The Story of Nicholas the Wonderworker
Nikolai the Sinner was born in 270 in the city of Patara, which was a Greek colony. His parents were wealthy people and gladly helped the poor. Since childhood Nikolai has been striving to the temple and was preparing to become a priest. After the death of his parents, he gave out all his fortune and became a clergyman. When Nicholas the Wonderworker was ordained to the rank of archbishop, he tried to help absolutely everyone, for which he was very fond of ordinary people. Nicholas the Wonderworker died in the middle of the fourth century, having lived to about 80 years.
Icons with the image of St. Nicholas the Savior were created in Byzantium and Russia. The saint was portrayed as an old man in a church robe with gray hair and a beard, a stern but at the same time merciful glance. In his hands, the saint holds the Gospel, calling for light, peace and faith. Anthropologists after the study of the relics of Nicholas the Miracle-Worker proved that this image has much in common with the real appearance of the saint.
What helps people icon Nicholas?
The significance of the icon of St. Nicholas is especially great for believers who deeply respect this saint, often depicted next to Jesus Christ. St. Nicholas the Savior is one of the most respected and beloved saints for the Orthodox. The days dedicated to Nicholas the Wonderworker are August 11 (Christmas), December 19 (the day of death) and May 22 (the arrival of the relics in Bari).
For help with a hot prayer to the icon of Nicholas the Wonder-worker is addressed in the most difficult life situations - with bodily and mental illnesses, innocent condemnation, deadly danger, problems at work. Protects Nikolai the Sinner and the soul, saving the one praying from temptations.
We have long been respected and honored by Nikolai the Sinner in Russia. In his honor built temples in almost every city, including the main cathedral of St. Petersburg, in honor of the saint one of the towers of the Moscow Kremlin is also named. It is with this tower that several miracles are connected, about which there are the most reliable information.
Nikolskaya tower of the Kremlin, built in 1491, adorned the image of a saint. When Napoleon, who had seized the capital, ordered to blow up the tower and the gates, in spite of extensive destruction, the face of Nicholas the Sinner remained intact. In 1917, during the fighting, the image of the saint was literally riddled, but his face remained intact again.
And the first miracle, created by Nikolai the Sinner in Russia, is connected with the icon Nikola Mokry. In the eleventh century, one family traveled along the Dnieper, and they had a misfortune - an infant fell into the water. Parents prayed to Nicholas the Wonderworker, and in the morning a living child was found under the icon of the saint.
Traveler, pilots, soldiers, fishermen and sailors consider Nikolai the Wonderworker his patron. A lot of stories are described when this saint helped the lost to find the right path, lifted the sinking from the depths, saved from the deadly weapons.
Very often Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker appears to a person in a desperate situation, in the form of an old man. Usually a person does not suspect who came to his aid until a miracle happens. However, there are cases when Nicholas the Wonderworker punished those who disrespected him.
The most famous miracle in the whole world, which made Nikolai Sinner, consider one of his lifetime benefits. One day the saint learned that one poor man wants to send daughters to trade with his body. Nicholas the Wonderworker came to the poor man's house three times and threw a purse with gold coins in his window. The poor man realized that his schemes were sinful, and gave his three daughters to marry good people. And since then in many countries of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is called Santa Claus, and in honor of his bounty they give valuable gifts for Christmas.