Church holiday of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in May. Day of Nicholas the Wonderworker (Nikola Summer). How to meet the day of memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

According to Orthodox traditions, on May 22, the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is celebrated, among the people this holiday is called Nicholas of Summer. What can and cannot be done on this day?

The Nikola Summer holiday is celebrated on May 22 (May 9 according to the old style) of each year. According to the church calendar, this day marks the transfer of the holy remains of St. Nicholas from the World of Lycia to Bari.

Other holiday names

St. Nicholas Day, St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas spring, St. Nicholas warm, St. Nicholas day, Nikolshchina, St. Nicholas herbal, St. Nicholas herbal, Herbal day.

Spring and warm day was called in contrast to "Nikola Winter", cold, which is celebrated on December 19.

Saint Nicholas is revered as the patron saint of horses. On this day, animals are driven out to pasture for the night. By this time, the grass in the field is already growing high, and the herds frolic all night.

Story

Saint Nicholas is a great saint of God, saint and miracle worker. He died in the middle of the 4th century. His name is known in all corners of the globe. Temples, cathedrals, monasteries were and continue to be called in honor of the saint. In Russia, it is difficult to find a city in which there is no Nikolsky temple or the church of St. Nicholas.

The relics of the saint were kept in the Lycian cathedral church until hard times came in Greece at the end of the 8th century. The Turks constantly ravaged its territories, plundered and burned cities, and desecrated holy places. They sought to destroy the remains of St. Nicholas, who was deeply revered by the entire Christian people. In 1087, the inhabitants of the city of Bar came to Myra specifically to take the relics of the saint. To do this, they had to tie up the monk guards. On May 8, the ship arrived in the city, and the next day the relics of the saint were solemnly brought to the church of St. Stephen, where they are to this day.

Traditions and rituals

The main traditions on May 22 are driving horses to pasture at night; festivities; washing with dew; harvest spells.

In honor of St. Nicholas the Pleasant, two main holidays are celebrated in a year (although there are other days of his memory) - May 22 and December 19. On this occasion, they said: "We have two Nikolas - one with grass, the other with winter." From that day on, grasses really began to grow well: “Do not brag about St. George’s day with sowing, but brag about Nikolin’s day with grass.” Therefore, the horses were already driven out at night.

To do this, single guys were equipped from each family and escorted them to the field. We were given pies with buckwheat porridge. In the evening, girls joined them - and the fun began with songs and round dances. Fires were lit in the area. Nobody went to bed for a long time. By the way, earlier Nikolin's day was considered the day the boys entered adulthood, so there was no longer any adult control over them.

From Nikola, peasant life gradually went uphill. Warm weather set in, fresh grass was enough for domestic animals, cows and goats gave more milk - and therefore there was no need to worry about how to feed the family and cattle. “Be strong before Nikola, but live with Nikola, don’t grieve,” the people noticed. After Nikola a week - red sowing, it's time to sow the corn: it will warm up, there will be no more cold.

Pay attention to signs of the weather. If the morning was damp and foggy, then it was necessary to wash with dew. This promised a person health, and the earth - a rich harvest. Rain on Nikola was also considered a good omen. Of the customs associated with this date, one was strictly performed: to give alms to wanderers, the poor, the poor brethren: "Do not feed the hungry on Nikolin's day - you yourself will get hungry."
It has long been believed that St. Nicholas patronizes lovers, so the newlyweds and those who were going to play the wedding asked for protection and help from the saint.

Unmarried girls guessed at their betrothed on this holiday and asked the Saint to send them a good groom, a kind and faithful husband, a happy family life and children.

What can not be done on Nikola Veshny?

- So that the wolves do not touch the herds, it was not customary to spin on this day. It was believed that at this time the scent of wolves became very acute and they could cut sheep with greater fury.
“Besides, no one was given personal weaving implements and no one was trained in warping.
- In the period between the celebration of the day of St. Yuri and St. Nicholas, no fences were erected, but there is conflicting information about eating meat.
- But there is a sign that on this day there must be duck soup on the table.
- Until spring Nikola, you can’t soak hemp in the water and swim.
- On this day, there was a ban on picking up scissors, and now there is a sign not to cut your hair on Nikolai.

Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker

Oh, all-holy Nicholas, the most beautiful servant of the Lord, our warm intercessor, and everywhere in sorrow a quick helper!
Help me a sinner and despondent in this present life, beg the Lord God to grant me the remission of all my sins, having sinned from my youth, in all my life, deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me the accursed, implore the Lord God, all creatures of the Sodetel, to deliver me from air ordeals and eternal torment: may I always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession, now and ever and forever and ever.
Amen.

Signs and sayings

- We have two Nikolas - one with grass, the other with winter.
- Do not brag about St. George's day of sowing, but brag about grass on Nikolin's day.
- Before Nikola, be strong, at least loosen up, but live with Nikola - don’t grieve.
- Father Nikola! Come on big rain! On our rye, on a woman's flax, water with a bucket!
- What is the day on St. Nicholas of the spring, such is the day of St. Nicholas of the winter.
- If it rains the next day after spring Nikola, the whole summer will be rainy.
- Twelve cold matinees remained from Nikola, if not in the spring, then until mid-September.
- If flowers have blossomed on the alder, it is time to sow buckwheat.
- If the potato has not yet been planted, then it is already pointless to do this - it will not have time to ripen and will not yield a harvest.
- You can hear the croaking of frogs in the swamps - the oat harvest will be good.
- Nikola Winter will drive the horse into the yard, Veshny will fatten it.
- If you don’t feed the hungry on Nikolin’s day, you yourself will get hungry.
- Before Nikola Veshny you should not swim.

Those born on May 22 are patronized by Saint Nicholas. Such people are distinguished by diligence, patience and restraint. They should wear beryl.

Gabriel, Vasily, Dmitry, Akulina, Joseph, Nikolai.



Twice a year the Christian world celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (May 22 and December 19). Many signs, rituals and traditions are associated with this holiday. Nicholas is revered as a great miracle worker who is able to heal diseases. Most often, poor, homeless and sick people ask him for help, because only he is able to help them. Since ancient times, people have believed that warm and pleasant spring weather comes on May 22 for the Feast of the Wonderworker.

Signs

Rainy weather on Nikolai Ugodnik marks an excellent harvest, and when frogs are heard singing in the morning, you can expect a lot of oats. An interesting weather omen is that if the spring season turns out to be cold, warm weather is expected until mid-autumn.

Since ancient times, people believed that the last day of the year is the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Therefore, it is imperative to pay off all debts, otherwise the year will be unsuccessful. To protect his house from troubles, the owner must go around his yard in the morning. Last year's grain can only be sold when the holiday is over.

Based on beliefs, on this wonderful day, you can not be afraid of various troubles. It was believed that the worst enemies would turn out to be friends on the day of Nicholas the Wonderworker. It was on this holiday that people began to plant potatoes, buckwheat, cleaned the oat crop and drove horses out to graze at night. If a person meets a beggar or hungry, then it is necessary to help him. Otherwise, you can face these adversities yourself. Oats should definitely begin to be sheared from this holiday, this will not give the harvest an abyss.

Traditions, rituals and divination on the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker




It was on this holiday that young people often performed various rituals and fortune-telling. With the onset of evening, all the lonely young women went out into the street, took off their shoes and threw their left shoe out of the gate. If the girl's shoes flew far away, then after marriage she will go far from her home. The toe of the shoe indicated the direction from where the betrothed should be expected. When the shoes pointed to the house in which the young woman lives, then she will not see the wedding in the coming year.

There was an interesting rite to gain wealth. People put their empty wallets in a prominent place in the house. Someone even hung stencils to notify about problems with money. They believed that Nicholas the Wonderworker would see their grief with lack of money and would definitely help.

In order for Nicholas to help fulfill a wish, a special ceremony was performed on this day. For its implementation, it is necessary to purchase an icon of St. Nicholas and forty candles bought in the church for the house. The image of the saint was placed on the table, and the candles were alternately lit around him. While they were burning, a person should express his wishes. People believed that he would definitely help if the desire was sincere and pure.

Who is Nikolay?

If you examine all the facts about the history of the saints, then only various legends tell about them. But Nicholas was a real, living person. He lived in 270-345 AD. He was the only child in the family of one of the richest and pious people Nona and Feofan. For a long time they asked the Lord to give them a child, but they could not get pregnant. The parents promised God that if he gave them a child, they would dedicate his life to religious teachings. God heard the prayers of his parents and gave them a son, but Nicholas lost his parents early and devoted his life to the study of science, living separately from other people.

Historical facts record that Nicholas was one of the bishops who founded the first Ecumenical Council of Christianity. Nicholas during his life managed to perform many miracles. He saved from inevitable death three military leaders who were dishonorably slandered. He saved his native city from a terrible starvation. Many times he helped the distressed at sea and land. As soon as Nicholas died, his image began to release a healing liquid that saved people from illnesses and glorified him throughout the Christian world.



Recently, in 2009, scientists from Great Britain conducted a lot of research and were able to establish what the face of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was like. The scientists' version was as follows:
- the saint's eyes are brown;
- slightly tanned skin
- his figure - had sports forms;
- height - no less than 170 cm. His forehead was high, and his cheekbones and chin protruded slightly.

By origin, Nicholas was a Greek, who was revered in all religions. Even admirers of the non-Christian faith asked for the help of this particular saint, which he never refused. His fame is due to his responsiveness, modesty and the fact that this man never demanded payment for his help.

There are two images of the saint in iconography, each of them corresponds to the time of the year when the holiday is celebrated. On the winter image, the saint is depicted wearing a bishop's miter, and on the spring one, with an open head. History says that the winter image appeared during the reign of Nicholas the First. The king saw that the saint was depicted without a headdress in the cold season, and asked the clergy to correct this.

An interesting fact is that most European countries consider the holy progenitor of Santa Claus. However, he does not travel on a reindeer team, but with a small donkey. Therefore, in most houses you can find several carrots near the mittens on the fireplace, because the children think that the donkey is tired and hungry for a long journey. This saint wanders around the city at night and helps all those in need. He brings clothes to some and food to others. There is a legend that once he saw an incredibly poor but loving couple. He felt sorry for them, and Nikolai threw a bag of money into their house. Thus, he helped the young to get married and live a long and happy life.

Twice a year the Christian world celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (May 22 and December 19). Many signs, rituals and traditions are associated with this holiday. Nicholas is revered as a great miracle worker who is able to heal diseases. Most often, poor, homeless and sick people ask him for help, because only he is able to help them.

The Day of Saint Nicholas of Summer is one of the most revered holidays in the Christian Church. The celebration is timed to coincide with the day of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas to the city of Bari, located in Italy. In Orthodoxy, Nicholas the Wonderworker is considered the patron of children, couples in love, soldiers, merchants, merchants. In addition, the Saint is also the protector of people who have been undeservedly punished.

From year to year this holiday is celebrated on the same day - May 22 according to the new style (May 9 according to the Julian calendar). The name "Nikola Summer" is the most common. However, the celebration has many other names: Nikola Veshny, Nikola Saint, Summer Day, St. Nicholas, Nikola with Warmth, Grass Day, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Warm Day.

Feast of Nicholas of Summer in Christianity. What is the meaning of the holiday of Summer Nikola?

Since ancient times, it was believed that on Grassy Day, spring, finally losing ground, meets with summer. The sun no longer warms gently, its rays become truly burning. After Nikolin's day, a hot time usually set in. In Rus', this holiday was very much expected, it was of great importance for the Orthodox. Saint Nicholas was close to God and was considered one of his favorites.

In some villages, people even created special prayers in honor of Nicholas. In their prayers, they directly turned to the Saint, asking him for protection and patronage. By and large, the prayers addressed to Nicholas of Summer were practically no different from the prayers that were said in honor of the Lord. However, these prayers were never approved by the church canon.

The origins of the holiday

Honoring the memory of St. Nicholas of Summer began at the beginning of the 11th century, literally a few decades after the emergence of the Orthodox religion. The Greeks did not attach much importance to this holiday. For them, it was a reminder of negative events, since their country had lost the holy relics of Nikola.

At first, the memory of Nicholas the Wonderworker was honored only by the inhabitants of Italy. This is due to the transfer of the relics of the Saint at the end of the 11th century from Lycia to the church of St. Stephen, located in the Italian city of Bari. Adherents of the Christian faith living in other countries, Nikola Summer was not accepted and was not considered as a grandiose celebration for the reason that all the attention and respect of the people was directed to the local Shrines.

Signs and rituals on the day of St. Nicholas the Summer
If during the prelude (22.05-10.06) the weather was damp and windy with showers and thunderstorms, it means that Nikola Summer is favorable, and at the end of summer it will be possible to harvest a rich harvest. Such weather was a particularly favorable sign for the wheat harvest.
If the croaking of frogs was heard on Nikola Veshny, it means that Mother Earth will bring generous gifts to people. Cereal and vegetable crops, fruits and berries will be born well.
“The Grace of God” and “Heaven pours rain on the earth, raises rich bread” - this is what they said if it rains on St. Nicholas of Veshny. And this weather promised a happy life this year.

Rainy weather on Nikolai Ugodnik marks an excellent harvest, and when frogs are heard singing in the morning, you can expect a lot of oats. An interesting weather omen is that if the spring season turns out to be cold, warm weather is expected until mid-autumn. Since ancient times, people believed that the last day of the year is the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Therefore, it is imperative to pay off all debts, otherwise the year will be unsuccessful. To protect his house from troubles, the owner must go around his yard in the morning. Last year's grain can only be sold when the holiday is over. Based on beliefs, on this wonderful day, you can not be afraid of various troubles. It was believed that the worst enemies would turn out to be friends on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It was on this holiday that people began to plant potatoes, buckwheat, cleaned the oat crop and drove horses out to graze at night. If a person meets a beggar or hungry, then it is necessary to help him. Otherwise, you can face these adversities yourself. Oats should definitely begin to be sheared from this holiday, this will not give the harvest an abyss.
It was believed that shearing sheep, planting potatoes and buckwheat on the day of St. Nicholas of Summer would bring good luck in all matters, a rich harvest, and getting rid of troubles.
According to one of the old signs, prayers addressed to the Lord and the Saints on May 22 have great power. People can ask for healing from ailments, an addition to the family, a meeting with a soul mate, forgiveness of sins. Saint Nicholas, who was close to God, will definitely help!
In order not to get sick all year, in the morning on Nikola Summer, people with all their families went out into the field and washed themselves with dew. Then health will be strong and no illness will cling. Some stripped down to their underwear and rolled on the grass, which was covered with dew. Thus, the whole body was washed with fertile moisture.
If Alder begins to bloom on May 22, then expect financial well-being soon. It was believed that the family, in whose yard the buds on this tree blossomed, would not experience material difficulties all year. There are cases when people after that found treasures, unexpectedly received an inheritance, won a large sum of money.

Traditions on the holiday of St. Nicholas of Summer:

Since Nicholas the Wonderworker is the patron and protector of couples in love, young girls at dawn on May 22 prayed to the Saint that he would grant them a meeting with their soulmate. Unmarried girls asked Nikolai to send them a good husband, generous, handsome, hardworking, brave, kind.

It was on this holiday that young people often performed various rituals and fortune-telling. With the onset of evening, all the lonely young women went out into the street, took off their shoes and threw their left shoe out of the gate. If the girl's shoes flew far away, then after marriage she will go far from her home. The toe of the shoe indicated the direction from where the betrothed should be expected. When the shoes pointed to the house in which the young woman lives, then she will not see the wedding in the coming year.

Saint Nicholas also patronizes animals, including sheep and horses. By the day of St. Nicholas the Summer, fresh grass in the fields had already grown enough. Therefore, on the night of May 22, all owners of horses and sheep drove their cattle into the fields. Animals frolicked all night, ran, nibbling grass. In Rus', this ceremony was turned into a real spectacular show. And even today in some villages you can observe such an action. So that the horses and sheep would not run away, shepherds were assigned to them - young and physically strong men.

In the evening, before the start of the pasture of animals, a special dinner was prepared for the shepherds, consisting of their porridge and pies. Then bonfires were kindled around the perimeter of the large field. Few of the villagers went to bed early, because everyone wanted to watch the pasture of animals. Even small children were allowed by their parents to walk until midnight that day. A little later, when the villagers dispersed to their huts, girls, unmarried residents of the village, joined the shepherds. Then the real festivities began with dancing, songs and fun games. It was believed that on this night, boys and girls entered adulthood, so older relatives did not particularly control "hot young hearts."

In order for the harvest to be rich and the land to be fertile, at dawn people went out into the fields and gardens, stood facing the rising sun and performed a special ceremony. They read prayers addressed to Nicholas the Wonderworker, asking him to protect their lands, for generous gifts, for a well-fed existence.
How to behave correctly and what to do on the holiday of St. Nicholas of Summer?

In order for happiness to smile throughout the year, May 22 must be spent in prayers and caring for the family, home, and cattle. It is desirable that all household members, young and old, be busy with useful things.

In the morning and evening, it is advisable to pray to Nicholas Veshny and the Lord. You can ask God and the Saint for everything you need. If your prayers are sincere, and you really deserve what you ask for, you will definitely be rewarded.

On this day, you need to start sowing some crops. As a rule, buckwheat and potatoes were planted. It was believed that after the day of Nikola the Summer, it was pointless to engage in their landing. Firstly, there will be no decent harvest, and secondly, crops will not have time to spoil.

In the morning, after going to church and prayers, it is advisable to go to the bathhouse, take a good bath and change into clean or even new underwear. Outerwear should also be washed and ironed. In the process of bathing, you can read a prayer.

From the very morning, the housewives began to clean up the house, backyard territory, non-residential outbuildings where cattle were kept. Animals were intensively fed various delicacies. Artiodactyls and ruminants were grazed, the rest of the pets were walked.

Unmarried girls and unmarried guys changed into beautiful outfits after the bath. The guys put on shirts embroidered with gold, wide light-colored linen trousers, tied with satin belts. The girls dressed up in long sundresses, and multi-colored scarves were tied on their heads or wreaths with ribbons were put on.

After working in the field and having fun, all family members were supposed to gather at the table to enjoy a festive dinner. There are no special recommendations regarding the dishes on the table. They ate everything that God sent. Usually it was an unpretentious meal: milk, pancakes, chicken eggs, cheese, porridge, boiled potatoes, lard and all kinds of dishes prepared from the listed products.

There was an interesting rite to gain wealth. People put their empty wallets in a prominent place in the house. Someone even hung stencils to notify about problems with money. They believed that Nicholas the Wonderworker would see their grief with lack of money and would definitely help. In order for Nicholas to help fulfill a wish, a special ceremony was performed on this day. For its implementation, it is necessary to purchase an icon of St. Nicholas and forty candles bought in the church for the house. The image of the saint was placed on the table, and the candles were alternately lit around him. While they were burning, a person should express his wishes. People believed that he would definitely help if the desire was sincere and pure.
What can not be done on Nikola Summer?

On May 22, it was not worth it to be sad, to indulge in memories of past negative events, to be lazy. The only thing that should be abandoned regarding housework is knitting and sewing.

It is undesirable to use scissors and other piercing and cutting objects (kitchen utensils and garden tools do not count).

It was believed that if a person refuses to help the one who turned to him, he and his family will feel the need and fail for 7 years in a row. Remember, helping the poor, orphans and everyone who asks is one of the life rules that St. Nicholas always adhered to during his lifetime.

On a Warm Day, it is also undesirable to refuse anything (of course, within reasonable limits) to children. Nikolai Ugodnik is their patron, so all the kids need to make gifts. It is not necessary to buy something expensive, let it be simple gifts, such as souvenirs, toys, or their favorite treats. By tradition, gifts were always placed under the pillow for children or hidden in socks, which were then hung on a rope above the stove (fireplace).

On Grass Day, it is inappropriate to indulge in violent revelry. Dancing until you drop, strong alcohol intoxication and loud chants are unacceptable. It is also not welcome to clarify personal relationships, and even more so quarrels, scandals, fights. Swearing on May 22 means incurring failure.

Nikola Summer is a holiday that many people love, especially kids. This is a celebration dedicated to the end of spring and the beginning of the summer season. It is important to spend this holiday correctly so that St. Nicholas fulfills all your desires, becomes a patron and reliable protector for you and your family!

Saint Nicholas, the most revered Saint Nicholas by the Russian people, showed mercy even to a person who committed a terrible sin, if he deeply and sincerely obeyed. So, he forgave the ruler of the city, who condemned the innocent for a bribe, and did not complain about him to the emperor. And he could be unexpectedly harsh: at the Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325, indignant at the stubbornness of the heretic Arius, he hit him on the cheek, for which the assembled bishops decided to deprive St. Nicholas of the hierarchal (episcopal) dignity. According to legend, he was even imprisoned. But the sign that the bishops received in a dream convinced them to return the saint's freedom. The meaning of his act for believers is by no means in permissiveness, but in active rejection of any untruth: the sharpness of the saint was caused by the same feeling that once prompted him to snatch the sword from the hands of the executioner. Saint Nicholas is also glorified as a miracle worker: miraculous healings and even resurrections from the dead took place through his prayers, storms at sea subsided, and the wind carried the ship to where the saint needed. The Church also knows many cases when prayers of believers to St. Nicholas turned into miracles even after his death. A quick and merciful helper to the afflicted, unmercenary and philanthropist, sensitively responding to the misfortune and pain of people; a strict pastor-mentor, keenly experiencing any untruth and resolutely rebelling against it - in these features of St. Nicholas, Orthodox see not a contradictory nature, but evidence of the living fullness of his holiness.

Annually last Saturday in March environmental action is being carried out around the world " Earth Hour organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The meaning of the action is voluntarily refusing to consume electrical energy for one hour. Thus, society is aware of the importance of taking measures to reduce the negative impact of human activity on the environment.

For the first time this great idea was implemented in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Then about two million residents of the metropolis took part in the action, and energy savings amounted to about 10%.

Inspired by the example, every year more and more new cities began to join the action "Earth Hour". It is expected that in 2020, residents of more than 7 thousand settlements of our planet (more than 2 billion people) will take part in a voluntary power outage for 1 hour. Among the countries participating in the action, of course, there is Russia.

What date and time is Earth Hour 2020 held:

As we wrote above, the event is held annually last Saturday in March, except in those years when the last Saturday in March comes before Easter.

This year's Earth Hour is scheduled for Saturday. March 28, 2020. Promotion will start at 20:30 local time and will last for an hour, until 21:30.

That is, the action Earth Hour 2020 - what date is held and what time:
* Event date - March 28, 2020
* from 20:30 to 21:30 local time.

Many have heard of such a Saint as Nicholas the Wonderworker. The Orthodox greatly honor the holidays dedicated to him, and there are three of them in a year! So, for example, on August 11, believers first celebrate the birth of this Saint. And the nineteenth of December is the Day of the death of Nicholas the Wonderworker. And what is celebrated on May 22? The feast of Nicholas the Wonderworker on this day is dedicated to the transfer of the relics of the Saint. Why is this event so important?


The origin of the holiday

Of course, this holiday would not exist if it were not for Nicholas the Wonderworker. This man is not a legend, he really lived at the turn of the third and fourth centuries of our era. He was born into a rich family, his parents asked for a child for a very long time, and God sent them a son when Nikolai's mother promised that if a child was born, they would send him to study religion. It so happened that the parents of the future Saint died early, and Nicholas studied science, religion for a long time and was a hermit.
Nicholas really devoted his whole life to Christianity, and was one of the bishops who founded the first Ecumenical Council. As it is written in historical books, Nicholas helped everyone he could - he gave his fortune, which he began to own after the death of his parents, to the poor. He also saved his city from starvation, could resurrect sailors who fell overboard, and once saved the lives of several military leaders who were victims of slander. There is another story connected with this Saint. It says that Nicholas the Wonderworker found out about a family that had three daughters. They had no dowry, and their father decided to take advantage of their beauty in order to earn at least something. Nikolai decided to help the girls, and threw a bag of gold out the window - so the father was able to marry his first daughter. Then the situation repeated itself with the second daughter, and when Nikolai threw the bag for the third time, the overjoyed father caught up with him and fell at his feet. Nikolai said that the best gratitude for him would be if the father of his daughters did not tell anything to anyone.


When Nicholas died, place his relics in the temple, which was located in the city of Mira, where he was a bishop. And the relics of the Saint streamed myrrh. Thus, Nicholas the Wonderworker healed people even after his death. But in the eleventh century, an event occurred that gave rise to the holiday, which is celebrated on May 22. The Turks began to attack the Greek Empire, began to destroy temples and destroy all the shrines. At first, the Turks wanted to completely destroy the tomb where the relics of Nicholas were, but they mixed up and destroyed the neighboring one. But they never managed to return to their homeland, because a terrible storm began, and their ships went under water.
When people learned about such actions, they had a desire to save the relics of the Saint. So it happened with the merchants from the city of Bari. According to legend, one priest had a dream in which Nicholas asked to transfer his relics to this particular city. And then people went to transport the relics. At first they tried to bribe the monks guarding the shrine, and then they even used force. As a result, the relics of the Saint were taken from the tomb and delivered to Bari after 20 days. According to the new style, this day falls on the twenty-second of May. The relics streamed myrrh, healing the inhabitants of this city, and a year later they even built a temple in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.


The meaning of the holiday

Christians greatly revere this Saint, and when the question arises of who to turn to with prayers for help, the answer is obvious - Nicholas the Wonderworker. May 22 is a joyful day for everyone. Parts of the relics of the Saint are sent to temples, where believers can touch them in order to be healed.
This day is also revered by the people. There are many signs associated with it. This day is also called May 22: Nicholas the Wonderworker Spring, that is, spring, and sometimes they say Summer Nicholas. People believe that after this day summer comes into its own, that it is already possible to swim, and it is already possible to drive the horses into the field.



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