December 19 The Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Wonderworker, St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia. Among those who especially venerate this holy saint of God are sailors and cannibals, whose patron Saint Nicholas. On this day, the Odessa St. Nicholas Church at the Marine Station celebrated its twentieth birthday. The festive liturgy on the patronal feast day was celebrated by His Grace Diodorus, Bishop of Yuzhnensky, vicar of the Odessa Diocese. And after the end of the service, he consecrated the mosaic image of St. Nicholas, and also presented church awards.
Saint Nicholas is known throughout the world for his kindness and generosity. And for sailors and travelers, he is a close assistant, since more than once he defended them in difficult times. In the history of the saint's life, there is a case when, as a young man, on one of his sea voyages from Myra to Alexandria, he resurrected a sailor who fell from a piece of ship rigging in a storm and crashed to death.
Saint Nicholas is especially venerated by sailors because more than once, there are known cases when he appeared to sailors who were in distress, who were about to die, but he came and, with his miraculous intervention, changed these circumstances for the better. Therefore, today we venerate him with love, gather in his churches on the days of his memory. We believe and know that as he who has boldness before God, as a friend of God, he will certainly fulfill our requests.
20 years ago, on the shores of the Black Sea, with the blessing of His Eminence Agafangel, Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail, the St. Nicholas Church was built so that every wandering could ask for help from his patron. After all, from time immemorial throughout the Christian world, sailors received blessings before the voyage, and, returning, brought gifts to the image of the revered saint.
Odessa sailors also venerate the saint and before each voyage they come to pray to him at St. Nicholas Church. And wives and mothers pray for their safe return home.
: before each departure on the flight, of course, we will contact you,
As my grandfather once said to me: without God, not to the threshold, but with God, even over the sea. Therefore I am following his instructions. I think it helps, of course.
I go to church every weekend, I pray for him, that's how we were taught, I don't know how young people are now. And today, I go here and on May 22, and on December 19, we every time.
I have a son, a sailor, a senior mechanic, and a grandson of a sailor.
Every year I come to this church, I pray for them, I often go to church, I wish them health, calm weather, friendship,
And on the flight there is always a son and a grandson, they pray, and in difficult moment he definitely helps them.
On a festive day, Vladyka Diodorus held a liturgy in the church, and with the blessing of the Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail Agafangel, he congratulated the rector of the church, and presented high award for services to the Odessa diocese.
His Grace Diodorus, Bishop of Yuzhnensky, Vicar of the Odessa Diocese
It is customary for us to give gifts to children on this day, but since we are all big children, each of us also wants to receive a gift, although many already walk with 3 legs, so I wish you, and each individually, so that joy to the Lord, gratitude to the mother God for her cover were always your companions. And St. Nicholas, not only in the days of his memory, but also sent you small and large gifts as often as possible. Let us understand that they are undeserved, but still they will delight us.
Sailors with many years of experience admit that they do not go to sea without prayer, and always take the icon of St. Nicholas with them.
despite the position, religion, all sailors prefer and respect Nicholas the saint. They go to church, maybe not everyone, but I personally prefer, I go.
I always take a small icon with me. I was in the jir, with the Arabs. And under the Liberian flag, I worked and I always took an icon with a wallpaper. The icon is somehow easier on the voyage or something.
: to pray to Nicholas the saint, to ask him to help our children, all sailors, families.
We visit this temple regularly as a service. we go to Nicholas only in this temple. We go to different churches. When we walk, we put a candle to Nikolai the saint, constantly because they put a candle to everyone and it is obligatory for Nicholas the saint, of course, this is the protector of sailors, tradesmen,
Vladyka Diodorus consecrated the largest mosaic in the Odessa region (300,000 thousand mosaic cubes), located on outside St. Nicholas Church. The image of Nikolai the Pleasant can be seen by sailors leaving for flights and returning home to their native Odessa.
His Grace Diodorus, Bishop of Yuzhnensky, Vicar of the Odessa Diocese
Anyone who enters or leaves the port of Odessa will see the image, it will be visible from any ship, even the largest ocean liner, and will remember that St. Nicholas is always there.
Sailors are always a very religious people, because their profession is inextricably linked with the elements and numerous dangers in which human strength and skills are lacking, and naval sailors in particular. But even against the background of the latter, the servicemen of the Russian Navy, famous for many Christian traditions, stand out.
On the eve of Day of the Russian NavyLet us recall on what foundation the Russian fleet grew up and how strongly it is connected with Orthodoxy.
To begin with at least the main thing - with the ship's flag, which is a shrine for every military man. In the Russian naval fleet, the St.Andrew's flag is used as a battle banner, introduced at the very beginning of the 18th century by the decree of Peter the Great and dedicated to the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.
St. Andrew's flag
Great deeds in Russia always began with an appeal for patronage to God. When, in 1699, Peter I planned to create a fleet and recapture from the Swedes a vital outlet for Russian trade Baltic Sea, he decided to apply for patronage to the Apostle Andrew.
The first-called disciple of Christ is considered the patron saint of fishermen and representatives of professions associated with the sea. He was a native of Galilee fishermen and his youth was inextricably linked with sailing in the Sea of Galilee (Lake of Gennesaret), which at times was quite turbulent.
On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and the Church appeared, the disciples of the Savior distributed among themselves by lot the countries in which they were to preach. Here the Apostle Andrew got the lands around the Black Sea - the northern coast of modern Turkey, the coast of the Caucasus and Stavropol, Crimea and Bulgaria. On the way, he again had to travel by ship.
According to Tradition, the Apostle Andrew also had a chance to preach on the banks of the Dnieper just in those places where the first capital of Russia, the city of Kiev, was later built. Therefore, the Apostle Andrew was especially revered in our country.
After many years of travel and evangelistic labors, the apostle Andrew the First-Called ended up on the territory of modern Macedonia, where the local authorities crucified him on an oblique cross for preaching the Gospel. So he was martyred.
When preparing the Charter for the fleet, Peter I gave the following description of its future flag: "The flag is white, across it there is a blue St. Andrew's cross, with which he christened Russia." Thus, from its very foundation, the Russian fleet was dedicated to God and placed under the patronage of the Apostle Andrew.
Patrons of sailors
In addition to the holy apostle, the Russian fleet also has whole line heavenly intercessors, to whom sailors often turn for help: St. Nicholas, Mir Lycian miracle worker, who for life resurrected a sailor who crashed to death, who fell from the mast, and after his death in miracles on the waters he calmed the sea or saved drowning sailors from death; Passion-bearer Klimenty Nagorny (uncle of Tsarevich Alexei shot in Yekaterinburg), who during his lifetime was a simple Baltic sailor - hardworking, honest and loyal; the martyr Foka, who, according to Legend, lived in the seaside city of Sinop (northeast of modern Turkey) in the 5th century and lit a bright fire on the seashore on rainy nights, the light from which helped sailors find the right way to the coast; as well as the holy righteous admiral Fyodor Ushakov.
"Thanks be to God, for all the indicated battles with the enemy and during the entire existence of this fleet under my command at sea, with the preservation of the Highest goodness, not a single vessel from this was lost and not a single person from our servants was captured by the enemy," he wrote in 1804 Admiral Ushakov in a memo to the emperor.
This righteous naval commander spent many naval battles and in none of them did he suffer defeat, but the Church was numbered among the saints not for this, but for his constant hope in the help of God, for his sincere zeal in all the affairs entrusted to him and for the constant care of every person under his command or in the area of responsibility assigned to him.
Fyodor Fedorovich Ushakov began every battle, and indeed every important matter, with prayer and communion in the Church of the Holy Sacraments. Before the battle, he admonished his sailors: "Going into battle, read Psalms 26, 50 and 90 and you will not be taken by a bullet or a saber!" While a squadron of Russian ships was in Constantinople in 1798, Saint Admiral Ushakov, together with the Russian ambassador to Turkey, paid a visit to Patriarch George V of Constantinople, and only after his blessing began the liberation of the Greek islands from the French occupation.
How the flag and quarterdeck became a ship's shrine
A raised flag is not just a visible symbol indicating that a ship belongs to a particular fleet, but also a signal to the enemy, indicating the crew's readiness to repel any aggression directed against their homeland. Bye the flag is raised, the ship is alive and the sailors are fighting, which means that the naval commander and comrades in arms on other ships can count on them.
The ancient prototype of the flag was church banners (banners), on which the face of the Savior was often embroidered. Simply put, the first battle banners are icons. Hence the attitude to them as to a shrine. In addition, before being handed over to the ship, battle banners and flags must be brought to the temple, where the priest with prayer performs the Rite of consecration over them.
Since ancient times, there has been a tradition of counting quarterdecks as the most honorable place on a ship - part of the upper deck from the mainmast to the mizzen mast. This is due to the fact that it was here that the icons of the Lord, the Mother of God and the saints were located here during the ship's prayers. Also on the quarterdecks on Russian warshipsa team gathered to read the Naval Regulations, orders were announced and court sentences were passed.
When entering the quarterdeck, all sailors, from sailor to admiral, were required to take off their headdress. Later, the removal of the headdress replaced the performance of a military salute by briefly touching the visor of the cap, signifying the readiness to take off the headdress.
Construction and naming of ships
The construction of part of warships for the Russian fleet is always carried out with donations from the people and various organizations. Including believers and the Church. This tradition originated from the very founding of the Russian fleet, when monasteries and merchant kumpanstvo tsar Peter was appointed to carry "ship duty." At the same time, some bishops and priests also showed private initiative in collecting donations.
For example, St. Mitrofan of Voronezh urged the people to help the tsar with all their might, and once gave the tsar 6,000 rubles. Later, Saint Mitrofan sent money to the tsar several times, attributing it to the soldiers. Also donated money for the creation of the fleet and Novgorod Metropolitan Job.
In the following centuries, during the years of wars, the hierarchy held a special collection in the churches for the creation and strengthening of the army and navy. Including these funds twice helped the country to recreate the fleet after the terrible defeats in the Crimean and Russo-Japanese wars.
During the Great Patriotic War believers donated 300,000,000 rubles to the Defense Fund. This money was used to build the tank column "Ditriy Donskoy" and the squadron "Alexander Nevsky", but they also went to other needs, including the creation or repair of warships. Today the tradition of building part of warships with donations also lives on ...
The name of the combat units of the fleet in honor of the saints or church holidays- also very ancient custom... He was present in the Russian navy from the moment of its foundation. So, one of the first ships of Peter the Great was called "Goto Predistinatsiya" - "God's Foresight". In 1758, the largest for that time, the 100-gun battleship Saint Dmitry Rostovsky, was launched.
The ships under the command of Saint Admiral Ushakov also mainly bore the names associated with the Church: "Nativity of Christ", "Mary Magdalene", "Saint Vladimir", "Saint Paul", "Transfiguration of the Lord", "Saint George the Victorious", "Saint Andrew the First-Called", "Ambrose of Mediolansky" and others.
The modern Russian Navy includes such ships as: "Yaroslav the Wise", "Admiral Ushakov", "George the Victorious", "Prince Vladimir", "Dmitry Donskoy", "Ilya Muromets" and others.
Spiritual nourishment of sailors
Another tradition that originated in the times of Peter the Great and which has survived to this day is the military clergy. Peter I introduced the positions of naval chief-hieromonks, the rights and duties of which were defined in the Naval Regulations.
Ober-hieromonks blessed ships during their laying and launching, as well as ship flags and weapons of naval sailors. Before and after the battle, they served prayers, and during the battle they helped the wounded and encouraged the timid sailors. In peacetime, chief hieromonks were usually located within the naval bases, where they performed divine services in garrison temples specially designated for prayer by military personnel.
From the beginning of the 90s, the Russian Orthodox Church again began to nourish the military. In 2009, the institution of military clergy was restored and priests reappeared in regiments and on warships. Also, garrison temples have been restored or built in the location of the main naval bases.
Invincibility of Russian sailors
The bravery and resilience of the Russian soldier and, in particular, the Russian sailor or marine is known all over the world. None is courage in a person who does not know whom he protects and for which he is ready to pay with his life.
A warrior defending his Fatherland must know why he takes up arms and when and how he can use them. The rationale for the use of weapons should not only be requirements military regulations, but also the moral justification of its use. It was Christianity that gave the Russian soldiers a solid understanding of their own righteousness in defending the Motherland, based on spiritual experience and gave military service the nature of moral service.
On the last Sunday of July, Russia traditionally celebrates the Day of the Navy, which has been making great discoveries and humanitarian missions for more than 300 years, but, most importantly, it has been guarding the shores of the Motherland from any threats.
We congratulate everyone related to the fleet on this wonderful holiday and wish them to remember how closely the life of a sailor is connected with the Church and with the help of God and not to forget to pray to the Lord in any circumstances of their life. He is always ready to strengthen, comfort and bestow with his mercy those who believe in Him.
Andrey Segeda
In contact with
HEAVENLY SPEAKERS
(by profession).
Problems at work happen to everyone from time to time. But sometimes it will be so oppressive that you do not know who to pray to, whom to ask for help. We hope that our tips will help you out in difficult times.
TRADING PEOPLE
Everyone involved in trade, salespeople, commercial directors and sales managers can ask for help Archbishop Nicholas of Mirliki.
(Nicholas the Wonderworker)
And that's why.
When a great famine struck in Lycia, Archbishop Nicholas, in order to save the starving, performed a miracle - he sent on a merchant who loaded with large bread, a strange dream... The merchant saw in a dream an old man who commanded him to deliver bread to Lycia, for he buys all the cargo from him and gives him three gold coins as a deposit. Waking up, the merchant found three gold coins in his hand and realized that this was a command from above. He brought bread to Lycia, and the hungry were saved. When the merchant told the townspeople about the elder he had seen in a dream, they recognized him as their archbishop from the description.
SEAFARERS AND TRAVELERS
Archbishop Nikolay Mirlikisky also patronizes sailors. Once a ship sailing from Egypt to Lycia was overtaken by a violent storm. On it the sails were torn off, the masts were broken, the waves were ready to swallow the ship, doomed to inevitable death, and no forces could prevent it. The dying sailors began to pray fervently, and Saint Nicholas appeared at the stern at the helm, began to steer the ship, and safely brought him to the harbor.
DIPLOMATS AND POSTAL WORKERS,
PHILATELISTS
Their patron is Archangel Gabriel- a heavenly messenger whom God sends to tell people about his plans. So, the archangel Gabriel appeared righteous Anna, who suffered from infertility for many years, and said that her prayers were heard by God, and soon she would give birth to the blessed daughter Mary, through whom the world would receive salvation.
He told the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of the son of God. Later, God's representative explained to an angry Joseph that the conception of the Son of God came from the Holy Spirit, and his beloved Mary remained innocent. Why not a diplomat ...
EDITORS, PUBLISHERS AND WRITERS,
PRINTERS AND BINDERS,
JOURNALISTS AND TELEVISIONERS
... took under his wing the apostle John the Evangelist, beloved disciple of Christ. John created his own version of the Gospel, and at the same time the Apocalypse. And he performed many miracles: he raised two hundred people from the dead, drove out a demon from a pagan castle, turned salty sea water in the drinking room. He was such an amazing person that even the dust from his grave smelled sweet and healed the sick for a whole year.
And they are also patronized Saint Luke.
ICONWRITERS, ARTISTS
Evangelista Luke asked when studying icon painting, St. Luke in Orthodoxy is considered the first icon painter and is the Heavenly patron of icon painters, painters; also doctors and farmers receive special help from him.
FOR SINGERS, ARTISTS OF THE CHOIR
AND VOCALISTS
Reverend Roman nicknamed “ Sweet singer”, Was a Greek by birth and assiduously helped during divine services, although he did not differ either in voice or hearing. At one of the pre-Christmas services, ill-wishers pushed Roman to the pulpit of the temple and made him sing. In the presence of the emperor and the court retinue, embarrassed and frightened, with his trembling voice and indistinct singing, he was publicly disgraced. Arriving home completely depressed, Saint Roman at night prayed long and intensely in front of the icon. Mother of God pouring out your sorrow. The Mother of God appeared to him, gave him a paper scroll and ordered him to eat it. And then a miracle happened: Roman received a beautiful, melodic voice and at the same time a poetic gift.
The next day Saint Roman came to church for the All-night Vigil at Christmas. He insisted that he be allowed to sing again on the pulpit, and this time he sang so beautifully the hymn he had composed, "Virgin of the Day," that caused general delight. The emperor and patriarch thanked Saint Roman, and the people called him the Sweet Songwriter. Since then, Saint Romanus has adorned the divine services with his wondrous singing and inspired prayers.
Beloved by all, Saint Roman became a teacher of singing in Constantinople and raised high the grandeur of Orthodox divine services. For his poetic gift, he took an honorable place among church hymnographers. More than a thousand prayers and hymns are attributed to him on various holidays. Especially famous is the akathist to the Annunciation of the Mother of God, which is sung on the fifth Saturday of Great Lent. Other akathists were composed on his model. The Monk Roman died in 556.
DANCERS
those associated with dance and choreography are protected Holy Martyr Vitus... (Boy 7-12 years old).
According to legend, he went to Rome, where he expelled demons from the emperor Diocletian. But when Vit refused to pray to the Roman gods, he was arrested again and thrown to the lions, which did not touch the righteous. Then Vita was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil.
For unknown reasons, in the 16th century in Germany, there was a belief that one could gain health by dancing in front of the statue of St. Vitus on his name day.
BUILDERS
revered as their helper Saint Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, on whose initiative the first stone buildings of the Kremlin were built.
REALTORS
Patrons of realtors Saints Alexander of Kushtsky and Euthymius of Syanzhemsky.
Having met in a deep forest, the monks rejoiced at each other and, for the sake of even greater silence, decided to exchange deserts: Euthymius remained on the banks of the Syanzhema River, in Alexander's cell, and Alexander went to Kushta, settling in the monastery of Euthymius. Both saints were distinguished by amazing patience and humility - qualities necessary for any city dweller who started to solve the housing problem.
MINING INDUSTRY WORKERS
They are patronized holy great martyr Barbara of Iliopol... Her father, a pagan Dioscorus, upon learning that his daughter had become a Christian, became indescribable rage. He drew his sword and chased the girl, intending to kill the disobedient woman. But a mountain blocked their path, which parted and hid the saint in a crevice, on the other side of which there was an exit upward.
ECONOMISTS
Bankers, accountants, financiers, employees of tax inspectorates and treasuries can consider as their patron the holy apostle Matthew, which is usually depicted with bills or a sack of gold. By his profession, Matthew was a tax collector, but when he heard the voice of Christ: “Follow me,” he threw the collected taxes into the dust and went after the Savior lightly.
TO CARS, DRIVERS AND everyone whose activities are related to carrying heavy loads ,
patronizes Saint Christopher... This name was given to the hermit Oferro, who lived at the river crossing. Once he happened to carry in his arms across the river little boy who turned out to be Jesus himself. In gratitude, Jesus baptized Oferro, giving him the name Christopher, which means "Christ-bearer."
TEACHERS AND TEACHERS
Your patron saints - Cyril and Methodius... Saint Cyril, having received an excellent education, perfectly comprehended all the sciences of his time and many languages. With the help of his brother Methodius and his disciples, he compiled Slavic alphabet and translated into Slavic language Gospel and Psalms.
PUPILS AND STUDENTS
Your patron - Venerable Sergius Radonezh... They pray to him for help in difficult teaching. At the age of seven, Sergius was sent to study literacy, but science was not given to him, and the boy suffered terribly because of this. Once in the field, he met a monk. I went up to him and told him about my misfortune. After listening to the boy, the elder gave him part of the prosphora and ordered him to eat it. At that very moment, grace descended on the boy. The Lord gave him memory and understanding, and he began to easily assimilate bookish wisdom.
Martyr Tatiana considered a patroness due to historical coincidence. It was on January 25 (Tatiana's day) that Empress Elizabeth approved the project of Moscow University. And the great martyr Tatiana was named his patroness.
DOCTORS AND PHARMACISTS
Doctors have not one, but four patron saints. Healer Panteleimon, who devoted his life to the suffering, sick and poor, healed all those who turned to him free of charge. Soon, word of the gracious physician spread everywhere. Leaving other doctors, people began to turn only to Saint Panteleimon.
Saint Luke
Evangelist Luke- Christian saint, revered as the author of one of the four Gospels and Acts of the Holy Apostles. He was a doctor, possibly a ship doctor, he is asked to heal eye diseases.
Hypatius the Healer
also devoted himself to serving the sick and for this he received from God the gift of healing people by the simple laying on of hands.
Brothers Kosma and Damian
could heal any disease, even the most terrible. The blind, the lame, the possessed went to the miracle workers in droves and they did not refuse to help anyone. On the contrary, in order to be more accessible to the sick, they themselves looked for them, moving from city to city. And they did it absolutely free of charge, for which the people called them unmercenaries.
Veterinarians
Not only people were healed Cosma and Damian, but also our smaller brothers. Grateful animals knew their benefactors, and therefore sometimes followed on their heels.
MILITARY
In general, all military people are under reliable protection Saint George, who is called the Victorious for courage and for spiritual victory over the torturers who could not force him to renounce Christianity. George the Victorious became famous for his miraculous help to people in mortal danger.
As well as the military, armed forces under the tutelage of the monk
Ilya Muromets of Pechersky.
Patron saints of the types of troops:
Internal Troops (Ministry of Internal Affairs)
Vladimir, Equal to the Apostles Prince.
Navy
Apostle Andrew the First-Called,
Saint righteous Theodore Ushakov.
Elijah, the prophet.
Troops special purpose
Alexander Nevskiy.
Tank forces
Text by Sergei Borisov
In the Christian tradition - on Jesus Christ, who in one word stopped the storm on Lake Genesaret, on the holy ascetics and martyrs, patrons of sailors.
In Orthodoxy, these are the apostles Peter and Andrew, the saints Spyridon of Trimyphuntsky and the martyr Foka of Sinop (he was an ordinary gardener, but in the care of sailors who sailed by, he lit a lighthouse in his garden every night), of the Russian locally venerated saints, these are Arseny Konevsky, the Novgorod miracle worker and the holy youth Artemy Verkolsky, as well as Saints Zosima, Savvaty and German of Solovetsky, the Monk John of Kronstadt, a friend and prayer book for Russian sailors, and the sailors have their own saint - Fedor (Theodor) Ushakov, a famous naval commander in the world.
The first of the first in the line of patron saints, of course, St. Nicholas (aka Nikola of the Sea), Archbishop of Mirlikia. By the way, he is also the patron saint of children, merchants, pharmacists, bakers, coopers, brewers, newlyweds, shoe shiners and old maids, but above all - sailors.
It is believed that Saint Nicholas himself was from a family of fishermen, and even more, his family owned an entire fishing fleet. When his parents died, Nikolai, who inherited the entire fortune, gave the boats and nets to the fishermen, since he decided to devote himself to the service of the Lord. He went to Alexandria, where he took lessons in wisdom and obedience from the righteous there, and on the way back a disaster struck ... A storm began. One of the sailors climbed the mast in the hope of seeing the saving land, but could not resist, fell, hit the deck and died in terrible agony. Nicholas knelt over him and offered a prayer to the Almighty. And a miracle happened: the sailor opened his eyes, sighed ... revived! Upon arrival in Mira, a thriving city in Lycia, Nicholas took the sailor with him to church, but he did not reach the church, preferring a drinking establishment to her. There he told everyone who was ready and wanted to listen to him about his resurrection. The rumor of the miracle quickly reached the church fathers, who at that moment were in deep thought. Not long before this, the bishop of Myra had died, it was necessary to elect a new one, and one of the hierarchs dreamed in a dream that he should become a "man of victory." But who is this man? And suddenly the news of a miracle, and besides, the miracle worker is called Nicaea-Laos (from the word nike - "victory"). After that, the church fathers immediately offered Nicholas to become their new bishop. He answered with humble consent, but did not refuse sea voyages, considering it his duty to sanctify - to carry the light of Christianity to other lands. And so, while sailing to the Holy Land, the storm began again, but the prayer of Nicholas of Mirliki quieted the storm. And when he returned back, Nikolai, on the contrary, asked the Lord to call her ... The dishonorable shipbuilders refused to take him home, referring to a profitable trade cargo, and then the miracle worker asked strong wind and the high waves that drove the ship where it needed to go.
After the death of Nicholas of Mirlikisky, another miracle happened. The ship on which the Patriarch of Constantinople Athanasius sailed from Egypt to the same Lycia, accompanied by the clergy, was overtaken by bad weather. Sails tore off in squalls, ropes burst, masts collapsed. It was beyond human power to prevent the inevitable. And then Athanasius began to ask Saint Nicholas for help. Suddenly the saint himself appeared in the sky, stretching out his hand over the waters. Then Nikolai suddenly found himself at the stern oar, and ... the ship safely reached the harbor.
The sailors know that the intercession of Nicholas of Mirlikisky is not only effective, but always swift. They call him that - "an ambulance". In the manuscript monument "Ustyansky correct" this explanation is given: only Nicholas the Pleasant, for he is especially pleasing to the Lord, is given "God's mercy forward", that is, in a critical situation he can not only act as a mediator between people and the Almighty, but also act independently.
This kind of intercession has long been appreciated by sailors, which is why the so-called "sea cathedrals" - temples where sailors were spiritually nourished, were dedicated mainly to St. Nicholas. So it was before, and so it is now. In general, in pre-revolutionary Russia, it was customary, out of piety, to call ships by the name of this or that saint, who after that became the heavenly intercessor of both the crew and future passengers. True, once this tradition almost provoked an interstate conflict, remaining at the level of a diplomatic incident.
After the lost Crimean War international treaties of Russia were prescribed to have a strictly defined number of warships in the Black Sea. And suddenly in London, striving to keep the military might of the recent enemy "in check", they learn that Russia is building as many as 15 battleships. A formidable note immediately flew to St. Petersburg, which was followed by a polite answer: they say, not 15, but only two, which does not violate the agreement, the ships will simply be called “Three Saints” and “12 Apostles”.
Along with Nicholas the Pleasant, the Apostle Andrew the First-Called (in Greek "courageous") is especially revered by Russian sailors. Under Peter the Great, it was he who became the patron saint Russian fleet... The Apostle Andrew was crucified by the Romans on a cross in the shape of the letter "X", therefore, on the naval flag approved in 1699, an oblique cross was depicted - blue (the color of the sea) on a white background (a symbol of purity and righteousness).
A remarkable "coincidence": the Russian fleet, shaded by the Andreev flag, celebrates its holiday on July 28, that is, on the day of remembrance of the holy Prince Vladimir, Equal to the Apostles. The one who made Byzantium tremble when his fleet besieged Chersonesos. The frightened Byzantines agreed to give the princess Anna as wife to Vladimir, thereby doing Vladimir the honor that had just been denied to the German emperor. Yes, they demanded that Vladimir be baptized, but this is what Vladimir wanted! He was baptized as an equal to the emperors of Byzantium, and this equality was based on the sea power of Rus. We can safely say that Orthodox faith came to Russia on the decks of the warships of the Rus. So the Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir became another patron saint of sailors.
Also, the intercessors of the sailors and the entire Russian fleet are considered the new martyr Nikolai, the autocrat of "All Russia", and the sailor Klimenty Nagorny, the uncle of Tsarevich Alexei, who did not change his oath, remained with royal family and shot in the basements of the Yekaterinburg Cheka.
In contrast to the Orthodox tradition in Catholicism, it is more and more "fractional", here almost every profession has its own heavenly patron. Let's say patrons ...
... sailors-Nikolay, Christopher, Yudok, Botulf, Walpurga, Vikenty of Saragossky, Eulalia of Barcelona, Christina Bolsenskaya, Carmen, Nikolay Toletinsky, Brendan (the same Irish monk who, according to legend, crossed the Atlantic in the 6th century and even possibly discovered America);
... naval officers-Francis de Paola;
... navigators - Erasmus (Elm) Formiysky;
... shipbuilders - Andreas, Clemens, Goar, Placid;
... boatmen - Anna, mother of the Mother of God; Brigitte of Ireland, Pope ClementI;
... fishermen-the apostles Peter and Andrew, Benno, Zeno of Verona.
The list is long, but here there is also the first of the first, and this is the Virgin Mary. She has many additional names and epithets: Ark of the Covenant, Throne of Wisdom, Immaculate Heart, House of Gold, Just Joy, Comforter of the Sorrowful, Gate of Heaven, Queen of Heaven, Mystic Rose, Tower Ivory, The Morning Star ... and the Star of the Sea.
Stella Maris. Mary Star of the Sea.Maria Morskaya. This is the name of the Virgin Mary, for she gives hope, being a guiding star for all Christians. Like a lighthouse, she promises salvation and shows the way for those who travel or seek a livelihood at sea.
... And may the sea be calm for them, the wind favorable, and may everyone return home!
Sea gods and deities: different eras, different countries
* The ancient Egyptians were responsible for the sea and sailors Isis, daughter of the earth god Hebe and the sky goddess Nut. It was her in pre-Christian times that was often called the Star of the Sea.
* Oceanids v ancient greek mythology- these are three thousand daughters of the titan Ocean and the titanides Tefis. The most famous of them Asia, Hesiona, Dione, Clonia, Leta, Metis, Perseis, Electra(Today oceanid names are often given "at christening" to new yachts). Pont- the God inland sea... Consort of Oceanida Dorida Nereus- the god of the calm sea, their 50 daughters - the sea deities of the Nereids, live at the bottom of the sea and lead endless round dances, creating light waves with their movements.
* Poseidon- the second most powerful god of the Greeks. With one swing of the trident, he can create a storm. Son of Poseidon - Triton, with the thunderous sound of his trumpet from the shell, he summons fierce winds, instead of legs, Triton has a fish tail. Among the companions of Poseidon, the elder Proteus, changing, like the sea, its image and transforming at will into various animals and monsters, and Glaucus, patron saint of sailors and fishermen.
* Neptune among the ancient Romans - a "paraphrase" of the Greek Poseidon, but unlike the "neighbor" he is kind and caring. Another Roman god - Portus pater("Port father") - took care of ports and harbors.
* Bridging- the god of the sea and navigation among the ancient Slavs. His daughter Dana became the goddess of water, the wife of the Danube, the god of rivers and fishing.
* Njord- among the ancient Vikings, the patron saint of navigation, fishing and shipbuilding, he is subject to the winds and the sea.
* Sekwana- the goddess of the sacred river Seine among the Gauls.
* Llir in Celtic mythology, the god of the sea, after the birth of a son Manannana who lost his position to him. Goddess of the sea, patroness of sailors and merchants was Negalence, which was depicted on the altars standing on the bow of the ship and holding a mooring rope in her hand.
* Outrimis among the ancient Prussians was the god of the sea, Juras mate- the mother of the seas, Bardonts- the god of ships and shipbuilders.
* Among the Aztecs, several deities were responsible for water at once: Atl and Atlaua- gods of water, Akuekuchiotisihuati- goddess of the ocean, running water and rivers; Atlakamani- goddess of storms; Amimitl- god of lakes and fishermen.
* The Indians of Cuba revered the god of the evil sea wind Huracan(hence - through the Spanish and French - the word "hurricane").
* Aghve- the spirit of water in the pantheon of voodoo deities, responsible for the fate of sailors and all those traveling on water.
* Aruna(Varuna) deity in Hittite and Indian mythology dawn and waters - all the water in the world belongs to him: seas, rivers, waterfalls, even rain.
* Sumiyoshi Daimejin in the mythological vaults of the Japanese it is called Sumiyoshi (or Suminoe); under this name three deities are united. Sumiyoshi is revered as the god of the sea, whose image was placed on ships.
* Tangaroa(aka Tagaroa, Tangaloa, Kanaloa) - the great god of the Polynesians, the greatest of the great patrons of the sea and seafarers, fish and fishermen, that is, the main thing in the world.
Name: Nicholas the Wonderworker (Nikolai Mirlikisky)
Date of Birth: 270 BC
Age: 75 years
Date of death: 345 BC
Height: 168
Activity: archbishop, orthodox saint
Family status: was not married
Nicholas the Wonderworker: biography
The most revered saint in Orthodoxy, miracle worker, patron saint of sailors, travelers, orphans and prisoners. From the day of veneration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in December begin new year holidays... Children expect Christmas gifts from him, because the saint became the prototype of Santa Claus and Santa Claus. According to the life of the saint, he was born in 270 in the Lycian town of Patara, at that time a Greek colony. Today it is the territory of the Turkish provinces of Antalya and Mugla, and the area where Patara is located is called the vicinity of the village of Gelemish.
The biography-life of Nicholas the Wonderworker says that his parents were wealthy Christians who gave their son an education befitting the 3rd century. The family of Nicholas of Mirlikisky (another name of the saint) was a believer, his uncle, the Bishop of Patara, noticed his nephew's religiosity and made him a reader at a public service.
Young Nicholas spent his days at the monastery, and devoted his nights to studying Holy Scripture and prayers. The boy was remarkable for his amazing responsiveness and realized early that he would devote his life to the ministry. The uncle, seeing the nephew's zeal, took the teenager as an assistant. Soon Nicholas was ordained a priest, and the bishop entrusted him to teach lay believers.
Monument to Nicholas the Wonderworker in Yeisk The young priest, having asked the blessings of his uncle-bishop, went to the Holy Land. On the way to Jerusalem, Nicholas had a vision: the devil went out on a ship. The priest predicted a storm and a shipwreck. At the request of the ship's crew, Nicholas the Wonderworker pacified the rebellious sea. Climbing Golgotha, the Lycian offered up prayers of thanks to the Savior.
On a pilgrimage journey, bypassing holy places, he ascended Mount Zion. The open doors of the temple, which was closed for the night, were a sign of the Lord's mercy. Filled with gratitude, Nicholas decided to retire in the desert, but a voice from heaven stopped the young priest, ordering him to return home.
In Lycia, Nicholas joined the brotherhood of Holy Zion in order to lead a silent life. But the Most High appeared to him with the Mother of God and handed the Gospel and the omophorion. According to legend, the Lycian bishops received a sign, after which they decided at the council to make the young layman Nicholas bishop of Myra (the city of the Lycian confederation). Historians and religious scholars argue that for the 4th century the appointment was possible.
After the death of his parents, Nicholas entered into inheritance rights and distributed the wealth due to him to the poor. The ministry of the bishop of Myra in Lycia fell on hard times persecution. The Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian persecuted Christians, but in May 305, after the imperial abdication, Constantius, who took the throne, stopped the persecution in the western part of the empire. In the east, they continued until 311 by the Roman emperor Galerius. After a period of oppression, Christianity in the Lycian world, where Nicholas was bishop, developed rapidly. He is credited with the destruction of pagan temples and the temple of Artemis in Mir.
Researchers from the life of Nicholas the Wonderworker talk about the cathedral court at which he was tried. The Greek Metropolitan of Nafpaktos in the book "The Treasure" claims that they tried the future saint for slapping Arius in the face during the Council of Nicaea. But researchers tend to view the slap in the face as libel. They say that Nicholas called the heretic "a mad blasphemer," for which he became the subject of a conciliar court. The libelous resort to the help of the Wonderworker Nicholas, since it is believed that the saint will save them from their sad fate.
Wonders
Travelers and sailors caught in a storm turn to St. Nicholas for help. The biographies of the saint speak of the repeated salvation of seafarers. During a trip to Alexandria to study, Nikolai's ship was covered by a storm surge. The sailor fell off the lines and died. The miracle worker Nikolai, then still a young man, resurrected the deceased.
The life of the saint describes the case of saving the honor of three sisters from poor family, whom the father, in order to avoid hunger, intended to give up for fornication. An unenviable fate awaited the girls, but Nicholas, under cover of night, threw sacks of gold into the house, providing the girls with a dowry. According to Catholic tradition, the bags of gold fell into stockings, which were dried in front of the fireplace. Since then, a tradition has emerged to leave gifts "from Santa Claus" to children in colorful Christmas stockings (socks). The miracle worker Nikolai reconciles the warring ones and protects the innocent convicts. Prayers addressed to him save him from sudden death. The worship of the saint became widespread after his death.
Christmas stockings symbolize the gift of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Another mention of the miracle performed by the Miracle Worker Nicholas is associated with the rescue of the Prince of Novgorod, Mstislav Vladimirovich. A sick nobleman dreamed that he would be saved by an icon of a saint from Kiev Sophia Cathedral... But the envoys did not make it to Kiev because of the storm that broke out on the Msta River. When the waves subsided, next to the ship, on the water, the messengers saw a round icon depicting the Miracle Worker Nikolai. The sick prince, having touched the face of the saint, recovered.
Believing Christians call the Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker a miracle. They are sure that this prayer can change fate for the better if it is read for 40 days in a row. Believers claim that the saint hears all prayers for help in work and for health. A prayer service to Saint Nicholas helps girls get married safely, starving people get their fill, and those who suffer - get rid of everyday problems. Those praying in the church note that St. Nicholas the Wonderworker immediately responds to the sincere prayer uttered at his icon by burning candles.
After death
The exact date of Nikolai's death is unknown. They call it 345. After leaving the other world, the body of the saint was pacified and turned into an object of pilgrimage. In the IV century, a basilica appeared over the grave of Nicholas the Wonderworker, and in the 9th century in Turkish Demre, formerly known as Mira, a church was erected, the doors of which were thrown open in the 21st century. Until 1087, the remains of the saint rested in Demre. But in May, traders from Italy stole 80% of the relics, leaving part of them in a hurry in the grave. The stolen treasure was transported to the city of Bari - the capital of the Italian region of Apulia.
Nine years later, Venetian merchants stole the remains of the Wonderworker Nicholas in Demre and transported them to Venice. Today, 65% of the relics of the saint are in Bari. They were placed under the altar of the Catholic Basilica of St. Nicholas. A fifth of the sacred remains rests on the Venetian island of Lido, above the altar of the temple. A hole has been made in the Bari basilica in the tomb of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Every year on May 9 (the day when the ship with the relics moored to the shore, the day of the city of Bari), myrrh is taken out of the coffin, which is credited with miraculous properties, healing from deadly diseases.
Two examinations, carried out in the mid and late 1990s, confirmed that the relics stored in two cities in Italy belong to the same person. Anthropologists from Britain in 2005 reconstructed from the skull appearance saint. If you believe the recreated appearance, then Nicholas the Wonderworker was 1.68 meters tall, had a high forehead, dark skin, brown eyes and sharply defined cheekbones and chin.
Memory
The news of the transfer of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker to Italy spread throughout Europe, but at first only the Barians celebrated the feast of the transfer of the holy relics. The Greeks, like the Christians of the East and West, accepted the news of the transfer of the remains with sadness. In Russia, the veneration of St. Nicholas spread in the XI century. After 1087 (according to other sources, 1091), the Orthodox Church established 9 (according to Julian calendar 22) May, the day of celebration of the transfer of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra in Lycia to Bari.
As widely as in Russia, the holiday is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria and Serbia. Catholics (other than Barians) do not celebrate May 9th. The Russian Orthodox Messeslov names three dates for the holidays dedicated to Nicholas the Wonderworker. December 19 - the day of his death, May 22 - the arrival of the holy relics in Bari and August 11 - the birth of the saint. V Orthodox churches The miracle worker Nicholas is commemorated with chants every Thursday.
The second group of holidays associated with the memory of the most revered saint in Russia is associated with miraculous icons with his face. March 1, 2009 in Bari in the possession of the Russian Orthodox Church the church of 1913 and the Patriarchal courtyard were handed over. The President of Russia took the keys from them.
In Russia, the number of icons painted and built churches of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is the second after the Mother of God. Until the beginning of the twentieth century, the name Nikolai was one of the most popular in the country. In the XIX-XX centuries, the Wonderworker was revered in such a way that there was an opinion about the entry of St. Nicholas into the Holy Trinity. According to Slavic beliefs (the legend of the Belarusian Polesye has been preserved), Nicholas will replace God on the throne as the “eldest” of the saints.
Western and East Slavs Nicholas the Wonderworker is credited with possession of the keys to heaven and the function of "transporting" souls to another world. The southern Slavs call the saint "the ruler of paradise", "the wolf shepherd" and "the destroyer of snakes." They say that Nikolai the Pleasant is the patron saint of agriculture and beekeeping.
Orthodox Christians distinguish in the iconography "Nicholas of the Winter" and "Nicholas Veshny". The image on the icons is different: the “winter” Miracle Worker is depicted in the miter of a bishop, the “vernal” one has an uncovered head. It is noteworthy that Nicholas the Wonderworker is revered by Kalmyks and Buryats professing Buddhism. The Kalmyks call the saint "Mikola-Burkhan". He patronizes fishermen and is considered the master of the Caspian Sea. The Buryats identify Nicholas with the White Elder - the god of longevity.
Nicholas the Wonderworker is the prototype of Santa Claus, on whose behalf children are presented with gifts. Before the Reformation, the saint was revered on December 6, but then the celebration was postponed to December 24, so he is associated with Christmas. In 17th century Britain, Nicholas was the impersonal "Father of Christmas", but in Holland his name is Sinterklaas, which translates as St. Nicholas.
The Dutch, who founded the city, brought to New York the tradition of celebrating Christmas with Sinterklaas, who soon became Santa Claus. From the church prototype, the hero has only a name, otherwise the image has undergone thorough commercialization. In France, Christmas Grandfather comes to children, Joulupukki to Finnish babies, but in Russia and the countries of the post-Soviet space New Year is impossible without Santa Claus, whose prototype is the beloved saint in Russia.
Relics in Russia
In February 2016, a meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis took place, at which an agreement was reached on the transfer of part of the relics of the saint from Bari to Russia. On May 21, 2017, the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker (left rib) were placed in the ark and delivered to the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where they were met by the Russian patriarch. Those who wished were able to bow to the relics from May 22 to July 12. On May 24, the President of Russia visited the temple. On July 13, the ark was transported to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The relics were opened until July 28, 2017.
The kilometer-long queues of pilgrims lined up to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which is why a special regime of access to the churches was introduced. People wrote notes to the saint, asking for help in healing. The organizers of access to the holy relics asked not to do this, recalling that the Orthodox have other forms of addressing the saints - reading akathists, prayers and chants. Particles of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker are kept in the churches of dozens of churches of the Russian diocese, in the monasteries of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg.