«The Rule of True Faith, the Model of Meekness, the Teacher of Abstinence“This is how the tropar of Nicholas the Pleasant characterizes.” From ancient times he was revered in Russia as a protector, protector and intercessor before the Lord.
So great was his popularity that many did not even realize that Nicholas had never been to Russia. He was born in Asia Minor. He was a late, prayed child to childless parents. He performed his first miracle at birth – healed his mother, who was sick for a long time.
Since childhood, he was distinguished by great piety, abstinence and the desire to help people.
Having received a large inheritance, St. Nicholas distributed it to the poor and always tried to help people in need. The most famous story about him, which gave rise to the legend of Santa Claus, is a purse thrown into the pipe of the house of 3 vagabonds. Whether it is true that after that there was a tradition to give gifts for Christmas or not, we do not know. But we know for sure that Saint Nicholas devoted his whole long life to serving people.
However, Christmas is a holiday that is only becoming an Orthodox tradition in our country. Although information about the celebration of the Nativity of Nikolin is found in the 15-16 centuries, from the middle of the 18th century to 2004, there was no solemn celebration of the Nativity of the saint in the church calendar.
In other Orthodox churches of the world there is no such holiday. This is a purely Russian church tradition. In Novgorod the Great there was even a monastery consecrated “Nicholas the Wonderworker to Birth”. In Novgorod, in the 17th century, a manuscript was written with a service in honor of the Nativity of the saint. The second such manuscript was discovered in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
Now the holiday is being revived. On August 11, as well as every day, thousands and thousands of prayers will be offered to the saint, who protects the offended, protects strangers, prays for us day and night.
Charity foundHoly Land.
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