Our Patron Saint

Kontakion 1

O champion wonderworker and splendid servant of Christ, thou who pourest out for all the world the most precious myrrh of mercy and who art an inexhaustible sea of miracles, we praise thee with love, Saint Nicholas. Since thou art one having boldness toward the Lord, from all dangers do thou deliver us, so that we may cry unto thee:

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Ikos 1

An angel in manner, though earthly by nature, did the Creator reveal thee to be, O most blessed Saint Nicholas. Having foresight into the fruitful beauty of thy soul, He taught all to cry unto thee thus:

Rejoice, thou who wast purified from thy mother’s womb.

Rejoice, thou who wast sanctified even unto the end.

Rejoice, thou who didst amaze thy parents by thy birth.

Rejoice, thou who didst manifest power of soul straightway after birth.

Rejoice, plant of the Promised Land.

Rejoice, flower of divine planting.

Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ’s vineyard.

Rejoice, wonderworking tree of the Paradise of Jesus.

Rejoice, lily of paradisiacal growth.

Rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of Christ.

Rejoice, through thee lamentation is banished.

Rejoice, through thee rejoicing is brought to pass.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 2

Seeing the effusion of thy myrrh, our souls and bodies are enlightened. Therein we recognize thee to be a wonderful living source of unction, O divinely wise Saint Nicholas. Miracles like waters pour out through the grace of God, whence thou mercifully fillest them that faithfully cry unto Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Teaching incomprehensible knowledge about the Holy Trinity, thou wast with the holy fathers in Nicea a champion of the confession of the Orthodox Faith. Thou didst confess the Son equal of the Father, co-everlasting and co-enthroned, and thou didst convict the foolish Arius. Wherefore the faithful have learnt to sing unto thee:

Rejoice, sanctuary of prayer and devotion.

Rejoice, beautiful city of refuge for the faithful.

Rejoice, unfailing stronghold of Orthodoxy.

Rejoice, wondrous praise of the Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, thou who didst preach the Son of equal honour with the Father.

Rejoice, thou who didst expel the demonic Arius from the council of the saints.

Rejoice, father, thou worthy splendour of the fathers.

Rejoice, wise goodness of all the divinely wise.

Rejoice, thou who utterest golden words.

Rejoice, thou who guidest so well thy flock.

Rejoice, through thee faith is strengthened.

Rejoice, through thee heresy is overthrown.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 3

Through power given unto thee from on high thou didst wipe away every tear from the face of those in cruel suffering, God-bearing Father Nicholas. Thou wast shewn to be a feeder of the hungry, a superb pilot of those upon the high seas, and a healer of the ailing. Thou hast proved to be a helper of all that cry unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Truly, Father Nicholas, a song should be sung unto thee from Heaven, and not from earth. How can mere men proclaim the greatness of thy holiness? Wholly conquered by thy love, we cry unto thee:

Rejoice, model of lambs and shepherds.

Rejoice, holy purification of mortals.

Rejoice, container of great virtues.

Rejoice, pure and honourable abode of holiness.

Rejoice, all-luminous lamp, beloved by all.

Rejoice, light golden-rayed and blameless.

Rejoice, worthy converser with angels.

Rejoice, good guide of men.

Rejoice, treasury of spiritual fortunes.

Rejoice, seeker of those in need.

Rejoice, through thee we are delivered from bodily passions.

Rejoice, through thee we are filled with spiritual delights.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 4

A storm of bewilderment confuseth our minds. How can we worthily hymn thy wonders, O blessed Nicholas? No one could count them, even though he had many tongues and willed to tell them. Notwithstanding, we make bold to sing unto God Who is wonderfully glorified in thee: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

People near and far have heard of the greatness of thy miracles, O Nicholas worthy of praise, for in the air with the delicate wings of grace thou art accustomed to forestall those in misfortune, quickly delivering all who cry unto thee in this manner:

Rejoice, wonderworker in the Church of Christ.

Rejoice, servant in God’s grace.

Rejoice, dispeller of unexpected evils.

Rejoice, planter of good desires.

Rejoice, compassionate father of those in misfortune.

Rejoice, dread punisher of wrongdoers.

Rejoice, abyss of miracles poured out by God.

Rejoice, tablets of the Law of Christ written by God.

Rejoice, strong uplifting of the fallen.

Rejoice, support of them that stand aright.

Rejoice, through thee all deception is exposed.

Rejoice, through thee all truth is realized.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 5

Thou didst appear as a divinely moving star, guiding those who sailed upon the cruel sea who were once threatened with imminent death — if thou hadst not come to the help of those who called upon thee, O wonder-working Saint Nicholas. Having forbidden the flying demons that shamelessly wanted to sink the ship, thou didst drive them away, and didst teach the faithful whom God saveth through thee to cry: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

The maidens, prepared for a dishonourable marriage because of their poverty, beheld thy great compassion for the poor, most blessed Father Nicholas. During the night thou secretly gavest their aged father three bundles of gold, thereby saving him and his daughters from falling into sin. For this reason, thou hearest praises from all the faithful:

Rejoice, bestower of blessings upon the humble.

Rejoice, worker of miracles for the destitute.

Rejoice, consolation of those that flee to thine aid.

Rejoice, inexhaustible bread of the hungry.

Rejoice, God-given wealth of those living in poverty on earth.

Rejoice, speedy uplifting of paupers.

Rejoice, quick hearing of the needy.

Rejoice, acceptable care of the sorrowful.

Rejoice, blameless provider for the three maidens.

Rejoice, replenishment of their aged father.

Rejoice, fervent guardian of purity.

Rejoice, delight of all the helpless.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 6

The entire world proclaimeth thee, wonderful Nicholas, as a quick intercessor in adversities. Oftentimes, preceding those that travel by land and sail upon the sea, thou helpest them in a single hour, whilst at the same time keeping from evils all that cry unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Thou didst shine as a living light, bringing deliverance unto the generals who received sentence to an unjust death and who called upon thee, good shepherd Nicholas. Thou didst quickly appear in a dream unto the emperor, and didst terrify him and didst order him to release them unharmed. Together with them we also gratefully cry unto thee:

Rejoice, thou who helpest them that fervently call upon thee.

Rejoice, thou who deliverest from unjust death.

Rejoice, thou who preservest from false accusation.

Rejoice, thou who destroyest the counsels of the unrighteous.

Rejoice, thou who tearest lies to shreds like cobwebs.

Rejoice, thou who gloriously exaltest truth.

Rejoice, release of the innocent from their fetters.

Rejoice, revival of the dead.

Rejoice, revealer of righteousness.

Rejoice, exposer of unrighteousness.

Rejoice, through thee the innocent were saved from the sword.

Rejoice, through thee they enjoyed the light.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 7

Desiring to dispel the blasphemous stench of heresy, thou didst appear as truly fragrant and mystical myrrh, Saint Nicholas. Shepherding the people of Myra, thou hast thereby filled the entire world with thy gracious myrrh. In like manner, dispel from us the stench of abominable sin, so that we may acceptably cry unto God. Alleluia.

Ikos 7

We understand thee to be a new Noah, a guide of the ark of salvation, holy Father Nicholas who drivest away the storm of all evils by thy direction, and bringest divine calm unto those that cry with wonder:

Rejoice, calm harbor of the storm-tossed.

Rejoice, sure preservation of those that are drowning.

Rejoice, good pilot of those that sail upon the deeps.

Rejoice, strong ruler of the raging of the sea.

Rejoice, guidance of those in whirlwinds.

Rejoice, warmth of those in frosts.

Rejoice, radiance dispersing the gloom of sorrow.

Rejoice, light illumining all the ends of the earth.

Rejoice, thou who deliverest people from the abyss of sin.

Rejoice, thou who castest Satan into the abyss of hades.

Rejoice, through thee we boldly invoke the abyss of God’s compassion.

Rejoice, through thee we are rescued from the flood of wrath and we find peace with God.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 8

A strange wonder is the sacred Church shewn to be unto those that flock to thee, O glorious Nicholas. By offering in it even a small supplication, we receive healing from hopeless illnesses, if only, after God, we place our hope in thee, faithfully crying aloud: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Thou art truly a helper unto all, God-bearing Nicholas, and thou hast gathered together all that flee to thine aid. Thou art a deliverer, a nourisher and a quick healer, moving all the faithful to cry out in praises such as these: Rejoice, source of all kinds of healing.

Rejoice, helper of those that undergo cruel suffering.

Rejoice, dawn shining for prodigals in the night of sin.

Rejoice, Heaven-sent dew for those in the heat of labors.

Rejoice, thou who givest prosperity unto those that need it.

Rejoice, thou who preparest an abundance for those that ask.

Rejoice, thou who often forestallest requests.

Rejoice, thou who restorest strength unto the aged and gray-headed.

Rejoice, convicter of many who have strayed from the True Way.

Rejoice, faithful steward of the mysteries of God.

Rejoice, through thee we conquer envy.

Rejoice, through thee we lead a charitable life.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 9

Assuage all our pains, Saint Nicholas, our great intercessor — dispensing gracious healings, delighting our souls, and gladdening the hearts of all that fervently hasten to thee for help and cry unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The falsely theorizing orators of the ungodly, we see, were put to shame by thee, divinely wise Father Nicholas. Thou didst confute Arius the blasphemer who divided the Godhead, and Sabellius who mingled the Persons of the Holy Trinity, but thou hast strengthened us in Orthodoxy. Mindful of this, we reverently cry unto thee in this manner:

Rejoice, proclaimer of truth and discloser of light.

Rejoice, confessor of Christ before all people.

Reioice, teacher of the Divine Commandments. Rejoice, destroyer of impious doctrines

Rejoice, ladder set up by God, by whom we ascend to Heaven.

Rejoice, God-given protection, by whom many are sheltered.

Rejoice, thou who makest wise the unwise by thy sayings.

Rejoice, thou who movest the slothful by thine example.

Rejoice, inextinguishable brightness of God’s Commandments.

Rejoice, most luminous ray of the Lord’s statutes.

Rejoice, through thy teaching the heads of heretics are hammered.

Rejoice, through thee the faithful are counted worthy of glory.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 10

Desiring to save thy soul, thou didst truly crucify thy flesh to thy spirit, Father Nicholas. By silence and by wrestling with thoughts, thou didst add contemplation to conquest, and by meditation thou didst acquire perfect knowledge with which thou didst boldly converse with God and angels, always crying: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Thou art a rampart, most blessed Nicholas, unto those who praise thy miracles, and unto all who have recourse unto thine intercession. Free also us who are poor in virtue from pride, temptation, illness, and needs of various kinds, so that we may acceptably cry unto thee:

Rejoice, thou who rescuest from eternal wretchedness.

Rejoice, thou who bestowest incorruptible riches.

Rejoice, imperishable food for those that hunger after righteousness.

Rejoice, inexhaustible drink for those that thirst for life.

Rejoice, thou who preservest from revolution and war.

Rejoice, thou who freest us from chains and imprisonment.

Rejoice, most glorious intercessor in misfortunes.

Rejoice, strong guardian in temptations.

Rejoice, thou who hast snatched many from destruction.

Rejoice, thou who hast kept countless numbers unharmed.

Rejoice, through thee sinners escape a frightful death.

Rejoice, through thee those that repent obtain eternal life.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 11

A song unto the Most Holy Trinity didst thou bring, surpassing others in thought, word and deed, O most holy Nicholas. Through much searching thou didst explain the precepts of the True Faith, guiding us to sing with faith, hope and love unto the One God in Trinity: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

We see thee as a brilliant and inextinguishable ray for those in the darkness of this world, O God-chosen Father Nicholas. Therein with the immaterial and angelic lights, thou dost speak concerning the uncreated light of the Trinity. Accordingly, thou enlightenest the souls of the faithful who cry unto thee thus:

Rejoice, radiance of the Three-Sunned Light.

Rejoice, daystar of the never-setting Sun.

Rejoice, lamp kindled by the divine flame.

Rejoice, destruction of the demonic flame of impiety.

Rejoice, bright preaching of the True Faith.

Rejoice, luminous radiance of the light of the Gospel.

Rejoice, lightning who consumest heresy.

Rejoice, thunder who terrifiest tempters.

Rejoice, by thy teachings we gain true knowledge.

Rejoice, by thy deeds we acquire understanding.

Rejoice, through thee the worship of creatures hath been abolished.

Rejoice, through thee we have learnt to worship the Creator in the Trinity.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 12

Knowing the grace that hath been given unto thee by God, dutifully and joyfully we celebrate thy memory, O divinely wise Father Nicholas, and with all fervency we hasten to thy wonderful intercession. Unable to count thy glorious deeds which are like the sands of the seashore and the multitude of the stars, and being at a loss to understand, we truly cry unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Whilst singing of thy wonders, we praise thee, O all-praised Nicholas, for in thee God Who is glorified in the Trinity is wondrously glorified. Yea, even if we were to offer thee a multitude of hymns composed from the soul, holy wonderworker, we should do nothing to equal the gift of thy miracles, and amazed by them we cry unto thee thus:

Rejoice, servant of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Rejoice, co-dweller with His heavenly servants.

Rejoice, patron of devout rulers.

Rejoice, praise of pious Christians.

Rejoice, namesake of victory.

Rejoice, triumphant follower of the True Way.

Rejoice, mirror of all the virtues.

Rejoice, attentive helper of all who confide in thee.

Rejoice, after God and the Theotokos, all our hope.

Rejoice, health of our bodies and salvation of our souls.

Rejoice, through thee we are delivered from eternal death.

Rejoice, through thee we are deemed worthy of everlasting life.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 13 (Three Times)

Most holy and wonderful Father Nicholas, consolation of all who sorrow, do Thou accept our present offering. Entreat the Lord that we be delivered from gehenna through thy God-pleasing intercession, so that with thee we may sing:

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos 1

An angel in manner, though earthly by nature, did the Creator reveal thee to be, O most blessed Saint Nicholas. Having foresight into the fruitful beauty of thy soul, He taught all to cry unto thee thus:

Rejoice, thou who wast purified from thy mother’s womb.

Rejoice, thou who wast sanctified even unto the end.

Rejoice, thou who didst amaze thy parents by thy birth.

Rejoice, thou who didst manifest power of soul straightway after birth.

Rejoice, plant of the Promised Land.

Rejoice, flower of divine planting.

Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ’s vineyard.

Rejoice, wonderworking tree of the Paradise of Jesus.

Rejoice, lily of paradisiacal growth.

Rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of Christ.

Rejoice, through thee lamentation is banished.

Rejoice, through thee rejoicing is brought to pass.

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Kontakion 1

O champion wonderworker and splendid servant of Christ, thou who pourest out for all the world the most precious myrrh of mercy and who art an inexhaustible sea of miracles, we praise thee with love, Saint Nicholas. Since thou art one having boldness toward the Lord, from all dangers do thou deliver us, so that we may cry unto thee:

Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.

Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia is famed as a great saint pleasing unto God. He was born in the city of Patara in the region of Lycia (on the south coast of the Asia Minor peninsula), and was the only son of pious parents Theophanes and Nonna, who had vowed to dedicate him to God.

As the fruit of the prayer of his childless parents, the infant Nicholas from the very day of his birth revealed to people the light of his future glory as a wonderworker. His mother, Nonna, after giving birth was immediately healed from illness. The newborn infant, while still in the baptismal font, stood on his feet three hours, without support from anyone, thereby honoring the Most Holy Trinity. Saint Nicholas from his infancy began a life of fasting, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he would not accept milk from his mother until after his parents had finished their evening prayers.

From his childhood Nicholas thrived on the study of Divine Scripture; by day he would not leave church, and by night he prayed and read books, making himself a worthy dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Bishop Nicholas of Patara rejoiced at the spiritual success and deep piety of his nephew. He ordained him a reader, and then elevated Nicholas to the priesthood, making him his assistant and entrusting him to instruct the flock.

In serving the Lord the youth was fervent of spirit, and in his proficiency with questions of faith he was like an Elder, who aroused the wonder and deep respect of believers. Constantly at work and vivacious, in unceasing prayer, the priest Nicholas displayed great kind-heartedness towards the flock, and towards the afflicted who came to him for help, and he distributed all his inheritance to the poor.

There was a certain formerly rich inhabitant of Patara, whom Saint Nicholas saved from great sin. The man had three grown daughters, and in desperation he planned to sell their bodies so they would have money for food. The saint, learning of the man’s poverty and of his wicked intention, secretly visited him one night and threw a sack of gold through the window. With the money the man arranged an honorable marriage for his daughter. Saint Nicholas also provided gold for the other daughters, thereby saving the family from falling into spiritual destruction. In bestowing charity, Saint Nicholas always strove to do this secretly and to conceal his good deeds.

The Bishop of Patara decided to go on pilgrimage to the holy places at Jerusalem, and entrusted the guidance of his flock to Saint Nicholas, who fulfilled this obedience carefully and with love. When the bishop returned, Nicholas asked his blessing for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Along the way the saint predicted a storm would arise and threaten the ship. Saint Nicholas saw the devil get on the ship, intending to sink it and kill all the passengers. At the entreaty of the despairing pilgrims, he calmed the waves of the sea by his prayers. Through his prayer a certain sailor of the ship, who had fallen from the mast and was mortally injured, was also restored to health.

When he reached the ancient city of Jerusalem and came to Golgotha, Saint Nicholas gave thanks to the Savior. He went to all the holy places, worshiping at each one. One night on Mount Sion, the closed doors of the church opened by themselves for the great pilgrim. Going round the holy places connected with the earthly service of the Son of God, Saint Nicholas decided to withdraw into the desert, but he was stopped by a divine voice urging him to return to his native country. He returned to Lycia, and yearning for a life of quietude, the saint entered into the brotherhood of a monastery named Holy Sion, which had been founded by his uncle. But the Lord again indicated another path for him, “Nicholas, this is not the vineyard where you shall bear fruit for Me. Return to the world, and glorify My Name there.” So he left Patara and went to Myra in Lycia.

Upon the death of Archbishop John, Nicholas was chosen as Bishop of Myra after one of the bishops of the Council said that a new archbishop should be revealed by God, not chosen by men. One of the elder bishops had a vision of a radiant Man, Who told him that the one who came to the church that night and was first to enter should be made archbishop. He would be named Nicholas. The bishop went to the church at night to await Nicholas. The saint, always the first to arrive at church, was stopped by the bishop. “What is your name, child?” he asked. God’s chosen one replied, “My name is Nicholas, Master, and I am your servant.”

After his consecration as archbishop, Saint Nicholas remained a great ascetic, appearing to his flock as an image of gentleness, kindness and love for people. This was particularly precious for the Lycian Church during the persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Bishop Nicholas, locked up in prison together with other Christians for refusing to worship idols, sustained them and exhorted them to endure the fetters, punishment and torture. The Lord preserved him unharmed. Upon the accession of Saint Constantine (May 21) as emperor, Saint Nicholas was restored to his flock, which joyfully received their guide and intercessor.

Despite his great gentleness of spirit and purity of heart, Saint Nicholas was a zealous and ardent warrior of the Church of Christ. Fighting evil spirits, the saint made the rounds of the pagan temples and shrines in the city of Myra and its surroundings, shattering the idols and turning the temples to dust.

In the year 325 Saint Nicholas was a participant in the First Ecumenical Council. This Council proclaimed the Nicean Symbol of Faith, and he stood up against the heretic Arius with the likes of Saints Sylvester the Bishop of Rome (January 2), Alexander of Alexandria (May 29), Spyridon of Trimythontos (December 12) and other Fathers of the Council.

Saint Nicholas, fired with zeal for the Lord, assailed the heretic Arius with his words, and also struck him upon the face. For this reason, he was deprived of the emblems of his episcopal rank and placed under guard. But several of the holy Fathers had the same vision, seeing the Lord Himself and the Mother of God returning to him the Gospel and omophorion. The Fathers of the Council agreed that the audacity of the saint was pleasing to God, and restored the saint to the office of bishop.

Having returned to his own diocese, the saint brought it peace and blessings, sowing the word of Truth, uprooting heresy, nourishing his flock with sound doctrine, and also providing food for their bodies. The face of Saint Nicholas resembled that of an Angel, resplendent with divine grace. A brilliant ray shone from his face, like that which shone from the face of Moses (Exodus 34:29), so that those who looked at him were astonished. Whoever was oppressed by some affliction or passion of the soul had only to behold the Saint, and his sorrow was eased at once. As for those who conversed with him, they soon found themselves advancing on the path of virtue. Not only were the faithful moved to compassion, but unbelievers as well, and they directed their steps on the path of salvation when they heard him speak. The evil of unbelief which had been implanted in their hearts since childhood was uprooted, and in its place, the word of truth was sown.

Even during his life the saint worked many miracles. One of the greatest was the deliverance from death of three men unjustly condemned by the Governor, who had been bribed. The saint boldly went up to the executioner and took his sword, already suspended over the heads of the condemned. The Governor, denounced by Saint Nicholas for his wrong doing, repented and begged for forgiveness.

Witnessing this remarkable event were three military officers, who were sent to Phrygia by the emperor Constantine to put down a rebellion. They did not suspect that soon they would also be compelled to seek the intercession of Saint Nicholas. Evil men slandered them before the emperor, and the officers were sentenced to death. Appearing to Saint Constantine in a dream, Saint Nicholas called on him to overturn the unjust sentence of the military officers.

He worked many other miracles, and struggled many long years at his labor. Through the prayers of the saint, the city of Myra was rescued from a terrible famine. He appeared to a certain Italian merchant and left him three gold pieces as a pledge of payment. He requested him to sail to Myra and deliver grain there. More than once, the saint saved those drowning in the sea, and provided release from captivity and imprisonment.

Having reached old age, Saint Nicholas peacefully fell asleep in the Lord. His venerable relics were preserved incorrupt in the local cathedral church and flowed with curative myrrh, from which many received healing. In the year 1087, his relics were transferred to the Italian city of Bari, where they rest even now (See May 9).

The name of the great saint of God, the hierarch and wonderworker Nicholas, a speedy helper and suppliant for all hastening to him, is famed in every corner of the earth, in many lands and among many peoples. In Russia there are a multitude of cathedrals, monasteries and churches consecrated in his name. There is, perhaps, not a single city without a church dedicated to him.

The first Russian Christian prince Askold (+ 882) was baptized in 866 by Patriarch Photius (February 6) with the name Nicholas. Over the grave of Askold, Saint Olga (July 11) built the first temple of Saint Nicholas in the Russian Church at Kiev. Primary cathedrals were dedicated to Saint Nicholas at Izborsk, Ostrov, Mozhaisk, and Zaraisk. At Novgorod the Great, one of the main churches of the city, the Nikolo-Dvorischensk church, later became a cathedral.

Famed and venerable churches and monasteries dedicated to Saint Nicholas are found at Kiev, Smolensk, Pskov, Toropetsa, Galich, Archangelsk, Great Ustiug, Tobolsk. Moscow had dozens of churches named for the saint, and also three monasteries in the Moscow diocese: the Nikolo-Greek (Staryi) in the Chinese-quarter, the Nikolo-Perervinsk and the Nikolo-Ugreshsk. One of the chief towers of the Kremlin was named the Nikolsk.

Many of the churches devoted to the saint were those established at market squares by Russian merchants, sea-farers and those who traveled by land, venerating the wonderworker Nicholas as a protector of all those journeying on dry land and sea. They sometimes received the name among the people of “Nicholas soaked.”

Many village churches in Russia were dedicated to the wonderworker Nicholas, venerated by peasants as a merciful intercessor before the Lord for all the people in their work. And in the Russian land Saint Nicholas did not cease his intercession. Ancient Kiev preserves the memory about the miraculous rescue of a drowning infant by the saint. The great wonderworker, hearing the grief-filled prayers of the parents for the loss of their only child, took the infant from the waters, revived him and placed him in the choir-loft of the church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) before his wonderworking icon. In the morning the infant was found safe by his thrilled parents, praising Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Many wonderworking icons of Saint Nicholas appeared in Russia and came also from other lands. There is the ancient Byzantine embroidered image of the saint, brought to Moscow from Novgorod, and the large icon painted in the thirteenth century by a Novgorod master.

Two depictions of the wonderworker are especially numerous in the Russian Church: Saint Nicholas of Zaraisk, portrayed in full-length, with his right hand raised in blessing and with a Gospel (this image was brought to Ryazan in 1225 by the future wife of Prince Theodore, the Byzantine Princess Eupraxia, who perished in 1237 with her husband and infant son during the incursion of Batu); and Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, also in full stature, with a sword in his right hand and a city in his left. This recalls the miraculous rescue of the city of Mozhaisk from an invasion of enemies, through the prayers of the saint. It is impossible to list all the grace-filled icons of Saint Nicholas, or to enumerate all his miracles.

Saint Nicholas is the patron of travelers, and we pray to him for deliverance from floods, poverty, or any misfortunes. He has promised to help those who remember his parents, Theophanes and Nonna.

Saint Nicholas is also commemorated on May 9 (The transfer of his relics) and on July 29 (his nativity).

In Italy, the relics of Saint Nicholas are in the Roman Catholic Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari; and his left arm is in Saint Nicholas Roman Catholic Church of Rimini.

In Russia, relics of Saint Nicholas are to be found in Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, and in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg.

The right hand of Saint Nicholas is in the church of Saint George the New in Bucharest, Romania.

In Greece, portions of the Saint's relics are in the Monasteries of Saint Nicholas Apo Bathia in Euboia, and Phaneromenē in Salaminos. A piece of the Saint's left arm is in the Metropolitan church of Volos. One of the Saint's teeth is at Kalabryta Monastery in the Peloponnēsos.

From the Orthodox Church of America