Statuette Nicholas the Wonderworker

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (the Pleaser) was born in 270 AD in the city of Patara, which was located in the region of Lycia in Asia Minor and was a Greek colony. The future archbishop's parents were wealthy individuals who believed in Christ and actively helped the poor. From a young age, St. Nicholas dedicated himself to the faith and spent much time in the church. As he grew older, he became a reader and later a priest in the church where his uncle, Bishop Nicholas of Patara, served as the rector. After the death of his parents, Nicholas the Wonderworker gave away all his inheritance to the poor and continued his church service. In the years when the attitude of the Roman emperors towards Christians became more tolerant, but the persecution nevertheless continued, he ascended to the episcopal throne in Myra. The people loved the new archbishop: he was kind, meek, fair, and responsive, and no request was left unanswered. При всем этом Николай запомнился современникам как непримиримый борец с язычеством — разрушал идолов и капища, и защитник христианства — обличал еретиков. Еще при жизни святитель прославился многими чудесами. Спас город Миры от страшного голода — своей горячей молитвой ко Христу. Молился и тем помогал тонущим морякам на суднах, выводил из заточения в тюрьмах неправедно осужденных. Николай Угодник дожил до глубокой старости и умер примерно в 345-351 годах. Его мощи были нетленными и покоились в церкви города Миры. Они мироточили, и миро исцеляло верующих от разных недугов. Despite all this, Nicholas was remembered by his contemporaries as an implacable fighter against paganism, destroying idols and temples, and as a defender of Christianity, denouncing heretics. During his lifetime, the saint was renowned for his many miracles. He saved the city of Myra from a severe famine through his fervent prayers to Christ. He also prayed to help drowning sailors on ships and released wrongfully imprisoned individuals. Nicholas the Wonderworker lived to a great age and died around 345-351. His relics were incorruptible and rested in the church of the city of Myra. They exuded myrrh, which healed the faithful of various ailments.