On August 11, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Bishop of Myra in Lycia. This is one of the most revered saints in Rus.
It must be said that in addition to the two main holidays dedicated to St. Nicholas, celebrated (according to the new style) on December 19 (the blessed dormition of the saint) and May 22 (the transfer of holy relics to the city of Bar), there are other days of church celebration of the Pleasant of God St. Nicholas. But the holiday of his birth is not yet very widely known in Russia, since – was revived not so long ago in 2004 with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', the celebration of the Nativity of St. Nicholas was resumed.
Nicholas the Wonderworker was born in 258 in the city of Patara, near Lycia, on the southern coast of the Asia Minor peninsula. His parents Theophanes and Nonna were pious and righteous Christians, but for a long time they were childless, for which they grieved greatly and constantly prayed to God for sending them a child. The Lord heard them and sent them a son, and they made a vow to dedicate their only child to serving God.
From the day of his birth, the baby Nicholas showed people the light of his future glory as a great miracle worker. He showed his first miracle at his very birth, healing his mother from a serious illness. In addition, the newborn baby stood on his feet for three hours while still in the font during baptism, not supported by anyone, thereby saluting the Holy Trinity.
Already from infancy, St. Nicholas began his postnatal life, taking his mother’s milk on Wednesdays and Fridays, only once, after the evening prayers of his parents. Having become a little older, he succeeded in studying Divine Scripture, spent whole days in the temple, and at night prayed and read books. Constantly in his labors and prayer, Nicholas showed great mercy to those around him, came to the aid of the suffering and distributed his entire estate to the poor. He himself led a simple and very ascetic lifestyle and became famous as a great saint of God.
Even during his lifetime, St. Nicholas performed many miracles – more than once saved drowning people at sea, took them out of captivity and imprisonment in prisons, healed people from illnesses and even resurrected them, fought for the truth and demanded that those in power restore justice, taught them love and compassion with his life. He lived a decent life and, having reached a ripe old age, died peacefully.
Therefore, it is not surprising that this saint was revered at all times among many peoples. However, the exact time of establishment of the celebration of the Nativity of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is unknown. Most likely, this holiday was originally local in the Asia Minor Lycian Worlds, where the Saint served as Archbishop, and in the homeland of his parents – in Patara. Then, at the time of the Crusades, this holiday could spread throughout the Nicene Empire and from there penetrate into Rus', where this saint has been honored since ancient times.
In addition, since the 9th century, Nicholas the Wonderworker was revered in Rus' as the heavenly patron of sovereign power – it was believed that he especially patronizes Orthodox kings. It is also known that in the 13th century the tradition of celebrating his Nativity already existed in the Russian Orthodox Church, and in Veliky Novgorod there was even a monastery dedicated to the Nativity of St. Nicholas. There is also information that one of the surviving church services dedicated to this holiday was compiled during the Patriarchate of Nikon in 1657. However, during the reign of Catherine the Great, the church-wide celebration of the Nativity of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Russia was abolished.
And now, a few centuries later, the celebration was resumed, and in honor of the Nativity of St. Nicholas, a troparion and kondak were compiled, known since ancient times in the liturgical life of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Postcard «11 August — Christmas of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker»