Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker when he was born. Holy deeds from a young age
Total 57 photos
A tourist trip to these amazing, history-rich places near Antalya is considered mandatory and standard. And, indeed, to be 150 km from the Lycian Worlds, where St. Nicholas the Pleasant preached, and where the ancient mysterious ancient world, hiding behind every stone and hill, powerfully declares itself, and not to visit here would be a flagrant spiritual crime for our souls . Therefore, the trip to Mira was planned in advance, but then, I didn’t even suspect that I would get something more than just a trip on an interesting and obligatory excursion “for show”.
The trip turned out to be very eventful and rich in impressions. Of course, this is the temple of St. Nicholas the Pleasant in Mir, a well-preserved ancient Greco-Roman amphitheater in Mir and a Mediterranean sea walk with a visit to the mysterious and enigmatic sunken ancient rock cities of the island of Kekova... I must say that in these ancient places you just can’t look anywhere - numerous traces of past civilizations and shadows of past events are visible everywhere, which is truly breathtaking... History powerfully, but not intrusively, opens its mysterious embrace to you here and, at the same time, quietly whispers about the past, with longing for loss...
Let us begin with the ancient Lycian Myra, where the Christian Saint Nicholas the Pleasant and Wonderworker of Myra lived, preached and ended his glorious days.
The trip along the Mediterranean coast itself, for me personally, evokes an unconscious, indescribable delight. After all, you seem to be soaring above History, above Death and Eternal Life, past great and simple events that took place here. These Lycian mountains, covered with relict pine trees, the Mediterranean Sea, sparkling in the sun, everything reminds you that you are now in the cradle of civilizations, figuratively speaking in TV language)
The photos will not be very good, especially at the level of today's breakthrough technologies in the world of the photo industry, but it seems to me that the main thing is not even this, but that the Lycian Worlds are now in front of us and we have a unique opportunity to touch them and merge with them . This very word “Peace” already reveals a state of peace, tranquility, being at peace with oneself, others and the world in general. Perhaps in this photo below you can somehow express something similar. Then we stopped on the coast to take a break and drink freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from fruits picked straight from the tree.
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Myra (Greek: Μύρα) is a large city in the confederation of ancient Lycia, located near the sea coast, 5 km at the foot of the coastal mountains, on the Andrak River, at the mouth of which there was once the harbor of ancient Andriake. At the end of the 4th century. BC e. Lycia was part of the empire of Alexander the Great. After his death it passed to Nearchus, and in 295-197. BC e. belonged to the Ptolemies. In 197 BC. Lycia became one of the possessions of the Seleucids. Later, many cities in the region united into the Lycian Union. In the 1st century BC e. As an autonomous state, Lycia was part of the Roman state.
Geographically, this ancient city is located next to the modern small Turkish city of Demre (Antalya province). According to one version, the city received its name from the word “myrrh” - the resin from which incense is made. According to another, the name of the city (“Maura”) is of Etruscan origin and means “place of the Mother Goddess,” which only later, due to phonetic changes, turned into Mira.
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Wikipedia, author Ivanchay
Being one of the major cities of Lycia, Myra, since the time of Theodosius II (401 - 450 AD - Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire), has been its capital. In the III-II centuries BC. she received the right to mint her own coins. During this period, Mira was part of the Lycian Union. The decline began in the 7th century, when the city was destroyed during Arab raids, as well as flooded by mud flows from the Miros River.
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Saint Nicholas was born in Asia Minor in 270 in the Greek colony of Patara in the Roman province of Lycia into a family of wealthy Christian parents. Patara was, in fact, a Hellenistic city, both in cultural and in its appearance. The future saint chose the path of Christianity as his own, becoming a priest. His parents could not have children for a long time and made a vow that if they had a son, they would devote him to serving God. Their prayer was heard: the Lord gave them a son, who at holy baptism received the name Nicholas, which means in Greek “victorious people.” Already in the first days of his infancy, Saint Nicholas showed that he was destined for special service to the Lord. A legend has been preserved that during baptism, and then the ceremony was very long, he, unsupported by anyone, stood in the font for three hours. From the very first days, Saint Nicholas began a strict ascetic life, to which he remained faithful until the grave.
The pious life of young Nicholas soon became known to all residents of the city of Patara. The bishop in this city was his uncle, also named Nikolai. Noticing that his nephew stood out among other young people for his virtues and strict ascetic life, he began to persuade his parents to give him to the service of the Lord. They readily agreed, because even before the birth of their son they had made such a vow. His uncle, the bishop, then ordained him a presbyter.
While performing the Sacrament of the Priesthood over Saint Nicholas, the bishop, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophetically predicted to the people the great future of the Pleasant of God: “Behold, brothers, I see a new sun rising over the ends of the earth, which will be a consolation for all the sad. Blessed is the flock that is worthy to have such a shepherd! He will feed well the souls of the lost, feeding them in the pastures of piety; and he will be a warm helper to everyone in trouble!...” ...When his parents died, Saint Nicholas inherited their fortune and gave it to those in need...
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The initial period of Saint Nicholas' activity as a clergyman dates back to the reign of the Roman emperors (reigned 284-305) and Maximian (reigned 286-305). In 303, Diocletian issued an edict legalizing the systematic persecution of Christians throughout the empire. After the abdication of both emperors on May 1, 305, changes occurred in the policy of their successors towards Christians. As a result, Christian communities began to develop rapidly. The bishopric of St. Nicholas in Myra (province of Lycia of the Roman Empire) dates back to this period.
Saint Nicholas is traditionally the patron saint of seafarers, to whom sailors often turn when the situation threatens drowning or shipwreck. According to his biography, as a young man, Nikolai went to study in Alexandria, and on one of his sea voyages from Myra to Alexandria he resurrected a sailor who fell from the mast in a storm and fell to his death. On another occasion, Nicholas saved a sailor on his way back from Alexandria to Myra and, upon arrival, took him with him to serve in the church.
The most famous story of the life of St. Nicholas from the Catholic tradition is about three girls whom he helped. Their father, unable to raise a dowry, planned to profit from the beauty of his daughters, essentially forcing them into prostitution. Having learned about this, Nikolai decided to help the girls. Being modest, he secretly snuck into their house and left the dowry wallet for the eldest daughter. He soon did the same for the middle one. The father, realizing that someone was helping him, decided to thank him, waited for the required date for the third daughter, hid in the room, and when Nikolai brought another wallet for the youngest daughter, he took him by surprise. Nicholas refused to accept the man's gratitude, declaring that his father should thank only God. According to another version, Nicholas, having learned about the poor man's monstrous plan, threw his donation down the chimney, where it eventually ended up in his youngest daughter's sock, drying over the fire. It was this legend that gave birth to the fairy tale about Christmas Santa Claus and a gift in a sock...
During his lifetime, Saint Nicholas became famous as a pacifier of warring parties, a defender of the innocently condemned, and a deliverer from vain death. Saint Nicholas died at a very old age, according to various sources. December 6 (old style)342 or 351 years. and was buried in the small cathedral church of Myra.When miracles began to occur at his tomb and pilgrims were healed after long prayers, St. Nicholas began to be revered as a miracle worker.
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Frescoes depicting how St. Nicholas helps three girls...
In the 11th century, the Turks devastated the Byzantine possessions in Asia Minor, accompanying their cruelties by insulting holy temples, relics, icons and destroying books. According to legend, in 792, Caliph Harun Ar-Rashid sent the commander of the fleet, Humaid, to devastate the island of Rhodes. Having plundered the island, Humaid went to Myra Lycia with the intention of breaking into and plundering the tomb of St. Nicholas. However, instead of it, he allegedly destroyed another one, which stood next to the tomb of the Saint, and barely the sacrileges had time to do this, when a terrible storm arose at sea and almost all of Humaid’s ships were then broken and swept away by the elements... Such desecration of Christian 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, and this is what happened next...
In 1087, Barian and Venetian merchants went to Antioch. Both of them planned to pick up “and protect” the relics of St. Nicholas on the way back to Italy and take them to Italy. Two residents of Bari were sent on reconnaissance, who, upon returning, reported that everything was quiet in the city, and in the church where the relics were located there were only four monks. Immediately 47 people, armed, went to the Church of St. Nicholas. To begin with, the merchants offered the monks 300 gold coins for the relics. But the monks angrily refused the money and wanted to notify the residents of the misfortune that threatened them, but the Italians stopped this attempt by tying them up. The Italians smashed the church platform, under which stood the tomb with the relics, and saw that the sarcophagus was filled with fragrant holy myrrh. A young man named Matthew began to extract the relics of the Saint from the sarcophagus overflowing with the world. The events took place on April 20, 1087. Due to the absence of the ark, Presbyter Drogo wrapped the relics in outer clothing and, accompanied by the Barians, transferred them to the ship. The monks, who were subsequently released, 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...
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On May 8, the ships arrived in Bari, 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.
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Currently, the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are kept in the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari. There, in Bari, is the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. According to some information, part of his relics (fragments of jaws and skull) located in the Antalya Archaeological Museum.
The sailors from Bari then took only half of the relics of the saint, leaving all the small fragments in the grave. They were collected by Venetian sailors during the first crusade and taken to Venice, where the church of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, was built. The authenticity of the relics was confirmed in two scientific studies in Bari and Venice, which proved that the relics in the two cities belong to the same skeleton.
In Rus' in the 11th century, veneration of the saint spread quite quickly and everywhere. The Russian Orthodox Church established the commemoration of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas from Myra in Lycia to Bari on May 9 shortly after 1087 on the basis of the deep, already strengthened veneration of the great saint of God by the Russian people.
This is what Saint Nicholas could have really looked like according to the reconstruction of his face.
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Having finished with the necessary historical calculations, I will move on to my immediate impressions of visiting this place, holy for all Orthodox Christians.
Modern Demre as a city is not particularly remarkable, except for the fact that it is one of the largest places for growing tomatoes, sent for export, you know where. The main spaces of this fertile valley are occupied by a fantastic number of banal vegetable greenhouses, which come close to the miraculously surviving Lycian historical monuments.
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To begin with, we were unobtrusively led straight to the local specialized market of St. Nicholas, giving us the opportunity to purchase icons and other attributes of the cult associated with the saint and more.
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There are even images of Nicholas on wall tiles.
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It must be said, however, that the products here are mostly of very high quality and it is not a shame to buy them as a souvenir. I purchased this small icon of St. Nicholas on a wooden base for $25. As traders reported, this icon from Mount Athos was made by local monks, and, moreover, was already consecrated.
And now let’s get down to the main event, for which we came here - to visit the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra.
The Church of St. Nicholas is a wonderful monument of the Byzantine era. According to some sources, the church was originally built in 343 AD. on the ruins of the temple of the goddess Artemis, destroyed by an earthquake in the 2nd century AD, where the remains of the saint were buried in a marble sarcophagus.
The church was destroyed many times, but was invariably revived and rebuilt several times. It was plundered during the Arab raids in 1034, when Myra and all of Lycia were completely devastated. The ruins of the church with the relics of the saint in an ancient sarcophagus located there were abandoned, although they were preserved by local monks. In the 11th century, under the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX, the church restored and surrounded by walls. The dating of the frescoes and floor mosaics dates back to the same period. Later in the 13th century, the church was flooded by the waters and mud of the Miros River due to strong earthquakes, as a result of which the course of the Miros River turned back. The church was completely covered with mud and silt to a depth of 3-4 m and only a small part of the bell tower was visible from it.
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The modern temple building was built around the 8th century. Externally, it is a basilica in the shape of a cross with one room, covered in the middle with a dome with two halls on the sides. The floor is partially covered with mosaics with geometric patterns, and on the walls you can still see frescoes from the 11th-12th centuries. The roof of the church was originally crowned with a dome, but during the restoration it was replaced with a vault.
During the Crimean War in 1853, Princess Anna Golitsyna bought a plot of land around this temple with the aim of establishing a Russian settlement here and a monastery in honor of St. Nicholas received special permission. Excavations and reconstruction of the church had already begun, but all this began to cause discontent among the population of Demre, and the Turks backed down, revoking their permission.
The church began to be excavated again in 1956; it was almost entirely buried in sediment. During subsequent excavations carried out in 1989, premises were found in the north-eastern part of the church building. To date, the original floor of the church is 7 m below ground level.
From the outside it is very difficult to see this ancient church. It is almost completely covered by external protective structures.
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This area is in front of the entrance to the temple itself.
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There is a sculptural image of the saint and several marble columns under a canopy.
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The church itself is very interesting and exciting. After all, our most revered Orthodox saint spent almost his entire life here.
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Around there are many found fragments of former religious buildings that were once located on this site.
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Perhaps there are also some surviving architectural details of the ancient Temple of Artemis, which was once located here...
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Here you are overcome by a thick, unusual wave of understanding of historical events and the countless emotions of people who visited both the sanctuary of Artemis and, subsequently, the Church of St. Nicholas. The walls of the church seem to speak to you, you just have to open your heart...
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Ancient portals make one remember Artemis and a series of lost events in the darkness of centuries associated with this place of Power...
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Here, even today, sand, pebble and mud traces of sediment from the once raging river elements are still visible.
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For some reason, the wonderful cross-flooded (sail) vaults made my heart beat faster... It’s as if you were remembering something, but you just can’t remember how after a bright, intense dream from which all that was left was a feeling of the event and a strange feeling that something very important...
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This is perhaps the second place in terms of impact and importance on the visitor to the church, after the sarcophagus of the saint. Church services took place here. This is the throne. Just imagine, the saint stood here countless times, turning to God in prayer. I had to wait until the throne was visually without tourists in the frame)
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Mosaic floor from Byzantine times...
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According to tourist tradition, visitors “bless” icons and crosses purchased at the icon market by placing them on the sarcophagus where the relics of St. Nicholas once rested. The guide tried his best to dissuade them from performing these manipulations with the sarcophagus (obviously the authorities oblige them to do this) and persistently offered an alternative - a throne, access to which, unlike the sarcophagus, is complete and unhindered...
Touching the throne caused me an unexpected response and a burst of inner light, as if everything had darkened and the sounds and images had sharply moved away... Ragged flashes of vague images, colored spots, figures of people rushed past my consciousness, and unusual and unfamiliar sounds of a church service were heard. They were deep, solemn, gloomily, sadly, victoriously sublime. Stern images of saints looking straight into your soul filled my inner vision and state...
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Completely shocked by this unexpected impression, I suddenly found myself still standing in front of the throne, touching it with my hand, and at that time the tourists were busily laying out plastic bags on the throne, with their newly purchased icons and crosses for “blessing”... Consciousness slowly, heavily and reluctantly “returned” and I, having come to my senses, also took out my icon of St. Nicholas and placed it next to the others...
So, here's how it's done. A few minutes is enough, by general silent agreement...)
The image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the icon is of great importance throughout the Christian world. Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, who became a great saint of God, is sincerely loved and revered by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. There is no Christian temple or house where there is no image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. His figure is often depicted next to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Orthodox Church celebrates the days of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker three times every year:
- The saint's birthday is August 11 (July 29, old style).
- The last day of his earthly life is December 19 (December 6, old style).
- The date of arrival of the saint’s relics in the city of Bari is May 22 (May 9, old style).
During his lifetime, the saint was famous for being a great helper to people in all their problems, so they come to him with fervent prayers to ask for assistance and protection. The Russian people have respected and venerated the saint for many centuries. Almost every city, even a small one, has a temple dedicated to St. Nicholas the Pleasant. This is the main cathedral of the northern capital of Russia - St. Petersburg, as well as the glorious Nikolskaya Tower, crowning the Moscow Kremlin.
The famous tower, erected in 1491, is associated with a miraculous event, the reality of which there is no doubt. The building was decorated with the face of the saint. 1917, when soldiers of Napoleon’s army committed outrages on the territory of Moscow, the enemies put the entire city to fire and sword. Despite severe damage and destruction, the image of St. Nicholas the Pleasant itself retained its integrity.
Life path of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
As the biography of Nicholas the Wonderworker testifies, he was born in the second half of the third century (about 280) in the city of Patara, Lycian region. At that time, these territories on the southern coast of the Asia Minor Peninsula were a Greek colony.
Childhood
Nicholas's parents were wealthy, pious people, so the boy received an elementary education and grew up as a worthy Christian. From a young age, he was distinguished from his peers by his seriousness, calmness, love for the wisdom of the books of the Holy Scriptures, and for church services. He spent days on end within the walls of the temple, and when night came, he read sacred books and prayed.
Service
Seeing the piety and spiritual aspirations of young Nicholas, his uncle, the Bishop of Patara, who was also called Nicholas, took him to church as a reader. A little later, he made the young man his assistant, ordained him to the rank of presbyter, and instructed him to teach the parishioners. Thus, Patar became the place where the Christian feat of carrying the Word of God of St. Nicholas the Pleasant began.
There is another version of the biography, according to which a very young priest immediately became the bishop of Myrrha by decision of the council of bishops of Lycia. Such a rapid ascent was possible in the 4th century. After the death of his father and mother, the young priest became the heir to the family fortune, using it entirely to help people in need. Moreover, he always performed good deeds and donations secretly, selflessly, avoiding gratitude and fame. The first years of service to the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker coincided with the years of the reign of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian (until 305), who systematically persecuted Christians. Persecution of followers of Jesus Christ in different regions of the Roman Empire continued until 306-311.
After making a pilgrimage to the shrines of Jerusalem, the Wonderworker wanted to become one of the Palestinian hermits, but by the will of the Lord he changed his mind. The Almighty appeared to the priest in a dream and revealed that his true purpose was to serve God in his native land. Amazing incidents happened already during the journey to the Holy Land. The young traveler was twice able to calm the stormy sea waters that threatened shipwreck, and brought back to life a sailor who had fallen from the mast.
Upon returning to the Lycian land, the saint, wishing to avoid fame and glory from the inhabitants of his native city, went to Myrrha (the center of Lycia). Just then the episcopal council was occupied with the issue of electing an archpastor. By God's will and the decision of the meeting, the position was given to Nicholas. Such a sudden rapid rise confused the priest and plunged him into confusion. Then, to strengthen faith and strength, the Lord came to the young man along with the Most Holy Theotokos. They handed Nicholas the Gospel and the omophorion, saying that they expected the priest not to serve as a hermit, but to glorify the Name of God. This miracle is often depicted in images of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Despite his high, respected position, Archbishop Nicholas's lifestyle remained almost unchanged. He remained simple, modest, hardworking. Prayer and fasting took a lot of time. And the main concern of Nicholas the Wonderworker remained helping everyone who needed it: the poor, the rich, the healthy, the infirm, the young, the old.
Despite his modesty and purity, the saint, when necessary, became a zealous and persistent defender of the Church of Christ. Together with his comrades, he found temples, places of sacrifice of the pagans of Myrrh and suburban lands, destroyed them, destroying idols, actively attracting lost souls to the True Faith. In 325, the First Ecumenical Council took place (which adopted the Creed), and the saint was present among its active participants. Together with the glorious defenders of the Faith - Spyridon of Trimifuntsky, the Pope of Rome, Alexander of Alexandria, Saint Sylvester (and 312 other priests) - they resisted the aggressive attacks of the heretic Arius.
According to some sources, Nicholas gave the atheist a heavy slap in the face in front of everyone. For this act, the priest was temporarily deprived of the rank of bishop and then taken into custody. But the Lord miraculously delivered the defender of the Faith from unjust punishment. Later, while in the rank of archbishop, he himself freed Christians from captivity many times and even saved the lives of those who were innocently sentenced to execution. After his release and restoration to his rank, Saint Nicholas again returned to his duties, continuing to sow the word of the True Church, fighting for the purity of the Faith against those who wisely philosophize, heretics, and doubters. The priest eradicated the seeds of unbelief and doubt in order to strengthen the weak, healing their troubled souls.
Saint Nicholas passed away to a better world at an old age, approximately in the year 345-351. He lived a pious life, full of compassion and helping people, the priest was a generous, kind man. Serving the Lord and Faith became his meaning and calling not only during his earthly life, but even today. Saint Nicholas is revered as a great Christian helper in many countries of the world. The numerous miracles performed during his lifetime and the help given to believers have made the image of Nicholas truly legendary to this day.
Veneration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Nicholas the Wonderworker is a saint especially revered by the Orthodox Church. The Italian A. Guagnini (16th century), traveling around Rus', testified that Russians honor Nicholas the Pleasant more than others, giving him honors almost the same as God. Of course, the foreigner slightly embellished the reality, but he noticed correctly - many Russian churches are dedicated to the saint, ordinary people often turn to his help and intercession. Numerous icons and new iconographic scenes associated with real miraculous incidents are clear confirmation of the saint’s participation in resolving the problems of believers.
Relics of St. Nicholas in Italy
The veneration of Nicholas the Wonderworker (Archbishop of Myra) in his homeland began shortly after his death (in the second half of the 4th century). Byzantium came to this later - by the 7th century. Thus, the Patriarch of Constantinople Simeon Metaphrastus, characterizing Saint Nicholas, wrote that he was an old man with an angelic face, on whom everyone saw the stamp of holiness and God’s grace. A bright radiance emanated from the image. The person who looked at him improved himself, became better. And saddened, suffering souls found consolation.
Many sought to take possession of the relics of the holy saint. Including residents of Bari. Thus, they wanted to return their city to the significance of a spiritual center. The Barians came to the burial place of the Wonderworker and offered to give the relics to the monks for a reward. When the monks refused, the Italians tied them up. The relics of Saint Nicholas left the tomb with a sarcophagus filled with ointment in Myra Lycia, after which they were transported by ship to Bari (in the south of Italy).
The ships landed on the shores of Bari on May 9. The relics were solemnly transferred to the nearby Church of St. Stephen. During the procession, miraculous healings took place, which increased the joy and spiritual uplift of the townspeople who greeted the relics. One year later, under the leadership of the abbot of the Benedictine monastery, Elijah, a new church, the Basilica of St. Nicholas, was erected and consecrated specifically to house the holy relics. The relics of the saint are kept here to this day.
Iconography of the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Almost immediately after the Baptism of Rus' (11th century), the veneration of St. Nicholas the Pleasant spread everywhere. The earliest image of the saint is the painting of the Church of Hagia Sophia in Kyiv. Of interest is the fresco of the Kyiv St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery (located in the Tretyakov Gallery). In the image, the saint stands at full height, blessing everyone with his right hand, and holding an open Gospel with his left
Another ancient way of depicting St. Nicholas is from the waist up. The saint holds a closed Gospel with his left hand. Byzantine iconographers, working from the 11th to the 13th centuries, were the first to paint such images. A Russian icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of this type formerly belonged to the Novodevichy Convent (Smolensk Cathedral). An ancient image of the 12th century came to Moscow from Novgorod thanks to Ivan the Terrible. Now the holy face is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery.
The images of St. Nicholas the Pleasant of the Smolensk Cathedral attract with their images in the margins. The center of the upper part demonstrates the prepared Throne (symbol of the second coming); on both sides of Nikolai are Damian and Kosma. The side fields are painted with three rows of saints: full-length Saints Boris and Gleb with martyr's crosses and swords in sheaths; martyrs Laurus and Frol; holy women-martyrs, revered by the Novgorod land, the venerable martyr Domna and Evdokia; Photinia and Paraskeva (shoulder-shaped). The State Russian Museum today houses the Novgorod Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (from the Holy Spirit Monastery), the image was painted around the middle of the 13th century. Its composition also includes images of locally revered saints of the city of Novgorod.
Samples of icons of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from the 11th to 14th centuries form the tradition of hagiographic icons of the saint. Images with scenes from the life of the saint became widespread in Italy, Rus', and the Balkans. The most ancient hagiographic Russian icons are considered to be the Novgorod image of the Lyuboni churchyard, dating back to the 14th century, as well as the Kolomna icon of St. Nicholas in the treasury of the Tretyakov Gallery.
If we compare the popularity of the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in different countries of the Christian world, then it is greatest in Russia. Therefore, you can often hear that this is a truly Russian saint. Perhaps because his image is multifaceted: a saint, a support of the Church, a fighter against heresy, a patron of rulers, travelers and a defender of the poor, an intercessor for all the unfortunate.
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:
- Get rid of evil thoughts and bad intentions.
- Find and create a harmonious relationship with your other half.
- Strengthen marriage bonds, preserve the happiness and love of married life.
- 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
- It was believed that after May 22, all remaining grain reserves from last year could be sold off.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 it 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 the holiday of Nicholas
Love and joy will enter the house.
Let the children have holy gifts
He'll bring it to his socks.
And adults - have more patience
And good mood. - Let the holiday of Nicholas
Give 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.
In Asia Minor. His parents Theophanes and Nonna were from a noble family and very wealthy, which did not prevent them from being pious Christians, merciful to the poor and zealous towards God. They had no children until they were very old; in constant fervent prayer, they asked the Almighty to give them a son, promising to devote him to the service of God. Their prayer was heard: the Lord gave them a son, who at holy baptism received the name Nicholas, which means in Greek “victorious people.”
A legend has been preserved that during baptism, when the ceremony was very long, the future saint, supported by no one, stood in the font for three hours.
All the unusual behavior of the child showed his parents that he would become a great saint of God, so they paid special attention to his upbringing and tried, first of all, to instill in their son the truths of Christianity and direct him to a righteous life. The youth soon comprehended, thanks to his rich talents and guided by the Holy Spirit, book wisdom. While excelling in his studies, the youth Nikolai also excelled in his pious life. He was not interested in the empty conversations of his peers: an infectious example of camaraderie leading to anything bad was alien to him.
Avoiding vain, sinful entertainment, the youth Nicholas was distinguished by exemplary chastity and avoided all unclean thoughts. He spent almost all his time reading the Holy Scriptures and performing feats of fasting and prayer. He had such love for the temple of God that he sometimes spent whole days and nights there in divine prayer and reading divine books.
Presbyter
The pious life of young Nicholas soon became known to all residents of the city of Patara. The bishop in this city was his uncle, also named Nikolai. Noticing that his nephew stood out among other young people for his virtues and strict ascetic life, he began to persuade his parents to give him to the service of the Lord. They readily agreed because they had made such a vow before the birth of their son.
His uncle, the bishop, ordained him a presbyter.
Having accepted the priesthood, Saint Nicholas began to lead an even more strict ascetic life. Out of deep humility, he performed his spiritual exploits in private. But God’s Providence wanted the saint’s virtuous life to direct others to the path of truth.
Return to Lycia and adoption of episcopal dignity
Wanting to get away from the bustle of the world, Saint Nicholas went not to Patara, but to the Zion Monastery (Μονή τῆς Νέας Σιών τῶν Μύρων), founded by his uncle, the bishop, about ten kilometers north of the city of Myra, where he was received by the brethren with great joy. He thought of staying in the quiet solitude of the monastic cell for the rest of his life.
But one day, while standing in prayer, he heard a voice: “Nikolai! You must enter into service to the people if you want to receive a crown from Me!” Obeying this command, Saint Nicholas left the monastery and chose as his place of residence not his city of Patara, where everyone knew him and showed him honor, but the large city of Myra, the capital and metropolis of the Lycian land, where, unknown to anyone, he could more quickly avoid worldly glory . He lived like a beggar, had no place to lay his head, but inevitably attended all church services. Archbishop John of the entire Lycian country has died. All local bishops gathered in Myra to elect a new archbishop. Much was proposed for the election of intelligent and honest people, but there was no general agreement. The bishops fervently prayed to God, asking him to indicate the most worthy person.
A man, illuminated by an unearthly light, appeared in a vision to one of the oldest bishops and ordered that night to stand in the vestibule of the church and notice who would be the first to come to the church for the morning service: this is the man pleasing to the Lord, whom the bishops should appoint as their archbishop; His name was also revealed - Nikolai. The elder bishop reported the revelation to others, who, hoping for God's mercy, intensified their prayers. As night fell, the elder bishop stood in the vestibule of the church, awaiting the arrival of the chosen one. Saint Nicholas, getting up at midnight, came to the temple. The elder stopped him and asked about his name. He quietly and modestly answered: “I am called Nikolai, servant of your shrine, Master!”
By the name and deep humility of the newcomer, the elder was convinced that he was God’s chosen one. He took him by the hand and led him to the council of bishops. Everyone joyfully accepted him and placed him in the middle of the temple. Despite the night time, the news of the miraculous election spread throughout the city; a lot of people gathered. The elder bishop, who was granted the vision, addressed everyone with the words: “Receive, brothers, your shepherd, whom the Holy Spirit has anointed for you and to whom he has entrusted the stewardship of your souls. It was not a human council, but the Judgment of God that established it. Now we have the one we were waiting for, accepted and found, the one we were looking for. Under his wise guidance, we can confidently hope to appear before the Lord on the day of His glory and judgment!”
Upon entering the administration of the Myra diocese, Saint Nicholas said to himself: “Now, Nicholas, your rank and your position require you to live entirely not for yourself, but for others!”
Now he did not hide his good deeds for the good of his flock and for the glorification of the name of God; but he was, as always, meek and humble in spirit, kind in heart, alien to all arrogance and self-interest; observed strict moderation and simplicity: wore simple clothes, ate lean food once a day - in the evening. All day long the great archpastor performed works of piety and pastoral service. The doors of his house were open to everyone: he received everyone with love and cordiality, being a father to orphans, a nourisher to the poor, a comforter to those who weep, and an intercessor to the oppressed. His flock flourished.
Persecution of Diocletian
But the days of testing were approaching. The Church of Christ was persecuted by Emperor Diocletian (284-305). Temples were destroyed, divine and liturgical books were burned; bishops and priests were imprisoned and tortured. All Christians were subjected to all sorts of insults and torments. The persecution also reached the Lycian Church.
During these difficult days, Saint Nicholas supported his flock in the faith, loudly and openly preaching the name of God, for which he was imprisoned, where he did not cease to strengthen the faith among the prisoners and confirmed them in a strong confession of the Lord, so that they would be ready to suffer for Christ.
The Lord granted his honest body incorruptibility and special miraculous power. His relics continue to this day to exude fragrant myrrh, which has the gift of working miracles.
Transfer of relics to Bari
The presbyters and noble citizens of Bari equipped three ships for this purpose and, under the guise of traders, set off. This precaution was necessary in order to lull the vigilance of the Venetians, who, having learned about the preparations of the inhabitants of Bari, had the intention of getting ahead of them and bringing the relics of the Saint to their city.
The nobles, taking a roundabout route through Egypt and Palestine, visiting ports and conducting trade as simple merchants, finally arrived in the Lycian land. The scouts sent reported that there were no guards at the tomb and it was guarded only by four old monks. The barians came to Myra, where, not knowing the exact location of the tomb, they tried to bribe the monks by offering them three hundred gold coins, but due to their refusal, they used force: they tied up the monks and, under the threat of torture, forced one faint-hearted person to show them the location of the tomb.
A wonderfully preserved white marble tomb has been opened. It turned out to be filled to the brim with fragrant myrrh, in which the relics of the saint were immersed. Unable to take the large and heavy tomb, the nobles transferred the relics into the prepared ark and set off on their way back.
The journey lasted twenty days, and on May 9 of the year they arrived in Bari. A solemn meeting was arranged for the great shrine with the participation of numerous clergy and the entire population. Initially, the relics of the saint were placed in the church of St. Eustathius.
The day of the arrival of the relics in Bar-grad (May 9) is celebrated there very solemnly. For this day, pilgrims flock there not only from Western Europe, but also from Russia, where May 9 is also celebrated. The service to the saint, performed on the day of the transfer of his relics from Myra Lycia to Bargrad - May 9 - was compiled in the year by the Russian Orthodox monk of the Pechersk monastery Gregory and the Russian Metropolitan Ephraim.
There is a widespread opinion that the Greek Church does not recognize the feast of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas is erroneous. In the modern Greek calendar, this event is celebrated on May 20. This memory was included in the printed calendar thanks to the Monk Nicodemus the Holy Mountain (1809), who discovered information about this holiday in a number of Athonite manuscripts, translated the corresponding synaxaran legend from Church Slavonic, and himself wrote a service for the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas. According to Rev. Nicodemus, the relics were taken out of Myra Lycian on April 1, and made a stop at Fr. Zakynthos on May 10, namely on May 20, were brought to Bari. One of the early manuscripts with an exact date mentions May 9 as the date of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas, is the Typikon of the Cryptoferrat Monastery of 1300. The date of May 20 is recorded in a number of Byzantine manuscripts, the earliest known to us is the May service Menaion of 1431 from the library of the Vatopedi Monastery No. 1145.
The memory of St. Nicholas is also celebrated at church services weekly, every Thursday, with special chants.
Prayers
Troparion, tone 4
The rule of faith and the image of meekness, / self-control of the teacher / show you to your flock, / Even the truth of things: / for this reason you have acquired high humility, / rich in poverty, / holy father Chief Nicholas,/ pray to Christ God // to save our souls.
Kontakion, tone 3
In Mireh, holy, the priest appeared to you:/ O Christ, having fulfilled the Gospel,/ you laid down your soul for your people/ and saved the innocent from death:/ For this reason you were sanctified, // like a great hidden place of God’s grace.
Troparion for the Nativity, tone 4
Your wonderful and glorious Christmas, St. Nicholas, / The Church celebrates the Orthodox today with joy, / for by standing your foot / the Lord has revealed you and proclaimed you to be a lamp and a teacher to the laity,/ the whole world enriching and enlightening miracles,/ thus we cry out to you // pray Christ God may save our souls.
Troparion for Christmas, tone 2
Today your triumph shines upon us like the sun, Father Nicholas, / for at your birth you made the angels rejoice with the wondrous standing of your feet, and you made men astonished, / but you have terrified Him,/ and now the Church of Christ is adorned like a bride,/ and in a high voice he cries joyfully:/ my kindness is clearly understood,/ come, faithful ones, rejoice/ and raise up your salvation and spiritual incorruption,/ in the troubles of the ambulance, in the sorrow of the netter, / in the sea there is a quiet refuge for the overwhelmed, / those hungry for a feeder, the blind leader, the beggars wealth,/ the rod of the elders, the chastiser of the young, and the purity of the teacher,/ and all who come with faith // receive healing of souls and bodies.
Kontakion for Christmas, tone 3
In Mireh, Saint Nicholas, / from a noble root, / like a fruitful branch, you were born, / filled with divine gifts, / like the sun at dawn, the whole world of miracles You have enlightened you./ For this reason we glorify you, // as a disciple and a hidden person God's grace.
Kontakion for Christmas, tone 3
Like a bright star shone forth, O blessed Nicholas, / in the middle of the city of Lycia, you were born to a righteous man, Father, / and in your honorable Nativity, wonderful and glorious is your display of the Lord Oh,/ and in your holy infancy a wondrous thing was revealed about you./ For you preached the Trinity / by standing your honest feet on the ground for three hours at the hour of your birth, / and from the breast of your right hand, but not from the left, / on Wednesday and on Friday alone, and then in the evening, / and from that , father, you were known abstinence is an unflattering rule, // and as if it were a great secret place of God’s grace.
Troparion for the Transfer of Relics, Tone 4
The day of bright celebration has arrived, / the city of Barsky rejoices, / and with it the whole universe rejoices / with songs and spiritual songs: / today is a sacred celebration / in the offering of honest and multi-healing relics / Saint and Wonderworker Nicholas, / like the unsetting sun rising with radiant rays / and dispelling the darkness of temptations and troubles from those who cry out truly:/ save us, as our representative,// the great Nicholas.
Kontakion for the Transfer of Relics, Tone 3
Rise up, like a star, from the east to the west/ your relics, O Saint Nicholas,/ the sea was illuminated by your procession,/ and the city of Bar receives your grace:/ you have given us a miracle, an elegant thief, // admirable and merciful.
A critical examination of the life of St. Nicholas
A critically processed biography of him still does not exist. In his famous life, placed in the “Chetia-Minea” by St. Demetrius of Rostov, borrowed, with abbreviations, from the legends of Simeon Metaphrast and distributed in countless retellings, features of the life of this saint. mixed with the acts of another Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Pinar (also in Lycia), who lived two centuries later - in
Name: Nicholas the Wonderworker (Nicholas of Myra)
Date of Birth: 270 g
Age: 75 years old
Date of death: 345
Height: 168
Activity: archbishop, orthodox saint
Family status: wasn't married
Nicholas the Wonderworker: biography
The most revered saint in Orthodoxy, wonderworker, patron of sailors, travelers, orphans and prisoners. From the day of veneration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in December, the New Year holidays begin. Children expect Christmas gifts from him, because the saint became the prototype of Father Frost and Santa Claus. According to the life of the saint, he was born in 270 in the Lycian town of Patara, at that time a Greek colony. Today this is the territory of the Turkish provinces of Antalya and Mugla, and the area around Patara is called the vicinity of the village of Gelemish.
The biography-life of Nicholas the Wonderworker says that his parents were wealthy Christians who gave their son an education befitting the 3rd century. The family of Nicholas of Myra (another name of the saint) were believers; his uncle, the Bishop of Patara, noticed his nephew’s religiosity and appointed him as a reader at public services.
Young Nicholas spent his days in the monastery, and devoted his nights to the study of the Holy Scriptures and prayers. The boy was amazingly responsive and realized early on that he would devote his life to service. The uncle, seeing his nephew’s diligence, took the teenager as an assistant. Soon Nicholas received priestly rank, and the bishop entrusted him with teaching lay believers.
Monument to Nicholas the Wonderworker in Yeisk The young priest, having asked for the blessing of his uncle-bishop, went to the Holy Land. On the way to Jerusalem, Nicholas had a vision: the devil came onto the ship. The priest predicted a storm and the sinking of the ship. At the request of the ship's crew, Nicholas the Wonderworker pacified the rebellious sea. Having ascended Golgotha, the Lycian offered thanksgiving prayers to the Savior.
On a pilgrimage, he walked around the holy places and climbed Mount Zion. The doors of the temple, which was closed for the night, turned out to be a sign of the Lord’s mercy. Filled with gratitude, Nicholas decided to retire to the desert, but a voice from heaven stopped the young priest, telling him to return home.
In Lycia, Nicholas joined the Brotherhood of Holy Zion to lead a silent life. But the Almighty and the Mother of God appeared to him and handed him the Gospel and the omophorion. According to legend, the Lycian bishops received a sign, after which they decided at a council to make the young layman Nicholas bishop of Myra (a city in the Lycian Confederation). Historians and religious scholars argue that the appointment was possible for the 4th century.
After the death of his parents, Nicholas entered into inheritance rights and distributed the wealth due to him to the poor. The ministry of the Bishop of Myra of Lycia fell during difficult times of persecution. The Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian persecuted Christians, but in May 305, after the imperial abdication, Constantius, who took the throne, stopped the persecution in the western part of the empire. In the east they continued until 311 by the Roman Emperor Galerius. After a period of oppression, Christianity in Myra Lycia, where Nicholas was bishop, developed rapidly. He is credited with the destruction of pagan temples and the temple of Artemis in Myra.
Researchers of the life of Nicholas the Wonderworker talk about the cathedral court at which he was subjected to trial. The Greek Metropolitan of Nafpaktos, in his book “Treasure,” claims that the future saint was tried for slapping Arius during the Council of Nicaea. But researchers tend to consider a slap as slander. They say that Nicholas called the heretic a “mad blasphemer,” for which he became the object of a conciliar trial. Those slandered resort to the help of the Wonderworker Nicholas, since it is believed that the saint will save them from their sad fate.
Miracles
Travelers and sailors caught in a storm turn to Saint Nicholas for help. The saint’s biographies speak of the repeated rescue of seafarers. While traveling to Alexandria to study, Nikolai's ship was covered by a storm wave. The sailor fell from the lines and died. The Wonderworker Nicholas, then still a young man, resurrected the deceased.
The life of the saint describes the case of saving the honor of three sisters from a poor family, whom their father, in order to avoid hunger, intended to give over to fornication. An unenviable fate awaited the girls, but Nikolai, under the cover of darkness, threw bags of gold into the house, providing the girls with a dowry. According to Catholic legend, bags of gold ended up in stockings that were drying in front of the fireplace. Since then, there has been a tradition of leaving gifts “from Santa Claus” to children in colorful Christmas stockings. The Wonderworker Nicholas reconciles those at war and protects the innocently convicted. Prayers addressed to him relieve sudden death. Worship of the saint became widespread after his death.
Christmas stockings symbolize the gift of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Another mention of a miracle performed by the Wonderworker Nicholas is associated with the salvation of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich of Novgorod. A sick nobleman dreamed that he would be saved by an icon of a saint from the Kyiv St. Sophia Cathedral. But the envoys did not reach Kyiv due to a storm that broke out on the Msta River. When the waves subsided, next to the ship, on the water, the messengers saw a round icon depicting the Wonderworker Nicholas. The sick prince, touching the face of the saint, recovered.
Christian believers call the akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker a miracle. They are confident that this prayer can change fate for the better if read for 40 days in a row. Believers claim that the saint hears all prayers for help in work and for health. A prayer service to Saint Nicholas helps girls get married safely, the hungry get enough, and the suffering get rid of everyday problems. Worshipers in the church note that St. Nicholas the Wonderworker immediately responds to a sincere prayer said at his icon with lit candles.
After death
The exact date of Nikolai's death is unknown. They call it the year 345. After leaving for another world, the saint’s body became myrrhized and became an object of pilgrimage. In the 4th century, a basilica appeared over the grave of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and in the 9th century, a church was erected in Turkish Demre, formerly known as Mira, the doors of which remain open in the 21st century. Until 1087, the remains of the saint rested in Demre. But in May, traders from Italy stole 80% of the relics, leaving part of them in the grave in a hurry. The stolen treasure was transported to the city of Bari, the capital of the Italian region of Apulia.
Nine years later, Venetian merchants stole the relics of the Wonderworker Nicholas remaining in Demre and transported them to Venice. Today, 65% of the saint's relics are in Bari. They were placed under the altar of the Catholic Basilica of St. Nicholas. A fifth of the sacred remains rest on the Venetian island of Lido, above the altar of the temple. In the Bari basilica, a hole was made in the tomb of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Every year on May 9 (the day when the ship with the relics moored to the shore, the day of the city of Bari), myrrh, which is credited with miraculous properties and healing from deadly diseases, is taken out of the coffin.
Two examinations carried out in the mid- and late 1990s confirmed that the relics kept in two Italian cities belonged to the same person. Anthropologists from Britain in 2005 reconstructed the appearance of the saint from the skull. If you believe the recreated appearance, then Nicholas the Wonderworker was 1.68 meters tall, had a high forehead, dark skin, brown eyes and sharply defined cheekbones and chin.
Memory
The news of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker to Italy spread throughout Europe, but at first the holiday of the transfer of holy relics was celebrated only by the Barians. The Greeks, like Christians in the East and West, received the news of the transfer of the remains with sadness. In Russia, the veneration of St. Nicholas spread in the 11th century. After 1087 (according to other sources, 1091) the Orthodox Church established May 9 (22 according to the Julian calendar) as the day of celebration of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra in Lycia to Bari.
The holiday is celebrated as widely as in Russia by Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria and Serbia. Catholics (except Barians) do not celebrate May 9th. The Russian Orthodox month book names three dates for holidays dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. December 19 is the day of his death, May 22 is the arrival of the holy relics in Bari and August 11 is the birth of the saint. In Orthodox churches, the Wonderworker Nicholas is commemorated with hymns every Thursday.
The second group of holidays associated with the memory of the most revered saint in Rus' is associated with miraculous icons with his face. On March 1, 2009, in Bari, the 1913 temple and the Patriarchal Metochion were transferred into the possession of the Russian Orthodox Church. The President of Russia accepted the keys to them.
In Russia, the number of painted icons and built churches of St. Nicholas is second only to the Virgin Mary. Until the beginning of the twentieth century, the name Nikolai was one of the most popular in the country. In the 19th-20th centuries, the Wonderworker was revered so much that there was an opinion about the entry of St. Nicholas into the Holy Trinity. According to Slavic beliefs (the legend of the Belarusian Polesie has been preserved), Nicholas will replace God on the throne as the “eldest” of the saints.
Western and Eastern Slavs attribute to Nicholas the Wonderworker the possession of the keys to heaven and the function of “transporting” souls to another world. The Southern Slavs call the saint the “chief of paradise,” the “wolf shepherd,” and the “snake slayer.” They say that Nikolai Ugodnik is the patron saint of agriculture and beekeeping.
Orthodox Christians distinguish in iconography “St. Nicholas of the Winter” and “St. Nicholas of the Spring.” The image on the icons is different: the “winter” Wonderworker is depicted wearing a bishop’s miter, while the “spring” one has his head uncovered. It is noteworthy that Nicholas the Wonderworker is revered by Kalmyks and Buryats who profess Buddhism. The Kalmyks call the saint “Mikola-Burkhan”. He patronizes fishermen and is considered the master of the Caspian Sea. The Buryats identify Nicholas with the White Elder - the god of longevity.
Nicholas the Wonderworker is the prototype of Santa Claus, on whose behalf children are given gifts. Before the Reformation, the saint was venerated on December 6, but then the celebration was moved to December 24, so he is associated with Christmas. In 17th-century Britain, Nicholas was the impersonal “Father of Christmas,” but in Holland he is called Sinterklaas, which translates to Saint Nicholas.
The Dutch, who founded the city, also brought the tradition of celebrating Christmas with Sinterklaas, who soon became Santa Claus, to New York. From the church prototype, the hero only had a name; otherwise, the image was subjected to thorough commercialization. In France, Father Christmas comes to children, to Finnish children - Joulupukki, but in Russia and the countries of the post-Soviet space, the New Year is impossible without Father Frost, whose prototype is Russia’s favorite saint.
Relics in Russia
In February 2016, a meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis took place, at which an agreement was reached to transfer part of the saint’s relics from Bari to Russia. On May 21, 2017, the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (left rib) were placed in an ark and taken to the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where they were met by the Russian Patriarch. Those who wished could venerate the relics from May 22 to July 12. On May 24, the President of Russia visited the temple. On July 13, the ark was transported to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The relics were opened until July 28, 2017.
Kilometer-long queues of pilgrims lined up to see the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which is why a special regime of access to churches was introduced. People wrote notes to the saint, asking for help in healing. The organizers of access to the holy relics asked not to do this, recalling that the Orthodox have other forms of addressing the saints - reading akathists, prayers and chants. Particles of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are kept in the churches of dozens of churches of the Russian diocese, in monasteries in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg.
