Where is Nicholas the Wonderworker located? Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra: the meaning of the holy image for the Christian world

The relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Russia!

May 22 - the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Great holiday for all Orthodox. It is also called Nikolin's day and the holiday of St. Nicholas the Pleasant.

On the evening of May 21, a particle of relics was delivered from Italy to Russia for the first time. one of the most revered saints - St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In Christianity, he is the patron of travelers, prisoners and orphans, in the West - the patron of almost all sectors of society, but mostly children. In Russia, many temples and monasteries are named after him, and his icons stand in houses. The relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker were kept for 930 years in the Italian city of Bari in the Basilica of St. Nicholas, a Romanesque church of the 12th century. As Patriarch Kirill noted, this is a unique event, since during the entire stay of the relics of St. Nicholas in Bari, they never left the city. The transfer of part of the relics became possible after the meeting of Cyril with Pope Francis on February 12, 2016.

May 22 at 14.00 in the main Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow(St. Volkhonka, 15, metro station Kropotkinskaya) access to the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was opened. Already on Monday morning, the queue of those wishing to bow to the shrine reached more than one and a half kilometers in length. Moscow is ready to accept any number of pilgrims, and the queue, if necessary, can increase to 5 kilometers. More than two thousand law enforcement officers will be responsible for the safety of parishioners. In addition, for convenience, 11 food and recreation points for visitors are located near the temple.

On May 22, access to the relics will be from 14.00 to 21.00, and on the following days - from 8.00 to 21.00. The queue for visiting is formed from the Crimean bridge. Volunteers in light green vests stand all the way from the Park Kultury metro station to the embankment.

Part of the relics is stored in a reliquary made of precious metals, which is covered with protected glass. It is believed that the rib of the saint is in the ark. May 22 to July 12 particles of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker will be available for worship in Moscow, then - from 13 to 28 July they will stay in Petersburg. For their accommodation, the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra is being considered. After that, the relics will return to Italy.

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In the Italian city of Bari, the precious casket was kept for 930 years in the basement of the Basilica of St. Nicholas under a marble slab. Every year, the feast of St. Nicholas is splendidly celebrated here with a folk procession, during which a statue from the basilica is carried through the streets. See a photo report from the ceremony of handing over the shrine in Moscow. The post also includes pictures from social media.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker: history, traditions and whom he helps

Orthodox Christians greatly revere God's Pleasant, and they commemorate Him twice a year - on December 19 and May 22. “There are many historical figures in life that the world remembers. But, probably, there is not a single person in the world who would not know about the feat of St. Nicholas,” said Bishop Pavel, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl.

Saint Nicholas was born in the city of Patara, in the second half of the 3rd century, in the family of the pious people Theophan and Nonna. The mother was very ill, but with the birth of her son, who himself stood in the font during baptism for some time, unsupported by anyone, she received healing.

His life is amazing from the day he was born. From childhood he led an ascetic life. He was not interested in entertainment, empty talk or games with peers. He studied spiritual literature, spent time in fasting and prayer. Seeing such virtues, his uncle, who was Bishop of Patara, took him to be a reader, and then a little later elevated him to the priesthood.


From a young age, Nicholas was characterized by great mercy, he always tried to help everyone who turned to him for help, and did it with great love. By this he won the love and gratitude of all the inhabitants of the city.

A case is known when Nicholas set off on a journey to Palestine by ship and, seeing the approach of a storm, stopped it with his prayer. He resurrected a sailor who fell from the mast and crashed. And upon arrival in Palestine, having settled not far from Jerusalem, he wanted to pray at night in the temple. Arriving, he saw a lock on the doors, but suddenly the doors opened of their own accord, letting him into the temple.

After visiting Jerusalem, he wanted to stay in the desert, in the Zion monastery, but he heard a voice that another place of service awaited him, where he should be useful. And he went to Myra, where he lived very modestly, attending all church services.
And when it was necessary to elect a new bishop of the Lycian country, the assembled bishops, who did not come to a consensus on the candidacy, zealously prayed to God to reveal this person to them.

And the oldest in the vision was told: whoever first enters the temple for the morning service, this is this man, whose name is Nicholas. St. Nicholas, who got up very early, came to the temple first, and the elder turned to him with a request to tell him his name. After the elder learned the name, there was no doubt. So he was elected to the chair of the World. To this day, this city exists, although all the cities were destroyed by the Turks, and that temple, albeit in a dilapidated form, testifies to the mercy of God.

Nicholas the Wonderworker: miracles

Much can be said about his miraculous help. When there was a famine in Lycia, one merchant, having loaded a ship with bread and food for sailing somewhere to the west, in a dream he saw Saint Nicholas, who told him to bring food to Lycia, and he would buy cargo from him, and gave him a deposit three coins. Imagine the merchant's surprise when, waking up, he saw three coins in his hand. Taking food to Lycia, he thus saved the inhabitants from starvation.

Even during the life of the Saint, there are cases when he reconciled the warring parties, acted as a defender of the innocently condemned, and saved from death.

It is known that sailors have repeatedly turned and turn to the Saint during a storm, asking for intercession. The pagans also turn to him.

“And he hears everyone and helps everyone! When the Lord called St. Nicholas to eternity, he rewarded him with other gifts that exist to this day. People know about it, widows and orphans pray to him, and he helps. The country is praying from hunger, cold… He is a quick helper, he secretly showed God’s mercy to everyone, with his deep faith, and therefore the Lord gave him such grace and strength,” Vladyka explained.

In 1097 Saint Nicholas appeared in a dream to a priest from the city of Bari, commanding him to transfer his relics from Mira to Bari.
What happened on May 22, 1097: the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker were transferred from the World of Lycian to Bari (Bargrad).

“It was probably not by chance that the relics of the Saint were transferred, but by God's providence. The Greeks, the Byzantines failed to save this treasure, it is taken from us for our unholy life, and the Lord makes people understand this. If St. Nicholas did not want to, then his relics would have been in the Worlds until that time, but he could not endure such a cold-blooded attitude and, probably, in order for the relics to be preserved, they were transported to Bari, where until today hundreds of thousands, millions of people come to worship.

Maybe not so much for worship as for help. One abbess, when she needs something, simply turns to St. Nicholas. I have already noticed that if she reads the Akathist to St. Nicholas, then something is needed. And he, hearing her requests, helps, by God's mercy. Therefore, I would like to ask everyone who is in heresy, in schism - look at this great teacher of piety, a Christian, and follow his good example if you want to be saved. Because the heresy is Arian, it has filled the world to this day, and today what the seven Ecumenical Councils have recognized as heresy is spreading, unfortunately, by our people and taking root through sects and schisms,” the Metropolitan stated with regret.

Prayer to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

O all-holy Nicholas, the Lord's most beautiful servant, our warm intercessor, and everywhere in sorrow a quick helper! Help me, a sinner and a dull one, in this present life, beg the Lord God to grant me the remission of all my sins, having sinned from my youth, in all my life, deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me, the damned one, implore the Lord God, all creatures of the Sodetel, to deliver me from air ordeals and eternal torment, may I always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and your merciful intercession, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.
Nicholas the Wonderworker is addressed with a variety of requests:

* about healing
* about the patronage of the family hearth
* for children
* about help in poverty and need
* about assistance in various trips
* about help in all difficult circumstances
* about the most cherished hopes.

If it rains today, then it's good luck. There is such a sign in the folk calendar associated with St. Nicholas Day. It often comes true. It is believed that Nikolin's day on May 22 is, although it is also a calendar spring, but a symbol of the onset of summer, which means the summer will be warm.

On Nikolin's Day, May 22, it is customary to cook special food: bake pancakes and cook duck soup. Be sure to leave a piece of pancake and throw it out the window to the birds. Birds should peck crumbs, then luck will definitely come to you.

The beautiful town of Bari is located in a region called Apulia. This area was founded in the 5th century BC. The architecture of different centuries is still preserved in the city, which adds a special flavor to it. Another feature is that these lands have seen numerous saints. It is here that their relics are kept, Catholic cathedrals are located, and Orthodox churches are also being built. To a greater extent, this is what the city of Bari in Italy is famous for. The relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker found refuge in this land. As it turned out, the saint is revered not only by Christians, but also by Catholics. Nicholas the Wonderworker is the patron saint of orphans, he saves all travelers imprisoned in captivity from sudden death, as well as serious illnesses.

The history of the appearance of the relics of the saint in Bari

Until his death, Nikolai Ugodnik served as a bishop in one of the churches in the city of Mira. Even during earthly life, this saint was considered a healer and protector of all the helpless. After his death, his relics were placed in the temple. When several Orthodox people received healing, the temple became a center of pilgrimage. But in those days the city was subjected to Muslim raids, it was a direct threat to the preservation of the integrity of the relics. It was decided to transport the remains of Nikolai Ugodnik to a safer place. Bari merchants went to Mira and managed to take the relics to the city of Bari (Italy). The relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker arrived in the harbor and ended up on safe land.

in Bari

The very next day, in a solemn atmosphere, the remains were located in the church. Since that time, the celebration of the day of the transfer of relics has been held annually. This event is still remembered today. On this day, a special atmosphere reigns in the city. The residents put on a show. Several hundred people dress up and reenact the centuries-old event.

Many seek to visit St. Nicholas in Bari on this very day. The holiday is incredibly revered in Italy, in addition, it is known in Russia, Bulgaria and Serbia. To date, part of the relics is in Turkey, since during transportation the Barians could not collect the smallest remains. Also, some of the relics are in Venice, they got there during the crusade. There are several points of view regarding this event.

Salvation or theft?

So, for example, the Barians themselves and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church believe that the relics were indeed saved, at that time it was the most rational decision. But here he has a completely different opinion. Such an act is regarded as theft. As it turned out, the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker are myrrh-streaming, have an incredible miraculous effect. The people who took over the transportation of the relics opened the coffin and discovered a strange phenomenon. The skeleton of Nicholas the Wonderworker was immersed in an unknown liquid, which, moreover, was fragrant. Orthodox people call this phenomenon "peace", but Catholics - "manna of St. Nicholas."

Church of Nicholas the Wonderworker in Bari

The construction of the temple began in 1087, it was in this year that the relics of St. Nicholas were transported to Bari (Italy). From that day on, the city became a kind of fortress of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The people living here considered the presence of relics on earth a real miracle. The construction of the temple was planned in the very center of the settlement. Already in a short time, the dome of the temple flaunted over the city, which became its most striking decoration. Upon completion of construction, the temple became the real center of most historical events. It was within these walls that Peter of Amiens himself preached. It was also here that the crusade was announced, church gatherings were held, and a decision was made to unite the Western and Eastern churches. There is a conjecture that the church was erected on the site of the governor's palace, because of this the decoration of the temple is quite controversial.

Architecture

To date, the temple is slightly offset from the center, because the city was actively built. The monastery is located near the Adriatic Sea. The temple is a beautiful building of two rooms - the lower and upper churches. In the upper temple is the tomb of the Saint.

Nicholas in Bari refers to more ancient buildings, this is evidenced by the decoration of the monastery and wall paintings. The ceiling arch of the temple is supported by 26 majestic columns, which are made of natural marble.

Shrines of the monastery

In the right corner of the temple there is a special column made of red marble and called the miraculous pillar. There is a belief that it was this column that Nicholas the Wonderworker himself brought to the temple. Pilgrims simply come to her with prayers for help and healing. The cancer is located below the floor level and is covered with special plates. A hole was made there so that the priest could carefully descend and collect the myrrh. For the same purpose, for easy collection, the tomb is set at an angle.

You can get access to this shrine if you arrive with a group of pilgrims and receive the blessing of the rector of the temple himself.

In the right corner of the monastery is the so-called treasury. It is here that everyone can thank St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Bari and leave gifts for the temple and the tomb. Also in this corner are miraculous icons, which you can contact with any requests. One of the most valuable gifts is the icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker himself. It was this image that was donated by the Serbian king Uros III, who managed to regain his sight within these walls. In the same corner, you can also see relics brought from the Crusades. The relics of the apostles Thomas and Jacob are kept here, as well as the most holy shrine - a thorn from the crown of Jesus.

In the upper temple there is a majestic statue in honor of St. Nicholas. For safety, the statue was covered with a glass dome. Under it, parishioners put notes with requests. Every year on May 9, the statue is taken to the city with a solemn procession. The feast of the transfer of relics is considered one of the most important in the city. Not only Catholic services, but also Orthodox services are held in Bari (Italy). The relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker strive to see everything.

Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Bari

Nikolai Ugodnik is one of the most revered saints of Russia. Russian Orthodoxy, together with Nicholas II, made several attempts to restore the church in Mir. Unfortunately, all these attempts were unsuccessful. Based on this, it was decided to create a Russian court on the territory of Bari (Italy). Thanks to this, the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker became available to Russian pilgrims. Money for this construction was collected by the whole country. A special fee was established, which could be paid on the feast of St. Nicholas. The largest contribution was made by the royal family, thanks to which the necessary building was built.

Already in 1914 a shelter for Russian pilgrims was opened. The building is designed for 30 people, but there were times when more people settled here. Unfortunately, in 1937 the building passed into the possession of. But already in 2009, the building was again transferred to the ownership of Russia.

Pilgrimage to Bari to Nicholas the Wonderworker

According to historians, the pilgrimage of Orthodox people to these places began in the 15th century. In the 19th century, representatives of the royal family and other figures of culture and politics of the Russian Empire were frequent guests here. Throughout all these centuries, people have observed a huge number of miracles that really were a reality. Because of this, believers come here every day. You must visit this temple at least once in your life. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Italy (the city of Bari) gives special favor to his guests. Many amazing stories are told by pilgrims from all over the world about miraculous changes after visiting this monastery. Some found health, others found love. But the main gift that Saint Nicholas can give is faith.

Name: Nicholas the Wonderworker (Nicholas of Myra)

Date of Birth: 270

Age: 75 years old

Date of death: 345

Growth: 168

Activity: archbishop, orthodox saint

Family status: not married

Nicholas the Wonderworker: biography

The most revered saint in Orthodoxy, a miracle worker, patron of sailors, travelers, orphans and prisoners. From the day of veneration of Nicholas the Wonderworker in December, the New Year holidays begin. 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 the year 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 vicinity of the village of Gelemish is called the location of Patara.

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 Myra (another name of the saint) was a believer, his uncle, the Bishop of Patara, noticed the religiosity of his nephew and made him a reader at a public service.

Young Nicholas spent his days in the monastery, and devoted his nights to the study of the Holy Scriptures and prayers. The boy was distinguished by amazing responsiveness and realized early on that he would devote his life to service. Uncle, seeing the zeal of his nephew, took the teenager as an assistant. Soon Nicholas received a priesthood, and the bishop entrusted him to instruct the believing laity.

Monument to Nicholas the Wonderworker in Yeysk

The young priest, after asking for blessings from his uncle, the bishop, went to the Holy Land. On the way to Jerusalem, Nicholas had a vision: the devil, who went out on the ship. The priest predicted a storm and a shipwreck. At the request of the ship's crew, Nicholas the Wonderworker pacified the rebellious sea. Rising to Golgotha, the Lycian offered thanksgiving entreaties to the Savior.

On a pilgrimage, bypassing the holy places, he ascended Mount Zion. The open doors of the temple, closed for the night, turned out to be a sign of the mercy of the Lord. Filled with gratitude, Nicholas decided to retire to the desert, but a voice from heaven stopped the young priest, telling him to return home.

In Lycia, Nicholas joined the brotherhood of Saint Sion in order to lead a silent life. But the Most High appeared to him with the Mother of God and handed him the Gospel and an omophorion. According to legend, the Lycian bishops received a sign, after which they decided at the council to make the young layman Nicholas the 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 of Lycia fell on difficult times of 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 persecution, 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 the World.

Researchers of the life of Nicholas the Wonderworker speak of a conciliar court at which he was subjected to trial. The Greek Metropolitan of Nafpaktos, in his book Treasure, claims that the future saint was tried for slapping Arius during the Council of Nicaea. But researchers tend to consider the slap as slander. They say that Nicholas called the heretic "a mad blasphemer", for which he became the object of a cathedral court. The slandered resort to the help of the Wonderworker Nicholas, since it is believed that the saint will save them from a 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 rescue of seafarers. During a trip to Alexandria to study, Nikolai's ship was covered by a storm wave. The sailor fell off the lines and died. The miracle worker Nicholas, then still a young man, resurrected the deceased.

The life of the saint describes the case of saving the honor of three sisters from a poor family, whom the father, in order to avoid hunger, intended to give to fornication. An unenviable fate awaited the girls, but Nikolai, under the cover of night, threw bags of gold into the house, providing the girls with a dowry. According to Catholic tradition, bags of gold fell into stockings that were drying in front of a fireplace. Since then, there has been a tradition of leaving gifts "from Santa Claus" to children in colorful Christmas stockings (socks). The miracle worker Nikolai reconciles the warring and protects the innocently condemned. Prayers addressed to him save from sudden death. Worship of the saint became widespread after his death.

Christmas stockings symbolize the gift of Nicholas the Wonderworker

Another mention of the miracle performed by the Wonderworker Nicholas is associated with the salvation of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich of Novgorod. The ill nobleman dreamed that he would be saved by the icon of the saint from the Kyiv St. Sophia Cathedral. But the envoys did not reach Kyiv because of a 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 Wonderworker Nicholas. The sick prince, touching 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 the holy saint Nicholas helps the girls to get married safely, the hungry to get enough, and the suffering to get rid of everyday problems. Prayers in the church note that Nicholas the Wonderworker immediately responds to a sincere prayer said at his icon with lit candles.

After death

The exact date of Nicholas's death is unknown. They call the year 345. After leaving for another world, the body of the saint became myrrh-streaming and became an object of pilgrimage. In the 4th century, a basilica appeared over the tomb of Nicholas the Wonderworker, and in the 9th century, a church was erected in Turkish Demre, formerly known as Mira, the doors of which are open in the 21st century. Until 1087, the remains of the saint rested in Demre. But in May, merchants from Italy stole 80% of the relics, leaving some 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 relics of the Wonderworker Nicholas, which had remained 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. One fifth of the sacred remains rest on the Venetian island of Lido, above the throne of the temple. In the Bari basilica, a hole was made 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 conducted in the mid and late 1990s confirmed that the relics stored in two cities in Italy belong to one person. Anthropologists from Britain in 2005 reconstructed the appearance of the saint from the skull. 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 East and West, received the news of the transfer of the remains with sadness. In Russia, the veneration of St. Nicholas spread in the 11th century. After 1087 (according to other sources, 1091) the Orthodox Church established May 9 (22 according to the Julian calendar) as the day of celebration of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from the World of Lycia to Bari.

As widely as in Russia, the holiday is celebrated by the Orthodox in Bulgaria and Serbia. Catholics (except Bari) do not celebrate May 9th. The Russian Orthodox Menologion names three dates for the holidays dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. December 19 is the day of his death, May 22 is the arrival of the holy relics in Bari, and August 11 is the birth of the saint. In Orthodox churches, the Wonderworker Nicholas is commemorated with hymns 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. On March 1, 2009, the 1913 church and the Patriarchal Compound were transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church in Bari. The President of Russia accepted the keys to them.

In Russia, the number of painted icons and built temples of Nicholas the Wonderworker is the second after the Virgin. Until the beginning of the twentieth century, the name Nikolai was one of the most popular in the country. In the 19th-20th 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 eastern Slavs attribute to Nicholas the Wonderworker the possession of the keys to heaven and the function of "transporting" souls to another world. The southern Slavs call the saint "head of paradise", "wolf shepherd" and "slayer of snakes." They say that Nikolai Ugodnik is the patron saint of agriculture and beekeeping.

Orthodox Christians distinguish in the iconography "St. Nicholas of the Winter" and "St. Nicholas of the Spring". The image on the icons is different: the “winter” Wonderworker is depicted wearing a bishop’s miter, while the “spring” one’s head is uncovered. It is noteworthy that Kalmyks and Buryats who profess Buddhism revere Nicholas the Wonderworker. 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 given gifts. Before the Reformation, the saint was venerated on December 6, but then the celebration was moved 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 Saint 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 left, otherwise the image has undergone thorough commercialization. In France, a Christmas Santa comes to children, Joulupukki comes to Finnish kids, but in Russia and the post-Soviet countries, the New Year is impossible without Santa Claus, the prototype of which is the saint beloved in Russia.

Relics in Russia

In February 2016, a meeting took place between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis, 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 an ark and taken to the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where they were met by the Russian Patriarch. Those who wish could bow to the relics from May 22 to July 12. On May 24, the president of Russia visited the church. On July 13, the ark was transported to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The relics were opened until July 28, 2017.

Long queues of pilgrims lined up at the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which is why they introduced a special regime of access to temples. 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 hymns. 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.

The line to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow is increasing every day, now the pilgrims stand at the relics on average. In what churches in the capital and near Moscow are constantly stored particles of the relics of St. Nicholas, and what is unique about the shrine from Bari, read in the RIAMO material.

The queue will grow

The arrival in Moscow of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker, which have been open to pilgrims since May 22, aroused the interest of a huge number of believers. Despite the fact that the relics of the saint will stay in the capital until July 12, residents and guests of the capital do not put off going to the temple until later. Over 156,000 pilgrims bowed to the shrine in seven days.

Unique Shrine

As the head of the press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, priest Alexander Volkov, told RIAMO, there is a tradition of sharing and bringing parts of the relics so that they are available to believers in different cities and countries. For centuries, the relics of various saints were collected in large spiritual centers. For example, many of these relics are kept in the Athos monasteries, which the monasteries share with temples and churches.

Spiritual gifts have been collected in Moscow churches for many centuries, among them there are also particles of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

“Each piece of relics has its own story. In this case, it is important that in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior there is a part of the relics of St. Nicholas from the shrine, from which parts have never been separated before. Therefore, this is a unique part of the relics,” explains father Alexander.

According to him, all small particles of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker, which are stored today in various churches of the capital, most likely trace their history from the World of Lycian in present-day Turkey, where they were before they were transferred to Bari.

As the priest recalled, the arrival of the relics in Russia became possible thanks to an agreement between the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Pope Francis and is a gesture of goodwill on the part of the Roman Catholic Church.

Unlike small particles of relics that are stored in the capital's churches, the relic brought from Bari is myrrh-streaming and represents the rib of St. Nicholas.

“Orthodox people greatly revere St. Nicholas. This is one of the most dear and beloved saints. Therefore, the opportunity to meet the saint at his relics is a gift and a great event for any believer,” says Father Alexander.

According to him, despite the fact that particles of the relics of the saint are in other churches in Moscow, the opportunity to venerate the relics from Bari, which attracts people from all over the world, is unique.

Father Alexander reminded the believers that it is necessary to ask the saint for help with a pure heart and good thoughts. The saint will surely hear such a request.

25 temples in Moscow

Believers who, for various reasons, cannot get to the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the XXC, can visit one of the 25 churches in the capital, where particles of the relics of St. Nicholas are kept on a permanent basis.

Central District (TsAO)

Sretensky Stauropegial Monastery (St. Bolshaya Lubyanka, 19)

John the Baptist Convent (Maly Ivanovsky lane, 2A, building 1)

Novodevichy Convent (Novodevichy proezd, 1, building 2)

Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo (Spartakovskaya street, 15)

Temple-Museum of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi at the Tretyakov Gallery (Maly Tolmachevsky lane, 9)

Temple of All Saints on Kulishki (Slavyanskaya sq., 2). Here, to the particles of the relics of St. Nicholas can be touched on Thursdays after the end of the Divine Liturgy from 11.00 until the end of the evening service.

Church of St. Nicholas on Three Mountains (Novovagankovsky lane, 9). You can bow to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker on Sundays at the liturgy, when the ark with the relics is taken out of the altar.

Church of St. Nicholas in Kotelniki (1st Kotelnichesky lane, 8, building 1). A particle of the relics is kept in a silver pendant in front of the icon of St. Nicholas, you can bow to the shrine at any time, akathists to St. Nicholas is read on Thursdays.

Church of St. Nicholas in Stary Vagankovo (Starovagankovsky lane, 14)

Temple of the Great Martyr. George the Victorious in Old Archers (Lubyansky proezd, 9, building 2). Part of the relics of St. Nicholas is stored in a special reliquary, which is inserted into the icon of St. Nicholas.

Church of St. Nicholas of Myra in Golutvin (1st Golutvinsky lane, 14)

Church of St. Nicholas in Pokrovsky (St. Bakuninskaya, 100)

Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki (Lva Tolstoy st., 2)

Church of the Ascension of the Lord on Gorokhovy Pole (Radio st., 2)

House church in honor of the Nativity of St. Nicholas, World of the Lycian Wonderworker of the Russian Cultural and Educational Fund of St. Basil the Great(st. B. Vagankovskaya, 3)

Church of the Resurrection of the Word on the Assumption Vrazhek (Bryusov lane, 15/2)

Southern District (YuAO)

Danilov Holy Trinity Monastery (Danilovsky Val, 22)

Western District (ZAO)

Church of the Savior of the Holy Image on Setun at the Kuntsevo cemetery (Ryabinovaya st., 18)

Church of the Archangel Michael in Troparevo (Prospect Vernadsky, 90)

Eastern District (VAO)

Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki (Sokolnicheskaya sq., 6)

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in Kosino (Bolshaya Kosinskaya st., 29, building 3)

Temple of St. Zosima and Savvaty of the Solovetsky wonderworkers in Golyanovo (St. Baikalskaya, 37A)

South-Eastern District (SEAD)

Nikolo-Perervinsky Monastery (Shosseinaya st., 82)

Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Lefortovo (Soldatskaya st., 4)

Southwestern District (SWAO)

Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Yasenevo (Novoyasenevsky prospect, 42)

Moscow region

Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery (Dzerzhinsky, St. Nicholas Square, 1)

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The relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker have been kept in Venice on the island of Lido since 1099. The "Venetian part" of the relics of the saint is the part that the Barians did not have time to pick up in a hurry during the taking of the main part of the relics from the World of Lycia in 1087. The celebration of Orthodox services on the relics of St. Nicholas on the island of Lido has already become a good tradition for Orthodox believers. However, the Orthodox believers of Venice and pilgrims come to the Basilica of St. Nicholas throughout the year for private prayer.

Since May 2005, the rector and faithful of the parish of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women in Venice twice a year, May 22 and December 19, on the days of the memory of the saint, they celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the "Venetian part" of his relics. The basilica can also be visited privately on other days of the year. See the schedule for the opening of the basilica below on this page.

Attention! In August, the church of Chiesa San Nicolò will be closed, so we invite you to venerate the relics of St. Nicholas in the church of the parish of St. Myrrhbearers.

The relics of St. Nicholas are in the Catholic Church of Chiesa San Nicolò on the island of Lido. How to get to the Basilica of Chiesa San Nicolò:

Opening times of the Basilica of San Nicolò:

8:00 — 12:00

16:00 — 18:00

The temple is closed on Tuesdays.

Nicholas the Wonderworker So that sadness turns into joy

Nicholas the Wonderworker

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is called a miracle worker. Such saints are especially revered for the miracles that occur through prayers to them. Since antiquity Nicholas the Wonderworker revered as an ambulance to sailors and other travelers, merchants, unjustly convicted and children. In Western folk Christianity, his image was combined with the image of a folklore character - "Christmas grandfather" - and transformed into Santa Claus (Santa Claus in English - St. Nicholas). Santa Claus gives gifts to children for Christmas.

Life of Nicholas the Wonderworker

Nicholas the Pleasant was born in 270 in the town of Patara, which was located in the region of Lycia in Asia Minor and was a Greek colony. The parents of the future archbishop were very wealthy people, but at the same time they believed in Christ and actively helped the poor.

As the life says, from childhood the saint devoted himself completely to faith, spent a lot of time in the temple. Having matured, he became a reader, and then a priest in the church, where his uncle, Bishop Nicholas of Patara, served as rector.

After the death of his parents, Nicholas the Wonderworker distributed all his inheritance to the poor and continued his church ministry. In the years when the attitude of the Roman emperors towards Christians became more tolerant, but persecution nevertheless continued, he ascended to the episcopal throne in Mir. Now this town is called Demre, it is located in the province of Antalya in Turkey.

People loved the new archbishop very much: he was kind, meek, fair, sympathetic - not a single request to him remained unanswered. With all this, Nicholas was remembered by his contemporaries as an implacable fighter against paganism - he destroyed idols and temples, and a defender of Christianity - he denounced heretics.

Even during his lifetime, the saint became famous for many miracles. He saved the city of Mira from a terrible famine - with his fervent prayer to Christ. He prayed and thereby helped the drowning sailors on ships, led the unjustly condemned from imprisonment in prisons.

Nicholas the Pleasant lived to a ripe old age and died around 345-351 - the exact date is unknown.

Relics of Saint Nicholas

At first, the relics of the saint rested in the cathedral church of the city of Lycian Myra, where he served as archbishop. They streamed myrrh, and the myrrh healed believers from various ailments.

In 1087, part of the relics of the saint was transferred to the Italian city of Bari, to the church of St. Stephen. A year after the relics were saved, a basilica was erected there in the name of St. Nicholas. Now everyone can pray at the relics of the saint - the ark with them is still kept in this basilica. A few years later, the rest of the relics were transported to Venice.

In honor of the transfer of the relics of Nicholas the Pleasant, a special holiday has been established, which is celebrated in the Russian Orthodox Church 22nd of May in a new style.

The history of the transfer of the relics of the Lycian saints

In 1095, Pope Urban II announced the First Crusade against the Saracens, which was attended by Western rulers who called themselves crusaders. Venice did not stay away from the Crusade, but took part in it in its own special style. Before leaving for the campaign, Pietro Badoaro, patriarch of Grado, and Bishop Enrico of Castello, son of the aforementioned Doge Domenico Contarini, admonished the troops and fleet in the temple of San Nicolò. At the same time, the patriarch turned with a prayer to Saint Nicholas, so that he would help the Christian weapons in the battles against the infidels and deign to bring his relics to Venice.

Under the command of Giovanni Michel, the son of Doge Vitale, the Venetians headed for Jerusalem through Dalmatia and Rhodes, where there was a skirmish with their enemies, the Pisans, which ended in victory for the islanders. When they reached the Lycian shores, Bishop Contarini wished to take the relics of St. Nicholas in order, as the chronicler says, "to multiply the patrons of his Motherland." In general, their main goal, judging in part and according to the words of Patriarch Badoaro, uttered before the departure of the crusaders, was the theft of the relics of St. Nicholas, since they were clearly in no hurry to go to Palestine.

Spies were sent from the ships, who reported that the city of Myra was located at a distance of 6 miles from the sea coast and that after the Turkish devastation there were almost no inhabitants left in it. In the basilica itself, due to the impoverishment of the number of believers, services were performed only once a month. The Venetians set up an ambush and waited for the right moment.

When the crusaders entered the temple, they found it empty. Four guards who were there showed a broken shrine and told about the theft of the relics by the Barians (1087) - “this is the tomb, from where the Barians took part of the relics, and left the other part.” However, they could not indicate the location of the remaining part of the guard, just as they did not know anything about the fate of the other part, which, according to them, Emperor Basil had prepared even earlier for transfer to Constantinople.

The Venetians did not believe the Greeks and dismantled the remains of the tomb, where they found only water and "oil" (myrrh?), and then searched the entire church, according to the chronicler, "turning everything upside down." Simultaneously with the search, they began to torture the guards until one of them, unable to withstand the torture, asked to be allowed to speak with the bishop. The latter called on the guard to tell about where the relics were hidden, but he only began to beg to save him from unnecessary torment. Contarini withdrew from helping the unfortunate man, and the soldiers began to torture him again. Then he again cried out to the bishop, who finally put an end to the torment, and the guard, in gratitude, showed him the relics of two other holy bishops of the World of Lycia - the Hieromartyr Theodore and St. Nicholas "Uncle".

The Venetians loaded the relics into the ship and were about to set sail when some of their comrades, who had slowed down in the temple, said that they smelled a wonderful fragrance in one of the church aisles.

Then one of the guards remembered that on major holidays the bishop did not serve on the main altar, but went to a nearby room (possibly a confessional), and served there on a portable altar. On the ceiling of the room, in addition, there was a fresco depicting St. Nicholas. It was near that place that the Venetians smelled a surprisingly pleasant aroma that attracted their attention. Thus, at first, the incense emitted at that place, and then the icon, told the crusaders where they should look for the relics of the saint. Returning to the church and breaking the floor of the altar, they found another floor under the earthen layer. Having dismantled it, they took out large stones that served as a support for it, and saw the next layer, which was a petrified mass, reminiscent of bitumen in composition. Inside it, in a copper casket, was part of the holy relics of the miracle worker. A miraculous incense then spread throughout the church.

An inscription in Greek was engraved on the reliquary: “Here rests the great Bishop Nicholas, glorious for his miracles on land and at sea.”

The crusaders collected all the fragments of the alloy that contained the relics and carried them to the ship, where they built a special temple in honor of St. Nicholas and instructed the priests to pray day and night and glorify St. Archbishop Mir Lycian.

The relics of the three saints were taken from the World of Lycia on May 30, 1100, and brought to Venice on December 6, 1100, on the feast day of Saint Nicholas.
The relics of the three saints rest in the same reliquary, but in different wooden receptacles. Author of the manuscript "Transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas” tells about the miracles performed at the relics of the saint, many of which he personally witnessed.
Reliability of the relics and their examination in 1992
In total, since the transfer of the relics to the Lido, examinations have been carried out seven times. The last and most in-depth took place in October-November 1992 with the participation of the cleric of the church of St. Nicholas Franciscan L. Paludet, who subsequently published an illustrated report on this study. The scientific examination was headed by Luigi Martino, professor of anatomy at the University of Bari, the same one who was invited for a similar examination of the relics of St. not entirely.

Inside the marble sarcophagus were three wooden receptacles. The largest of them contained the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. When the coffin was opened, they found another, lead coating. Having removed it, the members of the commission saw many bones of different sizes and colors. In addition, the following were also found here: 1) a stone of black color and a rounded shape with an inscription in Greek: “The relics of the humble Saint Nicholas”; 2) the upper part of the skull, which could not be the head of St. Nicholas, since after the examination of the relics in Bari, it was reliably known that the head of the saint was located there (later it was established that the head belonged to St. Nicholas "Uncle"); 3) watering vessel with the world.

The result of the examination: according to the conclusion of Professor Martino, who carried out a similar examination in Bari, "white bones in Venice complement the remains preserved in Bari". The white-gray color of the remains suggests that they may have been exposed to open air or even the sun for a long time, which made them very fragile. As an example, he cited the fact that part of the relics of St. Nicholas, stored in Bari, after four years that have passed since they were raised from the closed space of the shrine for examination in 1953-1957, also changed its nature: being in dry air, "the bones became more brittle ... looking like dry clay, very brittle."

An extract from the conclusion of the commission reads: “The bones of St. Nicholas, consisting of a large number of fragments of white color, correspond to parts of the skeleton of the saint missing in Bari. Unfortunately, the bones were shattered into small pieces by a Barian sailor during his flight." The last consideration was introduced at the suggestion of Professor Martino, who, in his personal opinion, drew attention to the crude method of extracting relics from the shrine by a Bari sailor, which was also shown by an examination conducted in Bari, where broken parts of the skeleton were found.

Thus, the opinions of experts fully confirm the authenticity of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, preserved in the church of San Nicolò. According to the opinion of the Bari scholar, “the Venetian remains, although they have a modest appearance, are no less important and should not be considered less important than the Bari” (I resti di Venezia “... anche se di umile aspetto, non sono e non debbono essere considerati meno importanti dei resti di Bari").

about Venice

Venice is second in Europe- after Rome - city ​​according to the number of shrines of the undivided Church. A city that once dared to disobey the decree of the Pope. The city, which was an outpost of Byzantium, and after that sponsored the Crusade against Constantinople. A city originally free from the pagan past. Republic of Saint Mark.