Among the most revered saints for Orthodox believers and Catholics is St. Nicholas the Pleasant. During his lifetime, he performed miracles, helping people in need, and after his death, believers from different parts of the world turn to him to cope with numerous problems.
Nicholas the Wonderworker: who is this - life story
Christians honor the memory of many saints. Great respect is given to Nicholas the Wonderworker. He is revered in different countries of the world, many call on him with their prayers for help in various life issues.
The story of the life and actions of Nicholas the Wonderworker is very interesting, because he began to work miracles during his lifetime. Nikolai was born into a family of wealthy parents. This happened in 270 in the ancient Lycian city of Patara, in modern Turkey.
The saint's parents were Christian believers, his uncle was a clergyman. Parents could give Nikolai a good education and provide him with prosperity, but in Nikolai’s soul there was God. Since childhood, he prayed fervently, spent time in church during the day, and read prayers and the Holy Scriptures at night.
The Bishop of Patara, who was the uncle of Nicholas the Wonderworker, noticed that his nephew was very religious, that his thoughts were pure and his faith was strong. He appointed him as a reader at the service. After this, Nikolai became an assistant, and then a priest.
Important: As a young priest, he was very wise towards people. He always helped those in need with money. When Saint Nicholas's parents died, he distributed all their inheritance to the poor.
Nikolai did not do his good deeds for show; many people for a long time did not know who was helping them with money. But then they found out that it was St. Nicholas who was throwing bags of coins to them. People respected and loved Nicholas very much for his good deeds and love for the common people.
Nicholas the Wonderworker died in old age and calmly passed into another world. This man was a benefactor for people. After his death, he also remained one.
In every Christian church you can see the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. He is depicted as an old man with gray hair. He has the Gospel in his hands, he calls everyone to faith and peace.
Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
The most common appeals to the Saint
The main prayers to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are the following:
The most powerful prayer to Nicholas
“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".
Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker for protection
O all-praised and all-pious bishop, great Wonderworker, Saint of Christ, Father Nicholas, man of God and faithful servant, man of desires, chosen vessel, strong pillar of the church, bright lamp, shining star and illuminating the whole universe: you are a righteous man, like a blossoming date planted in the courts of your Lord, living in Myra, you were fragrant with the world, and the myrrh flowed with the ever-flowing grace of God.
By your procession, holy father, the sea was illuminated, when your many-wonderful relics marched into the city of Barsky, from east to west praise the name of the Lord.
O most graceful and wondrous Wonderworker, quick helper, warm intercessor, kind shepherd, saving the verbal flock from all troubles, we glorify and magnify you, as the hope of all Christians, the source of miracles, the protector of the faithful, the wise teacher, those who hunger for a feeder, those who cry are glad, the naked are clothed , the sick physician, the sea-floating steward, the liberator of captives, the nourisher and protector of widows and orphans, the guardian of chastity, the meek chastiser of infants, the old fortification, the fasting mentor, the toiling rapture, the poor and wretched abundant wealth.
Hear us praying to you and running under your roof, show your intercession for us to the Most High, and intercede with your God-pleasing prayers, everything useful for the salvation of our souls and bodies: preserve this holy monastery (or this temple), every city and all, and every Christian country, and people living from all bitterness with your help:
We know, we know, how the prayer of the righteous can do much to hasten for good: for you, the righteous, according to the most blessed Virgin Mary, imams, intercessor to the All-Merciful God, and to yours, most kind father, warm intercession and intercession we humbly flow: you keep us as you are vigorous and kind shepherd, from all enemies, destruction, cowardice, hail, famine, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners, and in all our troubles and sorrows, give us a helping hand, and open the doors of God’s mercy, since we are unworthy to see the heights of heaven, from many of our iniquities are bound by the bonds of sin, and we have not done the will of our Creator nor have we kept His commandments.
In the same way, we bow our contrite and humble hearts to our Creator, and we ask for your fatherly intercession to Him:
Help us, O Pleasant of God, so that we do not perish with our iniquities, deliver us from all evil and from all things that are resistant, guide our minds and strengthen our hearts in the right faith, in it through your intercession and intercession, neither with wounds, nor rebuke, nor pestilence, he will give me no wrath to live in this age, and he will deliver me from this place, and he will make me worthy to join all the saints. Amen.
Turning to the Saint for help with various life difficulties
O all-praised, great wonderworker, saint of Christ, Father Nicholas!
We pray to you, awaken the hope of all Christians, protector of the faithful, feeder of the hungry, joy of the weeping, doctor of the sick, steward of those floating on the sea, feeder of the poor and orphans, and quick helper and patron of all, may we live a peaceful life here and may we be worthy to see the glory of God’s elect in heaven , and with them unceasingly sing the praises of the one worshiped God in the Trinity forever and ever. Amen.
A request to Nicholas the Wonderworker for help with marriage, prosperity or salvation
“Oh, all-holy Nicholas, exceedingly pleasing servant of the Lord! During your life, you have never refused anyone’s requests, but do not refuse the servant of God (the name of the girl who wants to get married). Send down your mercy and ask the Lord for my speedy marriage. I surrender to the will of the Lord and trust in His mercy. Amen".
Prayer for Healing
“O all-holy Nicholas, exceedingly saintly saint of the Lord, our warm intercessor, and everywhere in sorrow a quick helper, help me, a sinner and saddened one, in this life, beg the Lord God to grant me forgiveness of all my sins, which I have sinned greatly from my youth, in everything my life, deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me the accursed, beg the Lord God of all creation, the Creator, to deliver me from airy ordeals and eternal torment, so that I always glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen"
Seeking help with long-term treatment for the most serious illnesses
O all-holy Nicholas! Intercessor and speedy helper of all the sorrowful and sick! Beg our Lord to forgive His servant (your name) for the sins that he committed out of ignorance or thoughtlessness. Ask Him to deliver your body and soul from the machinations of the devil, worldly diseases, from ordeals and eternal torment. Amen!
You can ask the Saint for intercession every day, but the most effective prayer becomes the twenty-second of May, during the veneration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the nineteenth of December, on the day of his death and the eleventh of August, the date of his appearance in the world.
On such days, as well as on other days, one should turn to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with prayers for help in various life situations, with a request for intercession or with words of gratitude.
Post Views: 2,629
How does St. Nicholas the Wonderworker help?
Nikolai Ugodnik comes to the aid of everyone who turns to him sincerely, with good intentions, and with faith. Every day, millions of people around the world ask the Saint for help in various everyday issues.
Saint Nicholas is able to perform a miracle for us ordinary people. The main thing is to turn to him sincerely, with faith. If a person is greedy and asks for profit for himself, requests to the Saint will not bring him what he wants. There is no need to ask for material benefits, ask God and the Saints to correct your life. Sometimes we find ourselves in difficult life situations, and it seems that only a miracle can save us. In such situations, you can turn to Nikolai Ugodnik.
There is no clear list of things that a saint can help with. You can pray to him, like other saints, whenever necessary.
Important: Saints are considered “intercessors” for us before God. That is, asking them for help, we ask them to intercede for us before God, to ask the Lord for us. If the request pleases God, if it does not harm you, the Lord will accept it. But if you want to deceive, you will harm yourself.
Nicholas the Wonderworker is:
- Patron of travelers
- Defender of the illegally convicted and all prisoners
- Assistant to unmarried girls
In the earthly life of St. Nicholas there are stories when he helped these people. We will tell you about such wonderful stories below.
When God wants to help us, he sends us the right people. This is proven by the stories of ordinary people. One day, a family with a child flew abroad and got stuck there due to the collapse of a travel agency. Of course the family was scared. Walking near the temple, they used their last euro to light a candle to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Imagine their surprise when, upon arriving at the hotel, they learned that their accommodation and tickets had been paid for. Isn't this a miracle? A modest request for help and sincere faith bore fruit. Many will say that this is a coincidence. Each one receives according to his faith.
Who does St. Nicholas the Wonderworker help?
Powerful prayers for all needs
People often pray about some everyday little things, and this is normal for a person living in the world. However, sometimes a person wants to completely change his life, give up old sinful habits, and reconcile with God. A miraculous prayer to St. Nicholas can also help with this.
Before starting to pray, a person must come to confession and sincerely repent of his sins and receive Communion. It will also be useful to fast for at least a week. In this case, the prayer will be quite powerful, showing the person’s sincere intention to change his entire life.
To succeed in a spiritual connection with a saint you need:
- Conduct preliminary preparation, cleanse yourself of sinful thoughts, stop thinking about small everyday problems.
- Try to reconcile with your neighbors, forgive your enemies, and find peace of mind.
- Have a firm intention to start a new life in accordance with the Gospel commandments.
The most common and effective is the forty-day prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. But besides this prayer, there are a number of others that are popular among believers.
Getting a job and financial stability
Although the main task of a Christian is the salvation of the soul, this does not mean that he cannot take care of earthly well-being. Honest work has always been approved by God and the Church. Therefore, it would be noble and correct to contact Nikolai Ugodnik if you are looking for a job that would help you provide for your family at the proper level.
A Christian should not hope for wealth; he must understand that all his well-being depends only on the will of God. But there is nothing sinful in financial well-being itself. This can only be our attitude towards money when we begin to see it as the main goal of life and fall into the sin of greed.
An Orthodox Christian should see wealth as an opportunity to do good to his neighbors and to generously give alms. In this case, the request for financial stability will be accepted favorably in heaven. A prayer for help will not be perceived as a sin of greed.
For marriage
The Orthodox Church says that every person has two paths. He can devote himself entirely to serving God and choose the life of a monk. However, such a life is not suitable for everyone; a person who has no inclination for this should not go to a monastery.
Another way that helps a person lead a virtuous life is Christian marriage. It helps not to fall into the sin of fornication, teaches a person love and care. It is not for nothing that the family has always been called a small church. Therefore, many young people or their parents can turn to Saint Nicholas to help their children get married successfully.
From the life of Nicholas we know that during his lifetime he himself acted as an assistant in such endeavors. One of the residents of the city of Patara, the birthplace of the saint, had 3 daughters, whom the father could not marry due to his extreme poverty. He even thought about making them harlots. However, Nikolai threw each of them a bag of gold. This helped the girls find grooms.
Protection and well-being
Saint Nicholas has always been the heavenly intercessor who was turned to in the most extreme circumstances. Sometimes even death retreated before him. The life tells that during one of the trips on the ship, Nicholas the Wonderworker saw a sailor fall from the mast and fall to his death. However, prayer addressed to God resurrected the young man.
And today, all those who put themselves at risk should offer prayers for the miracle of St. Nicholas and hope for his help. Even when we just leave the house, going to work, it is worth turning to the saint with at least a short prayer.
Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker
You can pray to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker not only in church, but also at home. There are many prayers with which you can turn to the Saint. You can address the Saint in your own words, the main thing is that they come from the whole heart.
You need to pray to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker not only on the day of his memory, but also every day. If you read and know prayers, do not forget to pray to St. Nicholas to enlist his help and support.
When you come to the temple, stop at the icon; you will find it in every temple. Light a candle and pray at the image of the Saint. Believers have repeatedly argued that if you ask St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, troubles will be miraculously resolved.
Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker
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.
By leaving a comment, you accept the user agreement
Miracles for which Saint Nicholas became famous
Wonderful stories about good deeds performed by Nikolai Ugodnik are passed on from mouth to mouth.
The story of how Nicholas the Wonderworker helped unmarried girls
One poor man had three daughters. He could not provide them with a dowry; no one took girls in marriage. In desperation, the man decided to send all his daughters to a brothel. In this way he wanted to earn money for a living.
Nikolai learned about this decision and decided to help the man. At night, he threw three bags of money through the open window of his house. When the family discovered the find in the morning, they were glad and happy. But they did not know who their benefactor was. So Saint Nicholas, in a completely earthly way, saved three girls from a terrible and bitter fate.
Saint Nicholas helps unmarried people
The story of how Nicholas the Wonderworker helps those unjustly convicted
This story is about the rescue of prisoners, which also happened during the life of the Wonderworker. Three convicts were to be executed in the city square. Nicholas the Wonderworker suddenly appeared. He took the executioner's hand and prevented the death of the prisoner, who was within a hair's breadth of it. The executioner and everyone who was there did not argue with Nikolai, because he was a respected clergyman.
It later turned out that these prisoners were sentenced to death unfairly. Thus, the Lord, through Saint Nicholas, sent salvation to these people.
All prisoners turn to Nicholas the Wonderworker for help, even if they ended up in prison on merit. After all, every person, even if he has stumbled or made a mistake in life, has the right to forgiveness.
This incident is reflected in a painting by artist Ivan Repin.
Saint Nicholas saves those sentenced to death
The story of how Nicholas the Wonderworker helps non-believers
This event occurred after the death of the saint. In a Chinese village, a fisherman suddenly began to drown. The wave covered him. He screamed and called for help, but understood that this was the end. Suddenly he remembered the icon that he had seen among Russian emigrants and began to ask: “Old man, save me!”
After that, he regained consciousness on the shore. After his salvation, this man converted to Orthodoxy and told everyone that the saint had saved him.
The story of St. Nicholas's help to sailors
Travelers have considered Nicholas the Wonderworker their protector since he saved the sailor. The saint was forced to set sail on a ship. During this journey, a terrible tragedy occurred - a sailor fell from the mast and died. Nikolai began to fervently pray to the Lord, and He performed a miracle - the sailor was resurrected. No one expected such a miracle; everyone was amazed.
Not only sailors, but also all other travelers can turn to the Saint for help. When you are driving or walking far, it would be useful to pray to the saint for returning home.
Saint Nicholas helps travelers
Memorial Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker: date, traditions, how the holiday is celebrated
Important: Memorial Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is December 19 and May 22.
- December 19 is the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
- May 22 is the day of the transfer of the saint’s relics to the city of Bari.
- Every Thursday, special hymns are performed in the church in honor of the saint.
The saint is venerated twice a year; people say that it is St. Nicholas the Winter and St. Nicholas the Spring . The most memorable holiday is December 19th.
The night before this holiday, gifts and sweets are placed under the pillow or in bags for children. Saint Nicholas became the prototype of Santa Claus, who also sneaks into the house and puts gifts in socks.
This custom is probably due to the fact that Nikolai Ugodnik gave bags of gold to the poor during his lifetime.
In the morning, families and their children go to church for services. After this they have a family dinner. At this time, the Nativity fast is underway, so there should be lean food on the table. There should be no loud entertainment or celebrations on this holiday.
St. Nicholas Day is considered a children's holiday. Many parents, unfortunately, understand this holiday incorrectly. Nowadays, children's demands are growing and instead of chocolate under their pillow, they are waiting for a game console or a new bicycle. And parents indulge the whims of their children.
Raising children in this spirit can distort the image of St. Nicholas in their perception. Because of this approach, many children will begin to treat the sacred as a consumer, raising the bar for desired gifts every year. Instead of pampering your children with expensive gifts this holiday, it is better to pay attention to their spiritual education:
- Talk about the saint, talk about his good deeds.
- Offer to do a good deed yourself, for example, help parents, share with a friend.
- Involve the child in the church service, take him with you to the temple and light a candle to the saint.
- Teach your child to enjoy the little things, and not to expect an expensive gift from a saint.
It is important to honor the saint, and not distort the memory of his good deeds. We must strive to earn the love of a saint, instead of angering him with our mercantile views on life.
St. Nicholas Day - children's holiday
Troparion and Kontakion
Orthodoxy has preserved the practice of singing special short hymns - troparia. According to Christian tradition, they are sung on the occasion of holidays. In the case of St. Santa Claus, it's Christmas. There is also a troparion dedicated to the feast of the transfer of the relics of the saint.
Sing the troparion, thank St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and pray that he does not abandon all Christians with his mercy. Reading these prayers speaks of the love that Orthodox Christians feel for their heavenly patron, and of the hope for his intercession before God for every believer.
Another common prayer is Kontakion. The peculiarity of this prayer hymn is that it briefly explains why the saint is glorified. In a condominium on the street. Nicholas, they say that this miracle worker showed with his whole life how to keep the commandments of the Gospel, saved the innocent from death and was ready to give his life for his brothers.
What should you not do on St. Nicholas Day?
As on other religious holidays, on this day it is unacceptable to do housework - sewing, washing, handicrafts.
Clean the house the day before, do your household chores in advance, so that you can spend the holiday in prayer and with your family. Communicate with your loved ones, on this day there is no place for quarrels in the house, as on any other day. Strive to spend this day with God in your soul.
Give alms on this day and set a good example for your children.
Where are the relics of St. Nicholas kept?
After the death of Saint Nicholas, his body rested in Myra. Later the relics were transported to the city of Bari in Italy. Since 1087, most of the relics have been located in the city of Bari to this day, but some particles of relics are found throughout the world. In Russia alone there are 25 churches where there are particles of the saint’s relics.
There is an icon of the saint in any Orthodox church. If you visit a temple, be sure to light a candle in front of the saint’s face, ask for intercession and help, he will definitely hear your prayers.
Nicholas the Wonderworker is a real person who helped people not only with his God-given abilities. He helped the common people with simple things that we can also do. Not everyone can lead a strict lifestyle, but each of us can become a little kinder and more sympathetic, lend a helping hand to our neighbors, help out money to relatives or people in need. There is a high reward for good deeds. We hope this article was useful to you.
Prayers for loved ones
Father Frost himself was a respected and loving son. He cared for his parents until their death, and only then devoted himself to public service. Saint Nicholas was not married, but, like the entire Orthodox Church, he approved of people creating families, raising children and teaching them Christian virtues. Therefore, the saint is always ready to answer the prayer that a person offers not for himself, but for the benefit of his loved ones. St. Petersburg Nikolai the Wonderworker helps bring peace to the family, reconcile quarreling spouses or parents with children.
