My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
On the 6th of December, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates our
holy Father among the Saints, the Wonderworker, NICHOLAS, Archbishop
of Myra in Lycia.
Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone
The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith,
an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause,
thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O
Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our
souls be saved.
Kontakion Hymn. Third Tone
Thou, O righteous Nicholas, in Myra truly wast shown forth as a
sacred minister fulfilling Christ’s holy Gospel; for thou didst lay
down thy life for thy flock and people and, O Saint, didst save the
innocent from unjust death. Wherefore, thou wast sanctified as
a great initiate of the Divine grace of God.
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Saint Nicholas, the namesake of victory and our Wonderworking Father among the Saints, was born in Patara, a city of Lycia. The exact date of his birth is unknown. He flourished during the 300s, the epoch of the impious autocrats Diocletian (286-305 A.D.) and Maximian (286-305 A.D.). Saint sNicholas was Archbishop of Myra at that time and continued his episcopacy through the reign of Emperor Constantine I the Great (306-337 A.D.). Constantine was the sole Augustus in the West after the defeat in 312 A.D. of Maxentius (308-312 A.D.), a rival Augustus in the West. In 324 A.D., Constantine became sole Emperor after the death of Augustus Licinius (306-324 A.D.) of the East, who had been sharing power with Galarius until the latter’s death. Maximinus (308-314 A.D.), who commanded Asia Minor, was overthrown by Licinius in 324 A.D. Emperor Constantine, upon ISSUING THE EDICT OF MILAN (313 A.d.), ENSURED FULL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR CHRISTIANS, THUS ALLOWING THE CHURCH TO EMERGE FROM THE CATACOMBS. Saint Nicholas participated in the First Ecumenical Synod at Nicaea, which convened in 325 A.D.
The life of our holy Father Nicholas and his accomplishments are also able to inspire one to implement such deeds as his. He was the scion of Christian parents, Theophanes and Nonna. They were neither very poor that they might be despised by others, nor very rich that they might become arrogant in their thoughts. They had what was sufficient for their needs; and yet, at the same time, they were able to aid the poor with their alms. The virtue of the parents was reflected in their son. The Lord says in the Holy Scripture, "The tree is known from the root" [Matthew 12:33]. The parents gegat no other son, either before or after their Nicholas. Even as an infant, Nicholas displayed what he would later become. Saint Nicholas practiced strict temperance during his entire life, especially on Wednesday and Friday. The infant was sanctified by the prayer and piety of both his parents, so that from his youth Nicholas’ heart and soul were devoted to God. After the birth of Nicholas, his parents adopted the celibate life. At his Baptism, the infant Nicholas afterward stood up straight in the font for three hours, thus glorifying the holy Trinity.
From his youth, whatever he could understand of the sacred writings and Sacred Scripture, he was in the habit of committing to memory. On account of his quick mind and the grace of the Holy Spirit, he attained wisdom and knowledge. The Bishop of Patara, who was his father’s brother, was also named Nicholas. He also took notice of the lad’s pursuits and manner of life. He recommended to the parent that they consecrate their son to the service of God. The parents readily heeded the bishop’s good recommendation and consecrated to the Lord the child whom they had received from HIs as a gift.
Ordination to the Priesthood
When Nicholas grew up, he showed himself to be an honorable man. He was deemed worthy of the Priesthood and was ordained by Bishop Nicholas. Just as Saint Nicholas was about to be ordained to the Priesthood, Bishop Nicholas was inspired by the Holy Spirit to utter, before the entire congregation, these prophetic words regarding his nephew: "Brethren, I see a new sun rising above the earth. Father Nicholas shall comfort and console many of the afflicted and shall dispatch many souls to the Kingdom of the heavens. Blessed is the flock that shall be vouchsafed such a shepherd; for he will nourish the souls entrusted to him on the pasturage of piety. We shall all find him a ready helper in misfortunes and tribulations." Indeed, all these divine predictions came to be, as the passage of time would clearly evince.
After the Saint was ordained to the Priesthood, one could not recount all his virtues and the good deeds he performed. His uncle the Bishop desired to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He decided to entrust his nephew with the care and supervision of the Church of Patara and its Monastery. The Bishop had built the Monastery, naming it New Sion. The holy Priest Nicholas governed the Diocesan house and Monastery, even as the bishop himself would have, had he been present. The dignity of this Office in fact would follow later for our Father Nicholas.
Father Nicholas lost his parents at an early age. He was left with not a little inheritance, which he distributed for the poor’s food and shelter. He clothed the naked and cared for the orphan and widow. Although his modest fortune was being distributed toward numerous acts of charity, Father Nicholas carefully watched for situations where the need was the greatest. Saint Nicholas practised almsgiving (charity) in secret. One of the most well known stories, is the story, of how Saint Nicholas saved the three young sisters from harlotry. The Priest Nicholas bound three hundred gold coins in a handkerchief and secretly went by night to the father’s house and tossed it through an open window. Saint Nicholas did this act of charity three times thus saving all three young women from prostitution. All three sisters were married thanks to the Saint. Their father found out that Father Nicholas was their generous benefactor and fell before the Saint’s feet and with tears began saying, "I thank thee, O servant of God, that thou didst pity me…". The Saint asked the Father to promise never to reveal and say anything regarding it. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the father kept the secret. His many other acts of kindness and generosity remained concealed, even as he wished. No one learned of his charities, vigils, fasts, and other virtues. God alone fully knows the labors of Saint Nicholas. The Saint refused to be praised by men, for he sought only God’s glory. The fact is, however, that a smuch as Father Nicholas kept concealing his works, God wished to reveal His servant and honor him: for the good works done by Saint Nicholas honored God.
On account of this history and the Saint’s many similar acts, he became the Patron Saint of children and model of the cheerful giver who expects nothing in return. In the East, he is especially venerated by sailors. In Northern Europe, his name was changed to Santa Claus. It was popularized in America by the Dutch Protestants of New Amsterdam, who had converted the name Saint Nicholas to Sint Klaes and then to Santa Claus.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
The Saint was desirous to visit the All-Holy Sepulcher of the Lord. He was filled with longing to see and venerate those holy sites, where the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ trod. It was also his keen hope to find a place of solitude and quiet, where he might abide alone. Father Nicholas boarded an Egyptian vessel with fellow Christians. After putting out to sea, the Saint fell asleep. In his sleep, by Divine revelation, he beheld the enemy of truth, the devil, sever the ropes of the mast. When the Saint arose in the morning, he foresaw imminent peril close at hand. The devil wished to drown all on board. Father Nicholas notified the seamen and said, "Today, a fierce storm shall strike us, because I beheld in my dream that we shall endure much. Nevertheless, don ot fear; have hope in God, and He shall deliver us from death." While the Saint was speaking these words, there immediately appeared a great and dark cloud. The wind rose up, and the sea became agitated. Having found themselves in such desperate straits, the passengers besought the holy Priest Nicholas with tear-filled eyes to entreat God Almighty on their behalf to cease the powerful wind. The Saint stood in their midst and offered up fervent supplication. Straightway, the mighty wind died, and the raging sea grew calm. Those on board rejoiced upon receiving so speedy a response to the holy Priest’s petitions.
Now during the time that the sea and wind rose up, one of the mariners ascended the mast in order to fix the cables of the sails. He then fell headlong down to the deck below and died instantly upon impact. The Saint prayed to the Almighty God to raise the dead mariner, as if the man were sleeping. The Lord heard His holy Priest’s entreaty and restored the dead sailor. {Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
[ To be cnntinued}
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 