History of origin
Old St. Nicholas Cathedral in Mozhaisk.
Photo by Marina Nazarova In the 19th century, legends were published,
the time of origin of which cannot be determined. They contain information that during the attack of certain enemies on Mozhaisk, through prayer to St. Nicholas, an image of a saint standing in the air with a sword in his hands appeared over the city. The enemy fled, frightened by his appearance, and the residents of the city, in gratitude to St. Nicholas and in memory of this event, commissioned a wooden sculpture. The first mention of it dates back to 1495.
Researchers suggest that Serbian craftsmen could have participated in the creation of the sculpture,
who built the Old St. Nicholas Cathedral in Mozhaisk. The image of Nikola Mozhaisky is unusual for Slavic and Byzantine Orthodox culture. Firstly, he was depicted in the form of a sculpture. Secondly, the saint is first presented as a warrior with a weapon in his hands. Perhaps this is the case where Western and Eastern traditions intersected, and the result was this sculpture. In the Byzantine tradition there are no images of a saint with a sword, but in Latin, the image of a bishop with a sword in his hands and sometimes even with a temple is a common phenomenon. For example, this is how he was depicted on banners.
The meaning of the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Orthodoxy
The significance of the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Orthodoxy is difficult to overestimate. The number of churches and icons dedicated to the Wonderworker is second only to the Mother of God. The name Nikolai was once the most popular in Russia. This was also the name given to many boys from imperial families who later became autocrats.
The face of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is found in every Orthodox church, and the number of churches consecrated in his honor exceeds 5 thousand. Several years ago, part of the relics of Nicholas were temporarily brought from Bari to Russia. In just over a month, over 2.5 million Russians came to bow to them.
Silver icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Where was the sculpture located in Mozhaisk?
The reverse side of the image is hewn.
Based on this, we can conclude that the sculpture was not intended for all-round viewing or for religious processions and was originally planned to be attached to a flat surface. Archaeologists suggest that the image could have been located above the city gates for some time. Indirect confirmation of this is the testimony of restorers who believe that the constant change in climatic conditions affected the condition of the sculpture. In Mozhaisk there are two cathedrals in honor of St. Nicholas: Staro-Nikolsky and Novo-Nikolsky. There is written evidence that the sculpture was in the old cathedral for some time. But in the 20th century, the image was already in the new cathedral, to the right of the royal doors - it was from there that it was taken to the Central State Restoration Workshops after the closure of the churches in the 1920s. From there the sculpture was transferred to the Tretyakov Gallery.
How does the icon of St. Nicholas help?
The icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker helps everyone who prays for protection and patronage. It is believed that most of all the saint patronizes travelers, warriors, merchants, bankers, students and, of course, children. The icon protects those innocently slandered and condemned from unfair trials, and helps those who have stumbled to take the right path.
Nikolai Ugodnik helps those who have quarreled to reconcile, the sick to recover from illnesses and addictions, the lonely to find family happiness, give birth and raise healthy children. In general, if you come to church and don’t know which saint to ask for protection, go to Nicholas - you can’t go wrong.
Biography of the saint
Nicholas the Wonderworker is the most revered saint in Rus' since the adoption of Christianity (988). He lived in Lycia, an ancient country in the south of the Asia Minor Peninsula, a Roman province in the 1st-4th centuries. [1]. The future saint was born around 260 in Patara, the largest port city in Lycia. There he received his education and was ordained a priest. Episcopal service took place in another Lycian city - Myra. During the persecution of Christians under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, St. Nicholas spent several years in prison, where, courageously enduring suffering, “he gave his imprisoned prisoners water to drink with the waters of piety and nourished with the word of God” [2]. After Mira's liberation, the saint was greeted as a martyr who had accepted a bloodless crown. And he continued his ministry, healing mental and physical ailments, zealously guarding the purity of faith, becoming famous for his extraordinary purity of life, mercy, and many miracles. Here, in Myra, the saint of God reposed in about 335-340.
Ancient Patara. Central street with a colonnade. Modern look.
The desire for purity of life was inherited from my parents. In the 6th chapter of the Epistle to Theodore, St. Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople (IX century), reports about St. Nicolae: “He came from parents who were noble and brilliant in fortune, but not involved in the high-ranking world, because they believed that it was impossible not to get dirty by touching the resin” [3]. This was a real, precious inheritance, because the entire rich fortune of St. Nicholas spent on works of mercy. Various hagiographic sources report that he was always content with a modest robe and was a faster.
Temple. St. Nicholas in Myra Lycia (modern Demre).
Local veneration of the saint began already in the second half of the 4th century, soon after his death. In the 7th century The Archbishop of Myra was widely revered in Byzantium. From the most ancient sources where it is mentioned, except for the epistle of St. Methodius, we must name the earliest monument - “A word of praise to the saint and wonderworker Nicholas” by St. Andrew of Crete (2nd half of the 8th century). The most detailed life was compiled by Rev. Symeon Metephrastus, Byzantine writer of the 10th century. In Rus', the first lives of the saint appear in the 11th century. along with the spread of veneration.
Literature
- Kondratyev I. I.
History of the Mozhaisk Kremlin. - M.: TAUS, 2010. - 232 p. — 1000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-903011-80-3. - Fedorova O. V., Ushakov V. K., Fedorova V. N.
Mozhaisk. - M: Moscow worker, 1981. - 288 p. — 30,000 copies. - Vlasyev N.I.
Mozhaisk in its past - a brief historical sketch. — 1925. - Mokeev G. Ya.
Mozhaisk is the sacred city of Russians. - Mozhaisk: Kedr, 1992. - 127 p. — 50,000 copies. - Vinogradov N.
About the ancient carved miraculous icon of St. Nicholas of Christ, located in the cathedral church of the city of Mozhaisk, Moscow province. — Mozhaisk St. Nicholas Cathedral. - M: Typo-Lithography by I. Efimov, 1900. - 16 p. - Savin A. G.
Mozhaisk Heritage No. 1. - M: Ekon-Inform, 2011. - 35 p. — 1500 copies. - Savin A. G.
Mozhaisk Heritage No. 2. - M: Ekon-Inform, 2011. - 38 p. — 1000 copies. - Savin A. G.
Mozhaisk Heritage No. 4. - M: Ekon-Inform, 2013. - 43 p. — 300 copies. - Ushakov V.K., Nikolaichenko I.I., Ovchinnikov V.M. and others.
Directory of the Mozhaisk municipal district. — Administration of Mozhaisk district. - Tver: Tverskoy PC, 2011. - 207 p. — 2000 copies. — ISBN 9. - IN AND.
Kukovenko. Masonic architecture and masons of Mozhaisk. - Mozhaisk, 2006. - 96 p. — 3000 copies. - B.E.
Yanishevsky. Mozhaisk and its districts in the XI-XV centuries. - M: TAUS, 2010. - 144 p. — ISBN 978-5-903011-78-0.
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Miracles associated with the icon of St. Nicholas the Pleasant
People believe that Nicholas still walks the earth and works miracles. Each miracle of the icon is evidence of the patronage of the saint, who to this day cares for those living on earth.
There are many publications on the Internet dedicated to the modern miracles of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It helps to avoid accidents, find a job, recover from illnesses, arrange your personal life, achieve a fair trial - to list all the miracles of the Pleasant, more than one similar article is needed.
How to pray in front of an icon, where to place it?
The image of St. Nicholas the Pleasant in full height and in bright colors is best hung on the eastern wall of the house. It should not be adjacent to household appliances, secular paintings and books.
For a home iconostasis, it is better to choose a half-length image of the Wonderworker and place it to the left of the image of the Savior.
Silver pendant "St. Nicholas"
Texts of prayers
You need to pray with concentration and sincerity. Joint prayers are welcome, but those turning to the image should not interfere with each other and distract each other with conversations from addressing the saint.
Prayer for Intercession
Oh, all-validated and all-honorable bishop, great miracle worker, saint of Christ, Father Nicholas, man of God and faithful servant, man of desires, chosen vessel, strong pillar of the church, bright lamp, star shining and illuminating the whole universe: you are a righteous man, like a blossoming phoenix , planted in the courts of your Lord, living in Mireh, you were fragrant with the world and the ever-flowing myrrh exuded the grace of God. By your procession, holy father, the sea was sanctified, when your many-wonderful relics marched to the city of Barsky, from east to west to praise the name of the Lord. Oh, wonderful and wondrous miracle worker, 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, the hungry feeder, the weeping joy, the naked, the sick doctor, the sea-floating steward, the liberator of captives, the widows and orphans, the nourisher and protector, the guardian of chastity, infants a meek chastiser, the old strengthened, fasting a mentor, the toilers restful, the poor and wretched abundantly rich. 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 the whole, and every country Christian, and people living from all bitterness with your help, we know, we know how much the prayer of the righteous can do, hastening for good: for you, the righteous, according to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, intercessor to the All-Merciful God of the Imams, and to yours, most kind father, warm intercession and we humbly flow to intercession. You protect us, like a cheerful and warm 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: tenderly We are unworthy to behold the heights of heaven, from the multitude of our iniquities, bound by sinful bonds, and neither the will of our Creator nor the will of our creator, nor the preservation of His commandments. At the same time, we bow our contrite and humble hearts to our Creator, and we ask for your fatherly intercession to Him: help us, servant 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 ours in the right faith, in which through your intercession and intercession, we will not be belittled by wounds, nor rebuke, nor by pestilence, nor by any wrath from our Creator, but let us live a peaceful life here and may we be worthy to see good on the land of the living, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One in the Trinity, glorified and worshiped God, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer for help on the road
O Saint Nicholas of Christ! Hear us, sinful servants of God (names), praying to you, and pray for us, unworthy, our Creator and Master, make our God merciful to us in this life and in the future, so that he does not reward us according to our deeds, but according to his own He will reward us with goodness. Deliver us, saints of Christ, from the evils that come upon us, and tame the waves, passions and troubles that rise against us, so that for the sake of your holy prayers the attack will not overwhelm us and we will not wallow in the abyss of sin and in the mud of our passions. Pray to Saint Nicholas, Christ our God, that he may grant us a peaceful life and remission of sins, and salvation and great mercy for our souls, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
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, sinful and sad, in this life, beg the Lord God to grant me the remission of all my sins, which I have sinned greatly from my youth, throughout my life. in my 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.
The words of canonical prayers have passed through millennia and acquired great power. But it is unlikely that Saint Nicholas the Pleasant will refuse to help a person who sincerely prays in front of his icon with simple words coming from the heart!
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