Why children need to be told about the lives of saints
When raising a child in the Orthodox faith, parents cannot help but tell them about its entire great history, unless, of course, they want the child to become a true believer, and not a nominal one. Holy martyrs are people who suffered for Christ, but lived extremely fruitful lives. Usually these are people to whom the Lord has given special wisdom and gifts with which they served people and Christ.
Nicholas the Wonderworker
Knowing the life of the martyrs, the child will be ready for the ridicule of his peers, he will understand that this is nothing compared to the torture and torment of those times. He will understand that faith is not just a joke or a good weekend in the temple. It is important. And he will take his life and beliefs much more seriously.
Nikolai Ugodnik, what does he help with?
Saint Nicholas is one of the most revered saints in our country. People turn to him with prayer and requests for help more often than many other saints.
How does St. Nicholas the Wonderworker help? This is an issue in which there has been a lot of speculation. It is believed, for example, that Nikolai Ugodnik helps with work: the unemployed can find it as quickly as possible, and those who have a job can cope with it better. Wikipedia writes that Nicholas the Wonderworker is the patron saint of sailors and travelers.
However, to see a saint as an intercessor in only one thing is rather a superstition that has nothing to do with the depth of Church life.
Any saint helps in everything. Any saint is glad to be an intercessor before God for everyone who turns to him. Therefore, Nikolai Ugodnik can help not only with work, but also with studies, or with health problems, or with difficulties in family life.
Nicholas the Wonderworker is our intercessor before God. And his intercession - like the intercession of any saints for any of us - is one of the most wonderful aspects of Church life. And a wonderful testimony that in Christ people are united not only at a distance, but also over time!
The story of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for children
The story of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker will be very fascinating for children, since his life is similar to the life of superheroes, only the saint, instead of superpower, had the power of the Lord, and it is more powerful than any fictional miracles.
He was born in Lycia (Asia Minor), in the city of Patara, to a couple of pious people - Theophanes and Nonna. They prayed for a long time and asked the Lord to give them a son who would serve Him with his whole life. And in the end, God gave them a child who, from childhood, was distinguished by a meek disposition and a craving for the Lord.
As a young man, the saint quickly mastered science, learned to read and began to study the Scriptures on his own, and then many spiritual books. He spent his time profitably and was not seen in companies or dissolute gatherings. Therefore, in his youth he was sent to serve in the Church, where he first became a deacon and then a priest.
About Saint Nicholas:
- Canon to Saint Nicholas
- Prayer to Nicholas the Pleasant for anxiety about the future
- Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker for family
The bishop who placed him in ministry prophesied to him that he would be a comfort and helper to many who suffer. Nikolai served in the church, helped those in need, and even gave away his entire inheritance after the death of his parents.
Nicholas the Wonderworker at the patient's bedside
When the persecution of Christians began, he went to prison, then came out and was ordained as an archbishop. Nicholas was an ardent believer, defending God's commandments and opposing heretics. For this, he was even temporarily defrocked, since he struck the heretic Arius during the Ecumenical Council of Nicea, where he spread his heresy.
Important! The life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker should become an example to every believer, who should strive to live his life in the same way.
Text of the book “The Life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker retold for children”
Alexander Borisovich Tkachenko The Life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker retold for children
* * *
Among the great multitude of Christian saints, there is one saint of God, who at all times was especially revered by believers. This is Nicholas the Wonderworker. Icons with his image can be seen in any Orthodox church in the most honorable places. A thin old man looks at us from the icon with a kind and slightly sad look. As if asking: “Well, my dears, what other trouble have you found yourself in, what trouble do you need to rescue you from?”
Sailors, travelers, fishermen, drivers, poor people consider him their patron... This is such a strange company. And all because Saint Nicholas helps everyone who turns to him for help. Well, who is more likely than others to find themselves in a hopeless situation? That's right: sailors, poor people, travelers... Those who ask for help more often receive it more often.
True, Saint Nicholas lived a long time ago, 1600 years ago, but people still remember and revere him. What was he doing that was so special? How did you have to live so that, sixteen centuries later, your image would be lovingly kept by millions of people around the world? But there seemed to be nothing special about him - he was an ordinary person, just like you and me. He just always acted differently from what everyone else would have done in his place. Saint – that’s what it means: not like everyone else.
Here are a few stories from his ordinary-extraordinary life.
A long time ago, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea stood the city of Patara. There was a large port where ships loaded with spices, grain, fabrics and all sorts of overseas wonders sailed. At the port, tanned longshoremen carried bales of goods ashore and loaded them onto horses and camels. Meanwhile, the sailors were repairing their ships, mending sails torn by the hurricane and preparing for a new voyage.
In this city of sailors, caravan workers and shipwrights lived one young man. His name was Nikolai. He was a priest and often communicated with a variety of people who came to his temple for advice and help. Despite his youth, Nikolai was very wise and attentive to the grief of others. He was ready to help everyone, tried to console everyone.
But one day Nikolai received an inheritance and became very rich. What do people usually do when they get rich? Well, of course they build themselves a palace of white marble! With peacocks, fountains, a peach garden and a pool with goldfish swimming. And guards are placed at the entrance so that no one interferes with the owner’s enjoyment of the happiness that has befallen him. That's probably what a lot of people would do. But Nikolai disposed of his wealth in a completely different way, not like everyone else. The young priest knew well the troubles and sorrows of his parishioners. And... he began to distribute the money he inherited to those who needed it. True, he also did this in an unusual way.
So, one day Nikolai learned that one poor man, tormented by debts, had completely despaired and decided to give his three daughters into slavery. Friends and relatives tried to dissuade him from this crazy act, but the poor man just shook his head, cried and said that he had no other choice. Then Nikolai waited until nightfall, poured gold coins from his treasury into a bag and went to the house where this unfortunate man lived. Sneaking up, he threw the gold out the window and ran away as quickly as possible so that no one would notice him.
In the morning the poor man woke up and saw a bag on the floor of his hut. He untied him, and there was so much money there that it was enough to pay off his debts and get his eldest daughter married.
After some time, Nikolai threw him a second bag of gold in the same way at night. The poor man even danced for joy! He gave this money as a dowry to his second daughter, and he himself decided to find out who was helping him. During the day he slept, and at night he watched over a mysterious benefactor. Time passed, and then again at night a heavy bag plopped onto the floor of his hut. But this time the owner was on alert and immediately ran out into the street. Before Nikolai had time to hide, well, what can you do... The poor man fell at his feet and began to thank him, but the priest ordered him to get up and took an oath from him that he would not tell anyone about what had happened.
Why did Nikolai choose such a strange method of help? And the whole point is that this poor man was once a noble man, but then he lost all his wealth and fell into extreme poverty. The priest was simply afraid that the former rich man would be offended by accepting alms from him. So he decided to help secretly. And Nikolai really didn’t want anyone to know about his help. After all, if you do a good deed for show, it turns out that it is not so good after all.
But, apparently, the former rich man did not keep his oath and told about this story. Otherwise, how would we know about it? And not only did the young priest Nikolai help him. He fed the hungry, bought clothes for the poor, redeemed debtors from slavery, and very quickly spent every last penny of his money on this. And word spread throughout the city about what a kind and selfless person he was. Here he could rejoice in such glory. But Nikolai again acted unusually. Having learned that in Patara they began to venerate him as a saint, he boarded a ship and sailed away from his hometown forever.
* * *
Traveling by sea is a dangerous business. There seems to be no sign of a storm. The day is sunny, seagulls are screaming over the waves, a fair wind is blowing tight sails. Suddenly, a black stripe appears on the horizon. It is rapidly approaching, growing. And now you can see that these are swirling dark clouds with lightning flashing in them. And the wind is getting stronger, the waves are getting higher. The sea around the ship is boiling, and shreds of foam are flying from the crests of the water shafts. The rain pours down, the clouds cover the sun, it becomes dark, almost like night, and only
…
end of introductory fragment
Don't miss the holiday
How is this holiday celebrated? All attention, of course, to the children! Gifts, letter writing, walks. And on this day the adults all gathered together, preparing for Christmastide, matchmaking, and weddings. They sewed, spun, knitted, made masks for Christmastide, and made wishes. On this day, girls told fortunes about their grooms.
Proven Signs
Folk signs have evolved over centuries. Check whether they come true or not!
- If winter covers its tracks before Nikolai's day, then the road will not stand.
- Praise winter after Nikola.
- Frost on trees means a good harvest.
- How much snow there is on Nikola in winter, how much grass there is on Nikola in spring.
Superstitions
Superstitions have also developed over centuries:
- On this day you cannot lend money, and women cannot work in the yard.
- You can’t be sad, you can’t quarrel, so as not to invite trouble.
- You can have fun, gather around a big table. On this day, even the Church allows you to eat fish dishes.
- If you invite a wealthy person to visit, then wealth will come to the house; if a poor person crosses the threshold, then you should not expect wealth.
What to give to children
Children's gifts always make them happy, especially if they meet their expectations. Therefore, it is better for you to find out what your child would like to receive as a gift from St. Nicholas. In general, it could be anything:
- clothes, just let them be bright, with your favorite cartoon print, for example, and, of course, sweets such as candies and chocolate;
- baked cake or cookies, themed with stars, by a kind old man with a beard;
- toys by age (soft toys, construction sets, board games, stationery sets);
- Older children are given children's cosmetics for girls and boys (shower gels, shampoos).
Signs for St. Nicholas Day
- By St. Nicholas Day, all debts had to be paid off.
- On the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, it was imperative to make peace with everyone.
- Snow covered the ground until the holiday, expect a frosty winter.
- A cold St. Nicholas Day foreshadowed a cold winter, and a warm holiday day foreshadowed sunny and warm winter weather.
- It is a good omen if early in the morning the owner of the house has time to go around his entire household and feed his pets.
- Europeans make a cherished and good wish on this day, and Nikolai will certainly fulfill it. Believe, and your wish will come true!
- The more good deeds you do on St. Nicholas Day, the more health the Wonderworker will give you
Fairy tale for children
Tell your child how the gifts get into the bag. One day Nikolai, the son of rich parents, learned that one young lady could not get married because her parents could not give her a dowry.
Then he took a bag of gold coins and threw it at the girl’s window at night. In the morning the news spread throughout the area. People said that a heavenly angel helped the girl.
The miracle worker comes to the children, accompanied by two angels and two devils. The angels told the saint about good children, and the devils whispered about naughty children.
No child wants to be left without a gift, so on this holiday naughty children try to improve and remain diligent on all other days.
Prayer for the fulfillment of a wish to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
PRAYER 1
Wonderworker Nicholas, Defender and Savior. I believe in you and I beg you, may everything I wish for come true. My desires are known to God, let him show the right path. Do not allow sinful daydreaming, save you from irrepressible suffering. Thy will be done. Amen.
PRAYER 2
Nicholas the Wonderworker, God's Pleasant. Do not judge me in my desires, take away all troubles and misfortunes. I pray you, fulfill only those that do not lead to a disastrous fate. Thy will be done. Amen.
PRAYER 3
Wonderworker Nicholas, Defender and Savior. The head languishes in vain thoughts, desperately striving to fulfill everything. Desires overshadow reason, and distance one from the Church and prayers. Save me, I ask, and save me, put away all evil thoughts. Thy will be done. Amen.
Let the tradition be revived
In the Catholic Church, the tradition of giving gifts to children is quite common, but among Orthodox believers, it is just beginning.
One of the legends says that the Wonderworker wrote letters to children with a pen filled with gold paste. Tell this story to your son or daughter, and also about the life of the saint.
Then give your child a handwritten letter on beautiful paper on behalf of Nikolai. Be sure to praise for a good deed as if the praise comes from the name of the saint himself.
You can write a response letter where your son or daughter will tell you how many good deeds they have done.
