Believers always turn to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with their prayers. The clergy claim that not a single appeal has yet gone unheeded. The saint is revered not only in Russia, but also in other parts of the world.
Children look forward to the winter celebration in honor of St. Nicholas, because they know that a gift will be waiting for them in their boots or under their pillows. The saint always helped those around him, for which he earned the reputation of a benefactor.
When is St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Day celebrated in 2022?
Prayers can always be offered, not limited to certain dates. But you should know that Nicholas is celebrated when he is born, and on certain days he is praised after his death. At the same time, the connection with the Divine is strengthened. Saint Nicholas is also glorified when his relics were transferred from one city to another. On one of these days the Wonderworker is honored. Besides, traditions are always different.
Summer holiday
It is believed that Nikolin exists on a summer, winter day. In fact, there are 3 holidays of the Wonderworker marked on the calendar. The warm period is 2:11 August and 22 May. People call the first of them autumn due to its proximity to autumn, despite the fact that the holiday is celebrated in mid-August. The second is summer, even if it falls on May 22 (the 22nd of this month).
Holidays received such names not because the days belong to a certain time of year, but because of the peculiarities of weather conditions. So, in May (towards the end) it is often already as hot as in June, so the 22nd of this month is not called spring (spring) Nikola, but summer.
On this day many centuries ago (after 1087 AD), the relics of St. Nicholas were transferred from Myra in Lycia to the city of Bari (Italy).
This festival
celebrated by the clergy of the Orthodox Churches.
Among Catholics it has no significant religious significance; Nicholas Letny is celebrated only directly on the territory of Bari, the exact date is unknown.
Another date is also celebrated (August 11), since Nicholas was born, who during his lifetime will worship God and will be called the Wonderworker for his good deeds. The summer holiday of St. Nicholas in 2022 has not yet become as widespread as the winter one. This is due to the fact that the saint’s Nativity was celebrated in the church calendar quite recently (in 2004).
Nicholas was born in the mid-3rd century AD near Lycia on the Malay Peninsula. The parents were childless for a long time; they asked the Lord for a child. One day God heard their prayers. When Nikolai appeared, he began to join Christianity from childhood, studied the light of God, and at birth his sick mother was healed.
In life
From childhood the saint studied the Holy Scriptures and knew how to study them.
Nicholas then followed in the footsteps of his uncle the bishop. From a young age it was known about the miracles he performed. Many began to turn to Nikolai for help. In addition, he helped everyone in need.
Winter holiday
St. Nicholas Day at this time of year is celebrated to glorify the good deeds and holiness of the Bishop of Myra in Lycia. It is not his death that is celebrated, but his reunion with the Lord after death. The celebration will take place on December 19.
Prayers to the soldier's mother Nikola Ugodnik
On the Internet you can also find the so-called “prayer of the soldier’s mother to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.” In addition to the prayer itself to Nicholas the Pleasant, the description contains whole instructions on what a mother who is worried about her son, who is in the army, should do. So, after reading the prayer, you need to buy candles for the house and every time, worrying about your son, light a candle and imagine the image of your child. The author of the prayer calls this approach a good psychological technique that helps “on an energetic level” not only to the employee, but also to the mother herself.
For advice on the authenticity and reliability of this approach, we turned to Archpriest Alexei Mityushin, rector of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Kozhukhovo :
«It must be said that any prayer is, first of all, not a spell, but a live conversation with God. The ancient ascetics did not read prayers according to a prayer book, but prayed from their hearts. We, ordinary people, often lack high words when addressing the Lord. However, we should remember that in order to turn to God with all our dedication, it is enough for us to use the prayers that the holy saints of God left for us.
Therefore, if any mother wants to pray for her son, who is in need or serving in the army, it is better to turn to God with the usual prayer from the Orthodox prayer book.
Having looked at such a prayer, which is interspersed with conspiracies and witchcraft (which the author of this prayer clearly writes about), a person will continue to delve deeper into these non-church prayers and conspiracies. And in the future, he may even begin to practice some kind of meditation, which will ultimately end in communication with unclean spirits.
In this regard, there is no need to invent a wheel, look for special prayers, or follow techniques invented by someone. If parents want their son to be under the protection of God, then they must first of all live as Christians themselves, accept the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist, and then pray tirelessly - it doesn’t matter which saint, the main thing is that this prayer comes from the heart.
When addressing St. Nicholas the Pleasant, one can read an akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, kontakion, magnification, and sing a troparion to the saint. These prayers are traditional and composed correctly, according to church canons.”
Who is Saint Nicholas and why do children wait for him so much?
The day, which is celebrated in winter, is revered by everyone as a holiday of goodness and miracles. Initially, Saint Nicholas was known as the patron saint of children. He became the prototype of modern characters, who are called differently - Father Frost, Grandfather Frost and others. On this day, congratulations are said on St. Nicholas Day, children find gifts under the pillow. He became famous for his good deeds, disinterest, and became the patron saint of travelers, students, and sailors. But in fact, the saint helps everyone in need.
Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus
Long before the onset of the Orthodox holiday of St. Nicholas the Winter, the saint performed good deeds. So, he helped 3 sisters get married by giving them a dowry - each a bag of gold. In order not to embarrass the girls with his goodwill, he secretly helped: he threw a bag out the window. The last one landed on a sock that was drying in front of the fire. It is believed that this is how the image of Santa Claus was formed.
What children used to find under their pillow on St. Nicholas Day
The saint patronized children from poor families. He threw coins, sweets, and toys into their shoes, which were put out the door. Then they began to distribute sweets on the street in memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the holiday began to be celebrated after the 10th century AD, then throughout Europe they spread socks for gifts in front of the fireplace. These miracles are mainly associated with Nikolai Zima.
Children used to find simple treats under their pillows: apples, nuts, gingerbread, candy canes. At the same time, only obedient children received gifts. Even the children couldn't wait to eat the Nikolai gingerbread. There is a legend according to which the Wonderworker walks from door to door, accompanied by two angels and two devils. They tell the Saint how the child behaved during the year. In accordance with this, on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, children are given a twig or sweets.
Icons of St. Nicholas the Pleasant
In the Russian Church, two images of the Wonderworker are especially common: full-length and half-length. One of the classic examples of a life-size icon is a fresco from the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, painted at the beginning of the 12th century (kept in the Tretyakov Gallery). In this fresco the saint is depicted in full growth, with his blessing right hand and an open Gospel in his left hand.
Fresco of the Cathedral of the Ferapontov Monastery (Dionysius, 1502)
On belt-type icons the saint is depicted with a closed Gospel on his left hand. In Rus', the earliest surviving similar image dates back to the end of the 12th century. Ivan the Terrible brought it from Novgorod the Great and placed it in the Smolensk Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent (also kept in the Tretyakov Gallery).
Also in the iconography of the saint, the icons of St. Nicholas the Winter and St. Nicholas the Summer are sometimes distinguished, corresponding to the days of veneration in the year. At the same time, the “winter” Nikola is depicted in a bishop’s miter, and the “summer” one with his head uncovered. On most icons, on the sides of the head of St. Nicholas there are also small images of the Lord with the Gospel and the Most Holy Theotokos with the bishop's omophorion in his hands.
History of the celebration
Thanks to his good deeds, Nikola received the status of a saint. But both during his life and after his death, he continued to help people. Nicholas the Winter is the patron saint of sailors. He repeatedly resurrected sailors after death in the water. The salvation of the sailors is not the only miracle performed by the saint.
He helped
girls get married, protect children, are saved and are unfairly condemned.
St. Nicholas Day (December 19) began to be celebrated much later than the death of the Wonderworker, after the 10th century AD and. Later, during the Soviet Union, this date was forgotten. The holiday was canceled, since the purpose was to consign ancient customs to oblivion. After the collapse of the USSR, the atmosphere of the holiday on December 18-19 (Nikolina) returned.
Adult fun for St. Nicholas Day, traditions and beliefs
People always started looking forward to vacation early. The adults harnessed the horses and rode in the snow. They were thought to control how slippery it was. Before that, they often gathered in large crowds and brewed beer. The girls arranged a dowry and prepared for a possible wedding, because it was customary to send matchmakers for Christmas. They also cooked kutya, which was partially distributed to animals. Another ritual: during this period, compote of apples and pears was cooked, thanks to which they hoped for a good harvest the following summer.
Holiday bans
With the onset of the holiday, Orthodox people continue to fast. Believers should not consume foods of animal origin or dairy products. The list of prohibitions includes alcoholic beverages.
It is prohibited to carry out work related to repairs, handicrafts, and washing. You cannot refuse friends and relatives if they turn to you asking for help. Of course, one should refrain from quarreling; it was believed that this would ruin relations for the entire coming year.
Ancestors believed that on this day one should not lend money. The person who took your money out of your home will take away your luck and good fortune with it.
It was strictly forbidden to scold children; on the contrary, they should be treated more gently and with attention.
Features of the celebration
Nikola Summer is not as bright as winter. Many beliefs and traditions are associated with the celebration of the repose of the saint and his unity with the Creator. At the same time, the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is celebrated widely, but rather modestly. So, you can guess, prepare holiday dishes, perform harvest rituals, stay healthy, and have good luck.
But not recommended
drink a lot of alcohol.
Traditions and rituals
In the summer, fasting is not observed, since August 11 falls during the break between Lent (Assumption and Petrovsky). But in winter, during the celebration of St. Nicholas Day (a religious holiday), it is necessary to eat only meat-free dishes. They should not contain meat, eggs, or milk. Other traditions and rituals:
- Unmarried people practice fortune telling, but fortune telling is the simplest;
- pleasant little things and sweets are placed under children's pillows;
- traditional dishes: low-fat borscht, arable potatoes, cabbage, mushrooms, gnocchi;
- if possible, help those in need, as the Wonderworker did;
- St. Nicholas Day Camp, you can start preparing for the next holiday, but you must not forget about God;
- events, shows.
Sayings for St. Nicholas Day
Some of the sayings:
- If it is winter, until Nikolin’s day sweeps the path, the road will not stand;
- If winter comes on Michaelmas day, he will learn about Nikola.
Most statements reveal the relationship between weather conditions on Nicholas and winter/next year.
What can you eat?
The celebration of St. Nicholas Day takes place at the Velos nativity scene. For this reason, only lean foods are prepared. It should not contain meat, milk, or eggs. It is allowed to cook fish, pastries, and sweets. It is allowed to eat mushrooms, vegetables, fruits, first courses (without meat), nuts, dried fruits, honey. Among the drinks, jelly and compote are very popular.
Maybe
Celebrate the holiday with a glass of dry red wine.
What not to do?
It is recommended to engage in good deeds, thus glorifying the Wonderworker. But general cleaning, washing, and sewing are not worth doing. Hard physical work distracts from efforts towards the Divine, prayers to the Miracle Worker. Sometimes it is important to take a break from worldly affairs in order to draw closer to God.
For this reason
It is better to refrain from hard work and turn to the Lord through the saints.
Fortune telling on St. Nicholas Day
The girls prepared their outfits for Christmas, delighting their betrothed. Folk methods of fortune telling:
- they wrote the men's names on pieces of paper, they mixed them and put them under the pillow, on the morning of December 19th they took out a piece of paper with the names of their boyfriends;
- On the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, they cut a branch of a cherry tree and put it in water; if color appeared by spring, one could expect an imminent wedding.
What not to do on Nikola Letniy?
On May 22, 2022, it was wrong to be sad, indulge in memories of past negative events, or be lazy. The only thing you should give up regarding housework is knitting and sewing.
It is undesirable to use scissors and other sharp objects (kitchen utensils and garden tools do not count).
It was believed that if a person refuses to help someone who turned to him, he and his family will experience need and fail for 7 years in a row. Remember, helping the poor, orphans and everyone who asks is one of the rules of life that St. Nicholas always adhered to during his life.
It is not advisable to deny anything (within reason, of course) to children. Nikolai Ugodnik is their patron, so all the children need to be given gifts. It is not necessary to buy something expensive, let it be simple gifts, for example, souvenirs, toys or their favorite treats. Traditionally, gifts were always placed under children’s pillows or hidden in socks, which were then hung on a rope over the stove (fireplace).
It is inappropriate to indulge in riotous revelry. Dancing until you drop, heavy alcohol intoxication and loud chants are unacceptable. Also, clarification of personal relationships, much less quarrels, scandals, and fights, is not encouraged. Swearing on May 22 means inviting failure.
Nikola Summer is a holiday that is loved by many, especially children. This is a celebration dedicated to the end of spring and the beginning of the summer season. It is important to spend this holiday correctly, so that St. Nicholas fulfills all your wishes and becomes a patron and reliable protector for you and your family! Source
Signs and beliefs on St. Nicholas Day 2022
If weather changes occur during a church holiday, they are interpreted in a special way. Beliefs, signs and decoding:
- if the first snow falls, there will be a good wheat harvest;
- rainy weather - cabbage and cucumbers will be born;
- low air temperature - it will be cold all winter;
- Saint Nicholas fulfills the wishes expressed on December 19; by the way, the Christian summer holiday prayer of the Wonderworker is no less powerful;
- It is not recommended to accumulate debt for St. Nicholas Day, this may mean that the next year will be difficult;
- The saint's holiday (winter, spring, summer) should be celebrated by doing good to others, not to oneself.
Miracle on St. Nicholas Day
On this holiday, various events occur that are inexplicable from the point of view of the human factor. For example, there is evidence of the appearance of the icon of the Wonderworker. This happened 3 days after the celebration of St. Nicholas Day (2017) in the village of Velikoretskoye (in the monastery’s barnyard). This is not the first time this has happened here. The appearance of the image of the Wonderworker occurred much earlier. Where this happens, temples are built. People come from different parts of Russia to connect with the Divine.
Life of Nicholas the Wonderworker
He was born in a Greek colony (3rd century AD). The parents were wealthy, but they did not interfere with the initiation of their only son into the Holy Scriptures of God. When Nicholas began to show success in his studies, his uncle, a bishop, patronized him. At first, the young man was appointed as a lecturer. He soon became a priest and then a bishop. According to another version, he immediately received a high rank (so it was possible).
Nicholas prayed a lot; the years of his ministry occurred at the height of the persecution of Christians. At the same time, he fought against paganism. According to legend, it was Nicholas who destroyed the Temple of Artemis. At the same time, he helped ordinary people who were in trouble, in poverty, to find a better life.
How does St. Nicholas the Wonderworker help?
You can offer several prayers:
- about marriage;
- sailors for rescue and assistance on the water;
- even unjustly convicted prisoners can turn to the saint for help;
- he is asked to strengthen faith and lead unbelievers to the Lord;
- you can ask the saint for help in various difficulties.
How to celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas the Veshny
The holiday has many names, including Nikola Veshny, Grass Day, Nikolai Ugodnik. By this day there is already a lot of grass, and people drive their cattle out to pasture. Shepherds always looked after the flock, and so that they had a desire to look after the animals, they were fed a hearty lunch and pies.
Summer Nicholas was considered the patron saint of the family hearth. There is even one story connected with moments from the life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. One of the townspeople wanted to change his financial situation, and could not think of anything better than to give his daughter in marriage to a rich guy. But the groom’s relatives guessed that the girl was from a simple family and did not agree with the wedding. Nicholas decided to intervene and helped solve the problem of marriage inequality. He gave the girl a wallet with gold coins, so she no longer had problems with the dowry.
Therefore, on the morning of St. Nicholas the Summer, young girls turned to the saint with requests to meet “the one.” Often they asked for a wealthy, handsome and intelligent groom.
Subject:
- Nicholas the Wonderworker
- Church holidays
