. Having three adult daughters, the desperate father planned to give them over to fornication to save them from hunger. The saint, grieving for the dying sinner, secretly threw three bags of gold out his window at night and thereby saved the family from fall and spiritual death. When giving alms, Saint Nicholas always tried to do it secretly and hide his benefits.

Going to worship the holy places in Jerusalem, the Bishop of Patara entrusted the management of the flock to Saint Nicholas, who performed obedience with care and love. When the bishop returned, he, in turn, asked for blessings to travel to the Holy Land. On the way, the saint predicted an approaching storm that would threaten the ship with sinking, for he saw the Devil himself entering the ship. At the request of desperate travelers, he pacified the sea waves with his prayer. Through his prayer, one ship's sailor, who fell from the mast and fell to his death, was restored to health.

Nikolo-Peshnoshsky Monastery. Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Having reached the ancient city of Jerusalem, Saint Nicholas, ascending Golgotha, thanked the Savior of the human race and walked around all the holy places, worshiping and praying. At night on Mount Zion, the locked doors of the church opened by themselves before the great pilgrim who came. Having visited the shrines associated with the earthly ministry of the Son of God, Saint Nicholas decided to retire into the desert, but was stopped by a Divine voice, exhorting him to return to his homeland. Returning to Lycia, the saint, striving for a silent life, entered the brotherhood of the monastery called Holy Zion. However, the Lord again announced a different path awaiting him: “Nicholas, this is not the field in which you must bear the fruit I expect; but turn and go into the world, and may My Name be glorified in you.”

Icon "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker." 1630s
Located in the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.

In a vision, the Lord gave him the Gospel in an expensive setting, and the Most Holy Theotokos gave him an omophorion. And indeed, after the death of Archbishop John, he was elected Bishop of Myra in Lycia, after one of the bishops of the Council, which was deciding the issue of electing a new archbishop, was shown in a vision the chosen one of God - Saint Nicholas. Called to shepherd the Church of God in the rank of bishop, Saint Nicholas remained the same great ascetic, showing to his flock the image of meekness, gentleness and love for people. This was especially dear to the Lycian Church during the persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Bishop Nicholas, imprisoned along with other Christians, supported them and exhorted them to firmly endure the bonds, torture and torment. The Lord preserved him unharmed.

Icon of St. Nicholas. Mid-16th century. Comes from the Feodorovsky Cathedral of the Feodorovsky Convent in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Collection of the Pereslavl Museum.

Upon the accession of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine, Saint Nicholas was returned to his flock, who joyfully met their mentor and intercessor. Despite his great meekness of spirit and purity of heart, Saint Nicholas was a zealous and daring warrior of the Church of Christ. Fighting against the spirits of evil, the saint went around pagan temples and temples in the city of Myra itself and its environs, crushing idols and turning the temples to dust. In 325, Saint Nicholas was a participant in the First Ecumenical Council, which adopted the Nicene Creed, and took up arms with Saints Sylvester, Pope of Rome, Alexander of Alexandria, Spyridon of Trimythous and others from the 318 holy fathers of the Council against the heretic Arius.

Icon of St. Nicholas. Temple icon of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in St. Petersburg.

In the heat of denunciation, Saint Nicholas, burning with zeal for the Lord, even struck the false teacher on the cheek, for which he was deprived of his holy omophorion and put into custody. However, it was revealed to several holy fathers in a vision that the Lord Himself and the Mother of God ordained the saint as a bishop, giving him the Gospel and an omophorion. The Fathers of the Council, realizing that the boldness of the saint was pleasing to God, glorified the Lord, and restored His holy saint to the rank of hierarch. Returning to his diocese, the saint brought her peace and blessing, sowing the word of Truth, cutting off wrong-thinking and vain wisdom at the very root, denouncing inveterate heretics and healing those who had fallen and deviated through ignorance.

Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra. Beginning of the 17th century. Moscow. Collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery.
Located in the Church-Museum of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi.
Other icons of the Tretyakov Gallery.

He was truly the Light of the World and the Salt of the Earth, for his life was light and his word was dissolved in the salt of wisdom. During his lifetime, the saint performed many miracles. Of these, the greatest glory was brought to the saint by his deliverance from the death of three men, unjustly condemned by the self-interested mayor. The saint boldly approached the executioner and held his sword, which was already raised above the heads of the condemned. The mayor, convicted by Saint Nicholas of untruth, repented and asked him for forgiveness. Three military leaders sent by Emperor Constantine to Phrygia were present. They did not yet suspect that they would soon also have to seek the intercession of St. Nicholas, since they had been undeservedly slandered before the emperor and doomed to death.

Appearing in a dream to Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine, Saint Nicholas urged him to release the military leaders unjustly condemned to death, who, while in prison, prayerfully called on the saint for help. He performed many other miracles, laboring in his ministry for many years. Through the prayers of the saint, the city of Myra was saved from severe famine. Appearing in a dream to an Italian merchant and leaving him three gold coins as a pledge, which he found in his hand, waking up the next morning, he asked him to sail to the city of Myra and sell grain there. More than once the saint saved those drowning in the sea, and brought them out of captivity and imprisonment in dungeons.

Ark with a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery.

Having reached a very old age, Saint Nicholas peacefully departed to the Lord (+ 342-351). His venerable relics were kept incorrupt in the local cathedral church and exuded healing myrrh, from which many received healings.

In the 11th century, the Greek Empire was going through difficult times. The Turks devastated her possessions in Asia Minor, ravaged cities and villages, killing their inhabitants and accompanying their cruelties by insulting holy temples, relics, icons and books. Muslims attempted to destroy the relics of St. Nicholas, deeply revered by the entire Christian world.

Carved image of St. Nicholas "Nicholas of Mozhaisk" of the 14th century with picturesque marks of the 17th century.
St. Nicholas Church of the Vysotsky Serpukhov Monastery.

In 792, Caliph Aaron Al-Rashid sent the commander of the fleet, Humaid, to plunder the island of Rhodes. Having devastated this island, Humaid went to Myra Lycia with the intention of breaking into the tomb of St. Nicholas. But instead of it, he broke into another one, standing next to the tomb of the Saint. The sacrilege had barely managed to do this when a terrible storm arose at sea and almost all the ships were broken.

The desecration of shrines outraged not only Eastern, but also Western Christians. Christians in Italy, among whom there were many Greeks, were especially afraid for the relics of St. Nicholas. Residents of the city of Bar, located on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, decided to save the relics of St. Nicholas.

Novospassky Monastery in Moscow.

In 1087, noble and Venetian merchants went to Antioch to trade. Both of them planned to take the relics of St. Nicholas on the way back and transport them to Italy. In this intention, the inhabitants of Bar were ahead of the Venetians and were the first to land in Myra. Two people were sent ahead, who, upon returning, reported that everything was quiet in the city, and in the church where the greatest shrine rested, they met only four monks. Immediately 47 people, armed, went to the Church of St. Nicholas.

The guard monks, not suspecting anything, showed them the platform, under which the tomb of the saint was hidden, where, according to custom, strangers were anointed with the oil from the relics of the Saint.

Nikolo-Peshnoshsky Monastery. Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Methodius of Peshnoshsky.

At the same time, the monk told one elder about the appearance of St. Nicholas the day before. In this vision, the Saint ordered that his relics be preserved more carefully. This story inspired the nobles; They saw for themselves in this phenomenon the permission and, as it were, an indication of the Holy One. To facilitate their actions, they revealed their intentions to the monks and offered them a ransom of 300 gold coins. The watchmen refused the money and wanted to notify the residents of the misfortune that threatened them. But the aliens tied them up and placed their guards at the doors. They smashed the church platform, under which stood a tomb with relics.

Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Fragment. St. Nicholas Church in Kolomna.
Image from page

In this matter, the young man Matthew was particularly zealous, wanting to discover the relics of the Saint as quickly as possible. In impatience, he broke the lid and the nobles saw that the sarcophagus was filled with fragrant holy myrrh. The barians' compatriots, presbyters Luppus and Drogo, performed a litany, after which the same Matthew began to extract the relics of the Saint from the sarcophagus overflowing with the world. This happened on April 20, 1087.

Temple icon of St. Nicholas Church in Kolomna - St. Nikola Zaraisky with his life. A copy of an early 16th century icon copied from a 13th century original.
Image from the page “The Mystery of the Name. Version one" of the book "Temple of St. Nicholas Gostiny in Kolomna".

Due to the absence of the ark, Presbyter Drogo wrapped the relics in outer clothing and, accompanied by the nobles, carried them to the ship. The liberated monks told the city the sad news about the theft of the relics of the Wonderworker by foreigners. Crowds of people gathered on the shore, but it was too late...

On May 8, the ships sailed to Bar, and soon the good news spread throughout the city. The next day, May 9, the relics of St. Nicholas were solemnly transferred to the Church of St. Stephen, located not far from the sea. The celebration of the transfer of the shrine was accompanied by numerous miraculous healings of the sick, which aroused even greater reverence for the great saint of God. A year later, a church was built in the name of St. Nicholas and consecrated by Pope Urban II.

Carved wooden icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from the village of Zabelino, Ryazan region, miraculously escaped destruction in Soviet times and was subsequently transferred to
Image from the “Renaissance” page of the book “Temple of St. Nicholas Gostiny in Kolomna.”

The event associated with the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas aroused special veneration of the Wonderworker and was marked by the establishment of a special holiday on May 9 (May 22 in the new style). At the beginning, the feast of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas was celebrated only by residents of the Italian city of Bar. In other countries of the Christian East and West it was not accepted, despite the fact that the transfer of relics was widely known. This circumstance is explained by the custom of honoring mainly local shrines, characteristic of the Middle Ages. In addition, the Greek Church did not establish a celebration of this date, because the loss of the relics of the Saint was a sad event for Her.

Temple icon “Nikola Radovitsky”, Church of St. Nicholas Gostiny in Kolomna. The icon was found in the attic of one of the houses near Yegoryevsk. A piece of the relics of St. Nicholas was brought from Holy Mount Athos. Those who pray in front of this icon receive the gift of childbearing.
Image from the “Renaissance” page of the book “Temple of St. Nicholas Gostiny in Kolomna.”

The Russian Orthodox Church established the commemoration of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bar on May 9, shortly after 1087, on the basis of the deep, already established veneration by the Russian people of the great saint of God, who crossed over from Greece simultaneously with the adoption of Christianity. Countless miracles marked the faith of the Russian people in the unfailing help of the Pleasant of God.

The revered image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. XV century St. Nicholas Church of the Vysotsky Monastery. From the page of the Shrine of the Monastery of the book Serpukhov Most Pure Mother of God Vysotsky Monastery.

Numerous churches and monasteries were and are being erected in honor of St. Nicholas; children are named after him at Baptism. Numerous miraculous icons of the great Saint have been preserved in Russia.

Saint Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.