The Feast Day of Saint Nicholas Bishop of Myra takes place on 6 December but the joyousness began on  the evening of 5 December as we celebrated this much-loved great and famous saint with a beautiful and uplifting Vespers service with the traditional offering of the Five Artos Loaves. 

It was followed by a happy get-together to toast our own beloved  parish priest Pater Nikolaos who also celebrates his Name Day on December 6. 

Above all we came together to wish Pater Nikolaos a very happy and blessed Feast Day and we pray that Saint Nicholas always looks after him for us. 

On Friday morning we celebrated the Feast Day with a superbly spiritual Holy Liturgy as we commemorated one of the greatest and best-known Saints of all time – Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who is  also venerated as The Wonder Worker.

Saint Nicholas has many reasons for being upheld as one of the most famous and beloved saints and one we share with the entire world during the Christmas  season, but  the one reason that stands out is his reputation for being a very generous kind-hearted man and, his care for the sick and those in need, is the stuff of legends. 

His selfless love for children was eventually translated into the figure of Saint Nicholas the gift- giver at Christmas in the Western world. 

Therefore we are spot on with our own Pater Nikolaos. Who could be more suited to carry the saint‘s name because, as we all know, he is an absolute hit with kiddies, both his own grandchildren and the little ones in the congregation.

As Pater celebrated his Name Day he wore a beautifully embroidered epigonation, a diamond-shaped vestment worn over the right knee of priests and bishops. It features Saint Nicholas for this special day. 

Who was St Nicholas?

He was the Archbishop of Myra, a Greek community in Asia Minor in the fourth century AD, which is now part of  modern-day Turkey. He was also a key player in the ground-breaking Council of Churches in Nicaea which took place in 325 AD. 

As a young man he wanted to live a solitary hermit’s life in Jerusalem but that was not God’s plan for him. He returned to his homeland and became a cause for salvation of countless  souls building a reputation for his abundant mercy, providing for the poor and needy with anonymous gifts, giving and becoming the champion of those unjustly accused or abused and he was known for his unremitting zeal for the truth. 

His name is of Greek origin and appropriately means “ victor of people”, a compound of “ nike” ( victory) and “laos”( people) which morphed into “champion of the people “. 

Throughout his life he took care of people and through various interventions and miracles at sea he is also known as the patron  saint  and protector of those who sail the seas – a fact particularly dear to the hearts of Greeks who are a sea-faring nation. 

St Nicholas died on 6 December 343 AD in Asia Minor of natural causes having come full circle  in his life to the region where he had been born.

He is a shining example of Christ’s love, compassion and generosity, which are the greatest gifts we can receive and give, at Christmas, or at any time. 

The secret gift-giver 

Saint Nicholas was also known for his incredible generosity and gift-giving to all and sundry who needed some help and he very often bestowed money and goods in secret as he loathed  the thought of being acknowledged or thanked. His good acts were between him and God. 

There are far too many stories , myths and urban legends surrounding this most illustrious figure but here’s one that really says it all…

The Three Daughters

This is one of the most heart-warming and well-known tales concerning St Nicholas and has to do with three young girls.

They came from a dirt-poor family and their father simply had no means to pay their dowries so that meant they were doomed to be spinsters forever and in those far-off days that was a fate worse than death! 

Saint Nicholas heard about them and decided to change their lives but in order not to embarrass the parents and the lasses he devised a plan to save them from the humiliation of having to accept outright charity. 

One night he secretly left three bags of gold in their home and after being utterly blown away by this incredible good turn in their fortunes, the girls were able to have happy and secure futures as wives and mothers. 

Now that certainly beats a fairy godmother!

You may know him as Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker  or Miracle-Worker ( from the Greek “thavmatourgos”) due to the many miracles and life changes he brought about through his immense kindness and mercy throughout his time on this earth and which he still performs for those who believe in him. 

Do yourself a favour and read up about this extraordinary Saint – particularly now in this season of goodwill – it’s a gift to yourself you’ll always cherish as it has life-changing properties. 

It was is also the Name Day of anyone called Nico, Nick, Nicole , Nicoletta and Nicolina. 

Xronia Polla!

And lest we forget – Saint Nicholas is all about giving – big time. May you and yours enjoy the incredible blessing of just feeling so right when you give from the heart! 

( Text and photos: Pepe Sofianos)