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 they begin new year holidays. 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.

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 on hard times 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.

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 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 sure 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 9 (according to Julian calendar May 22, the day of the 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 Orthodox Christians of 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 New Year impossible without Father Frost, whose prototype is the beloved saint in Russia.

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 at the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which is why they introduced special treatment access to temples. 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.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, became famous as a great saint of God. You will learn everything about this revered saint from this article! Days of memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker:

• December 6 (19) is the day of righteous death;
• May 9 (22) - the day of arrival of the relics in the city of Bari;
• July 29 (August 11) - the Nativity of St. Nicholas;
• every weekday Thursday.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker: life

He was born in the city of Patara, Lycian region (on the southern coast of the Asia Minor Peninsula), and 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, the baby Nicholas from the day of his birth showed people the light of his future glory as a great wonderworker. 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, took his mother’s milk on Wednesdays and Fridays, only once, after evening prayers 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.

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 good deeds.

Going to worship the holy places in Jerusalem, the Bishop of Patara entrusted the management of the flock to Saint Nicholas, who carried out obedience with care and love. When the bishop returned, he, in turn, asked for a blessing to travel to the Holy Land. On the way, the saint predicted an approaching storm that threatened to sink the ship, 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.

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 in front of 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.” In a vision, the Lord gave him the Gospel in an expensive package, and Holy Mother of God- 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. 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.

In the heat of denunciation, Saint Nicholas, burning with zeal for the Lord, even strangled the false teacher, 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. He was truly the light of the world and the salt of the earth, for his life was light and his word was dissolved with the salt of wisdom.

During his lifetime the saint performed many miracles. Of these, the saint gained the greatest fame for his deliverance from the death of three husbands, 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.

Appearing in a dream to Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine, Saint Nicholas called on 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 Myra and sell the grain there. More than once the saint saved those drowning in the sea, and brought them out of captivity and imprisonment in dungeons.

Having reached a very old age, Saint Nicholas peacefully departed to the Lord († 345-351). His venerable relics were kept incorrupt in the local cathedral church and exuded healing myrrh, from which many received healings. In 1087, his relics were transferred to the Italian city of Bari, where they rest to this day (May 22, BC, May 9, SS).

The name of the great saint of God, Saint and Wonderworker Nicholas, a quick helper and man of prayer for all who flock to him, has become glorified in all corners of the earth, in many countries and peoples. In Rus', many cathedrals, monasteries and churches are dedicated to his holy name. There is, perhaps, not a single city without St. Nicholas Church.

In the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Kiev prince Askold, the first Russian Christian prince († 882), was baptized by the holy Patriarch Photius in 866. Over the grave of Askold, Saint Olga Equal to the Apostles (July 11) erected the first church of St. Nicholas in the Russian Church in Kyiv. The main cathedrals were dedicated to St. Nicholas in Izborsk, Ostrov, Mozhaisk, Zaraysk. In Novgorod the Great, one of the main churches of the city is the St. Nicholas Church (XII), which later became a cathedral.

There are famous and revered St. Nicholas churches and monasteries in Kyiv, Smolensk, Pskov, Toropets, Galich, Arkhangelsk, Veliky Ustyug, and Tobolsk. Moscow was famous for several dozen churches dedicated to the saint; three Nikolsky monasteries were located in the Moscow diocese: Nikolo-Grechesky (Old) - in Kitai-Gorod, Nikolo-Perervinsky and Nikolo-Ugreshsky. One of the main towers of the Moscow Kremlin is called Nikolskaya.

Most often, churches to the saint were erected in trading areas by Russian merchants, sailors and explorers, who revered the wonderworker Nicholas as the patron saint of all travelers on land and sea. Sometimes they were popularly called “Nikola the Wet”. Many rural churches in Rus' are dedicated to the wonderworker Nicholas, the merciful representative before the Lord of all people in their labors, sacredly revered by the peasants. And Saint Nicholas does not abandon the Russian land with his intercession. Ancient Kyiv preserves the memory of the miracle of the saint’s rescue of a drowned baby. The great wonderworker, having heard the mournful prayers of the parents who had lost their only heir, took the baby out of the water at night, revived him and placed him in the choir of the Church of St. Sophia in front of his miraculous image. Here the rescued baby was found in the morning by happy parents, who glorified St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with the multitude of people.

A lot of miraculous icons Saint Nicholas appeared in Russia and came from other countries. This is an ancient Byzantine half-length image of the saint (XII), brought to Moscow from Novgorod, and a huge icon painted in the 13th century by a Novgorod master.

Two images of the miracle worker are especially common in the Russian Church: St. Nicholas of Zaraisk - full-length, with a blessing right hand and the Gospel (this image was brought to Ryazan in 1225 by the Byzantine princess Eupraxia, who became the wife of the Ryazan prince Theodore and died in 1237 with her husband and baby - son during the invasion of Batu), and St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk - also full-length, with a sword in his right hand and a city in his left - in memory miraculous salvation, through the prayers of the saint, the city of Mozhaisk from the attack of the enemy. It's impossible to list everything blessed icons Saint Nicholas. Every Russian city, every temple is blessed with such an icon through the prayers of the saint.

Icons, frescoes and mosaics with the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Sacred Tradition, of which church art is a part, has accurately preserved for centuries the portrait features of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. His appearance on icons has always been distinguished by a pronounced individuality, so even a person not experienced in the field of iconography can easily recognize the image of this saint.

Local veneration of Archbishop Mir Lycian Nicholas began soon after his death, and veneration throughout the entire Christian world took shape throughout the 4th - 7th centuries. However, due to iconoclastic persecutions, the iconography of the saint developed quite late, only in the 10th - 11th centuries. The oldest image of the saint in monumental painting is in the Roman church of Santa Maria Antiqua.

St. Nikolai with his life. 1st half of the 13th century Monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai

Icon from the Holy Spiritual Monastery. Middle 13th century Novgorod. Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Nikola. 1st half of the 14th century Rostov. Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Icon placed in 1327 by the Serbian Tsar Stefan III (Uros) in the Basilica of St. Nicholas. Bari, Italy

Painting on the Nikolskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. Late 15th – early 16th centuries.

Nikola Zaraisky with the hallmarks of his life. 1st half of the 16th century Vologda. Vologda Regional Museum of Local Lore

Nikola Mozhaisky. Veil. 2nd half of the 16th century Russian Museum, St. Petersburg.

Nikola Dvorishchsky with St. Savva and Varvara. Con. XVII century. Moscow. State historical Museum, Moscow

Days of remembrance of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - May 22, December 19 in 2019

Have you read the article Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker: life, icons, miracles. Pay attention to other materials on the website “Orthodoxy and the World”:

With joy and reverence every Christian sets foot on the Lycian land, which gave the world one who became the rule Christian faith, the image of meekness and abstinence - St. Nicholas.

Church of St. Nicholas
in the lower Worlds (Demre, Türkiye). This monument was erected near the temple in which Archbishop Nikola, the Miracle Worker of Myra, served.

According to church hymns, here he became famous during his life, and after his death, for numerous miracles and benefits.
It was here, in Lycia, in the city of Patara, in the 3rd century AD. Saint Nicholas was born and raised,
Even during his lifetime, many legends circulated about the good worldly deeds of St. Nicholas. One of them gave rise to the tradition of giving gifts on Christmas Day. One day, having learned that a very noble gentleman was broke and could not collect a dowry for his three daughters, he threw three bags of gold coins through the chimney into the house of an impoverished merchant, which allowed his daughters to get married with dignity. This is where the tradition of tying bags with gifts to the stove or fireplace came from.
Truly historical figure Saint Nicholas became the bishop of the church of the ancient city of Myra (Greek: Μύρα), one of the 6 main cities in the center of the province of Lycia in Asia Minor, existing since the 5th century. BC e.
From the ancient city, the ruins of a magnificent well-preserved ancient amphitheater with 13-15 thousand seats have now been preserved. The Saint’s feet walked on these stones, these rocks and the amphitheater touched his gaze.

In ancient times, Lycia was an independent state. Being one of the major cities of Lycia, Myra, from the time of Emperor Theodosius II, was its capital. In the III-II centuries BC. e. she received the right to mint coins (during this period, Myra was part of the Lycian Union).
Mira's life was peaceful for many centuries, under Roman protectorate. The Romans set up their granaries here and built the port of Andriyake. It was here, by significant coincidence, that the ship on which the holy Apostle Paul was sent to Rome along with other prisoners stopped for some time, and here everyone on the ship was transferred to another ship that was heading straight to Italy.
Visitors and tourists are still fascinated by the famous Lycian tombs, carved directly into the rocks. Local residents in ancient times believed that the higher a person was buried, the the best place he will take in other world. Naturally, only rich people could afford this. During subsequent conquests, the tombs served as refuge for many.

This is what the surroundings of the city of Myra-Lycian and the ancient rock burials that existed already in the time of St. Nicholas look like today.

Most of the Lycian tombs have unusually beautiful facades and relief images. From the outside, the tombs look very rich and unusual. Thanks to the bas-reliefs that are present on the tombs, you can learn about what the buried person did during his lifetime.
Many tombs are decorated with elaborate canopies, and the entrances are often designed in the form of a temple or house.

Not far from the city is the island of Kekova, which attracts extraordinary nature, clear turquoise water, islands and islets with quaint shores, bays and caves.
In the 2nd century AD. In the area of ​​the island, as a result of the earthquake, several ancient cities of Aperlai, Theimousse and Simena went under water. Ancient city Simen can be seen through the water while sailing on a yacht. Stone stairs, the remains of cobbled streets, dilapidated arches and walls, and even the embankment, which probably revealed its beauty to St. Nicholas who lived in those lands, are clearly visible

An interesting story is how the Lord led the future saint to this ministry. Wanting to get away from the bustle of the world, Saint Nicholas settled in the Zion monastery, founded by his uncle, the bishop, 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, during prayer, the voice of God called him to go into the world, among people, to glorify the Lord. The saint of God, obeying, headed to the capital of Lycia Big city Worlds where he was unknown to anyone and could easily escape worldly fame. Living in poverty and without a roof over his head, he inevitably attended all church services. Just at this time, Archbishop John died and the bishops were looking for someone who would be a worthy new chosen one. One of the bishops had a vision: the one pleasing to the Lord would be the first to come to the temple for the morning service. This man turned out to be Saint Nicholas.
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!” His flock flourished.
According to Saint Andrew of Crete, Saint Nicholas appeared to people burdened with various disasters, gave them help and saved them from death: “With his deeds and virtuous life, Saint Nicholas shone in the World, like a morning star among the clouds, like a beautiful moon in its full moon. For the Church of Christ he was a brightly shining sun, he adorned Her like a lily at a spring, and was Her fragrant myrrh!”

Children rejoice at Saint Nicholas; the Pleasant of God gives a helping hand to all the poor and suffering. Sailors consider him their patron. And it’s no coincidence.
One day, sailors caught in a strong storm near the Lycian coast began to call on Nicholas for help, whom they had never seen. The image that appeared in front of the sailors said, “Look, I’m here, I’ve come to help you.” The sailors, who did not stop praying to God, and with the help of the saint, sailed to Mira. Immediately heading their way to the church, they met St. Nicholas there. Thanks to the bishop, they wanted to kiss his hand, but he objected: “It was not I who helped you, but your faith in God. God, who heard your prayers, saved you.”

This monument was erected near the temple in the town of Demre.

While caring for the spiritual needs of his flock, Saint Nicholas did not neglect to satisfy their bodily needs.
When a great famine occurred in Lycia, the good shepherd performed a new miracle to save the hungry. One merchant loaded a large ship with grain and on the eve of sailing somewhere to the west he saw St. Nicholas in a dream, who ordered him to deliver all the grain to Lycia, for he buys the entire cargo from him and gives him three gold coins as a deposit. Waking up, the merchant was very surprised to find three gold coins actually clutched in his hand. He realized that this was a command from above, brought bread to Lycia, and the starving people were saved. Here he spoke about the vision, and the citizens recognized their archbishop from his description.
Even 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.
During the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, a rebellion broke out in the country of Phrygia. To pacify him, the king sent an army there under the command of three commanders: Nepotian, Urs and Erpilion. Their ships were washed up by a storm on the shores of Lycia, where they had to stand for a long time. Supplies were depleted, and the troops began to plunder the population that resisted, and a fierce battle took place near the city of Plakomat. Having learned about this, Saint Nicholas personally arrived there, stopped the hostility, then, together with three governors, went to Phrygia, where with a kind word and exhortation, without the use of military force, he pacified the rebellion. Here he was informed that during his absence from the city of Myra, the local city governor Eustathius innocently condemned death penalty three citizens slandered by enemies. Saint Nicholas hurried to Myra and with him three royal commanders, who were very fond of this kind bishop, who had rendered them a great service. They arrived in Myra at the very moment of execution. The executioner was already raising his sword to behead the first of the unfortunates, but Saint Nicholas with his imperious hand snatched the sword from him and ordered the release of the innocently condemned. None of those present dared to resist him: everyone understood that the will of God was being done. The three royal commanders marveled at this, not suspecting that they themselves would soon need the miraculous intercession of the saint. Returning to the court, they earned the honor and favor of the king, which aroused envy and enmity on the part of other courtiers, who slandered these three commanders before the king as if they were trying to seize power. Envious slanderers managed to convince the king: three commanders were imprisoned and sentenced to death. The prison guard warned them that the execution was to take place the next day. The innocently condemned began to fervently pray to God, asking for intercession through St. Nicholas. That same night, the Pleasant of God appeared in a dream to the king and imperiously demanded the release of the three commanders, threatening to rebel and deprive the king of power.
“Who are you that you dare to demand and threaten the king?”
“I am Nicholas, Archbishop of Lycia!”
Waking up, the king began to think about this dream. That same night, Saint Nicholas also appeared to the mayor of the city, Evlavius, and demanded the release of the innocently convicted. The king called Evlavius ​​to him, and having learned that he had the same vision, he ordered three commanders to be brought.
“What kind of witchcraft are you doing to give me and Eulavius ​​visions in our sleep?” - asked the king and told them about the appearance of St. Nicholas.
“We do not do any witchcraft,” the governors answered, “but we ourselves previously witnessed how this bishop saved innocent people from the death penalty in Myra!” The king ordered their case to be examined and, convinced of their innocence, released them.
During his life, the saint provided help to people who even did not know him at all. Not only believers, but also pagans turned to him, and the Saint responded with his constant miraculous help to everyone who sought it. In those he saved from physical troubles, he aroused repentance for sins and a desire to improve their lives.
But the days of testing were approaching. The Church of Christ was persecuted by the emperor Diocletian (285-30). 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. Diocletian's successor Galerius stopped the persecution. Saint Nicholas, upon leaving prison, again occupied the See of Myra and with even greater zeal devoted himself to the fulfillment of his high duties. He became famous especially for his zeal for the establishment of the Orthodox faith and the eradication of paganism and heresies. The Church of Christ suffered especially badly at the beginning of the 4th century from the heresy of Arius. (He rejected the deity of the Son of God and did not recognize Him as Consubstantial with the Father.) Desiring to establish peace in the flock of Christ, shocked by the heresy of Aryan false teaching. Equal to the Apostles Emperor Constantine convened the First Ecumenical Council of 325 in Nicaea, where three hundred and eighteen bishops gathered under the chairmanship of Emperor Constantine; here the teachings of Arius and his followers were condemned. Saint Athanasius of Alexandria and Saint Nicholas especially labored at this Council. Other saints defended Orthodoxy with the help of their enlightenment. Saint Nicholas defended the faith by faith itself - by the fact that all Christians, starting with the Apostles, believed in the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
The Lord allowed His great Saint to live to a ripe old age. But the time came when he, too, had to repay the common debt of human nature. After a short illness, he died peacefully on December 6 (19 AD), 342, and was buried in the cathedral church of the city of Myra. When miracles began to occur at the tomb and pilgrims were healed after long prayers, St. Nicholas began to be revered as a miracle worker.
The church was built in the 4th century, immediately after the death of St. Nicholas in 343, on the site of the ancient sanctuary of Artemis. The church was destroyed several times. First - an earthquake. Then a basilica was erected in its place. The decline came in the 7th century, when the city was destroyed during the raids of the Arabs, who demolished the basilica. Her remains were flooded by the mud of the Miros River.
The ruins of the temple with the tomb of the saint were in disrepair and were guarded only by a few pious monks.
The modern building of the temple was built approximately in 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 in a geometric pattern, 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; during restoration it was replaced with a vault.

In the southern nave of the half-empty church, a sarcophagus made of white marble with carved patterns attracts attention. This is exactly the sarcophagus in which the relics of St. Nicholas rested.

In 1034, during the Arab raids, the temple was destroyed, but the relics of St. Nicholas were saved. In May 1087, Italian merchants managed to take possession of the relics of the saint (according to legend, when Italian monks opened the sarcophagus, the spicy smell of myrrh spread from the relics of the Saint) and transported them to Italy, the city of Bari, where he was declared the patron saint of the city and where they are currently kept . However, part of the relics was left in the sarcophagus due to haste and now this part of the relics is in Venice. In 1850, the Russian traveler A.N. Muravyov visited the ruins of the temple in Demre (Lycian Worlds) and, seeing the state of the temple, initiated an initiative to raise funds for its restoration (it was planned to subsequently create a new pilgrimage center). As a result, in 1853, the ruins of the church and the adjacent plot of land were purchased on behalf of Princess Anna Golitsyna, a French architect was hired to restore the church, but only the chapel was completely restored, since the architect’s project did not preserve the historical appearance of the church, and the church itself did not was reconstructed.
On the site of the destroyed dome, a new one was built - in gothic style. However, starting in 1858. restoration work turned out to be short in time and did not give the desired result. The situation has become significantly more complicated Russian-Turkish war 1877-78 As a result, the remaining capital from the collected funds was transferred to the construction of the Church of St. Nicholas in Bari (Italy).
At the beginning of the 20th century, Demre was a small Greek village. There was only one priest serving in the church, and it was gradually covered with silt from the river flowing nearby. In 1920, after the expulsion of the Greeks from Turkey, the church was finally abandoned.
This timeless temple was rediscovered during excavations in Demre in 1956 - before that it was buried in the ground. In 1962–1963 At the initiative of the Turkish government, the church was cleared. Significant excavations were carried out on the territory of the monastery, during which colored mosaics made of colored marble and the remains of wall painting were discovered.

A new stage of excavations and restoration began in 1989. Rooms were found in the north-eastern part of the church. Currently, the floor of the church is 7 m below ground level. At the same time, a temporary canopy was built over the church.
Epochs have changed, entire nations have changed, the church has been destroyed many times, but it has always been revived to life. The church and its surroundings are visited big amount pilgrims who even today, after 17 centuries of the life of the great saint of God, honor and love him, knowing from their personal experience, the power of the prayer of St. Nicholas.
During his lifetime, Saint Nicholas was a benefactor of the human race; He did not cease to be one even after his death. The Lord granted his honest body incorruptibility and special miraculous power. His relics began - and continue to this day - to exude fragrant myrrh, which has the gift of miracles - the gift of giving help - through the prayers of our intercessor, and a quick helper in sorrows!

O all-praised, great wonderworker, saint of Christ, Father Nicholas! We pray to you, awaken the hope of all Christians, protector of the faithful, feeder of the hungry, joy of the weeping, doctor of the sick, steward of those floating on the sea, feeder of the poor and orphans, and quick helper and patron of all, may we live a peaceful life here and may we be worthy to see the glory of God’s elect in heaven , and with them unceasingly sing the praises of the one worshiped God in the Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Nicholas the Wonderworker (+ 342), Archbishop of Myra, wonderworker. A great Christian saint, famous for working miracles during his life and after death, called by the Church “the rule of faith and the image of meekness,” revered everywhere by Orthodox and heterodox, and even often between Muslims (in the east) and pagans (in Russia). Memory May 9 (May 22) transfer of relics to Bari, July 29 (August 11) Christmas, December 6 (December 19) repose.

Born in the second half of the 3rd century in the city of Patara, a region of Lycia 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.”

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, when 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.

All the unusual behavior of the child showed his parents that he would become a great saint of God, so they turned Special attention for his upbringing and tried, first of all, to instill in his 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.

Godly Life 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. 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 saint 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!”

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.

The uncle bishop went to Palestine, and entrusted the administration of his diocese to his nephew, the presbyter. Saint Nicholas devoted himself with all his soul to fulfilling the difficult duties of episcopal administration. He did a lot of good to his flock, showing widespread charity. By that time, his parents had died, leaving him a rich inheritance, which he completely used to help the poor. The following incident also testifies to his extreme humility. In Patara there lived a poor man who had three beautiful daughters. He was so poor that he had no money to marry off his daughters. What can the need of a person who is not sufficiently imbued with Christian consciousness lead to?

The unfortunate father's need led him to the terrible idea of ​​sacrificing the honor of his daughters and extracting from their beauty the funds necessary for their dowry.

But, fortunately, in their city there was a good shepherd, St. Nicholas, who vigilantly monitored the needs of his flock. Having received a revelation from the Lord about his father’s criminal intentions, he decided to deliver him from physical poverty in order to thereby save his family from spiritual death. He planned to do a good deed in such a way that no one knew about him as a benefactor, not even the one to whom he did the good.

Taking a large bundle of gold, at midnight, when everyone was asleep and could not see it, he went up to the hut of the unfortunate father and threw the gold inside through the window, and he hastily returned home. In the morning, the father found gold, but could not know who his secret benefactor was. Deciding that God’s Providence Himself had sent him this help, he thanked the Lord and was soon able to marry off his eldest daughter.

Saint Nicholas, when he saw that his good deed had brought the proper fruit, decided to see it through to the end. One of the following nights, he also secretly threw another bag of gold through the window into the poor man's hut.

The father soon gave his second daughter in marriage, firmly hoping that the Lord would show mercy to his third daughter in the same way. But he decided at all costs to recognize his secret benefactor and adequately thank him. To do this, he did not sleep at night, waiting for his arrival.

He did not have to wait long: soon the good shepherd of Christ came for the third time. Hearing the sound of falling gold, the father hastily left the house and caught up with his secret benefactor. Recognizing Saint Nicholas in him, he fell at his feet, kissed them and thanked him as a liberator from spiritual death.

Upon his uncle’s return from Palestine, Saint Nicholas himself gathered there. While traveling on the ship, he showed the gift of deep insight and miracles: he foretold the approaching severe storm and pacified it with the power of his prayer. Soon, here on the ship, he performed a great miracle, resurrecting a young sailor who had fallen from the mast onto the deck and died. On the way, the ship often landed on the shore. Saint Nicholas everywhere took care to heal the ailments of local residents: he healed some of incurable diseases, expelled from others the evil spirits that tormented them, and finally gave others consolation in their sorrows.

Upon his arrival in Palestine, Saint Nicholas settled near Jerusalem in the village of Beit Jala near Bethlehem. All residents of this blessed village are Orthodox; There are two Orthodox churches there, one of which, in the name of St. Nicholas, was built on the spot where the saint once lived in a cave, which now serves as a place of worship.

There is a legend that while visiting the holy places of Palestine, Saint Nicholas wished one night to pray in the temple; approached the doors, which were locked, and the doors, by the action of a miraculous force, opened themselves so that the Chosen One of God could enter the temple and fulfill the pious desire of his soul.

Inflamed with love for the Divine Lover of Mankind, Saint Nicholas had the desire to remain forever in Palestine, withdraw from people and secretly strive before the Heavenly Father.

But the Lord wanted such a lamp of faith not to remain hidden in the desert, but to brightly illuminate the Lycian country. And so, by will from above, the pious presbyter returned to his homeland.

Wanting to get away from the bustle of the world, Saint Nicholas went not to Patara, but to the Zion monastery, founded by his uncle, the bishop, 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 the time came when the great Pleasant of God had to act as the supreme leader of the Lycian Church in order to enlighten people with the light of the Gospel teaching and his virtuous life.

One day, while standing in prayer, he heard a voice: “Nikolai! You must enter into the service of the people if you want to receive a crown from Me!”

Holy horror seized Presbyter Nicholas: what exactly did the wonderful voice command him to do? “Nikolai! This monastery is not the field in which you can bear the fruit I expect from you. Leave here and go into the world, among people, so that My name may be glorified in you!”

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. As much as the Pleasant of God humbled himself, the Lord, who humiliates the proud and exalts the humble, exalted him. 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 Lord promised a more worthy husband to occupy this position than those who were among them. 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.

Having received this divine revelation, the elder bishop told others about it, 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 answered quietly and modestly: “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!”

When taking over the administration of the Myra diocese, Saint Nicholas said to himself: “Now, Nikolai, 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.

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.

Diocletian's successor Galerius stopped the persecution. Saint Nicholas, upon leaving prison, again occupied the See of Myra and with even greater zeal devoted himself to the fulfillment of his high duties. He became famous especially for his zeal for the establishment of the Orthodox faith and the eradication of paganism and heresies.

The Church of Christ suffered especially hard at the beginning of the 4th century from the heresy of Arius, who rejected the deity of the Son of God and did not recognize Him as Consubstantial with the Father.

Wanting to establish peace in the flock of Christ, shocked by the heresy of Ariev’s false teaching, Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great convened the First Ecumenical Council of 325 in Nicaea, where three hundred and eighteen bishops gathered under the chairmanship of the emperor; here the teachings of Arius and his followers were condemned.

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria and Saint Nicholas especially labored at this Council. Other saints defended Orthodoxy with the help of their enlightenment. Saint Nicholas defended the faith by faith itself - by the fact that all Christians, starting with the apostles, believed in the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

There is a legend that during one of the council meetings, unable to tolerate the blasphemy of Arius, Saint Nicholas struck this heretic on the cheek. The Fathers of the Council considered such an act an excess of jealousy, deprived St. Nicholas of the benefits of his episcopal rank - omophorion - and imprisoned him in a prison tower. But they were soon convinced that Saint Nicholas was right, especially since many of them had a vision when, before their eyes, our Lord Jesus Christ gave Saint Nicholas the Gospel, and the Most Holy Theotokos placed an omophorion on him. They freed him from prison, restored him to his former rank and glorified him as the great Pleasant of God.

The local tradition of the Nicene Church not only faithfully preserves the memory of St. Nicholas, but also sharply distinguishes him from among the three hundred and eighteen fathers, whom he considers all his patrons. Even Muslim Turks have deep respect for the saint: in the tower they still carefully preserve the prison where this great man was imprisoned.

Upon his return from the Council, Saint Nicholas continued his beneficial pastoral work in building the Church of Christ: he confirmed Christians in the faith, turned to true faith pagans and admonished heretics, thereby saving them from death.

While caring for the spiritual needs of his flock, Saint Nicholas did not neglect to satisfy their bodily needs. When a great famine occurred in Lycia, the good shepherd, in order to save the starving, created a new miracle: one merchant loaded a large ship with bread and on the eve of sailing somewhere to the west he saw St. Nicholas in a dream, who ordered him to deliver all the grain to Lycia, for he was buying he has all the cargo and gives him three gold coins as a deposit. Waking up, the merchant was very surprised to find three gold coins actually clutched in his hand. He realized that this was a command from above, brought bread to Lycia, and the starving people were saved. Here he spoke about the vision, and the citizens recognized their archbishop from his description.

Even 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.

During the reign of Constantine the Great, a rebellion broke out in the country of Phrygia. To pacify him, the king sent an army there under the command of three commanders: Nepotian, Urs and Erpilion. Their ships were washed up by a storm on the shores of Lycia, where they had to stand for a long time. The supplies were depleted, and they began to rob the population who resisted, and a fierce battle took place near the city of Plakomat. Having learned about this, Saint Nicholas personally arrived there, stopped the hostility, then, together with three governors, went to Phrygia, where with a kind word and exhortation, without the use of military force, he pacified the rebellion. Here he was informed that during his absence from the city of Myra, the local city governor, Eustathius, innocently sentenced to death three citizens slandered by their enemies. Saint Nicholas hurried to Myra and with him three royal commanders, who were very fond of this kind bishop, who had rendered them a great service.

They arrived in Myra at the very moment of execution. The executioner is already raising his sword to behead the unfortunate, but Saint Nicholas with his imperious hand snatches the sword from him and commands the release of the innocently condemned. None of those present dared to resist him: everyone understood that the will of God was being done. The three royal commanders marveled at this, not suspecting that they themselves would soon need the miraculous intercession of the saint.

Returning to the court, they earned the honor and favor of the king, which aroused envy and enmity on the part of other courtiers, who slandered these three commanders before the king as if they were trying to seize power. Envious slanderers managed to convince the king: three commanders were imprisoned and sentenced to death. The prison guard warned them that the execution was to take place the next day. The innocently condemned began to fervently pray to God, asking for intercession through St. Nicholas. That same night, the Pleasant of God appeared in a dream to the king and imperiously demanded the release of the three commanders, threatening to rebel and deprive the king of power.

“Who are you that you dare to demand and threaten the king?”

“I am Nicholas, Archbishop of Lycia!”

Waking up, the king began to think about this dream. That same night, Saint Nicholas also appeared to the governor of the city, Evlavius, and demanded the release of the innocently convicted.

The king called Evlavius ​​to him, and having learned that he had the same vision, he ordered three commanders to be brought.

“What kind of witchcraft are you doing to give me and Eulavius ​​visions in our sleep?”- the king asked and told them about the appearance of St. Nicholas.

"We don't do any magic,- the governors answered, - but they themselves previously witnessed how this bishop saved innocent people from the death penalty in Myra!”

The king ordered their case to be examined and, convinced of their innocence, released them.

During his life, the saint provided help to people who even did not know him at all. One day, a ship sailing from Egypt to Lycia was caught in a severe storm. The sails were torn off, the masts were broken, the waves were ready to swallow the ship, doomed to inevitable death. No human power could prevent it. One hope is to ask for help from St. Nicholas, whom, however, none of these sailors had ever seen, but everyone knew about his miraculous intercession. The dying shipmen began to pray fervently, and then Saint Nicholas appeared at the stern at the helm, began to steer the ship and brought it safely to the harbor.

Not only believers, but also pagans turned to him, and the saint responded with his constant miraculous help to everyone who sought it. In those he saved from physical troubles, he aroused repentance for sins and a desire to improve their lives.

According to Saint Andrew of Crete, Saint Nicholas appeared to people burdened with various disasters, gave them help and saved them from death: “With his deeds and virtuous life, Saint Nicholas shone in the World, like a morning star among the clouds, like a beautiful moon in its full moon. For the Church of Christ he was a brightly shining sun, he adorned Her like a lily at a spring, and was for Her a fragrant world!”

The Lord allowed His great Saint to live to a ripe old age. But the time came when he, too, had to repay the common debt of human nature. After a short illness, he died peacefully on December 6, 342, and was buried in the cathedral church of the city of Myra.

During his lifetime, Saint Nicholas was a benefactor of the human race; He did not cease to be one even after his death. The Lord granted his honest body incorruptibility and special miraculous power. His relics began - and continue to this day - to exude fragrant myrrh, which has the gift of working miracles.

Monasticism in Cyprus

In the first half of the 4th century, Saint Nicholas lived for a short period as a hermit in Cyprus, near Paphos. With him was the Monk Eutyches, with whom the saint founded the monastery of Jaareon (now part of the Kykkos monastery).

Information about the construction of the monastery of Jaareon by the Monk Eutyches and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was discovered by Ephraim of Athens in an ancient parchment manuscript, which at that time was in the sacristy of this monastery.

Transfer of relics to Bari

More than seven hundred years have passed since the death of the Pleasant of God. The city of Myra and the entire Lycian country were destroyed by the Saracens. The ruins of the temple with the tomb of the saint were in disrepair and were guarded only by a few pious monks.

In 1087, Saint Nicholas appeared in a dream to an Apulian priest of the city of Bari (in southern Italy) and ordered his relics to be transferred to this city.

The presbyters and noble townspeople 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, 1087 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.

Many miracles happened from them. Two years later, the lower part (crypts) of the new temple was completed and consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas, built deliberately to store his relics, where they were solemnly transferred by Pope Urban II on October 1, 1089. The upper part of the temple (basilica) was built much later - on June 22, 1197.

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 1097 by the Russian Orthodox monk of the Pechersk monastery Gregory and the Russian Metropolitan Ephraim.

The Holy Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Nicholas not only on December 6 and May 9, but also weekly, every Thursday, with special chants.

Canon to Saint and Wonderworker Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

voice 2nd

Song 1

Irmos: In the depths of the bed, sometimes the Pharaonic all-army is a pre-armed force; Having become incarnate, the Word consumed all-evil sin, O glorified Lord, gloriously be glorified.
Chorus:
Crown-bearer to the Throne of Christ, the wise Nicholas, standing with the angelic hosts, grant me enlightenment, illuminating the darkness of my soul, as if I will praise your rejoicing, all-blessed memory (Twice).
Glory: Glorify the whole Lord, the one who glorifies you, who has given you refuge to the faithful, who delivers the misfortunes that flow to your shelter, Nicholas, and who calls you with faith and love, most glorious.
And now: Comparing my desires with the all-evil serpent, the Creator, like a captive to delight. By You, O All-Pure One, I would call out, having become most truly deified: For You, O Mother of God, gave birth to the Deified One.

Song 3

Irmos: The desert has flourished, like a crin, Lord, the pagan barren church, by Your coming, my heart was established in it.
Sainted Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
Blessed Nicholas, you have been a sincere disciple of the Lord, saving those who flow to you from severe troubles and bitter death (Twice).
Glory: Cleanse Thy servants, the remission of sins, as by bestowing Goodness, Nicholas, Thy saint, even petitioned to You, O Thou Most Merciful.
And now: Soothe the confusion of my soul, O Most Pure One, and nourish life, O All-Holy One, who gave birth to God; my heart is established in Him.

Sedalen

voice 8th

Having ascended to the height of the divine virtues from there, Father, illuminated by the radiance of miracles, you truly appeared as the shepherd of the world, an invincible representative for us in this adversity. Moreover, having gloriously defeated the enemy, you drove away lies and saved people from death, Nicholas, pray to Christ God to grant forgiveness of sins to those who honor your holy memory with love.
Glory, and now: As the Virgin and one among women, You, who without seed gave birth to God in the flesh, we all bless the birth of humanity: for the fire of the Divinity dwelled in You, and like a child you gave birth to the Creator and the Lord. Thus, the angelic and human race, we worthily glorify Thy most holy Nativity, and according to the cry of Ty: pray to Christ God to grant forgiveness of sins to those who worship by faith Thy most holy Nativity.

Song 4

Irmos: You came from the Virgin, not an intercessor, not an Angel, but the Lord Himself, incarnate, and you saved me as a whole man. Thus I call to Thee: glory to Thy power, O Lord.
Sainted Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
Approaching the pure spiritual dawns, you were a light-bearer, illuminating the ends of the world, intervening for everyone, and saving everyone by faith who flowed to you.
Sainted Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
Delivering from death, as you appeared first, to Nicholas, a young man, reverend: so now save me from every situation, and misfortunes and troubles, all-blessed.
Glory: Thou shalt shine with radiance, O all-blessed one, the most eminent imitator of thy Master, and having saved, we call upon thee to glorify thee with reverence and love.
And now: Find the Lord of creation incarnate on Thee, and saving, as He is gracious, the whole man: in the same way we glorify Thee with the faithfulness of the Mother of God.

Song 5

Irmos: Enlightenment of those lying in darkness, salvation of the desperate, Christ my Savior, to You in the morning, King of the world, enlighten me with Your radiance: for I know no other god than You.
Sainted Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
By your divine life, we are blessedly enlightened, condemned by an unrighteous saying to die, having appeared, you delivered those who called to the Lord Christ: for we know no other god than You (Twice).
Glory: In heaven, the everlasting glory is now in vain, and the unspoken and divine dawn of the brightest, enjoying the radiance, cover me with your intercession, O Reverend, all-honorable servant of Christ.
And now: Yes, having sought Your image, buried by passions, the Savior, the hidden heavenly powers, incarnated from the Virgin, You appeared to those calling You: we know no other god than You.

Song 6

Irmos: Lying in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy mercy: lift me up from aphids, O God.
Sainted Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
Like victory, Nicholas, the crown on Your side is worthily placed: as the most powerful winner, save those who call (Twice).
Glory: I was killed, blessed one, by sins, and immersed in the anxiety of passions, having appeared to save me, directing me to the haven of the Divine will.
And now: I have placed my hopes in You, Mother of the Ever-Virgin, for my salvation, and I place my life as your representative, firm and unshakable.

Kontakion

voice 3rd

In Mireh, the holy one, you appeared as a priest; for Christ, O Reverend, having fulfilled the Gospel, you laid down your soul for your people, and saved the innocent from death. For this reason you have been sanctified, as the great hidden place of God’s grace.

Ikos

Let us now praise the saint with songs, as a shepherd and teacher for the worldly people, and let us be enlightened by his prayers: behold, we have appeared all pure, incorruptible, in spirit, offering to Christ a sacrifice immaculate, pure, favorable to God, as the saint is cleansed both in soul and body. He is also truly the representative and champion of this Church, as the great hidden place of God’s grace.

Song 7

Irmos: I serve the golden image in the field of Deira, three of Your youths, heedless of the godless command, cast into the midst of the fire, watering their waists: blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
Sainted Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
We have fallen into acute temptation, we are instigated by fierceness, and those who are approaching the gates of hell are struck by sorrows, save me with your prayers, blessed one, and raise me up singing: blessed art thou, O God of our fathers (Twice).
Glory: Let us shine with immaterial rays of the never-ending Light, who are embittered in the darkness of sorrows, and instruct those who sing to the enlightenment of joy: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
And now: Pray to Christ, Thy Son and God, the Virgin Mother of God, sold by cruel sins and the flattery of the serpent, to be delivered by His honest blood, singing: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.

Song 8

Irmos: Who descended into the fiery furnace to the Jewish youth, and turned the flame into dew, sing of God, the deeds of the Lord, and exalt unto all ages.
Sainted Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
As you are good and compassionate, in the depths of the cruel misfortunes of the contents of freedom, blessed Nicholas, from those who contain the cruel ones, giving permission with your prayers, even to the Savior Christ, the Holy Mystery (Twice).
Glory: The secret leader of those who are more than the mind, the servants of the saints and heavenly ones, the wise one: the bishop is faithful, ask for forgiveness of sins from our Savior, sacredly revealed.
And now: Now my mind is exhausted, into the depths of the fall of dishonor, as if from everywhere I am embraced by various evil ones: but You, Virgin, heal, dressing dispassion with light.

Song 9

Irmos: The Son, God and Lord, who is without beginning, became incarnate from the Virgin, appearing to us, the darkened one to enlighten, the squandered brother. Thus we magnify the All-Sung Mother of God.
Sainted Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
With the lamps of grace, O wise God, we enlighten, and the lamp of piety was revealed, saving those who are in adversity, and delivering those who are in the depths of the sea, and feeding the hungry gloriously, all-blessed (Twice).
Glory: Who are now in the paradise of sweetness, and the ineffable glory is clearly in vain, from the heavenly circle your singers are watching, delivering from passions, God-bearing all-blessed.
And now: Wisdom, and Power, and the Hypostatic Word of the Father, O Pure Mother of God, you gave birth to, who received your Temple from Your most pure blood, and was united inseparably by this union.

First prayer

O all-holy Nicholas, exceedingly saintly servant of the Lord, our warm intercessor and quick helper everywhere in sorrow! Help me, a sinner and a sad person, in this life, beg the Lord God to grant me forgiveness of all my sins, even those that I have sinned from my youth, in all my life, in deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me, the accursed one, beg the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver me from airy ordeals and eternal torment, so that I may always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer

Oh, all-validated and all-honorable bishop, great miracle worker, Holy Hierarch of Christ, Father Nicholas! Man of God and faithful servant, a man of desires, a chosen vessel, a strong pillar of the church, a bright lamp, a shining star and illuminating the whole universe: you are a righteous man, like a flourishing phoenix, planted in the courts of your Lord, living in Mireh, you are fragrant with peace and the ever-flowing myrrh. pour out the grace of God. By your procession, holy father, the sea was sanctified, when your many-wonderful relics marched to the city of Barsky, from east to west to praise the name of the Lord. Oh, wonderful and wondrous miracle worker, quick helper, warm intercessor, kind shepherd, saving the verbal flock from all troubles! We glorify and magnify you, as the hope of all Christians, the source of miracles, the protector of the faithful, the wise teacher, the hungry feeder, the weeping joy, the naked, the sick doctor, the sea-floating steward, the liberator of captives, the widows and orphans, the nourisher and protector, the guardian of chastity, infants a meek chastiser, the old strengthened, fasting a mentor, the toilers restful, the poor and wretched abundantly rich. Hear us praying to you and running under your roof, show your intercession for us to the Most High and intercede with your God-pleasing prayers everything useful for the salvation of our souls and bodies: preserve this holy monastery (or this temple), every city and the whole, and every country Christian, and people living from all bitterness, with your help, we know, we know that the prayer of the righteous can do much, hastening for good: for you, the righteous, according to the most blessed Virgin Mary, the representative to the All-Merciful God of the Imams, and to your, most kindly father, warm We humbly flow to intercession and intercession: protect us, like a cheerful and good shepherd, from all enemies, destruction, cowardice, hail, famine, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners, and from all our troubles and sorrows give us a helping hand, and open the doors of God's mercy: we are not yet worthy to see the heights of heaven, from the multitude of our iniquities, bound by the bonds of sin, and neither having created the will of our Creator, nor keeping His commandments. At the same time, we bow our contrite and humble hearts to our Creator, and we ask for your fatherly intercession to Him: help us, servant of God, so that we do not perish with our iniquities, deliver us from all evil and from all things that are resistant, guide our minds and strengthen our hearts ours in the right faith, in which through your intercession and intercession, we will not be belittled by wounds, nor rebuke, nor by pestilence, nor by any wrath from our Creator, but let us live a peaceful life here and may we be worthy to see good on the land of the living, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy The Spirit, one in the Trinity, glorified and worshiped God, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Akathist to Saint Nicholas

Kontakion 1

Chosen Miracle-worker and a great servant of Christ, exuding to the whole world a valuable myrrh of mercy and an inexhaustible sea of ​​miracles, I praise you with love, Saint Nicholas: you, as you have boldness towards the Lord, free me from all troubles, and I call you:

Ikos 1

Reveal to you the Creator of all creation in the form of an angel, an earthly being; Having foreseen the fruitful kindness of your soul, blessed Nicholas, teach everyone to cry out to you:
Rejoice, purified from the womb of motherhood; Rejoice, even you who are completely sanctified. Rejoice, you who surprised your parents with your birth; Rejoice, you who revealed the strength of your soul at Christmas. Rejoice, garden of the land of promise; Rejoice, flower of the Divine planting. Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ's grapes; Rejoice, miraculous tree of Jesus' paradise. Rejoice, the end of the paradisiacal vegetation; Rejoice, myrrh of Christ's fragrance. Rejoice, for you will drive away sobbing; Rejoice, for you bring joy.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 2

Seeing your outpouring of peace, God-wise, we are enlightened in souls and bodies, you are a wondrous myrrh-bearer of life, Nicholas, understanding: miracles are like waters pouring out with the grace of God, you faithfully cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Instructing an unintelligible mind about the Holy Trinity, you were in Nicaea with the holy fathers, a champion of the confession of the Orthodox faith: for you confessed equal to the Father, co-essential and co-throne with the Father, but you denounced the madman Aria. For this sake, for the sake of faithfulness, I have learned to sing to you:
Rejoice, great pillar of piety; Rejoice, faithful refuge of the city. Rejoice, solid strengthening of Orthodoxy; Rejoice, the honorable One of the Most Holy Trinity was also praised. Rejoice, Thou who preached the Son with equal honor to the Father; Rejoice, you drove away Aria, who was enraged from the Council of Saints. Rejoice, father, glorious beauty of the fathers; Rejoice, wise kindness to all the God-wise. Rejoice, you who utter fiery words; Rejoice, teach your flock well. Rejoice, for through you faith is confirmed; Rejoice, for through you the heresy is being overthrown.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 3

By the power given to you from above, you took away every tear from the face of the fiercely suffering, God-bearing Father Nicholas: for you appeared to the hungry as a nourisher, to those in the abyss of the seas as a great ruler, to those who were sick, healing and every helper appeared to everyone, crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having truly, Father Nicholas, a song will be sung to you from heaven, and not from earth: how can any man from man be able to preach your holy greatness? But we, overcome by your love, cry out to you:
Rejoice, image of lambs and shepherds; Rejoice, holy purifier of morals. Rejoice, repository of great virtues; Rejoice, holy and pure dwelling. Rejoice, all-bright and all-loving lamp; Rejoice, golden and immaculate light. Rejoice, worthy interlocutor of Angels; Rejoice, good teacher of men. Rejoice, rule of pious faith; Rejoice, image of spiritual meekness. Rejoice, for through you we are delivered from bodily passions; Rejoice, for through you we are filled with spiritual sweets.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 4

A storm of bewilderment confuses my mind, how worthy it is to sing your miracles, blessed Nicholas; No one can erase me, even if I had many tongues and wanted to speak; but we marvel at God, who is glorified in you, and dare to sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing, God-wise Nicholas, those near and far, the greatness of your miracles, as if through the air with light grace-filled wings you were accustomed to anticipate those in troubles, quickly delivering from them all who cry out to you like this:
Rejoice, deliverance from sorrow; Rejoice, bestower of grace. Rejoice, banisher of unforeseen evils; Rejoice, wishing good things to the planter. Rejoice, speedy consoler of those in trouble; Rejoice, terrible punisher of those who offend. Rejoice, abyss of miracles, poured out by God; Rejoice, the law of Christ is the tablet written by God. Rejoice, strong erection of those who fall; Rejoice, rightful affirmation. Rejoice, for through you all flattery is laid bare; Rejoice, for through you all truth comes true.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 5

The God-bearing star appeared, instructing those floating on the sea, whose death was soon approaching sometimes, if only you had not appeared to those calling you for help, Wonderworker Saint Nicholas; You are already unashamed of the flying demons and forbade those who want to load ships, you drove them away, but you taught the faithful to cry out to the God who saves you: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing the young women, prepared for a bad marriage for the sake of poverty, your great mercy for the poor, blessed Father Nicholas, when you gave the bundles of three hidden gold to their elder father at night, saving him and his daughters from the fall of sin. For this reason you hear from everyone:
Rejoice, great treasure of mercy; Rejoice, friend of industry for people. Rejoice, food and joy for those who come running to you; Rejoice, uneaten bread of the hungry. Rejoice, wealth given by God to the poor living on earth; Rejoice, speedy exaltation of the poor. Rejoice, quick hearing of the poor; Rejoice, pleasant care for those who mourn. Rejoice, three virgins, immaculate bride; Rejoice, zealous guardian of purity. Rejoice, unreliable hope; Rejoice, joy of the whole world.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 6

The whole world preaches to you, blessed Nicholas, a quick intercessor in troubles, as many times in one hour traveling on earth and sailing on the sea, anticipating, assisting, preserving everyone from the evil ones, crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Thou didst shine as an animal light, bringing deliverance to the commanders, who accepted unrighteous death for those who had, to you, good shepherd Nicholas, who called, when soon after appearing in the princess’s dream, you frightened him, and you commanded to release these unharmed ones. For this reason, we are happy with them and we cry out to you in gratitude:
Rejoice, help those who earnestly call upon you; Rejoice, deliverer from unrighteous murder. Rejoice, keep away from flattering slander; Rejoice, destroy the unrighteous councils. Rejoice, tear apart lies like a spider; Rejoice, gloriously exalting the truth. Rejoice, release from bonds of the innocent; Rejoice, and revival of the dead. Rejoice, demonstrater of truth; Rejoice, darker of untruth. Rejoice, for through your disobedience you delivered from the sword; Rejoice, for I have enjoyed the light of you.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 7

Although the blasphemous heretical stench was driven away, the truly fragrant, mysterious myrrh appeared to Nicholas: you saved the people of Myra and you filled the whole world with your blessed peace. And drive away from us the godless, sinful stench, so that we may cry out pleasingly to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

We mean the new Noah, the mentor of the ark of salvation, Holy Father Nicholas, who disperses the storm of all fierce ones with his direction, but brings Divine silence to those crying out like this:
Rejoice, you who are overwhelmed by a quiet refuge; Rejoice, drowning famous repository. Rejoice, good pilot of those floating in the midst of the depths; Rejoice, calmer of the sea. Rejoice, transport of those who are in whirlwinds; Rejoice, warming of those who are in the filth. Rejoice, radiance that disperses the sorrowful darkness; Rejoice, luminary, illuminating all the ends of the earth. Rejoice, you deliver sinful people from the abyss; Rejoice, cast Satan into the abyss of hell. Rejoice, for through you we boldly invoke the abyss of God’s mercy; Rejoice, for by you having been delivered from the flood of wrath, we find peace with God.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 8

A strange miracle is flowing to you, Blessed Nicholas, your sacred church: in it even small prayers bring, healing of great ailments is acceptable, if only according to God we place our hope in you, truly crying out: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

You are truly a helper to everyone, God-bearing Nicholas, and you have gathered together all those who come running to you, as a liberator, a nourisher and a quick doctor to all earthly people, raising up the praise of everyone to cry out to you:
Rejoice, source of all healings; Rejoice, dear helper to the suffering. Rejoice, dawn, shining in the night of sinful wanderers; Rejoice, dew that does not flow in the heat of the work of beings. Rejoice, give well-being to those who need it; Rejoice, prepare abundance for those who ask. Rejoice, thou who hast preceded the petition many times; Rejoice, renew the strength of old gray hairs. Rejoice, many who have gone astray from the path of the true accuser; Rejoice, faithful servant of the mysteries of God. Rejoice, for through you we trample on envy; Rejoice, for through you we correct a good life.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 9

Alleviate all illnesses, our great intercessor Nicholas, dissolving grace-filled healing, delighting our souls, and cheering the hearts of all who zealously flow to your help, crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

We see the wise branches of the wicked put to shame by you, God-wise Father Nicholas: Aria for the blasphemer, dividing the Divinity, and Sabellia, confusing the Holy Trinity, has changed, but you have strengthened us in Orthodoxy. For this reason we cry out to you:
Rejoice, shield, protect piety; Rejoice, sword, cut off evil. Rejoice, teacher of Divine commandments; Rejoice, destroyer of ungodly teachings. Rejoice, ladder established by God, by which we ascend to heaven; Rejoice, protection created by God, with which many are covered. Rejoice, thou who hast made wise the foolish with thy words; Rejoice, having inspired the morals of the lazy. Rejoice, unquenchable brightness of God’s commandments; Rejoice, bright ray of the Lord’s justifications. Rejoice, for through your teaching the heretical heads are crushed; Rejoice, for through your faithfulness the faithful are worthy of glory.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 10

Although you have truly saved your soul, your flesh and your spirit, Our Father Nicholas, you have applied God-thinking to your thoughts and actions in silence before, and through God-thought you have acquired a perfect mind, with which you boldly conversed with God and the Angels, always crying out: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Thou art a wall to those who praise, O blessed one, thy miracles and to all who resort to thy intercession; Likewise, free us, the poor in virtue, from poverty, adversity, ailments and various needs, who cry out to you with love like this:
Rejoice, take away from eternal misery; Rejoice, give us imperishable wealth. Rejoice, undying cruelty to those who hunger for truth; Rejoice, inexhaustible drink for those thirsty for life. Rejoice, keep from rebellion and warfare; Rejoice, freest from bonds and captivity. Rejoice, glorious intercessor in troubles; Rejoice, great protector in adversity. Rejoice, thou who has deceived many from destruction; Rejoice, you who preserved countless people unharmed. Rejoice, for through you sinners escape cruel death; Rejoice, for through you those who repent receive eternal life.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 11

Singing Holy Trinity Thou didst bring it more than others, O blessed Nicholas, in mind, in word and in deed: for by many trials the orthodox commands have been clarified, by faith, hope and love, instructing us in the Trinity to chant to the One God: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

We see you as a luminous ray in the darkness of life, unquenchable, chosen by God, Father Nicholas: with immaterial angelic lights you talk about the uncreated Trinity Light, but you enlighten the faithful souls, crying out to you like this:
Rejoice, illumination of the Trisolar Light; Rejoice, day of the never-setting Sun. Rejoice, O luminary, kindled by the Divine flame; Rejoice, for you have extinguished the demonic flame of wickedness. Rejoice, bright preaching of orthodoxy; Rejoice, transparent light of the Gospel. Rejoice, lightning, consuming heresies; Rejoice, thunder, terrifying tempter. Rejoice, true teacher of reason; Rejoice, mysterious exponent of the mind. Rejoice, for through you I have trampled upon the worship of creation; Rejoice, for through you we have learned to worship the Creator in the Trinity.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 12

The grace given to you from God, knowledgeable, rejoicing in your memory, we celebrate according to duty, glorious Father Nicholas, and we wholeheartedly flow to your wonderful intercession; But your glorious deeds, like the sand of the sea and the multitude of the stars, cannot be exhausted, but once you are overcome by bewilderment, we cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your miracles, we praise you, O all-praised Nicholas: for in you God, glorified in the Trinity, is wondrously glorified. But even if we bring you many psalms and songs composed from the heart, O miracle-working saint, we do nothing equal to the granting of your miracles, and in wonder at them, we cry out to you like this:
Rejoice, servant of the King of kings and Lord of lords; Rejoice, cohabitants of His heavenly servants. Rejoice, help to faithful people; Rejoice, kind of Christian exaltation. Rejoice, victory of the same name; Rejoice, proud crowned one. Rejoice, mirror of all virtues; Rejoice, everyone who flows to you has been taken away by the strong. Rejoice, all our hope is in God and the Mother of God; Rejoice, health to our bodies and salvation to our souls. Rejoice, for through you we are freed from eternal death; Rejoice, for through you we have been granted endless life.
Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 13

O most holy and wonderful Father Nicholas, consolation of all who mourn, accept our present offering and implore the Lord to deliver us from Gehenna through your God-pleasing intercession, so that we may sing with you: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and 1st kontakion)

Prayer

O all-holy Nicholas, exceedingly saintly servant of the Lord, our warm intercessor, and everywhere in sorrow a quick helper! Help me, a sinner and a sad person, in this present life, beg the Lord God to grant me forgiveness of all my sins, which I have sinned greatly from my youth, in all my life, in deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me, the accursed one, beg the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver me from airy ordeals and eternal torment, so that I may always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and your merciful intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the icon has 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. Russian people The saint has been respected and revered for many centuries. Almost every city, even a small one, has a temple dedicated to St. Nicholas the Pleasant. This and main cathedral northern capital 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. WITH youth he was distinguished from his peers by his seriousness, calmness, love for the wisdom of the books of the Holy Scriptures, church service. 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 did young man as his assistant, he ordained him to the rank of presbyter, entrusting him with teaching 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 he true purpose is service to God 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 hometown, headed to Mirra (the center of Lycia). Just then the episcopal council was occupied with the issue of electing an archpastor. God's will and by decision of the meeting the position was given to Nikolai. 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 Holy Mother of God. 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 departed to better world in old age approximately 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 - especially revered Orthodox Church saint. 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, simple 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 Tretyakov Gallery). In the image the saint stands in full height, blessing everyone right hand, and with the left holding the open Gospel

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 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.