Among the thousands of Orthodox icons, there are those that can be found in every home. Next to the faces of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, believers always place an image of a gray-haired old man in bishop’s robes. This is none other than Nicholas the Wonderworker. It is impossible to say unequivocally what exactly he helps with, because you can turn to a righteous man with absolutely any problem. St. Nicholas the saint is known all over the world, even among people of other faiths he is respected.
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The earthly life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Already in infancy, Nicholas showed miracles of virtue. For example, on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not taste his mother's milk until evening came. But even then he drank very little of it, only to maintain strength. The Lord decided to reward his parents by sending them such a pious son. Although they were noble and rich people, they never strived for earthly pleasures and worldly glory.
The grown-up boy was sent to study. Thanks to the abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit, he mastered both worldly sciences and the subtleties of the Holy Scriptures. But Saint Nicholas had more than just a “bookish” mind. He made his entire life an example to follow. As a young man, he was not at all susceptible to ordinary sins: he was not attracted to women, entertainment, or empty talk. He spent his free time in the temple of God, collecting heavenly treasures for himself, as the Gospel calls for.
- The Bishop of Patara, who was a relative of Nicholas, noticed the meek disposition of the young man and his desire for virtue. He made the young man a servant of the temple.
- The earthly life of the young priest began to shine with angelic purity. The young man wanted to devote himself to monasticism, but the Lord prepared another path for him.
- After the death of his father and mother, the saint distributed his property for the needs of the deprived. From this moment begins the description of his good deeds, which have become known over the centuries.
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Stories about saints do not always involve supernatural events. A kind heart, a quick response to the misfortune of your neighbor - this is the main miracle. It shines for any believer who with faith asks for help from the monk.
The Lord arranged it in such a way that the young priest ended up in the city of Myra in Lycia just when the local bishop died. Local residents decided to rely on the choice of the Lord. They prayed in the temple that He would send them a new shepherd. The next morning, Nikolai was the first to enter the church doors, after a conversation with whom the residents unanimously elected him to the honorary role of bishop.
The Lord extended the days of the righteous man so that he could be an example to others. But everyone has to part with earthly life. After a short illness, Saint Nicholas departed to the eternal village, accompanied by Angels. Clergy from all over Lycia, as well as many ordinary townspeople, gathered for his funeral. The body was buried in the cathedral, which was rebuilt with the prayers of everyone’s beloved bishop. To this day, the holy relics exude healing myrrh, which is removed from the tomb once a year.
What holiday is it?
St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in honor of the transfer of the saint's relics. According to the Orthodox Russian calendar, the holiday falls on the day when summer and spring meet.
Since ancient times, people asked Nicholas for everything that was extremely necessary for them. They asked God for the same things: for a speedy and successful marriage, for deliverance from slander, damage, illness and other troubles. They prayed for sailors and other travelers.
The Wonderworker was a merciful man. He forgave even great sinners if they sincerely repented of their actions. Many temples were erected in honor of the saint.
Icons of St. Nicholas
Over many centuries, painters have created various versions of icons of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the most common being the half-length one:
- The right hand is raised, fingers folded in blessing.
- The left hand of the saint supports the Holy Scriptures.
- The righteous man himself is dressed in accordance with his church rank, a halo shines above his head, evidence of his virtue and the special place that he occupied in the heavenly villages.
The oldest such image is located on Mount Sinai, in the monastery of St. Catherine. The oldest shrine on Russian soil dates back to the 13th century. She was in the Novodevichy Convent, where Ivan the Terrible brought her, this was in the mid-16th century. Then the icon was kept in the museum, from where it moved to the Tretyakov Gallery.
The meaning of consecrated images is very simple. The righteous is a conductor of God's saving grace. Each of the people has the image of God, but one can become like him only through a personal feat of piety. To do this, you must first seek mercy in the eyes of the Lord. It is not for nothing that on one of his icons the saint is depicted speaking to Christ. Often the Mother of God is depicted above the head of the righteous as the helper of all prayer books.
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In the 50s of the last century, British anthropologists (with the blessing of the Catholic clergy, since the relics belong to the Western Church) conducted research. Their goal was to establish what the world-famous miracle worker looked like during his lifetime. For this, the Vatican leadership even allowed to open the tomb with the remains. It turned out that the icons quite accurately reflect the appearance of St. Nicholas:
- The elderly man had a high forehead.
- His nose was broken during his lifetime, which gave his face a certain sternness.
- The man wore a beard and mustache and had deep-set eyes.
In 2021, scientists at Liverpool John Moores University conducted similar studies. They used the latest advances in science to recreate the most accurate appearance of the righteous man. Thanks to the restoration of facial bones and tissues, today we can see a lifetime portrait of the most famous inhabitant of Myra Lycia.
Scientists also found that Nikolai Ugodnik ate only plant foods. They also learned that the saint suffered from illnesses that arose due to his long imprisonment. Staying in a damp and cramped room left its marks. This confirms the hagiographic account that the righteous man was a prisoner of the Roman authorities during the persecution of Christians.
If you need a job
For all of us, work is an important part of life. Without it, we do not receive the means to subsist. No matter what the circumstances, you can’t live without work. Many people find it difficult to find any source of income. Desperate, a person gives up and other problems appear.
But turning to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker can help in a difficult life situation. After all, he always comes to the aid of those in need. If you want to earn honestly to feed yourself and your family, then he will be your faithful assistant.
Before turning to the saint, imagine what you need: what type of work, working conditions. It is better to clearly formulate your desires.
Miracles of St. Nicholas - what he helped people with
In Rus' there are their own descriptions of miracles, which are attributed to the pious elder. In the eyes of the people, he is so omnipotent that he is placed in second place immediately after the Lord God Himself.
Greater popularity in the 11th century. acquired the Kyiv icon of St. Nicholas the Wet. One pious married couple was making a pilgrimage along the Dnieper. During it, their young son fell overboard and drowned. The parents tearfully prayed to the most responsive saint. In the morning, the child was found in the St. Sophia Cathedral, near the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker; all the baby’s clothes were wet, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
Nikola Mozhaisky is also considered a protector from various misfortunes. In fact, it is not even an icon, but a wooden sculpture. The righteous person acquires new attributes here - a military sword and a temple building, which symbolizes the city. Mozhaisk was attacked by Mongol-Tatar troops. Residents fervently prayed to St. Nicholas for the protection of their homes. In the midst of the battle, the saint appeared in the sky, surrounded by an angelic army. The attackers fled the battlefield in horror.
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It was in honor of the miraculous deliverance that the wooden image was made. The sword symbolizes not only military valor, but also the willingness to fight for the purity of faith. The saint also succeeded in this during his earthly life. In those days, heresies appeared one after another. Therefore, it was very important to pass on to descendants the Christianity that was left by Christ, to preserve the faith in its original form.
Rule for reading prayers
The prayer reading to Nicholas the Pleasant has a number of features inherent in the reading of prayers to every saint:
- prayer is a conversation between a layman and a saint, to whose intercession he turns, so you should not tell anyone about your plans;
- before starting prayer work, you should take a blessing from the priest, confess, and receive communion;
- You can pray both in the holy temple and at home;
- When saying a prayer, privacy and silence are required; it is advisable to light a lamp in front of the icon.
What does it help with, what should you ask Nikolai Ugodnik for?
There are no restrictions prohibiting asking for something holy. How does Saint Nicholas help? You can rely on it in a variety of circumstances:
- Patronizes during travel by water and air.
- Helps young people get married successfully.
- Protects children.
- Relieves bodily ailments.
- Opens the mind of believers to the knowledge of God's truths.
- Maintains peace in the family.
There is no such problem that cannot be addressed to the ambulance of Christians. Here are some testimonies of miraculous help from life.
Helping an unbelieving Chinese is an amazing story
The story took place in Harbin about 100 years ago. In the spring, one of the local residents went fishing. The weather was warm, and the ice on the river suddenly broke. The man felt himself being pulled into the depths. Then he suddenly remembered the icon that the emigrants hung at the station: “Old man from the station, save me!” - he begged before losing consciousness. He woke up on the shore, but there was no one nearby.
This incident was recorded and published in his book by the famous singer Alexander Vertinsky, who often visited China. He said that this Chinese accepted the Orthodox faith, followed by some of his compatriots.
Help in a foreign land
In the 90s, a certain family went on a trip to Cyprus. Back then there were many “bogus” agencies that often abandoned their clients right abroad. That's what happened this time too. The company went bankrupt, people were left penniless in a foreign country. Then the couple remembered St. Nicholas.
In one of the local churches (fortunately, Orthodoxy has been preserved in Greece to this day), they lit a candle for the saint, spending their last money. When they returned to the hotel, they denied that they were the only ones whose tickets to their homeland had been paid for. Hieromonk Dimitri told about the miracle.
Escape from the storm
One day, two priests and parishioners went to install a memorial cross, which required crossing by boat. It happened in Kenozersky Park. A strong thunderstorm broke out and a storm began. There was still more than 10 km to go. The travelers saw that a solid wall of water was approaching their boat. They began to sing the troparion to the saint (“The Rule of Faith and the Image of Meekness”). Suddenly the wave came behind their boat without hitting it.
Arriving at the place, the travelers saw fallen trees and poles, and roofs were torn off houses. Local residents were sure that the travelers had died. This incident happened to the relatives of the rector of one of the Moscow churches, Priest John.
Real examples of miracles
Many believers found changes in their lives for the better after they asked St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for intercession. They shared their stories to inspire Christians with wonderful real-life examples:
Suzanna Farizova:
I was rushing to catch a plane and in my haste I caught my finger in the door. It was very painful, it swelled, then turned black. I work at the Komersant newspaper and such an injury prevented me from working. After leaving on a business trip, I tried to switch my attention and not think about the pain.
Arriving in the Italian city of Bari, I visited the Basilica, the same one where the relics of St. Nicholas lie. First of all, I asked the Miracle Worker for global things, both for myself and for my loved ones. The last request was for my finger to be healed; by that time it was already causing me great suffering.
By evening the finger was even more swollen and looked monstrous. At the reception I was told that calling a doctor costs 700 euros. Then I called the Russian Embassy, and a doctor came to the hotel. He was planning to leave Bari, but his departure was delayed. The doctor made a puncture in my finger, released the blood that had collected in it, and I felt better. And soon the finger disappeared altogether.
Alena Belyaeva
My husband and three children and I were planning to go to the sea by car. My mother gave me an icon of St. Nicholas for the journey. At first I resisted, afraid that the glass might accidentally break along the way, but then I wrapped the image in fabric and marked it in the suitcase.
When we had driven about 100 kilometers, there was an accident on the road. Two cars crashed into each other, one of them flew out of the oncoming lane. The cars collided head-on and flew straight at us. Everything happened so quickly that I didn’t even have time to say a prayer for help. The husband tried to twist the steering wheel, trying to avoid a collision. We ourselves did not understand how these cars flew past us without leaving even a scratch. It is impossible to describe our emotions. This is how, even without prayer, Nikolai Ugodnik helped us.
Feasts of St. Nicholas
This great righteous man has three whole church days of remembrance. May 22, the so-called Nikola Veshny (spring), in honor of the transfer of the relics to Italy, to the city of Bari. This place is the destination of many pilgrimage groups. August 11 and December 19 - Nikola Winter. These days you need to visit the temple to strictly pray to your favorite saint.
The evening before, an all-night vigil is served. During this service, all parishioners are anointed with blessed oil and allowed to venerate the temple icon of the saint. Special chants are also sung dedicated to the great life feat of the pious bishop.
- Icon to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - meaning, what it helps with;
- Look here - a prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for trade and money;
- Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker about the works: .
After the help of the saint, you must read a prayer of gratitude
After the saint has helped you, you must definitely thank him for it. In such cases, a prayer of gratitude is read. It is important to always do this and not forget about it.
Prayer of gratitude to Nicholas the Ugodnik:
Nikolai Ugodniche! I address you as a teacher and shepherd with faith and respect, with love and admiration. I send you words of gratitude, I pray for a prosperous life. I say thank you very much, I hope in mercy and forgiveness. For sins, for thoughts, and for thoughts. Just as you have had mercy on all sinners, so have mercy on me. Protect from terrible trials and from vain death. Amen.
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What prayers to read to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
It is in vain that many people think that any particular prayer has great power. Its effectiveness depends only on the person himself, his faith. The number of repetitions and the price of church candles that you can buy do not matter here. Any words extracted from the depths of the soul will become effective. Of course, you need to use not spells, but texts from prayer books, for example, these:
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
Then you can address heaven in your own words, as if you were having a conversation with a benevolent patron. At the same time, you should be aware of your sinfulness and unworthiness. Everyone has sinned before God, so you cannot demand anything, but only humbly ask for help. Saints are our intermediaries before the Lord, who bring prayers to His heavenly throne. The simplest form of address: “To St. Father Nicholas, pray to God for us!” It can be used throughout the day.
Help with financial problems
Many people are interested in the question of how to pray to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker to receive money. During his lifetime, the saint helped in financial matters and sent help to people in dire need so that they would not take a sinful path. Of course, a prayer service will not make a person a billionaire, but life will provide an opportunity to earn money, receive an inheritance or support from another person.
There is nothing reprehensible in the fact that a person seeks to improve his financial situation. Money is a tool that is necessary in life. A person can afford to buy food, things, and pay utilities.
Also read: Prayer of Ksenia of Petersburg about work
The main rule in prayers is not to ask to send money, but to provide assistance, for example, with a well-paid job or to help find good customers for work. An important point, the Saint supports those who help other people with things, products, possibly money. It is advisable to read a prayer service every day. The prayer should be said in front of the icon of the Saint with lit candles. At the end of the request, you should thank the Pleaser for listening. Text:
“Oh, all-validated, great wonderworker, Saint of Christ, Father Nicholas! You, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and bring them to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and to help us against the devil’s wiles, so that, having been delivered from illnesses, sorrows, misfortunes and all kinds of misfortunes of evil, we will live righteously and piously in the world now and through your intercession we will be worthy, even though we are unworthy, to see the earth for the good of the living, glorifying the One in His saints, God, the Son and the Father and the Holy One, now, the Spirit and unto the ages of ages. Amen".
