Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra: the meaning of the holy image for the Christian world. Nicholas the Wonderworker: life story, prayer, miracles - what helps when a holiday is celebrated, how to celebrate this day, where are the relics of the saint kept? Nicholas

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

Holiness overcomes the distances between people and eras. Different language environment, different cultural background do not prevent people centuries later from unmistakably recognizing holiness and worshiping it.

Such is Nicholas the Wonderworker.

If between the saints there was a place for envy or competition in human veneration, many would look at Nicholas frowningly. Still would! Not everyone can boast of such mass veneration on all continents. But envy between saints, of course, is not. Prayer and sincere love reign among them. But we, wanderers and aliens making their earthly journey, have a serious topic for reflection.

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

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

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

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

Now let's turn our mental gaze back to Nicholas the Wonderworker. In what way can we imitate him and, through imitation, honor this saint as much as possible? For example, the secret creation of good deeds. This is not a very pleasant occupation for a person corroded by secret ailments, who wants praise and thirsts for glory. But this is exactly what Nikolai became famous for, anonymously helping people in trouble.

It is no secret that the saints bring the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to life for us by embodying it in their behavior. Thus, the word of God speaks to us about the “Father who is in secret”, “who sees the secret and repays openly”, and calls for prayer, almsgiving and fasting not for show, but for the Lord. However, habitually frequent reading of these words does not always lead to their implementation in practice, and we continue to do good, secretly wanting recognition and praise. We need examples. We need living people who have turned word and thought into deeds and who have been guided by the commandments not occasionally, but constantly.

That's Nikolai. He knew very well in his heart what one of the fathers of Egypt had said, namely: the firmest and most correct good is that which is done in secret. Nicholas also wanted to leave the world, so that in monastic solitude, without being distracted by anything, he could serve God with fasting and prayer. But God, who knows man better than man himself knows himself, pointed Nicholas to a different path. This path consisted in caring for the flock and life in the midst of a multitude of people agitated by passions. Thus, the ascetic lost external solitude and was forced to seek inner solitude. In this, too, you can imitate him.

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

His second lesson to us is the need to protect and educate our inner man. Very few are inclined to the monastic way of life. But to make a temporary escape from the hustle and bustle, to find time for silence and prayer is the duty of everyone who is not completely turned inside out and lives only on the outside, who keeps and protects his inner world.

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

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

“Do you love Nicholas the Wonderworker? Do you know where the secret of his fame and love for him is? The secret is that he remembered and fulfilled the words of Scripture: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." You will honor Nicholas the Wonderworker if you imitate him in this. Help your parents around the house. Help a lagging comrade to learn a subject that you know and understand better than he does. Today and always share a sandwich with a desk mate at recess. Think of others, not just yourself. To give after all does not mean only to transfer money or things from hand to hand. You can give time, strength, knowledge, care, prayer. This should be done by everyone, including children.”

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

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

It is good if the saint does not notice many petty and insignificant things in our holidays dedicated to him. What if he notices and gets angry? After all, the legend informs us about the slap that Arius received from the hand of Nicholas. And this means that the saint is not assigned to the endless distribution of gifts or the care of those floating on the waters. He is jealous of the Truth. It is necessary to honor him so that his palm on his cheek is not felt.

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

Creativity is needed and a fresh look. Since the saints themselves are not lawyers and formalists, but extremely interesting and profound people.

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

One of the most important helpers for believers is Nicholas the Savior, who during his lifetime answered the requests of those in need. After his death, people pray in front of his image, and the main place of pilgrimage is the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. You can ask the saint about solving various problems.

How did they get the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker?

After his death, the saint was buried in a city called Myra. At that time, wars took place on these lands and people tried to leave the cities, moving to more secluded areas in the city. The Barians decided to take advantage of this, who wanted to get the relics of the saint, since in their city he was considered the main patron. In the story concerning how the relics of Nicholas were taken out, it is indicated that in 1097 a detachment attacked the temple and stole most of the relics of the saint. According to the new style, the relic was delivered to the city of Bari on May 9th.

Where are the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker?

After the abduction of the remains in the city of Mira, part of the relics remained, but they also did not remain in their homeland and were stolen. As a result, they ended up on the Lido in Venice. The bulk of the remains of the saint are in Bari. After the transportation, the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker were located in the local Cathedral, and after a while a temple was built, which received its name in honor of the saint. In 1989, the shrine was placed in an underground chapel in the Basilica. Every year, the clergy collect myrrh from the relics, dilute it with holy water and distribute it to pilgrims.

How do the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker help?

The saint helps people in different situations, so near his relics you can ask for many things:

1. He is the patron of wanderers and sailors, so if loved ones are on the way, then you can ask the Miracle Worker for their well-being and successful return home.
2. Worship of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker can be done in order to protect children from problems, improve their health and direct them to the righteous path.
3. The saint is an assistant in the reconciliation of warring people.
4. Lonely girls and guys turn to the Miracle Worker to help them find their soul mate and find them.
5. There is a lot of evidence that the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker were healed of various diseases.
6. The saint helps people who want to improve and embark on the righteous path. Relatives pray for innocently convicted people, asking for their release.

How to bow to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker?

Sometimes the relics are transported to other temples so that believers in other cities can venerate the shrine. There are certain rules that apply to visiting the temple in which the relic is located. Use the following tips on how to worship the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker:

1. After a person enters the temple, he must be filled with deep faith. The relic must be approached without haste. It is important to remember that this is a holy place, so there is no need to push.
2. Before bowing to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker, approaching the ark, mentally read the prayer addressed to the saint.
3. Before the shrine, bow twice in the belt, being baptized. After that, you can venerate the relics, and then step aside, and cross yourself a third time and bow.
4. Pilgrimage to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker has not stopped for a long time and people from different parts of the world come to the relic, although worship does not take a few seconds.

What is asked of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker?

If a person managed to touch the relic, then he can ask for the most cherished, for example, healing, the birth of a child, finding a job, marriage, and so on. It is important that the worship of the relics is accompanied by sincere prayers, and every word must be uttered from a pure heart. The clergy claim that the saint helps everyone who deserves it, but first of all, you need to pray that he will help you enter the eternal kingdom of the Lord.

How to pray to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker?

When visiting the temple where the relic is located, it is imperative to read a special prayer addressed to the saint. There are several prayer texts and all of them are allowed to be used. A visit to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker is an important event in the life of believers, so it is recommended to memorize the text. There are short prayers and one of them is presented above. After visiting the temple, it is recommended to pray in front of the image of the holy house.

The relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker - miracles

There are many stories that prove God's power and the power of the relic, so a huge number of believers seek to bow to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker in order to experience all the benefits.

1. When the second part of the relics was taken out of the city of Myra, the bishop placed next to them a palm branch, which had been brought from Jerusalem. After a while, people noticed that she had sprouted.
2. Pilgrims come to the shrine with terrible diagnoses, for example, many women dreamed of a child, but doctors talked about infertility, and a year after the application to the relics, women came to the temple again to baptize their babies. There are testimonies of the healing of cancer and other serious diseases.

Nicholas the Wonderworker is one of the most revered saints in Rus'. He is often approached by believers who wish to pray for the health of their loved ones, as well as in any difficult life situations. According to the majority, the saint is fair, has great strength and a big all-forgiving heart, often responds to the prayers of believers and comes in dreams to those in need.

Born in the city of Patras. Even as an infant and a wonderful child chosen for a divine mission, he refused to drink his mother's milk on Wednesdays and Fridays. These are special days when Christians around the world fast and do not eat dairy and meat products.

The gift of miracles was sent to Nicholas from childhood. His name is surrounded by a huge number of legends. Church literature describes many cases of helping people.

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Being a bishop in the city of Myrrha and reaching middle age, the number of legends about the saint increased more and more. His intercession for husbands in Mirra, the salvation of many maidens from entering the path of depravity and vice, and of course, a miraculous appearance after repose before the ruler of Constantinople.

The saint does not stop working miracles even after his death, so believers still turn to him. Nicholas is honored and known not only in the Orthodox Christian world, but even among Muslims and representatives of other religious denominations.

Note! In 1807, the holy relics were transferred to the Italian city of Bari, where they are to this day in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Nicholas.

The Miraculous Help of a Saint

The icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker helps in what. This is an extraordinary phenomenon in Orthodox icon painting. The artist, through the image, is trying not only to acquaint believers with the face of the Saint, but also to help each of them find their own path to spiritual transformation and purification, therefore the significance of the icon for all Orthodox is very great.

This is evidenced by the stories of believers that the main images in their homes are the images of Christ the Savior, the Mother of God and Nicholas the Wonderworker. This tripartite alliance guards the homes of believers throughout Russia everywhere.

What to ask the saint, what helps Nicholas the Wonderworker. Most often, his patronage helps in serious illnesses, difficult life ups and downs, in the event of difficulties that are difficult to figure out without outside help.

The name of the saint is called and prayed for help:

1. Travelers.
2. Sailors - stop the storm and send good weather. The legend that at a young age Nikolai was able to resurrect a sailor who fell from the mast in early childhood did not appear by chance. The miraculous gift for resurrection and divination already distinguished the saint at that time.
3. People who are in great enmity. God's saint humbles the anger of enemies and helps to overcome their own rage of those who pray.
4. Suffering from unrequited love or its absence. On the day of marriage, many mothers put the icon under the bride's pillow and order a prayer service for the marriage of their daughter.
5. Those who want to improve, who are in prison. According to legend, his image appeared to the captives in dungeons and saved them from death, execution.
6. Young mothers. The saint preserves pregnancy, facilitates childbirth. There are a huge number of stories of parishioners who prayed for their unborn child.

Nicholas the Wonderworker himself, unfortunately, had no children, early becoming a monk and a hermit. But he had many nephews, whom he loved very much, always helped with a kind word and wise advice.

Believers can ask before the image for the salvation of loved ones and relatives in order to protect them from mortal danger.

The most famous was the story of Elena Bestuzheva about the healing of her father during the war. Lena's grandmother constantly prayed in front of the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for her son, who ended up at the front.

And once, during a big shootout, the son, Lena's future father, was sitting in a trench. And suddenly he heard a male voice behind him: “Vanya, run, run!” The guy abruptly jumped up and ran, after which a bomb hit this trench, which miraculously exploded after he escaped.

Many miracles were associated with the great standing of Zoya, which took place in Samara at the beginning of the 20th century. A huge amount of documentary evidence of this event has been collected, and although much is now forgotten, in Samara they even erected a monument to the Great Standing of Zoe, which lasted from Christmas time until the beginning of Bright Week.

According to legend, the girl froze with the icon in her hands, in an extremely irreverent way inviting the saint to dance instead of her betrothed who did not come. Zoya froze in place and stood like a stone statue until the elder saw repentance in her soul and let the girl go on Easter Sunday.

According to eyewitnesses, on passionate days in a house cordoned off by the police, a little old man appeared, who magically went to the girl and asked if she was tired of standing. After that, Zoya came to life and ceased to be a stone statue that could not be cut down even with an ax. This miracle showed a heightened sense of justice and correctness of the saint, who is one of the most strict saints close to God's throne.

The emergence of the image

The history of the icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker is as follows. The image looks different and has two main ways of depiction - half-length and full-length, there is also an icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk, in which the saint is depicted holding a fortress in his left hand, and a sword in his left.

This is the intercessor of all captives and those who need protection for their household.

Each of the icons has subspecies that have been formed over time. Usually the saint holds a closed gospel in his hand, and very rarely come across icon-painting images where the Saint does not pick up a divine book, but, on the contrary, blesses the faithful by laying the banner of the cross.

Full-length icons of the Wonderworker with a closed gospel and with the same gesture of blessing the believers were painted back in Byzantium. Nicholas is depicted on the icon as a saint for whom life is a prayer for people.

In Russia, there is an icon called Nikola Zaraisky, which was brought from Korsun in 1225. Another famous image is Nikola Mozhaisky with a sword and a fortress. This is an independent image, which gives a description of the saint, as an intercessor of Orthodox cities.

The saint is a prototype of the guardian of the city of Mozhaisk during the attack of numerous hordes of Horde nomads. Residents during one of the raids clearly saw the image of St. Nicholas hovering over the monastery and the invaders. Animal fear seized the enemies, and they fled without starting a siege. Since then, the icon began to circulate, first in the city among the inhabitants of Mozhaisk, and then on Russian soil.

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A celebration of remembrance

The name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is commemorated several times a year:

• On December 6, or December 19 according to the new style, Nikola is revered in winter;
• May 9 or May 22 according to the new style Nikola Spring. This day is established in honor of the transfer of holy relics to the Italian city of Bari;
• July 29 or August 11, according to the new style, is the Nativity of the Saint, which is also revered among believers.

Location of icons

Where is the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, almost every Russian knows.

Going into any of the Orthodox churches of the world, you can meet this holy image in one of the places of honor:

1. In the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior there is an image painted in Bari near the basilica with relics.
2. The Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist has one of the most beautiful and revered icon-paintings of the life of the saint on Presnya.
3. The image can also be seen in the Cathedral of Christ the Transfiguration.
4. The image also rests in the Melekhov Cathedral, where a holy face with a particle of relics is presented, as well as an icon with the Great Martyr Barbara and St. Basil the Great.
5. In the Church of the Holy Trinity "Kulich and Easter" you can see another icon of Nikola Kolpinsky.

Photos of the icon can be found on the web.

Prayers

Reading prayers to the Holy Wonderworker for believers is an act not only of worship, but also of purification. There are several well-known prayers to God's saint.

In the first, believers admire his good deeds and address him as their second heavenly father.

People pray in front of the icon so that all Christians and defenders of the faith, as well as those who are sick, go on a sea voyage, wander the world, the poor, the orphans and the hungry, find happiness and be able to see the glory of heaven. This prayer is read by travelers and those who are constantly on the road.

The next prayer to the saint is more personalized, because each person asks for forgiveness of sins, protection from the evil that settles in people's hearts, help in various life situations.

Important! So that all the feelings and thoughts of the praying person are cleansed, and the ordeals and eternal torment never touch the immortal soul, you need to ask Nicholas from the bottom of your heart.

In fact, there are a lot of prayers. Even if you do not know the full text of the prayer, you can simply ask from the bottom of your heart for the gift of prudence and hope, so as not to commit any more sins and not have unclean thoughts.

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Conclusion

The holy image is considered one of the most revered, known in the Orthodox Christian world. The saint reconciles the warring, protects the innocently condemned and delivers from vain death. Patronizes sailors and all travelers.

To help find your beloved and safely keep the pregnancy, cleanse your soul from spiritual sorrow and illness - you can pray for everything near the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The most important condition for this is faith, then you can count on great divine help.

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Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker(Nikola the Pleasant, also Saint Nicholas - Archbishop of the World of Lycia) is one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox world. He became famous as the great Pleasure of God. Believers not only of the Orthodox, but also of the Catholic and other churches pray to him.

The whole life of St. Nicholas is a service to God. From the day he was born, he showed people the light of the future glory of the great miracle worker. created on earth and on the sea the saint of God. He helped people in trouble, saved them from drowning, freed them from captivity and saved them from death. Nicholas the Wonderworker gave many healings in illnesses and bodily ailments. He enriched the needy in extreme poverty, served food to the hungry, and was a ready helper, quick representative and protector in every need.

And today he also helps those who call him and delivers them from troubles. Miracles cannot be counted. East and West know this great miracle worker, and his miracle works are known in all ends of the earth. Numerous churches and monasteries are erected in honor of St. Nicholas, and children are named after him at baptism. Numerous miraculous works have been preserved in the Orthodox Church.

Brief biography of Saint Nicholas

It is known that Nicholas the Wonderworker was born on August 11 (July 29, according to the old style) in the second half of the 3rd century (about 270) in the city of Patara, Lycian region (a Greek colony of the Roman Empire). His parents were devout Christians from a noble family. Until a very old age, they did not have children and asked in prayers to the Lord for the gift of a son, promising to dedicate him to the service of God. Their prayer was heard and a baby was born, who was given the name - Nikolai ( Greek"victorious people").

Already in the first days of his infancy, the future Wonderworker showed that he was destined for a special service to the Lord. There is a legend that during baptism, when the rite was very long, he, supported by no one, stood in the font for three hours. From childhood, Nicholas excelled in the study of Scripture, prayed, fasted, and read divine books.

His uncle, Bishop Nikolai of Patara, rejoicing in the spiritual success and high piety of his nephew, made him a reader, and then elevated Nikolai to the rank of priest, making him his assistant. Serving the Lord, the young man burned with spirit, and with experience in matters of faith he was like an old man, which aroused the astonishment and deep respect of believers. Constantly working, Presbyter Nicholas showed great mercy to people, coming to the aid of those in need.

Once, having learned about the poverty of one inhabitant of the city, Saint Nicholas saved him from a great sin. Having three adult daughters, the desperate father plotted to give them to fornication in order to extract the funds needed for their dowry. The saint, grieving for the perishing sinner, at night secretly threw three sacks of gold out of the window, and thereby saved the family from falling and spiritual death.

Once St. Nicholas went to Palestine. On the way on the ship, he showed the gift of deep wonderworking: by the power of his prayer he pacified a strong storm. Here on the ship, he performed a great miracle, resurrecting a sailor who fell from the mast onto the deck and crashed to death. On the way, the ship often landed on the shore. Nicholas the Wonderworker everywhere applied care to healing the ailments of local residents: he healed some from diseases, expelled evil spirits from others, and gave consolation to others in sorrows.

By the will of the Lord, Saint Nicholas was elected archbishop of the World of Lycia. This happened after one of the bishops of the Council, who was deciding the issue of electing a new archbishop, was shown in a vision the chosen one of God. It was Nicholas the Wonderworker. Having received the rank of bishop, the saint remained the same great ascetic, presenting an image of meekness, gentleness and love for people.

But the days of trials were coming. The Church of Christ was persecuted by the emperor Diocletian (285-30).

Saint Nicholas in these difficult days supported his flock in the faith, loudly and openly preaching the name of God, for which he was imprisoned, where he never ceased 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 ended the persecution. Saint Nicholas, upon leaving the dungeon, again occupied the See of Mirliki and with even greater zeal devoted himself to the fulfillment of his high duties. He became famous especially for his zeal for the eradication of paganism and heresies.

Desiring to establish a world in the flock of Christ, shaken by the heresy of the Aryan false doctrine, the 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 the emperor; here the doctrine of Arius and his followers was condemned. St. Athanasius of Alexandria and St. Nicholas were especially ascetic at this Council.

Upon his return from the Council, St. Nicholas continued his beneficent pastoral work in organizing the Church of Christ: he confirmed Christians in the faith, converted pagans to the true faith, and admonished heretics, thus saving them from death.

During his lifetime, Saint Nicholas performed many virtues. Of these, the greatest glory to the saint was delivered by the deliverance from the death of three men, unjustly condemned by the greedy mayor. The saint boldly approached the executioner and held his sword, already raised above the heads of the condemned. The mayor, convicted by Nicholas the Wonderworker of untruth, repented and asked for forgiveness.

More than once the saint saved those drowning in the sea, led them out of captivity and imprisonment in dungeons. Through the prayers of the saint, the city of Mira was saved from a severe famine. Having reached a ripe old age, Nicholas the Wonderworker peacefully passed away to the Lord on December 19 (N.S.) 342 years. His in the cathedral church of the World of Lycian and exuded healing myrrh ( approx. fragrant oil), from which many received healing.

Monuments to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Many monuments to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker have been erected in the world. Many beautiful monuments were created in Europe, for example, in the city of Bari, in Italy ( see photo below), where the temple of St. Nicholas and his relics is located. Many beautiful creations in honor of the saint were placed in the cities of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Photos of some of them are presented in the photo gallery.

Days of memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

December 19th(6th according to the old calendar) - the day of memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, established in honor of his death.

22nd of May(9th according to the old article) - the day of transfer to the city of Bari from the World of Lycians (occurred in 1087).

11th August- the day of the Nativity of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of the World of Lycia.

The Holy Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Nicholas not only on December 19 and May 22, but also weekly, every Thursday, with special hymns. The fact is that on Thursday the Church glorifies the apostles, that is, those who especially served to spread the Light of Christ throughout the earth. It is obvious that Nicholas the Wonderworker, most clearly of all the successors of the apostolic ministry - the saints, preaches the Lord and the Christian faith with his earthly and heavenly life.

It is worth noting that in the Orthodox Church, in addition to the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the birthdays of only three holy people are celebrated - the Most Holy Theotokos, John the Baptist and St. Nicholas.

WHAT DOES NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER HELP IN?

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, even during his lifetime, was a benefactor of the human race. He did not cease to be them even after his earthly death. Nikolai Ugodnik, as before, helps people. narrates how, from the very birth, the future Wonderworker showed his destiny for a special service to the Lord. He began a strict ascetic life, to which he remained faithful to the grave.

How did Nicholas the Wonderworker help? Wherever the saint was everywhere, he applied care to the healing of people's ailments, healed them of incurable diseases. He helped some in their poor situation, gave consolation to others in sorrows. He became famous as the pacifier of the warring, the defender of the innocently condemned and the deliverer from vain death.

Saint Nicholas was meek and humble in spirit, gentle in heart, alien to all arrogance and self-interest; observed strict moderation and simplicity: he wore simple clothes, ate lenten food. The doors of his house were open to everyone: he received everyone with love and cordiality, being a father for orphans, a feeder for the poor, a comforter for those who cry, an intercessor for the oppressed.

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

Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker depicting Christ and the Mother of God

The icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is immediately recognized by believers. Among all the saints of the Christian world, St. Nicholas has the most developed iconography: a large number of different types of icons of the saint were created over ten centuries. The oldest and most widespread are the half-length images of Nicholas the Wonderworker, which were formed in Byzantine and Russian art in the 11th-13th centuries. Traditionally, a half-length image of the saint, who blesses with his right, slightly raised hand, and holds the Gospel in his left.

Often there are icons on which at the top, in the cloudy celestial spheres, are the figures of Christ and the Mother of God. This symbolizes the fact that the Lord himself handed St. Nicholas the Gospel, and the Most Holy Theotokos placed on him an omophorion (i.e., the vestments of a bishop). Another ancient type of icons are life-size images of the saint.

The hagiographic icons of Nicholas the Wonderworker depict the deeds of the saint. These images have been known in Rus' since the 13th-14th centuries. At this time, the main groups of plots are formed: birth and learning to read and write, appointment to the priesthood, help in trouble. Traditionally, the story of the life and deeds of the saint ends with a story about the world of Lycians devastated by the Turks to the Italian city of Bari in 1087.

The most ancient of the icon-painting images of the Mirliky saint known to us is the image of Nicholas with the Savior and selected saints in the margins from the collection of the Sinai Monastery of St. Catherine. This icon is notable for the fact that the gesture of the hand is not blessing. Such a gesture can be described as pointing to the gospel, or as a "speech gesture".

There are enough miraculous icons of St. Nicholas, the veneration of which arose after the miraculous help of the saint. Thus, the Russian translation of the life, made in the 11th century, contains a description of a miracle that happened in Kyiv. The baby who drowned due to an oversight in the Dnieper after the prayer of his parents to the Wonderworker was found alive in the choirs of St. Sophia Cathedral under the icon of St. Nicholas. Since then, this icon has been revered as miraculous and was called “Wet Nicholas”, since the baby was lying all wet, as if he had just been taken out of the water. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, this icon disappeared and was never found.

The history of another miraculous image of the saint is connected with Novgorod. The legend says that Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared in a dream to the gravely ill Novgorod prince Mstislav and ordered that his image, made on a round board, be transported from Kyiv to Novgorod. On Lake Ilmen, the princely ambassadors got into a storm and landed on Lipno Island, waiting for the weather to continue their journey. On the fourth day, they saw the icon of St. Nicholas floating on the waves, which exactly matched the description. After the miraculous healing of the prince, the image was placed in the Nikolsky Cathedral on Yaroslav's Court. Hence the name of the icon - "Nikola Dvorishchsky". Later, on the island where they found the image, the Lipensky Nikolsky Monastery was founded.

A special place is occupied by the Velikoretsk icon of St. Nicholas, which is miraculous. This image consists of a centerpiece with a half-length image of Nicholas the Wonderworker and eight pictorial hallmarks depicting the miracles of the saint. According to legend, in 1383, on the high bank of the Velikaya River, not far from the city of Khlynov (now the city of Kirov), the image of St. Nicholas appeared to the peasant Agalakov. Soon, healings and miracles began from this icon. The rumor about the appearance of the miraculous image quickly spread around the area, people came to the place of the appearance of the icon, thanked God for the shrine granted to them, received spiritual consolation and healing.

In 1392, the icon was transferred from the banks of the Velikaya River to the city of Khlynov, whose inhabitants vowed to annually bring the icon to the site of the apparition. This is how it was born In the 16th century, at the behest of Tsar Ivan IV, the icon was brought from Khlynov to Moscow. Along the way, the sick were healed from it and miracles were performed. By decree of the tsar, one of the chapels of the St. Basil's Cathedral, which was then under construction, was consecrated in honor of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas. Lists were made from the icon. Since that time, throughout Rus', the veneration of the Velikoretsky image of St. Nicholas begins.

Many testimonies about the healing of people from the Velikoretsky image have been preserved in written sources. In the archives one can find descriptions of the miracles that were witnessed in Vyatka from 1551 to 1647. These are short stories about how many ordinary people received help in serious illnesses after praying before the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. For example, two of them:

“On July 8, 1555, the maiden Martha Fedotova, the daughter of Bukriev, did not see the city of Shestakov for a year and a half with her left eye, she came to the cathedral church of St. Nicholas and applied to his miraculous image and received healing.”

In 1559 it is written:

“On May 30, a wife of a certain name Neonil Andreev, the wife of Khokhrakov, was dumb for a year, and when she came to the cathedral church and sang a prayer chant, she would be healthy.”

In total, more than 200 miracles performed in front of the Velikoretsk icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker have been preserved in archival records. And today St. Nicholas helps all those in need who turn to him with