Commemorated December 6
By tradition, Nicholas born in the province of Lycia in the southern
part of Asia Minor in the city of Patara to well-to-do parents. The date
of his birth is not known. Having inherited his parents' estate, he
became known for his generous gifts to those in need. As a youth, he
made pilgrimages to Palestine and Egypt. He was subsequently consecrated
Archbishop of Myra as the fourth century began. He was imprisoned
during the persecutions of Diocletian and released by Constantine after
his ascension to emperor. Nicholas was noted for his defense of
Orthodoxy against the Arians. He is reputed to have been present at the
Council of Nicea, but his name does not appear among any documents from
that era.[Ed.: Tradition holds that Bishop Nicholas slapped/punched Arius for his heresy during the Nicean Council. As the Holy Apostle's Rule says, "a priest who has stuck someone must undergo canonical punishment and is forbidden to serve as a priest." One may assume this applies to Bishops, as well...so it makes sense that his name was stricken from the roles of that time.]
He died in Myra on December 6 in a year uncertain, but between 342 and 352.
From Orthodoxwiki.com
The saint's relics are located in Bari, Italy.
+++
How [did our father among the saints, the Wonderworker] Saint Nicholas of Myra and Lycia, who looks like this:
.
Come to look like this:
I always lament that Santa Claus replaced the baby Jesus during the
Christmas Season. Instead of anticipating the birth of Christ, people
are waiting for their gifts under the Christmas tree courtesy of Santa
Claus. Well, it seems like it is not only Jesus who was replaced by the
commercialized Santa Claus. The first victim is Saint Nicholas.
Santa Claus has a shallow kind of generosity. If you are a nice person,
then you can expect a gift from Santa. In this case, the gift became a
bribe to make the child behave well. It teaches a child to expect an
instant gift whenever do good things.
Saint Nicholas' generosity is much deeper. Being “nice” is not a
requirement for him whenever he helps someone. The widower in the story
is not a nice person because he wanted his daughter to become
prostitutes. Saint Nicholas did not turn his back to the widower and his
daughters. On the contrary, he gave them three bags of gold!
Jesus Christ told us to love our neighbors, including those who are not
nice to us. Our Lord said “for if you love those that love you, what
reward shall you have? Do not even publicans do that? And if you salute
your brethren only, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the
Gentiles do that?” (Matthew 5:46-47).We Christians are expected to love
and aid anyone like Saint Nicholas did because if we love and aid just
those who are nice, like what Santa Claus is doing, then are we doing
more than the others?
From theparadoxicleyline.blogspot.com
From the Prologue:
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia
This glorious saint, celebrated even today throughout the entire world, was the only son of his eminent and wealthy parents, Theophanes and Nona, citizens of the city of Patara in Lycia. Since he was the only son bestowed on them by God, the parents returned the gift to God by dedicating their son to Him. St. Nicholas learned of the spiritual life from his uncle Nicholas, Bishop of Patara, and was tonsured a monk in the Monastery of New Zion founded by his uncle. Following the death of his parents, Nicholas distributed all his inherited goods to the poor, not keeping anything for himself. As a priest in Patara, he was known for his charity, even though he carefully concealed his charitable works, fulfilling the words of the Lord: Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth (Matthew 6:3). When he gave himself over to solitude and silence, thinking to live that way until his death, a voice from on high came to him: ``Nicholas, for your ascetic labor, work among the people, if thou desirest to be crowned by Me.'' Immediately after that, by God's wondrous providence, he was chosen archbishop of the city of Myra in Lycia. Merciful, wise and fearless, Nicholas was a true shepherd to his flock. During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian and Maximian, he was cast into prison, but even there he instructed the people in the Law of God. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea [325] and, out of great zeal for the truth, struck the heretic Arius with his hand. For this act he was removed from the Council and from his archiepiscopal duties, until the Lord Christ Himself and the Most-holy Theotokos appeared to several of the chief hierarchs and revealed their approval of Nicholas. A defender of God's truth, this wonderful saint was ever bold as a defender of justice among the people. On two occasions, he saved three men from an undeserved sentence of death. Merciful, truthful, and a lover of justice, he walked among the people as an angel of God. Even during his lifetime, the people considered him a saint and invoked his aid in difficulties and in distress. He appeared both in dreams and in person to those who called upon him, and he helped them easily and speedily, whether close at hand or far away. A light shone from his face as it did from the face of Moses, and he, by his presence alone, brought comfort, peace and good will among men. In old age he became ill for a short time and entered into the rest of the Lord, after a life full of labor and very fruitful toil, to rejoice eternally in the Kingdom of Heaven, continuing to help the faithful on earth by his miracles and to glorify his God. He entered into rest on December 6, 343.
No comments:
Post a Comment