HISTORY OF SAINT NICHOLAS

Saint Nicholas is a miracle worker, benefactor, magician. On the night of December 19, on the day of his memory, he delivers gifts to children, congratulates on winter, blesses for good deeds.

Nicholas lived in the city of Patara, in Asia Minor. He was born in 280 into a family of wealthy and pious parents Theophan and Nonna. Nicholas' uncle was a Patarian bishop. The young man grew up in love and kindness, but he was deeply upset by the surrounding poverty and wretchedness of the townspeople. He did his best to help poor families, orphans. In order not to humiliate people with alms, he delivered food, clothes, delicacies at night and laid them on the doorsteps of poor houses. Over time, people learned about the benefactor and already openly went to him with their troubles and problems.

Even at a young age, he became a father to orphans, a gracious giver to the poor, a helper in trouble, a comforter in grief. Nicholas left secular life and devoted himself to the service of the Lord. After the death of his parents, he sold all the goods, distributed the money to the poor and the poor, and he himself went on a pilgrimage to Palestine. When he returned, he became a priest in the city of Mira, and eventually became a bishop. During the persecution of the Christian faith, he was thrown into prison, and during the reign of Constantine the Great, he was released. In his old age, Father Nikolai became a monk.

Even during his lifetime, people considered Father Nicholas a Saint. Once, with an ardent prayer, he calmed a storm at sea and saved many fishermen and the ship on which the pilgrims sailed to Palestine. Nicholas could heal the crippled, the sick, repeatedly saved those sentenced to death. But his greatest merit was that he loved all people immensely, appreciated every single person. His life is love and service to people.

Thanks to fidelity and sincerity in serving the Christian faith, glorifying the name of God by deeds and deeds on earth, and charity, Father Nikolai was recognized by the Church as a Saint.

According to legend, St. Nicholas lives in Paradise in heaven and once a year descends to earth to come to the children and bring them gifts for good studies, polite behavior, respect for parents and older people. Saint Nicholas knows everything about children. Everything good and bad is written down in a big book, which the angels help him to fill in for a whole year. And if some child behaved badly or did not want to study, then instead of St. Nicholas, on a magical December night, the imp Antypko will come to him. He will leave a bunch of willow rods under the pillow of the naughty one. Sometimes they beat not for the sake of torment, but for the sake of learning. But this happens very rarely, because our children are all obedient and study well to the delight of their parents.

Since ancient times, Ukrainians considered Nicholas to be their saint. Many churches were built in his honor. All fishermen and sailors consider him their patron. Recently, a new church of St. Nicholas appeared in Kiev, built on an artificial island in the middle of the Dnieper by the Kiev River Port, because to this day people's faith in the power of God's word and the power of the patronage of St. Nicholas is unshakable.

The similarity of the image of St. Nicholas with Father Frost and Santa Claus is rather visual and fabulous. Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden are characters who came to us from paganism. In those distant times, there were gods of nature, good and evil. And the evil goddess of Winter had a kind and gentle daughter, Snegurochka, and Grandfather Frost, in his old age, became good Frost, who came to the children in the fiercest month of January and brought gifts. He rejoiced with them that half of winter had already passed, and soon spring would come again, it would be warm, and therefore life would be reborn with herbs, flowers and a new harvest. Such is the nature-divine essence of Santa Claus, born of the northern peoples of ancient Europe and popularized by the new American nation.

Saint Nicholas is an image that is associated with high human moral values, deep faith in God and the righteousness of existence on earth. Not money, but love, decency, virtue and nobility rule the world. And once a year, on a magical December night, we all have the opportunity to be benefactors for our own pleasure and God's grace. Thanks to the good name of St. Nicholas, each of us can make so many children happy, deprived of parental affection. Yes, and to your children there is an opportunity on this day to come with a fairy tale and celebrate good study and obedience.

My greetings to all blog readers! The month of December is imperceptibly approaching, and this is not only the New Year, but also St. Nicholas Day in December.

Who is Saint Nicholas

The day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker falls on December 19, and also on May 22, that is, two holidays are celebrated - in winter and in spring.

Among Orthodox Christians, Nicholas is one of the most revered saints. In his earthly life, he did only good deeds for the glory of God, therefore Christians today also firmly believe that he helps all people who turn to him with humility and prayer. Prayer coming from the heart will surely be heard.

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children, travelers, and seafarers. But he does not leave all Orthodox Christians in trouble.

The saint lived in the 3-4 centuries, then he became famous as a great saint of God, so the people gave him a name - Nicholas the Pleasant.

He was well known all over the Earth, as Fr. With his prayers, he could heal the sick, raise from the dead, calm sea storms, direct the wind in such a way as to help the ship go in its direction. After his death, believers did not stop turning to him for help and received it.

Rites. Signs.

The people honor him as the Wonderworker, because the church knows many miracles associated with the name of the saint. You can also take advantage of his kindness: make a wish on the night before St. Nicholas - this is how we call this holiday.

If you guess with faith, then the Miracle Worker will surely fulfill it. And also, prepare gifts for children. According to Orthodox custom, the saint bestows gifts on the night of December 18-19.

There is a belief among the people that on this day it is imperative to pay off all debts so as not to drag them into the New Year.

Let the tradition revive!

In the Catholic Church, the tradition of giving gifts to children is quite common, while among Orthodox believers, it is just emerging.

How to start

One of the legends says that the Wonderworker wrote letters to children with a pen with golden ink.

Tell this story to your son or daughter, and also about the life of the saint.

Then give the kid a handwritten letter on beautiful paper, on behalf of Nikolai.

Be sure to praise for a good deed as if the praise comes from the name of the saint himself.

You can write a response letter, where the son or daughter will tell how many good deeds they have done.

What to give a child

Desirable gifts for the baby:

• Sweets found in a beautiful bag;
• Homemade gingerbread with a Christmas theme;
• Pajamas so that the little one falls asleep well;
• animal toy or real animal;
• Little things for various crafts that you will do with the kids.
• Christmas tree decorations;
• Small items for home decoration;
• Garlands, interesting postcards;

Gifts can be wrapped in several wrappers, turning the unwrapping into an interesting game. Be sure to tell the baby about how to make a wish so that it comes true. For an adult, an icon of a saint, as well as useful little things for decorating a house, would be a good gift.

Fairy tale for children

Tell your child how the gifts get into the bag. One day, Nikolai, the son of wealthy parents, found out that one young lady could not get married because her parents could not give her a dowry.

Then he took a bag of gold coins and threw it into the window of this girl at night. In the morning, the news spread throughout the region. People said that a heavenly angel helped the girl.

The miracle worker comes to the children accompanied by two angels and two devils. The angels told the saint about good children, and the devils whispered about naughty children.

Not a single kid wants to be left without a gift, so on this holiday, naughty children try to improve, to remain diligent on all other days.

Don't miss the holiday!

How is this holiday celebrated? All eyes, of course, on the children! Gifts, letter writing, walks. And adults on this day gathered all together, prepared for Christmas, matchmaking, weddings. They sewed, spun, knitted, made masks for Christmas, made wishes. The girls on this day were guessing at the suitors.

Proven signs

Folk omens have evolved over the centuries. Check if they come true or not!

• If winter covers the trail before Nikolin's day, then the road will not stand.
• Praise the winter after Nikola.
• Hoarfrost on trees for a good harvest.
• How much snow on Nikola in winter, how much grass on Nikola in spring.

superstition

Superstitions have also evolved over the centuries:

• On this day, you can not lend, and women are not allowed to work in the yard.
• You can’t be sad, quarrel, so as not to invite trouble.
• You can have fun, gather at a large table. On this day, even the Church allows eating fish dishes.
• If you invite a wealthy person to visit, then prosperity will come to the house, if a poor person crosses the threshold, then wealth should not be expected.

Dear friends! Let's revive the tradition: to celebrate this great holiday so that generosity and kindness will increase in the world!

Probably, each of us in childhood loved to find gifts under the pillow on St. Nicholas Day. However, few people know where this holiday came from, who Nikolai is and why it is necessary to put gifts under the pillow. So, let's take a closer look at this holiday.

Who is Nicholas the Wonderworker

Saint Nicholas was born around the year 270 into a Christian family in the province of Patara, Lycia. According to legend, the family of Nicholas the Wonderworker was quite wealthy, so not a single needy was left without their help. From childhood, he constantly studied the Holy Scriptures, constantly went to church and prayed to the Lord. Seeing such zeal in serving God, his uncle Nicholas of Patara appointed him a reader, and then completely elevated him to the rank of priest.

After the death of his parents, Nikolai got a good inheritance, which he distributed to the poor, and remained in the service of the church. Many who knew Nikolai personally said that he was a very meek and merciful person. But his calm nature did not prevent him from becoming famous as an ardent opponent of paganism. He destroyed temples and altars, burned temples and idols of pagan gods, and denounced heretics with fury. Nicholas the Wonderworker is one of the few Christian saints who died a natural death at a ripe old age.

How did the feast of St. Nicholas

In fact, there were several holidays dedicated to St. Nicholas. The first is celebrated on May 22, the second - on August 11, and the third - the date already familiar to us on December 19. In May, the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was first celebrated only in Italy. This was due to the fact that the relics of the saint had to be transported to the Italian town of Bar in order to save them from desecration by the Turks. After the relics of the saint were in a safe place, it was decided to establish a holiday on May 22.

However, according to the traditions at that time, many did not accept this date, for example, the Christian West and East, as well as the Greek Church. From ancient times in Rus', Nicholas the Wonderworker was especially revered, and many considered him the patron of the Slavic peoples. That is why the government decided to establish a holiday on August 11 (the date of his birth) and December 19 (respectively, the date of death).

Traditions of Saint Nicholas

According to historians, our ancestors used to write letters not to Santa Claus, as is customary today, but to St. Nicholas. But where did this custom come from?

One of the contemporaries of Nicholas the Wonderworker was a very poor man. The poor man had three daughters, which obliged him to provide them with a dowry. Since he could not do this, he was forced to send them to earn money by fornication. However, the priest could not allow this. Therefore, he decided to donate part of his father's inheritance.

So that no one would know about it, he made his way into the house for three nights, and left a piece of gold for each girl. In this way he saved them from fornication. Apparently such good deeds did not go unnoticed, and this story became known to everyone. After this holiday was introduced, the custom appeared to put gifts under the pillow at night. However, many associate this tradition with the kind and merciful nature of Nikolai, who is ready to give gifts to all the kids.

The celebration began with a service in the church. Basically, everyone collected money and bought a large candle, and after the prayer they put it on. According to the ancestors, in this way, Nicholas will protect them throughout the year from troubles and illnesses. Then followed a merry feast, for which everyone gathered together in order to prepare treats. As a rule, there were dishes of mushrooms and cabbage on the table, since at this time, according to church rules, the Nativity fast is still going on.

For children, this is a special day, since it was on this holiday that parents hid gifts in the house, supposedly from St. Nicholas. Naturally for good behavior. In the cities, various fairs often opened. At the same time, it was believed that all transactions and agreements concluded on this day could not be dishonest, since deceivers were believed to be necessarily punished and exposed by St. Nicholas.

The girls have already begun intensive preparations for Christmas time. After all, it was necessary to come up with an outfit and sew it, remember all the fortune-telling and learn new ones. In addition, unmarried girls always visited the temple to pray for future marriage.

Signs for the day of St. Nicholas

• “If the day is cold and clear on Nikola, it will be a fruitful year.


• If snow lies on Nikolai - to an early thaw. Well, if it's a warm day, expect severe frosts."


• "If winter leaves a trace before Nikolin's day, the road will not stand."


• "In front of Nikola, hoarfrost - oats will be good. Hoarfrost on Nikola - for the harvest."


• "If there is frost before Winter Mikola, then barley must be sown earlier, if after Mikola - later."


• "What a day in Winter Mikola, such a day in Summer Mikola."


• "Two Nikolas: one herbal, the other frosty; one with grass, the other with winter."


• "They say that winter walks with a nail on Nikola, gets along well with the roofs, where it will cover with snow, where it will tuck in with snow, and where it will hammer in a nail so that the snow shingles do not break, so that it sings and buzzes in the chimney - winter patches the roofs with ice tar, wraps in snow tighter."

Everyone is looking forward to the New Year holidays, but in order for the wait not to be so painful, you can pamper your kids with gifts from St. Nicholas. But before that, it is necessary to tell the child about the traditions and the origin of the event itself.

Traditions

Saint Nicholas All Christians around the world celebrate this day: Catholics on December 6th, and Orthodox Christians on December 19th. But even atheists do not forget to pamper their children with congratulations from St. Nicholas. All parents, both believers and not really, should prepare for the holiday - purchase festive shoes, socks, and, most importantly, gifts. This day also has a pedagogical meaning - there is a moment of encouragement, a certain pedagogical method, an advance, an incentive for the child to try to be better. Since it is believed that Nikolai brings sweets and gifts to good children, but rods and stones to bad children. So even the most naughty children will think about their behavior on the eve of the holiday. And also according to tradition, St. Nicholas does not come by himself, his retinue is made up of two angels who inform the patron saint about good children, and two devils who make up the “black list” of vermin and evil. Expect good deeds and good deeds from the baby in early December.

Who is he?

Monument to St. Nicholas Legends and church chronicles say that St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, unlike Grandfather Frost, is a real person who received the rank of saint as a token of gratitude for his good and gratuitous deeds. According to legend, the Wonderworker was born in the city of Patara, Asia Minor, into a family of righteous and noble parents. Nicholas was distinguished by compassion and great love for people, he helped the destitute and the poor, spending all his savings on good deeds, leaving himself only the most necessary. For this kindness and meekness, he fell in love with all the people who knew him. Nicholas was a very religious person, visited holy places and prayed regularly. They say that one day the doors of the church opened before him, that it was the Lord who chose him to do bright deeds. Nikolai lived to a very old age, devoting his whole life to his altruistic deeds. Church leaders canonized Nicholas and now you can find his icons in many churches and temples, as well as temples named after this wonderful person. St. Nicholas is now the patron saint of travelers and children.

Winter Saint Nicholas Day- one of the most revered Christian holidays in Rus'. In many European countries, St. Nicholas Day, in the CIS countries, St. Nicholas Day is one of the most joyful holidays for children. Christians believe that to this day he performs many miracles to help people who pray to him.

Both Santa Claus and Santa Claus have little in common with the saint, whom some consider their prototype. Most likely, there is a mixture of various legends into one.

Saint Nicholas lived in the 4th century. From early childhood, he was distinguished by love for his neighbor. The fame of his deeds was great, so he was appointed bishop as a young man. He settled in the city of Izmir in Greece (now it is the territory of Turkey). St. Nicholas was rich and helped the poor in every possible way, and he always did it secretly - putting gifts in the windows.

And one day, wanting to help a poor family that had three daughters, and whose father, because of poverty, decided to sell them for fornication, St. Nicholas threw them three bags of gold coins on Christmas Eve. This continued until they accumulated enough dowry to get married. But one day, all the windows in the house were not locked. Then St. Nicholas threw bags of gold into the chimney.

Another legend says that the gold coins he threw into the chimney ended up in drying socks hanging by the stove. Therefore, now Catholics put gifts in socks that are hung by the fireplace.

Traditions

Saint Nicholas always comes at night. According to tradition, on the feast of St. Nicholas, children receive sweets as a gift, some children put a note in their shoe on the eve of the holiday, in which they write what they would like to receive. In Ukraine, children are looking for their gifts under the pillow.

Therefore, on the feast of St. Nicholas, which the Orthodox Church celebrates on December 19 (according to the new style), and the Catholic Church on December 6, children always receive gifts from St. Nicholas.

What was served for lunch? Since the holiday falls in the middle of the Advent, no quick meals were prepared. But on the other hand, there was always lean borscht with fried crucian carp, dumplings with potatoes, mushrooms and cabbage, all kinds of pickles, pies, rolls, honey cakes and Mikolajchiki gingerbread on the tables.

However, St. Nicholas became famous not only for his secret gifts, but also for miracles, which he worked both during his lifetime and after death.

Saint Nicholas was considered by sailors and fishermen to be their intercessor. He provided patronage to abducted and ruined children: he found them and brought them back to life. There was a legend that on the feast of St. Nicholas, the bishop distributed gifts, but only to obedient children, and punished naughty ones.

There was a belief that on the day of St. Nicholas, nothing can be done for oneself, but only for those in need. The one who does not take care of the poor and orphans will suffer losses for seven years.

In Ukraine, December 19 has always been considered a great Christian holiday. From ancient times, our ancestors called St. Nicholas their intercessor, the lord of all earthly waters, the patron saint of sailors and wanderers. Therefore, on this day, people laid rich (albeit fast) tables, invited relatives and godfathers to dumplings and beer. And also, according to the weather on Nikolai, they found out whether the next year would be fruitful.

As you can see, Santa Claus (originally emerging as a good elf) and Ded Moroz (originally just Frost - the patron saint of winter) have little in common with St. Nicholas. They are united only by love for children, and the custom of giving gifts.