Brief history of the saint's life
Svyatoch was born around 270 in the city of Patara, in the Lycian region (now the territory of modern Turkey).
His mother and father, Nonna and Theophanes, came from a noble and pious family and were very wealthy. But wealth and a noble title did not prevent them from being known as merciful to the poor and zealous in God’s prayer. For many years they prayed to the Creator to give them a son, and “in return” the couple promised to devote his life to serving God. Their prayer was heard and from Above the family was given a son, named Nicholas in Holy Baptism.
Nicholas the Wonderworker
The parents understood that their child was destined for special service to God, so they paid special attention to his upbringing, instilled Christian values and directed him on the righteous path.
Nikolai did well in his studies. He was not interested in conversations with his peers about worldly things; everything bad was alien to him. He avoided sinful entertainment, was chaste and spent his free time reading the Holy Scriptures, divine books, and prayed a lot.
Soon Nikolai was ordained a reader, and later a presbyter.
The Lord vouchsafed Nicholas to live to a ripe old age. At the end of his years, he became seriously ill and peacefully departed to Christ in the heavenly abode on December 6, 342. The burial took place in Myra in the cathedral church.
Temples consecrated in honor of Nicholas the Ugodnik:
- Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Orenburg
- Church of St. Nicholas in Kuznetskaya Sloboda
- Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Evpatoria
Biography
The birth of the future Wonderworker around 270. The family into which he was born was wealthy and lived in Lycia, in the city of Patara. Orthodox parents believed in the teachings of the Savior Christ. They saw their purpose in helping those in need. Nicholas spent a lot of time in the church with his uncle, rector Nicholas of Patarsky.
When he grew up, he was a reader, then a priest. When his parents died, he gave his fortune to the poor and decided to continue his church service. Soon he became the bishop of Myra in Lycia (today Demre, Antalya in Turkey).
The parishioners liked the new bishop due to his responsiveness and fairness. But he fought against paganism and was irreconcilable towards heretics.
Advice : it is worth honoring the Pleasant for his righteous life and miracles began during his lifetime.
Many legends have been preserved, and all the miracles that the Saint performed cannot be counted. For example:
- A terrible famine began in the city of Mir. The saint began to pray fervently, the city was saved.
- The saint always helped those at sea. Many sailors whose ships were wrecked were rescued.
- If there were people in prison who did not deserve punishment, he helped them with prayers. Somehow they found themselves free.
No one can give the exact date of death. It is only known that he was a very old man. Date of death between 345 and 351. By watching the film “The Miracle Worker” by Arkady Mamontov, which tells about the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, you can learn a lot of useful and interesting things.
When preparing this article, materials from the website pravoslavie.guru were used.
Holy relics
700 years after the death of the pleasure-maker, devastation and devastation reigned in Lycia, this happened after the invasion of the Saracens - nomads, robbers, Bedouins.
Monks were on duty at the ruins of the temple, where the remains of the saint rested. In 1087, Nicholas came to one of the Bari presbyters in a sleepy vision and ordered his body to be urgently transferred to Bari. For this purpose, three ships were equipped, and the elders and noble townspeople settled on them under the guise of traders.
This precaution was necessary because the Venetians wanted to intercept the procession and bring the holy remains to their city.
The traders sailed through Egypt and Palestine, conducting trade business along the way so as not to arouse suspicion. Finally, they ended up in Lycia. They opened a snow-white marble tomb.
To the surprise of those present, it turned out to be filled to the brim with a fragrant ointment, and Nikolai’s body rested in it. The nobles were unable to take the heavy tomb with them, so they transferred the remains into the prepared ark and headed to their homeland.
Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Bari, Italy
After 20 days, on May 9, 1087, they arrived in Bari. Here the Liturgy was served with a multitude of clergy, and the relics were placed in the Church of St. Eustathius. And after 2 years, the crypts of the new temple were consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas the Pleasant, and the remains were solemnly transferred there.
Important! The incorruptible body still streams myrrh, and many miracles are performed from it. With faith, the saint grants healing from bodily and physical ailments to those who are anointed, and drives away unclean spirits.
At the end of the 11th century, the holy relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker were transferred to the city of Bar.
A strong prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker that changes fate and gives healing
This is the most effective and powerful prayer, which allows you to change a lot in your life, it is read for at least 40 days in a row, without omissions or concessions, it is better to read it every day, it is small and capacious, but has the power to give you health, happiness, relief from hardships. Personally, when I stood in front of this casket and asked for the health of my son, I was visited first by a feeling of repentance and then by a feeling of warmth, as if the saint himself was standing next to me and heard what I was asking him for, my heart felt very good.
Chosen Wonderworker and great servant of Christ, Father Nicholas! Exuding valuable myrrh to the whole world, and an inexhaustible sea of miracles, you build up spiritual fortresses, and I praise you as a lover, blessed Saint Nicholas: 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 teach you this:
Rejoice, you who were born in the robes of angels, as if you were 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, good teacher of men! 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 sweets! 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, take away from eternal misery; Rejoice, give us imperishable wealth! Rejoice, undying cruelty to those who hunger for truth; Rejoice, inexhaustible drink to those who thirst 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 valuable myrrh to the whole world, and an inexhaustible sea of miracles, you build up spiritual fortresses, and I praise you, my beloved, blessed Saint Nicholas: 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!
Do not forget that for at least 40 days you must pray to St. Nicholas, as they say, by faith it will be given to you, ask and they will give you what you need
How to apply to the remains
There are unspoken rules for applying to holy remains:
- when approaching the ruck, you should not rush, push, or crowd;
- It is not advisable to carry bags or packages with you;
- kissing a shrine with painted lips is prohibited;
- before approaching the shrine, you must bow twice from the waist and cross yourself, and make the third bow after applying;
- You can't kiss saints on the face.
Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Current state[edit]
The Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery today is not only one of the centers of monastic life in the Moscow region.
The Ugreshskaya monastery is the center of cultural life in the city of Dzerzhinsky and the entire Moscow region. Proof of this is not only constant meetings with people of science and art, various cultural and social events, but also unique museums that contain thousands of objects of both artistic and historical value.
The monastery houses the Museum of the Passion-Bearing Emperor Nicholas II and the Sacristy Museum.
Bell tower
The bell tower, called the Ugreshskaya candle, is one of the most ancient buildings that has survived to this day. It was erected during the time of Elizabeth Petrovna, in 1761. On its second tier in 1840 a temple was built in the name of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. Only the base of the building from that time has survived to this day. During the Great Patriotic War, the bells were removed from the bell tower and the upper tiers were demolished so that the Ugreshskaya candle could not be seen from the air by German pilots. The bell tower was rebuilt in the 20th century.
The mystery of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery
Pay attention to the altar part of two churches - the Transfiguration Cathedral, built for the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo, and the recreated St. Nicholas Church. We know that all Orthodox churches should have their altar facing east. Indeed, the altar projections of these buildings face east, but their east is slightly different. Apparently, this is explained by the fact that in the 19th century the direction was determined by a compass, and during the construction of the predecessor of the modern St. Nicholas Church, the direction was determined “by eye”, by the sun.
