When is the holiday St. Nicholas Day. Nicholas the Wonderworker: holiday traditions and why we honor this saint
Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Pleasant of God, in Rus' from time immemorial was revered hardly on a par with Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, above all other saints. There was even a legend among the people that Nicholas was supposed to become God, but he refused. According to the Russian man, Saint Nicholas was his first assistant in all matters and his protector from all troubles. One of the epics says: “Lord Master will have mercy on the light, and Holy Mother The Mother of God will intercede and save Mikola the Most Merciful.”
Nicholas the Wonderworker, Pleasant of God (megabook.ru)
The anonymous author of the French book “NOUVE AU VOYAGE DU NORT” (“New Travels to the North”), published in 1682, notes, among other things: “The simple Russian people are extremely stupid and idolater. Those who live in the North, in Arkhangelsk, Kola on the Kola Peninsula, etc., do not know any other god than St. Nicholas, who, in their opinion, rules the whole world. They claim that he sailed on a millstone from Italy itself to the harbor that bears his name, near Arkhangelsk. And if anyone expresses disbelief in this story, he is at least risking his life.”
We will leave the assessments of the intellectual level of a Russian person by a visiting French scribbler on his conscience. Nevertheless, the essence of his note corresponded to the truth: the veneration of Nicholas the Wonderworker in Rus' was such that the saint was perceived as “the main protector of the Russian land.” Moreover, in the Middle Ages our western neighbors, the Poles, also perceived it as such. They, of course, did not have warm feelings for Rus', but they stated as a given the fact that “Nikola is the patron god of all Russians” (the medieval writer Jan Lisovsky writes about this, in particular).
Another French traveler, de la Martiniere, also noting that Russians revere St. Nicholas as a god, added that as a result the Tatars call all Russian icons “Nicholas.” Martiniere, however, pointed out that the Tatars, as Muslims, do not recognize the veneration of icons. But the Austrian diplomat Herberstein says that the Tatars sometimes turn to St. Nicholas with prayers.
The canonical life reports that Saint Nicholas lived in the 3rd-4th centuries, was the archbishop of the city of Myra in Lycia - the Asia Minor province of the Roman Empire (the territory of modern Turkey) and was one of the outstanding church figures of the first centuries of Christianity. During the persecution of Christians undertaken by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, Saint Nicholas, together with his fellow believers, was imprisoned and remained there for a long time, “enduring severe suffering, enduring hunger and thirst and prison overcrowding.” When the pagan Diocletian and his successors were replaced on the Roman throne by the Christian Constantine the Great, Nicholas was released and continued his church activities.
It is no coincidence that Saint Nicholas is revered as a miracle worker. During his lifetime, he became famous as a pacifier of warring parties and a deliverer from vain death. The life tells how St. Nicholas calmed sea storms with his words and saved sinking ships, so he was revered as the patron saint of all sailors and travelers. Repeatedly he appeared in a dream to the powers that be in order to restore justice and save the innocently convicted. There is a legend about how he revived three young men killed by robbers. But often the help of St. Nicholas was not of a miraculous nature, but was ordinary human mercy - not such a common phenomenon, however, in all centuries.
By the way, Saint Nicholas has been known in Rus' for a very long time (in particular, Prince Askold was baptized under the name Nicholas back in 860), but the real cult of the holy saint began to take shape only from the end of the 11th century. And here there is politics. The then Kiev prince Vsevolod Yaroslavovich, although considered a “Grecophile,” pursued a very active policy of interaction with the Western world. His daughter Eupraxia became the wife of the German Emperor Henry IV, who was in a state of fierce enmity with the Roman throne. Meanwhile, the marriage was also unhappy. And Eupraxia had to resort to the help of the Pope, seeking a dissolution of the marriage, and he willingly used Eupraxia’s revelations about the private life of the emperor - for the universal denunciation of the latter. Vsevolod maintained partnerships with the papal throne. And when in 1087 Italian merchants transported the relics of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra, from Mir to the Italian city of Bari, explaining their act with the desire to save a Christian shrine from destruction by Muslim Turks, Vsevolod established a holiday in Rus' in honor of this event. This is a holiday that is now called “Nicholas of the Spring” (i.e., “spring”) and falls on May 22 (May 9 according to the Julian calendar).
Henry IV (megabook.ru)
Meanwhile, in the Greek Church there is no such holiday to this day. In the Roman church, St. Nicholas gained popularity under the guise of St. Nicholas (the prototype of Santa Claus), but he is seriously venerated only in Bari, where the relics of the saint are buried in the crypt of the basilica that bears his name. But in Rus', the veneration of St. Nicholas, by all strata of society, has become unprecedented.
This happened because in Rus' the image of St. Nicholas, a sad person about human troubles, completely obscured the image of Nicholas, the church hierarch. In the popular consciousness, Nikolai turned into a peasant - a “peasant” - saint, wise and fair, understanding everyday human needs, always ready to help. However, such ideas are characteristic not only of peasants: Nikola Ugodnik has long been considered the patron saint of military men, and with the advent of the Russian fleet - also of its sailors (he is also considered the patron saint of sailors in Greece).
Basilica of St. Nicholas in the Italian city of Bari, where the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are kept (megabook.ru)
Nikolai Ugodnik, Nikola the Merciful became the hero of many Russian folk legends, and in them Nikolai is often contrasted with other saints - proud and unapproachable. One of the legends says that Saint Kasyan and St. Nicholas the Pleasant were walking along the earth and saw a man trying to pull out a cart stuck in the mud. Kasyan passed by - he didn’t want to stain the heavenly dress, and Nikola helped the man.
When the Lord God found out about this, he gave Nikola two holidays a year - in spring and autumn. These are, respectively, the aforementioned “Nikola Spring”, also called “Nikola with fodder” (this means that the grass is ripe for livestock), and “Nikola Winter”, celebrated on December 19 (December 6 according to the Julian calendar). And Kasyanov’s Day (popularly also called Kasyan the Unmerciful, Kasyan the Envious, Crooked Kasyan) is celebrated once every 4 years - February 29.
Fragment of an interview with Abbot Sergius (Rybko), rector of the temple St. Sergius Radonezh, about the holidays of St. Nicholas of the Spring and St. Nicholas of the Winter.
AdvertisingFor many, St. Nicholas Day is a winter holiday on which it is customary to give gifts to children. But this saint is venerated on two days a year.
Our site found out when and why St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is honored.
St. Nicholas Day: what date?
St. Nicholas Day is celebrated not only on December 19 (the day of Nicholas’s death), but also on May 22 (the day of the arrival of his relics in Bari, Italy), that is, this Monday. His birth is celebrated on August 11th. All these holidays are permanent, that is, their dates are fixed.
People call these days, respectively, Nikola Winter, Nikola Autumn and Nikola Vershny (that is, spring), or Nikola Summer.
The saint is also called “Nicholas the Wet”. This saint in all centuries was considered the patron saint of sailors and all travelers in general. Therefore, when a temple in the name of St. Nicholas the Pleasant was built by sailors (often in gratitude for the miraculous salvation on the waters), people called it “Nikola the Wet.”
Saint Nicholas the Pleasant
St Nicholas. Icon
Both December and May are extremely important for grain growers (“Two Nicholas: one with grass, the other with frost”).
According to legend, these days were given to the saint thanks to a peasant peasant. Once a man got stuck in the mud with a heavy cart. I couldn't get it out myself. At this time, a smartly dressed Saint Kasyan was walking past. The man asked him for help. Kasyan was offended that they bothered him because of such a trifle - after all, he was in a hurry to go to heaven with God. And he passed by. After some time, Saint Nicholas the Pleasant passed by the cart. When the man asked him for help, he immediately offered his shoulder, got all dirty, but helped pull out the cart and went his way.
When the saints came to God, he asked Nicholas: “Why were you late and covered in mud?” Nikolai told what happened to him on the road. God asked Kasyan why he didn’t help the peasant? He replied: “I was in a hurry to meet you. How could I come in dirty clothes? “Since you didn’t help the man, Kasyan, they will praise you only once every four years. And St. Nicholas the Pleasant, who is quick to help, will be celebrated twice as much every year,” answered the Lord.
Since then, St. Kasyan's Day has been celebrated only on February 29, while St. Nicholas the Pleasant is celebrated every year in both spring and winter.
Saint Nicholas: history
Saint Nicholas was born in the second half of the 3rd century in the city of Patara into the family of the pious Theophanes and Nonna. The mother was very ill, but with the birth of her son, who himself stood in the baptismal font for some time unsupported by anyone, she received healing.
As the rector told Vesti Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, Vladyka Pavel, the life of this saint has been amazing since the day of his birth, the site reports. From childhood, he led, one might say, an ascetic life for a child. He was not interested in entertainment, empty conversations or games with peers. He studied spiritual literature and spent time in fasting and prayer. Seeing such virtues, his uncle, who was the bishop of Patara, took him as a reader, and then a little later elevated him to the rank of priest.
There is a known case when Nicholas set off on a journey to Palestine on a ship and, seeing a storm approaching, stopped it with his prayer. He resurrected a sailor who had fallen from the mast and crashed. And upon his arrival in Palestine, settling not far from Jerusalem, he wanted to pray in the temple at night. When he arrived, he saw a lock on the doors, but suddenly the doors opened on their own, letting him into the temple.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker: prayer
Prayer to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
O all-holy Nicholas, exceedingly saintly servant of the Lord, our warm intercessor, and everywhere in sorrow a quick helper! Help me, a sinner and a sad person, in this present life, beg the Lord God to grant me forgiveness of all my sins, which I have sinned greatly from my youth, in all my life, in deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me, the accursed one, beg the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver me from airy ordeals and eternal torment, so that I may always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and your merciful intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker, changing fate
Chosen Wonderworker and great servant of Christ, Father Nicholas! Exuding to the whole world a precious myrrh and an inexhaustible sea of miracles, you build up spiritual fortresses, and I praise you as my lover, blessed Saint Nicholas: but you, as having boldness towards the Lord, free me from all troubles, and I call you: Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice , Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
An angel in the image of an earthly being by the nature of the Creator of all creation; Having foreseen the fruitful kindness of your soul, blessed Nicholas, teach everyone to cry out to you:
Rejoice, born in the robes of angels, as pure in the flesh; Rejoice, baptized with water and fire, as though holy in the flesh. Rejoice, you who surprised your parents with your birth; Rejoice, you who revealed the strength of your soul at Christmas. Rejoice, garden of the land of promise; Rejoice, flower of the Divine planting. Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ's grapes; Rejoice, miraculous tree of Jesus' paradise. Rejoice, thou land of heavenly destruction; Rejoice, myrrh of Christ's fragrance. Rejoice, for you will drive away sobbing; Rejoice for you bring joy. Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
Rejoice, image of lambs and shepherds; Rejoice, holy purifier of morals. Rejoice, repository of great virtues; Rejoice, holy and pure dwelling! Rejoice, all-bright and all-loving lamp; Rejoice, golden and immaculate light! Rejoice, worthy interlocutor of Angels; rejoice, kind people mentor! Rejoice, rule of pious faith; Rejoice, image of spiritual meekness! Rejoice, for through you we are delivered from bodily passions; Rejoice, for through you we are filled with spiritual sweetness! Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
Rejoice, deliverance from sorrow; Rejoice, bestower of grace. Rejoice, banisher of unforeseen evils; Rejoice, wishing good things to the planter. Rejoice, speedy consoler of those in trouble; Rejoice, terrible punisher of those who offend. Rejoice, abyss of miracles poured out by God; Rejoice, the tablet of the law of Christ written by God. Rejoice, strong construction of those who give; Rejoice, rightful affirmation. Rejoice, for through you all flattery is laid bare; Rejoice, for through you all truth comes true. Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
Rejoice, source of all healings; Rejoice, greater helper of those who suffer! Rejoice, dawn, shining in the night of sin for those who wander; Rejoice, dew that does not flow in the heat of labor! Rejoice, thou who hast provided for those who demand prosperity; Rejoice, prepare abundance for those who ask! Rejoice, preface the petition many times; Rejoice, renew the strength of old gray hairs! Rejoice, many errors from the true path to the accuser; Rejoice, faithful servant of the mysteries of God. Rejoice, for through you we trample on envy; Rejoice, for through you we correct a good life. Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
Rejoice, you have been taken away from eternal misery; Rejoice, give us imperishable wealth! Rejoice, undying cruelty to those who hunger for truth; Rejoice, inexhaustible drink for those thirsty for life! Rejoice, keep from rebellion and warfare; Rejoice, free us from bonds and captivity! Rejoice, most glorious intercessor in troubles; Rejoice, great protector in adversity! Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
Rejoice, illumination of the Trisolar Light; Rejoice, day of the never-setting sun! Rejoice, candle, kindled by the Divine flame; Rejoice, for you have extinguished the demonic flame of wickedness! Rejoice, lightning, consuming heresies; Rejoice, O thunder who frightens those who seduce! Rejoice, true teacher of reason; Rejoice, mysterious exponent of the mind! Rejoice, for you have trampled upon the worship of the creature; Rejoice, for through you we will learn to worship the Creator in the Trinity! Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
Rejoice, mirror of all virtues; Rejoice, everyone who flows to you has been taken away by the strong! Rejoice, according to God and the Mother of God, all our hope; Rejoice, health to our bodies and salvation to our souls! Rejoice, for through you we are freed from eternal death; Rejoice, for through you we are worthy of endless life! Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
Oh, most bright and wonderful Father Nicholas, consolation of all who mourn, accept our present offering, and beg the Lord to deliver us from Gehenna, through your God-pleasing intercession, so that with you we sing: Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Chosen Wonderworker and great servant of Christ, Father Nicholas! Exuding to the whole world a precious myrrh and an inexhaustible sea of miracles, you build up spiritual fortresses, and I praise you as my lover, blessed Saint Nicholas: you, as having boldness towards the Lord, free me from all troubles, and I call you: Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle worker, Rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker, rejoice, Nicholas, great Wonderworker!
St. Nicholas Day: what to do and what not to do
It is believed that on St. Nicholas Day you should not do anything for yourself - only for those who need your help. If you do not take care of the poor or orphans on this day, you will suffer losses for seven years.
There is no fasting on this day. However, it was on St. Nicholas of the Summer, or Spring (May 22), that the Orthodox organized religious processions- they went into the fields with icons and banners, performed prayer services at wells (asked for rain).
St. Nicholas Day: when to give gifts
According to tradition, it is customary to give gifts on “winter” Nicholas, that is, December 19th. In the spring, on May 22, you can congratulate in words or send dear person postcard.
Saint Nicholas: congratulations and cards
Saint Nicholas: Pictures: playcast.ru
Happy St. Nicholas Day
I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart!
I want to wish you well,
Peace, happiness and warmth!
Let Nikolai bring it
A lot of joyful troubles!
May your health not fail you
And luck is nearby!
On St. Nicholas Day
With all my heart I wish:
Under the protection of the saint
Be everywhere, always.
So that your dreams and deeds
The skies lit up.
And any distances
Let them melt like dew.
Let the saint perform a miracle,
What is your dream?
Let joy fill life -
Sadness will be passed over with sadness.
4 SMS - 203 characters:
St. Nicholas Day is a sacred holiday, a day when you should forget about all the failures and troubles and remember the simple idea that miracles happen everywhere and all the time. Be happy, happy holiday!
3 SMS - 186 characters:
On St. Nicholas Day
I wish you well
Lots of joy and love.
Be always happy!
Let him work miracles
Let him always be nearby.
You pray today
And your whole life will get better!
St. Nicholas Day: fortune telling
Fortune telling about St. Nicholas is very popular - but alas and ah: fortune telling (as well as giving gifts) is customary in winter, on December 19th. For example, fortune telling by betrothed's shoe.
Young girls went out into the yard in the evening, took off the shoe from their left foot and threw it forcefully over the gate. The farther the shoe flew from the house, the further the girl had to move after the wedding. Where the toe of the shoe pointed, from there the groom will come to woo. If the toe of the shoe pointed to the girl’s house, then she shouldn’t expect a wedding this year.
Wedding fortune telling Suitable for three girlfriends. The girl had to take the onion and put it in water or bury it in the ground (the bulbs had to be marked first). Whose bulb sprouts on Nicholas Day, that girl will marry first.
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St. Nicholas Day 2020 is celebrated on December 19th. Orthodox Church This date honors the memory of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker. This day is also popularly known as St. Nicholas Winter Day. This is a favorite and long-awaited holiday for children.
The content of the article
history of the holiday
December 19 is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, who became famous for his actions and selfless service to God. From early childhood he studied the Scriptures. In his young years he received clergy (title) and became a preacher. He used the wealth that he inherited from his wealthy parents for missionary work.
Many miracles are attributed to Nicholas. During his journey, he resurrected a mortally injured sailor and began to be considered the protector of travelers, merchants and children. One day Nikolai decided to secretly help three girls who did not have a dowry. He would quietly sneak into the house and leave a wallet filled with money.
On one of these visits, Nikolai threw coins into the chimney, but they did not burn, as they fell into the drying sock of one of the young ladies. This is how the legend of Santa Claus appeared. The date of the ascetic’s death began to be called the Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
During times Soviet power the holiday was forgotten. Customs were eradicated, and many of their adherents were subjected to ridicule and persecution. After the collapse of the USSR, the tradition was revived and began to gain popularity.
Traditions and rituals of the holiday
On St. Nicholas Day, services are held in churches. Believers eat Lenten dishes, since the holiday falls during the Nativity Fast.
On the night of December 19, parents put gifts under the child’s pillow: fruits, sweets, toys. Single girls tell fortunes about their betrothed, make wishes, and pray to St. Nicholas for a happy marriage.
On this day, housewives bake special cookies - Nikolaychiki - for the festive dinner. On the tables there are also dumplings and pies with potatoes, mushrooms, cabbage, lean borscht, and pickles.
On this day, folk festivals are popular in villages. Young people enjoy sleigh rides. Preserved in some places ancient tradition caroling on December 19. The guys go from house to house and sing ritual songs in which they wish the owners good health and a good harvest. For this they are given sweets and money.
On this day it is customary to do good deeds. People help those in need, distribute sweets, money, clothes, books, stationery to orphans and children from large families.
Matinees are held in kindergartens and educational institutions. Pupils read poems, demonstrate crafts, and perform song and dance numbers.
With St. Nicholas Day, preparations for the New Year and Christmas begin. People are putting things in order at home, buying groceries, choosing gifts for loved ones and friends.
Present
On St. Nicholas Day it is customary to give gifts to children. The most popular are sweets, fruits, and toys. On this holiday, you can also please an adult loved one with a pleasant surprise.
What can you eat on December 19
The Nativity Fast falls on December 19th. On this day, you are allowed to eat lean dishes: food of plant origin with vegetable oil (porridge, soups, stewed vegetables, mushrooms), bread, water, salt, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey. You can also eat fish on this holiday. You are allowed to drink a glass of dry red wine.
What not to do on St. Nicholas Day
On December 19, it is prohibited to engage in heavy physical labor. It is not advisable to clean the house, do laundry, or sew. On this day you cannot break the commandments of God.
Signs and beliefs
- On December 19 it snows - for the wheat harvest, rain - for the harvest of cabbage and cucumbers.
- If the weather is cold on St. Nicholas Day, then the whole winter will be cold, and if it is warm, then the winter will be clear and without severe frosts.
- If you make a wish on this day, St. Nicholas will help make it come true.
- On St. Nicholas Day you can’t do anything for yourself, but only for those in need.
- If all debts are not paid off by December 19, then next year you will have to live in poverty.
St. Nicholas Day is a bright winter holiday. According to popular belief, on the night of December 19, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker descends from heaven to earth and helps everyone in need.
From year to year, this holiday is celebrated on one day - May 22 according to the new style (May 9 according to the Julian calendar). The name "Nikola Letniy" is the most common. However, the celebration also has many other names: St. Nicholas the Spring, St. Nicholas, Summer Day, St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas with Warmth, Grass Day, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Warm Day.
Also read: December 19 - Winter Nicholas Day
Feast of St. Nicholas the Summer in Christianity
What is the meaning of the Summer St. Nicholas holiday?
Since ancient times, it was believed that on Grass Day, spring, finally losing ground, meets summer. The sun no longer warms gently, its rays become truly burning. After Nikolin's day it was usually a hot time. In Rus' this holiday was highly anticipated; 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 addressed the Saint, asking him for protection and patronage. By and large, the prayers addressed to Nikola Letny 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.
Origins of the holiday
They began to honor the memory of St. Nicholas the Summer 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, he was a reminder of negative events, since their country had lost the holy relics of St. Nicholas.
At first, the memory of St. 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 temple of St. Stephen, located in the Italian city of Bari. Adherents Christian faith, living in other countries, St. Nicholas of 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 turned to local Shrines.
The childhood of St. Nicholas. In one of the colonies of Lycia (now the territory of Turkey), a boy was born into a wealthy peasant family, who was named Nicholas. This event dates back to around 270 AD. From early childhood, Nikolai's parents taught him to Orthodox faith. The boy attended every liturgy, prayed often, studied Divine books and the Holy Scriptures.
Youth and youth of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Nicholas's uncle served as a bishop. It was he who contributed to the fact that the young man received the rank of priest, whose duties included communication with the flock. Nikolai coped with his duties perfectly, taught and mentored believers, taught them to pray, and gave advice. In a short period of time, Nikolai gained the love and respect of his parishioners. The young Saint possessed such qualities as mercy, openness, kindness, generosity, and the ability to sincerely sympathize with people.
A few years later, Nikolai’s parents left this mortal coil. After this, Nikola, having entered into an inheritance, distributed all the valuables to people in need: the poor, the poor, the sick, the disabled. Saint Nicholas had modesty and meekness, so he did not advertise his good deeds and did not try to tell others about them. However, the rumor about the good deeds of the Saint spread quickly. Nicholas began to be loved and respected even more.
The mature years of Nikolai Ugodnik. Saint Nicholas Being a priest, he also became a pilgrim. Over the course of several years, he was able to visit almost all the places where the Savior set foot. When the Saint returned to his native Lycia, the church leadership and parishioners unanimously elected him Bishop. Having accepted the rank of bishop, Nikolai Ugodnik did not change his inner convictions, remaining the same ascetic, meek, generous and kind. Despite his modesty, Nicholas was an ardent opponent of heresy and paganism; he waged a merciless struggle for the Christian religion.
Throughout his life, Nicholas managed to perform many miracles, which were witnessed by parishioners. Nicholas always extended a helping hand to people in need, healed the sick (sick), saved those in trouble, exposed injustice and even resurrected those who had passed on to another world. For such good deeds, people called the Saint the great Wonderworker.
Nikolai's venerable age. Until his very old age, Nicholas preached Christianity, instructed the laity on the true path, and helped everyone who turned to him. The Pleasant said goodbye to the world of the living, having reached old age. Historians give the following dates for the death of the Saint: 342, 346, 351 years. The incorrupt relics of the Wonderworker were preserved for a long time in the local cathedral church until they were transferred to the city of Bari. From those ancient times to this day, it is believed that the ashes of Nicholas exude healing myrrh, which cures all ailments.
Signs and rituals on St. Nicholas Day
Folk signs for St. Nicholas of the Summer
- If during the pre-summer period (05/22-10/06) there was damp and windy weather with showers and thunderstorms, it means that Nikola Letniy is favorable, and at the end of summer it will be possible to reap a rich harvest. Especially auspicious sign This was the weather 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. Cereals and vegetables, fruits and berries will grow well.
- “The mercy of God” and “The sky sheds rain on the earth, raises rich grains” - this is what they said if it rains on St. Nicholas the Great. And such weather promised a happy life this year.
- It was believed that shearing sheep and planting potatoes and buckwheat on St. Nicholas Day would bring good luck in all matters, a rich harvest, and relief from troubles.
- According to one of the ancient signs, prayers addressed to the Lord and Saints on May 22 have great power. People can ask for healing from illnesses, addition to the family, meeting 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 St. Nicholas of the Summer, people with all their families went out into the field and washed themselves with dew. Then your health will be good and no illness will attach itself. Some stripped down to their underwear and rolled on the grass, which had dew on it. Thus, the whole body was washed with beneficial moisture.
- If Alder begins to bloom on May 22, then expect rapid financial well-being. It was believed that the family in whose yard the buds bloomed on this tree would not experience financial difficulties all year. There are cases when people after this found treasures, unexpectedly received an inheritance, won a large sum money.
Traditions on the holiday of St. Nicholas the Summer
Since Nicholas the Wonderworker is the patron and protector of couples in love, young girls at the dawn of May 22 prayed to the Saint that he would grant them a meeting with their soulmate. The unmarried girls asked Nikolai to send them good husband, generous, handsome, hard-working, brave, kind.
Saint Nicholas is also the patron of animals, including sheep and horses. By St. Nicholas Day, the fresh grass in the fields had already grown sufficiently. Therefore, on the night of May 22, all owners of horses and sheep drove their cattle into the fields. The animals frolicked all night, ran, and nibbled grass. In Rus', this ritual was turned into a real spectacular show. Even today in some villages you can observe such an action. To prevent horses and sheep from running away, shepherds - young and physically strong men - were assigned to them.
In the evening, before the start of herding the animals, a special dinner was prepared for the shepherds, consisting of porridge and pies. Then fires were lit around the perimeter of the large field. Few of the villagers went to bed early, because everyone wanted to watch the animals being pastured. Parents allowed even small children to walk until midnight on this day. A little later, when the villagers went to their huts, the shepherds were joined by girls - unmarried residents of the village. Then the real party began with dancing, songs and fun games. It was believed that on this night young men and women entered adulthood, so older relatives did not particularly control the “ardent 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 vegetable gardens, stood facing the rising sun and performed a special ritual. 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 prayer and caring for family, home, and livestock. 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 the Vereshny and the Lord. You can ask God and the Saint for everything you need. If your prayers are sincere and you truly 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 St. Nicholas Day there was no point in planting them. Firstly, there will be no decent harvest, and secondly, the crops will not have time to harvest.
In the morning, after going to church and praying, 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. While bathing, you can read a prayer.
From the very morning, housewives began general cleaning of the house, garden area, and non-residential outbuildings where livestock were kept. The animals were intensively fed with various delicacies. Artiodactyls and ruminants were grazed, and other pets were walked.
Unmarried girls and unmarried boys changed into beautiful outfits after the bath. The guys wore shirts embroidered with gold, wide light-colored linen trousers, and tied with satin belts. The girls dressed up in long sundresses, and tied multi-colored scarves on their heads or wore wreaths with ribbons.
After work in the field and entertainment, all family members had to gather at the table to enjoy a festive dinner. There are no special recommendations regarding the dishes placed on the table. We ate everything that God sent. Usually it was unpretentious food: milk, pancakes, chicken eggs, cheese, porridge, boiled potatoes, lard and all kinds of dishes prepared from the listed products.
What not to do on Nikola Letniy?
On May 22, it was inappropriate to be sad, indulge in memories of past negative events, or be lazy. The only thing you should give up regarding housework is knitting and sewing.
It is undesirable to use scissors and other sharp objects (kitchen utensils and garden tools do not count).
It was believed that if a person refuses to help someone who turned to him, he and his family will experience need and fail for 7 years in a row. Remember, helping the poor, orphans and everyone who asks is one of the rules of life that St. Nicholas always adhered to during his life.
On a warm day, it is also undesirable to deny children anything (within reason, of course). Nikolai Ugodnik is their patron, so all the children need to be given gifts. It is not necessary to buy something expensive, let it be simple gifts, for example, souvenirs, toys or their favorite treats. Traditionally, gifts were always placed under children’s pillows or hidden in socks, which were then hung on a rope over the stove (fireplace).
On Grass Day, it is inappropriate to indulge in riotous revelry. Dancing until you drop, heavy alcohol intoxication and loud chants are unacceptable. Also, clarification of personal relationships, much less quarrels, scandals, and fights, is not encouraged. Swearing on May 22 means inviting failure.
Nikola Summer is a holiday that is loved by many, especially children. 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 wishes and becomes a patron and reliable protector for you and your family!
In prayers on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Orthodox believers seek help in healing from illnesses, strengthening families, protecting children, getting rid of poverty and poverty, a safe journey and return to their homeland, eliminating power magical rituals and evil eye, liberation from captivity.
22nd of May Orthodox world honors the memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Lycia, who is better known as St. Nicholas the Wonderworker or St. Nicholas the Pleasant. In Rus', May 22 is Nikola Veshny, also called Nikola spring, Nikola's day, Nikola herbal. Veshny in ancient Slavic meant spring, warmth was finally established on the earth.
In prayers on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Orthodox believers ask for help in healing from illnesses, strengthening families, protecting children, getting rid of poverty and poverty, a safe journey and return to their homeland, eliminating the power of magical rituals and evil eyes, and liberation from captivity.
Both Orthodox peasants and service people prayed to him, since Nikolai the Ugodnik patronized everyone without exception. May 22, St. Nicholas the Vershny was of particular significance for those whose lives were connected with cultivating the land, as they carefully listened to the signs that had been accumulated for many millennia since the righteous life and death of St. Nicholas the Pleasant.
This day is especially revered among the Orthodox, despite the fact that Nicholas the Wonderworker himself is not one of the apostles of God. He earned the favor of the common people through good deeds, which are remembered on the day of St. Nicholas.
Folk traditions
In Rus', Nicholas the Pleasant was considered the “eldest” among the saints. He was called “merciful”, temples were built in his honor and children were named.
On St. Nicholas the Winter, people had festive meals - they baked pies with fish, brewed mash and beer, and on St. Nicholas the Summer, or the Spring, the peasants held processions of the cross - they went to the fields with icons and banners, performed prayer services at wells - asking for rain.
On May 22, Nikola Veshny blessed the dew, so there was a tradition of washing with it. It was believed that morning dew would give a person health and happiness, and the earth would give a rich harvest.
On May 22, Nikola Veshny was also known for protecting livestock from evil spirits. It was necessary to drive out herds of horses at night. Only bachelors were chosen as shepherds. Shepherds always prayed before turning out their horses. The shepherds did not get off their saddles, for there was a belief that on this day devilry can drive a horse to death. If the horses in the herd began to tremble, they used certain screams to drive away the evil one.
They tried to pay off all debts to Nikola Veshny and make peace with old enemies. It was also expected to be generous with alms and treats to the poor and disadvantaged, so as not to share their sad fate.
The peasants planted potatoes and buckwheat and sheared sheep. The remnants of last year's grain were sold, since sowing had already been carried out, and according to tradition, the remnants sold on time were supposed to attract a rich harvest.
Folk signs May 22 (Nikola Veshny)
We carefully monitored the weather conditions:
If Nikola Veshny gives rain on May 22, it means the harvest will be great.
A frog croaking in the morning foreshadowed the harvest of oats.
If the nightingales sang in the morning, it means that the grain crops will also be harvested.
Name day on May 22nd for Nikolai Veshny at Irakli. Vasily, Gabriel, Joseph, Nikolai.
On Nicholas, you cannot refuse anyone who asks you for help, otherwise for refusing to help those in need, the family will endure poverty and disaster for 7 years.
On this day, any work is welcomed: around the house, around the house, in the garden.
On this day, the housewives tried to restore order in the house; from the very morning they began general cleaning, since the saint does not like disorder.
By St. Nicholas Day they tried to pay off all debts, otherwise it was believed that there would be no financial luck whole year.
It's a good sign if it rains on Nicholas. Morning dew on Nikolai is considered healing; people try to wash their faces with it for beauty and health, and walk barefoot on the grass.
It has long been believed that Saint Nicholas is the patron of lovers, so newlyweds and those who were planning to get married asked the saint for protection and help.
On this day it was forbidden to pick up scissors, and now there is a sign not to cut Nikolai’s hair.
Prayer to Nicholas the Ugodnik
Oh, all-holy Nicholas, exceedingly saintly servant of the Lord, our warm intercessor, and everywhere in sorrow a quick helper!
Help me, a sinner and sad person in this present life, beg the Lord God to grant me forgiveness of all my sins, which I have sinned greatly from my youth, in all my life, in deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me the accursed, beg the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver me from airy 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 unto ages of ages.
Amen.