Saint Nicholas of Mirlikia the Wonderworker, or, as he has long been called in Russia, Nicholas the Pleasant is one of the most revered Orthodox saints. He became famous as the patron saint of travelers, pilots, sailors, fishermen. He is also known as an intercessor for the unjustly offended, the patron saint of beggars, children and animals.
Childhood and the spiritual path
The icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is in almost all Orthodox churches, and a huge number of churches are named in honor of the saint. In the tradition of the Eastern Slavs, the veneration of Nicholas the Wonderworker is equated in significance with the veneration of God himself. The stories of folk legends also speak of the high veneration of Saint Nicholas. They tell about how he became the ruler. He prayed so earnestly that the golden crown fell on his head.
As the legend says, while still an infant, Saint Nicholas refused mother's milk on Wednesdays and Fridays - on the days of Christian fasts.
From early childhood he was very religious, subsequently devoting his whole life to Christianity. He spent his days in church, reading books and praying at night, prospered in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. The gift of working miracles was sent to him in his youth, so there are a huge number of legends around his name.
Nikolai's parents were very rich. After their death, he inherited a huge fortune, but donated it to charity.
Miracles and deeds
According to legend, when Saint Nicholas was elected bishop in the city of Myra (the modern city of Demre, Turkey), where he continued his spiritual path, many inexplicable miraculous events took place.
Among the miraculous deeds of St. Nicholas in church literature, the intercession for three men in Myra, the appearance before Constantine in Constantinople, and the presence at the first ecumenical council are widely known.
It is not for nothing that Saint Nicholas is considered the patron saint of seafarers. As one of the legends of his life says, while still young, on the way from Mira to Alexandria, he resurrected a dead sailor who fell into a storm and crashed to death. And on the way back to Mira, he saved the sailor and took him with him to church.
In Russia, Nicholas the Wonderworker is also called the "Pleasant", since his deeds were pleasing to God.
Holidays and icons
Orthodox Christians in Russia have three holidays associated with Nicholas the Wonderworker.
July 29 (August 11) - the birth of St. Nicholas.
December 6 (19) - the day of death, they call "Nicholas winter".
May 9 (22) - the day of the arrival of the relics in the city of Bari, is called "Nicholas of Spring".
There are two icons of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. "Nicholas winter", depicted in the miter of the bishop, and "Nicholas of spring" - without a headdress.
According to legend, Nicholas I drew the attention of the clergy to the absence of a headdress from his spiritual patron. This is how the icon "Nicholas Winter" was born.
From the point of view of the Orthodox, when the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is in the house, it saves from any need and contributes to prosperity. In addition, the icon protects those who are on the way - pilots, sailors, travelers, drivers who worship Nicholas the Wonderworker.
