Saints/Heroes/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: Advent, St. Nicholas
Wiki: Saint Nicholas (1/3)
For the literary magazine, see St. Nicholas Magazine. For the popular figure in Western folk-legend, also known as St. Nick, see Santa Claus.
Saint Nicholas (Greek: Άγιος Νικόλαος, Aghios ["holy"] Nicolaos ["victory of the people"]) (270-6 December 346) is the canonical and most popular name for Nikolaos of Myra, a saint and Greek [3] Bishop of Myra (Demre, in Lycia, part of modern-day Turkey). Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker (Greek: Νικόλαος ο Θαυματουργός, Nikolaos o Thaumaturgos). He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas. In Britain he is known as 'Father Christmas'. His reputation evolved among the faithful, as is common for early Christian saints. [4] In 1087, his relics were furtively translated to Bari, in southeastern Italy; for this reason, he is also known as Nikolaos of Bari.His feastday is December 6.
The historical Saint Nicholas is remembered and revered among Catholic and Orthodox Christians. He is also honored by various Anglican and Lutheran churches. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, and students in Greece, Belgium, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Russia, the Republic of Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Montenegro. He is also the patron saint of Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Barranquilla, Bari, Beit Jala, Fribourg, Huguenots, Liverpool, Siggiewi, and Lorraine. In 1809, the New-York Historical Society convened and retroactively named Santa Claus the patron saint of New Amsterdam, the historical name for New York City. [5] He was also a patron of the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine emperors, who protected his relics in Bari.
A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on 1 January is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece.
Saint Nicholas
Bishop of Myra, Defender of Orthodoxy, Wonderworker, Holy Hierarch
Born c. 270 A.D. (the Ides of March) [1]
Patara, Lycia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey)
Died 6 December 346 A.D. Myra, Lycia
Venerated in All Christianity
Canonized Pre-Congregation
Major shrine Basilica di San Nicola, Bari, Italy.
Feast 6 December (main feast day)
19 December (some Eastern churches) [2]
9 May (translation of relics)
Attributes Vested as a Bishop. In Eastern Christianity, wearing an omophorion and holding a Gospel Book. Sometimes shown with Jesus Christ over one shoulder, holding a Gospel Book, and with the Theotokos over the other shoulder, holding an omophorion.
Patronage Children, sailors, fishermen, merchants, broadcasters, the falsely accused, prostitutes, repentant thieves, pharmacists, archers, pawnbrokers
The original tomb of St. Nicholas at his basilica in Myra
17th-century icon of the Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas of Myra (Historic Museum in Sanok, Poland).
The tomb of Saint Nicholas in Bari, as it appears today.
1. The life of St. Nicholas
Funeral of St. Nicholas, Russian icon, Novgorod
Pilgrims at the tomb of Saint Nicholas in Bari (Gentile da Fabriano, c. 1425, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.).
Although he was the patron saint of Russia, and the model for a northern invention such as Santa Claus, Nicholas of Myra was Grecian. Saint Nicholas (Bishop of Myra) replaced Sabino as the patron saint in Asia Minor during the third century in the Greek colony [6] of Patara, [7] Demre, Lycia (part of modern-day Turkey), at a time when the region was part of the Roman province of Asia and was Hellenistic in its culture and outlook. He was the only son of wealthy Christian parents named Epiphanus and Johanna, [8] and was very religious from an early age. According to legend, Nicholas was said to have rigorously observed the canonical fasts of Wednesdays and Fridays. His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young and he was raised by his uncle—also named Nicholas—who was the bishop of Patara. He tonsured the young Nicholas as a reader, and later as presbyter (priest). Nicholas also spent a stint at a monastery named Holy Sion, which had been founded by his uncle.
2. Translation of his relics
On 26 August 1071 Romanus IV, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (reigned 1068-1071), faced Sultan Alp Arslan of the Seljuk Turks (reigned 1059-1072) in the Battle of Manzikert. The battle ended in humiliating defeat and capture for Romanus. As a result the Empire temporarily lost control over most of Asia Minor to the invading Seljuk Turks. The Byzantines would regain its control over Asia Minor during the reign of Alexius I Comnenus (reigned 1081-1118). But early in his reign Myra was overtaken by the Islamic invaders. Taking advantage of the confusion, sailors from Bari in Apulia seized the remains of the saint over the objections of the Orthodox monks. Returning to Bari, they brought the remains with them and cared for them. The remains arrived on 9 May 1087. There are numerous variations of this account. In some versions those taking the relics are characterized as thieves or pirates, in others they are said to have taken them in response to a vision wherein Saint Nicholas himself appeared and commanded that his relics be moved in order to preserve them from the impending Muslim conquest.
Some observers have reported seeing myrrh exude his relics, anointing with which has been credited with numerous miracles. Vials of myrrh from his relics have been taken all over the world for centuries, and can still be obtained from his church in Bari. Currently at Bari, there are two churches at his shrine, one Roman Catholic and one Orthodox.
According to a local legend, some of his remains were brought by three pilgrims to a church in what is now Nikolausberg in the vicinity of the city of Göttingen, Germany, giving the church and village its name.
There is also a Venetian legend (preserved in the Morosini Chronicle) that most of the relics were actually taken to Venice (where a great church to St. Nicholas, the patron of sailors, was built on the Lido), only an arm being left at Bari. This tradition was overturned in the 1950s when a scientific investigation of the relics in Bari revealed a largely intact skeleton.
It is said that in Myra the relics of Saint Nicholas each year exuded a clear watery liquid which smells like rose water, called manna (or myrrh), which is believed by the faithful to possess miraculous powers. After the relics were brought to Bari, they continued to do so, much to the joy of the new owners. Even up to the present day, a flask of manna is extracted from the tomb of Saint Nicholas every year on 6 December (the Saint's feast day) by the clergy of the basilica. The myrrh is collected from a sarcophagus which is located in the basilica vault and could obtained in the shop nearby.
2. 1. Proposed return of his bones to Turkey
On 28 December 2009, the Turkish Government announced that it would be formally requesting the return of St Nikolaos's bones to Turkey from the Italian government. [9] [10] Turkish authorities have cited the fact that Saint Nicolas himself wanted to be buried at his birthplace. They also state that his remains were illegally removed from Turkey
The dowry for the three virgins (Gentile da Fabriano, c. 1425, Pinacoteca Vaticana, Rome).
3. Legends and folklore
Another legend [11] tells how a terrible famine struck the island and a malicious butcher lured three little children into his house, where he slaughtered and butchered them, placing their remains in a barrel to cure, planning to sell them off as ham. Saint Nicholas, visiting the region to care for the hungry, not only saw through the butcher's horrific crime but also resurrected the three boys from the barrel by his prayers. Another version of this story, possibly formed around the eleventh century, claims that the butcher's victims were instead three clerks who wished to stay the night. The man murdered them, and was advised by his wife to dispose of them by turning them into meat pies. The Saint saw through this and brought the men back to life.
However, in his most famous exploit, [12] a poor man had three daughters but could not afford a proper dowry for them. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment would have to become prostitutes. Hearing of the poor man's plight, Nicholas decided to help him but being too modest to help the man in public (or to save the man the humiliation of accepting charity), he went to his house under the cover of night and threw three purses (one for each daughter) filled with gold coins through the window opening into the man's house.
One version has him throwing one purse for three consecutive nights. Another has him throw the purses over a period of three years, each time the night before one of the daughters comes "of age". Invariably, the third time the father lies in wait, trying to discover the identity of their benefactor. In one version the father confronts the saint, only to have Saint Nicholas say it is not him he should thank, but God alone. In another version, Nicholas learns of the poor man's plan and drops the third bag down the chimney instead; a variant holds that the daughter had washed her stockings that evening and hung them over the embers to dry, and that the bag of gold fell into the stocking.
4. The miracle of wheat multiplication
A key ring with the image of Nikolaos of Myra as patron of the sailors. More images on eship.at
During a great famine that the Bishop of Myra experienced, a ship was is in the port at anchor, which was loaded with wheat for the Emperor in Byzantium. He invited the sailors to unload a part of the wheat to help in time of need. The sailors at first disliked the request, because the wheat had to be weighed accurately and delivered to the Emperor. Only when Nicholas promised them that they would not take any damage for their consideration, the sailors agreed. When they arrived later in the capital, they made a surprising find. The weight of the load had not changed. The removed wheat in Myra was even enough for two full years and could even be used for sowing. [13]
5. The face of the historical saint
Whereas the devotional importance of relics and the economics associated with pilgrimages caused the remains of most saints to be divided up and spread over numerous churches in several countries, St. Nicholas is unique in that most of his bones have been preserved in one spot: his grave crypt in Bari. Even with the still-continuing miracle of the manna, the archdiocese of Bari has allowed for one scientific survey of the bones. In the late 1950s, during a restoration of the chapel, it allowed a team of hand-picked scientists to photograph and measure the contents of the crypt grave.
In the summer of 2005, the report of these measurements was sent to a forensic laboratory in England. The review of the data revealed that the historical St. Nicholas was barely five feet in height and had a broken nose.
Saint Nicholas, Russian icon from first quarter of 18th cent. (Kizhi monastery, Karelia).
6. Formal veneration of the saint
Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, Italy where the relics of St. Nicholas are kept today
Saint Nicholas Saves Three Innocents from Death (oil painting by Ilya Repin, 1888, State Russian Museum).
A modern metal icon of St. Nicholas by the Bulgarian artist Georgi 'Chapa' Chapkanov. Gilbert House, Stanley, Falkland Islands.
Among the Greeks and Italians he is a favourite of sailors, fishermen, ships and sailing. As such he has become over time the patron saint of several cities maintaining harbours. In centuries of Greek folklore, Nicholas was seen as "The Lord of the Sea", often described by modern Greek scholars as a kind of Christianised version of Poseidon. In modern Greece, he is still easily among the most recognisable saints and 6 December finds many cities celebrating their patron saint. He is also the patron saint of all of Greece.
In Russia, Saint Nicholas' memory is celebrated on every Thursday of the year (together with the Apostles), and special hymns to him are found in the liturgical text known as the Octoechos. Soon after the transfer of Saint Nicholas' relics from Myra to Bari, a Russian version of his Life and an account of the transfer of his relics were written by a contemporary to this event. [14] Devotional akathists and canons have been composed in his honour, and are frequently chanted by the faithful as they ask for his intercession. He is mentioned in the Liturgy of Preparation during the Divine Liturgy (Eastern Orthodox Eucharist) and during the All-Night Vigil. Many Orthodox churches will have his icon, even if they are not named after him.
In late medieval England, on Saint Nicholas' Day parishes held Yuletide "boy bishop" celebrations. As part of this celebration, youths performed the functions of priests and bishops, and exercised rule over their elders. Today, Saint Nicholas is still celebrated as a great gift-giver in several Western European countries. According to one source, medieval nuns used the night of 6 December to anonymously deposit baskets of food and clothes at the doorsteps of the needy. According to another source, on 6 December every sailor or ex-sailor of the Low Countries (which at that time was virtually all of the male population) would descend to the harbour towns to participate in a church celebration for their patron saint. On the way back they would stop at one of the various Nicholas fairs to buy some hard-to-come-by goods, gifts for their loved ones and invariably some little presents for their children. While the real gifts would only be presented at Christmas, the little presents for the children were given right away, courtesy of Saint Nicholas. This and his miracle of him resurrecting the three butchered children, made Saint Nicholas a patron saint of children and later students as well.
Among Albanians, Saint Nicholas is known as Shen'Kollë and is venerated by most Catholic families, even those from villages that are devoted to other saints. The Feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the eve of 5 December, known as Shen'Kolli i Dimnit (Saint Nicholas of Winter), as well as on the commemoration of the interring of his bones in Bari, the eve of 8 May, known as Shen'Kolli i Majit (Saint Nicholas of May). Albanian Catholics often swear by Saint Nicholas, saying "Pasha Shejnti Shen'Kollin!" ("May I see Holy Saint Nicholas!"), indicating the importance of this saint in Albanian culture, especially among the Albanians of Malësia. On the eve of his feast day, Albanians will light a candle and abstain from meat, preparing a feast of roasted lamb and pork, to be served to guests after midnight. Guests will greet each other, saying, "Nata e Shen'Kollit ju nihmoftë!" ("May the Night of Saint Nicholas help you!") and other such blessings. The bones of Albania's greatest hero, Gjergj Kastrioti, were also interred in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Lezha, Albania, upon his death.
7. In iconography
Saint Nicholas is a popular subject portrayed on countless Eastern Orthodox icons, particularly Russian ones. He is depicted as an Orthodox bishop, wearing the omophorion and holding a Gospel Book, sometimes he is depicted wearing the Eastern Orthodox mitre, sometimes he is bareheaded. Iconographically, Nicholas is depicted as an elderly man with a short, full white beard and balding head. In commemoration of the miracle attributed to him by tradition at the Ecumenical Council of Nicea, he is sometimes depicted with Christ over his left shoulder holding out a Gospel Book to him and the Theotokos over his right shoulder holding the omophorion. Because of his patronage of mariners, occasionally Saint Nicholas will be shown standing in a boat or rescuing a drowning sailor.
In Roman Catholic iconography, Saint Nicholas is depicted as a bishop, wearing the insignia of this dignity: a red bishop's cloak, a red miter and a bishop's crozier. The episode with the three dowries is commemorated by showing him holding in his hand either three purses, three coins or three balls of gold. Depending on whether he is depicted as patron saint of children or sailors, his images will be completed by a background showing ships, children or three figures climbing out of a wooden barrel (the three slaughtered children he resurrected).
In a strange twist, the three gold balls referring to the dowry affair are sometimes metaphorically interpreted as being oranges or other fruits. As in the Low Countries in medieval times oranges most frequently came from Spain, this led to the belief that the Saint lives in Spain and comes to visit every winter bringing them oranges, other 'wintry' fruits and tales of magical creatures.
2006 Christmas stamp, Ukraine, showing St. Nicholas and children.
Polychrome relief of Sinter Claes in Dam (Amsterdam).
8. Saint Nicholas Day
The tradition of Saint Nicholas Day, usually on 6 December, is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the Anglo-Canadian and British Father Christmas, derive from these legends. "Santa Claus" is itself derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
8. 1. Malta
In Malta St Nicholas is the patron Saint of the Village of Siggiewi.The ruins of the former parish church, dedicated to St Nicholas of Bari are still visible today. Lately, great restoration works have been carried out and retrieved its old glory. The baroque parish church, dedicated to the same saint, was erected by the villagers who raised the necessary funds between the years 1676 to 1693. It was designed by the Maltese architect, Lorenzo Gafà but underwent some changes throughout the years. The portico and naves were added by Professor Nicola Żammit in the latter half of the 19th century. He is kind to all people.
8. 2. Ireland
The saint who inspired the legend of Santa Claus is believed to have been buried in Jerpoint Abbey in Kilkenny some 800 years ago. Originally buried in Myra in modern day Turkey, his body was moved from there to Italy in 1169, but said to have been taken afterwards to Ireland by Nicholas de Frainet, a distant relative. A Cistercian abbey, the church of Saint Nicholas, was built by his family there and dedicated to the memory of the saint. A slab grave on the ground of this church claims to hold his remains. There is a yearly Mass in relation to the memory of Saint Nicholas, but otherwise the celebration is quite low key..
8. 3. Italy
St. Nicholas (San Nicola) is the patron of the city of Bari, where it is believed he is buried. Its deeply felt celebration is called the Festa di San Nicola, held on the 7-9 of May. In particular on 8 May the relics of the saint are carried on a boat on the sea in front of the city with many boats following (Festa a mare). On 6 December there is a ritual called the Rito delle nubili. The same tradition is currently observed in Sassari, where during the day of Saint Nicholas, patron of the city, gifts are given to young brides who need help before getting married.
In Trieste, St. Nicholas (San Nicolò) is celebrated with gifts given to children on the morning of 6 December and with a fair called Fiera di San Nicolò [15] during the first weeks of December. Depending on the cultural background, in some families this celebration is more important than Christmas. Trieste is a city on the sea, being one of the main ports of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is influenced mainly by Italian, Slovenian and German cultures, but also Greek and Serbian.
8. 4. Portugal
In one city (Guimarães) in Portugal, St. Nicholas (São Nicolau) has been celebrated since the Middle Ages as the patron saint of high-school students, in the so called Nicolinas, a group of festivities that occur from 29 November to 7 December each year. In the rest of Portugal this is not celebrated.
Sinterklaas in the Netherlands in 2007.
8. 5. The Netherlands, Belgium, and Lower Rhineland (Germany)
Main article: Sinterklaas
In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' Eve (5 December) is the primary occasion for gift-giving, when his reputed birthday is celebrated.
In the days leading up to 5 December (starting when Saint Nicholas has arrived in the Netherlands by steamboat in late November), young children put their shoes in front of the chimneys and sing Sinterklaas songs. Often they put a carrot or some hay in the shoes, as a gift to St. Nicholas' horse. (In recent years the horse has been named Amerigo in The Netherlands and Slechtweervandaag in Flanders.) The next morning they will find a small present in their shoes, ranging from sweets to marbles or some other small toy. On the evening of 5 December, Sinterklaas brings presents to every child who has behaved him- or herself in the past year (in practice, just like with Santa Claus, all children receive gifts without distinction). This is often done by placing a bag filled with presents outside the house or living room, after which a neighbour or parent bangs the door or window, pretending to be Sinterklaas' assistant. Another option is to hire or ask someone to dress up as Sinterklaas and deliver the presents personally. Sinterklaas wears a bishop's robes including a red cape and mitre and is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colourful Moorish dress, dating back two centuries. These helpers are called 'Zwarte Pieten' ("Black Petes") or "Père Fouettard" in the French-speaking part of Belgium.
The myth is, if a child had been naughty, the Zwarte Pieten put all the naughty children in sacks, and Sinterklaas took them to Spain (it is believed that Sinterklaas comes from Spain, where he returns after 5 December). Therefore, many Sinterklaas songs still allude to a watching Zwarte Piet and a judging Sinterklaas.
In the past number of years, there has been a recurrent discussion about the politically incorrect nature of the Moorish helper. In particular Dutch citizens with backgrounds from Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles might feel offended by the Dutch slavery history connected to this emblem and regard the Zwarte Pieten to be racist. Others state that the black skin color of Zwarte Piet originates in his profession as a chimneysweep, hence the delivery of packages though the chimney. [16]
In recent years, Christmas (along with Santa Claus) has been pushed by shopkeepers as another gift-giving festival, with some success; although, especially for young children, Saint Nicholas' Eve is still much more important than Christmas. The rise of Father Christmas (known in Dutch as de Kerstman) is often cited as an example of globalisation and Americanisation. [17]
On the Frisian islands (Waddeneilanden), the Sinterklaas feast has developed independently into traditions very different from the one on the mainland. [18]
Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas.
8. 6. Germany
In Germany, Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot called Nikolaus-Stiefel (Nikolaus boot) outside the front door on the night of 5 December. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets overnight, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful the last year. If they were not, they will have a tree branch (Rute) in their boots instead. Sometimes a disguised Nikolaus also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they have been good (sometimes ostensibly checking his golden book for their record), handing out presents on a per-behavior basis. This has become more lenient in recent decades.
But for some children, Nikolaus also elicited fear, as he was often accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Ruprecht), who would threaten to beat the children for misbehavior as using this myth to 'bring up cheek children' for a better, good behavior. Any kind of punishment isn't really following and just an antic legend. Knecht Ruprecht furthermore was equipped with eight deer legs. In Switzerland, where he is called Schmutzli, he would threaten to put bad children in a sack and take them back to the dark forest. In other accounts he would throw the sack into the river, drowning the naughty children. These traditions were implemented more rigidly in Catholic countries and regions such as Austria or Bavaria.
8. 7. Central Europe
In highly Catholic regions, the local priest was informed by the parents about their children's behaviour and would then personally visit the homes in the traditional Christian garment and threaten to beat them with a rod. In parts of Austria, Krampusse, who local tradition says are Nikolaus's helpers (in reality, typically children of poor families), roamed the streets during the festival. They wore masks and dragged chains behind them. These Krampusläufe (Krampus runs) still exist.
In Croatia Nikolaus (Sveti Nikola) who visits on Saint Nicholas day (Nikolinje) brings gifts to children commending them for their good behaviour over the past year and exhorting them to continue in the same manner in the year to come. If they fail to do so they will receive a visit from Krampus who traditionally leaves a rod, an instrument their parents will use to discipline them.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia Mikuláš, in Poland Mikołaj and in Ukraine Svyatyi Mykolay is often also accompanied by an angel (anděl/anioł/anhel) who acts as a counterweight to the ominous devil or Knecht Ruprecht (čert/czart). Additionally, in Poland children find the candy and small gifts under the pillow or in their shoes the evening of 5 December or the morning of December 6. In Ukraine this tradition is celebrated on 19 December.
In Hungary and Romania children typically leave their boots on the windowsill on the evening of 5 December. By next morning Nikolaus (Szent Miklós traditionally but more commonly known as Mikulás in Hungary or Moş Nicolae (Sfântul Nicolae) in Romania) leaves candy and gifts if they have been good, or a rod (Hungarian: virgács, Romanian: nuieluşǎ) if they have been bad (most kids end up getting small gifts but also a small rod). In Hungary he is often accompanied by the Krampusz, the frightening helper who is out to take away the bad ones.
In Luxembourg Kleeschen is accompanied by the Houseker a frightening helper wearing a brown monk's habit.
In Slovenia Saint Nikolaus (Miklavž) is accompanied by an angel and a devil (parkelj) corresponding to the Austrian Krampus.
8. 8. Greece, Serbia, Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria
In Greece, Saint Nicholas does not carry an especial association with gift-giving, as this tradition is carried over to St. Basil of Cesarea, celebrated on New Year's Day. St. Nicholas being the protector of sailors, he is considered the patron saint of the Greek navy, war and merchant alike and his day is marked by festivities aboard all ships and boats, at sea and in port. It is also associated with the preceding feasts of St. Barbara (4 December), St. Savvas (5 December), and the following feast of St. Anne (9 December); all these are often collectively called the "Nikolobárbara", and are considered a succession of days that heralds the onset of truly wintry cold weather in the country. Therefore by tradition, homes should have already been laid with carpets, removed for the warm season, by St. Andrew's Day (30 November), a week ahead of the Nikolobárbara.
In Serbia and Republic of Macedonia, Saint Nicholas is celebrated as patron saint of many families, through the feast preserved amongst Serbs and inhabitants of Macedonia, widely known as slava. Since the feast of Saint Nicholas always falls in the fasting period preceding the Christmas, feast is celebrated according to the Eastern Orthodox Church fasting rules. Fasting refers in this context to the eating of a restricted diet for reasons of Religion.
In the Republic of Bulgaria, Saint Nicholas is one of the most celebrated saints. Many churches and monasteries are named after him. As a holiday Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the 6th of December.
8. 9. Lebanon
Saint Nicholas is celebrated by all the Christian communities in Lebanon: Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian. Many places, churches, convents, and schools are named in honor of Saint Nicholas, such as Escalier Saint-Nicolas des Arts, Saint Nicolas Garden, and Saint Nicolas Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
8. 10. Palestine
Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of the town of Beit Jala. This little town, which is located only two kilometers to the west of Bethlehem, boasts of being the place where St. Nicholas spent four years of his life during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Every year on the 19th of December according to the Gregorian Calendar—that is the 6th of December according to the Julian Calendar—a solemn Divine Liturgy is held in the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, and is usually followed by parades, exhibitions, and many activities. Palestinian Christians and Palestinian Muslims of all sects, denominations and churches come to Beit Jala and participate in prayers and celebrations.
8. 11. United States and Canada
While feasts of Saint Nicholas are not observed nationally, cities with strong German influences like Milwaukee, Cincinnati and St. Louis celebrate St. Nick's Day on a scale similar to the German custom. [19] As in other countries, many people in the United states celebrate a separate St Nicholas Day by putting their shoes outside their bedroom doors on the evening of Dec. 5th. St Nicholas then comes during the night. On the morning of Dec. 6th, those people will find their shoes filled with gifts and sugary treats. Widespread adoption of the tradition has spread among the German, Polish, Belgian and Dutch communities throughout the United States.
On the day after Thanksgiving or sometime in December, children and their families put up a Christmas tree. A Christmas tree is a medium-sized pine, fir, or spruce tree that they put in their family room and decorate with ornaments and garlands of all sorts. They also normally put a star or angel on the top, as a symbol of Christ's birth. On the 24th of December, Christmas Eve, each child puts one empty stocking/sock on their fireplace. The following morning of 25 of December, the children awake to find that St. Nick has filled their stockings with candy and small presents (if the children have been good) or coal (if not). Gifts often include chocolate gold coins to represent the gold St. Nick gave to the poor and small trinkets. They also awake to find presents under the tree, wrapped in Christmas-themed paper. For these children, the relationship between St. Nick and Santa Claus is not clearly defined. Some parents explain that St. Nick is the same person as Santa Claus with St. Nick being the "official" name and Santa Claus being the "children's" name, while other parents explain that St. Nick is a separate person that is a helper of Santa Claus.[citation needed]
9. In music
Benjamin Britten wrote a Christmas cantata entitled "St. Nicolas" commissioned by three public schools.
Edward Purcell composed a choral song for male choir entitled "St. Nicolas". (1730)
Also there is a classic music composition "Oratorio San Nicola di Bari", written by Giovanni Battista Bononcini in 1693.
9. 1. Operetta St. Nicholas arrives
Salesian priest dr. Jerko Gržinčič wrote a Christmas operetta entitled "Miklavž prihaja" [20] in three acts. Premiere took place before World War II in hostel Union in Ljubljana (Slovenia) with great success. [21]
The first act is happening in heaven with angels, who are preparing for great feast. They will bring gifts to good children. St. Crispin (shoemaker) and St. Gerard (tailor) make shoes and clothes for poor children.
The second act is happening in modern hell. Devils with Lucifer read bad newspapers, sing and speak, how to accompany Nicholas and to punish bad children.
The third act is happening on Earth. St. Nicholas now arrives greetings the public, accompanied with angels and devils. He teaches not only children, but their parents and relatives too: let you be good and diligent, devote and generous. Now good children receive gifts - once however joy in heaven; bad receive now birches, once however sufferance in hell, if they will not correct their mistakes.
On end St. Nicholas wishes to all Merry Christmas and to live in concord and peace
Russian Orthodox statue of Saint Nicolas, now in a corner near the church in Demre
Noel Baba at the square in front of the church in Demre.
10. Metamorphosis in Demre
The metamorphosis of Saint Nicholas into the more commercially lucrative Santa Claus, which took several centuries in Europe and America, has recently been re-enacted in the saint's home town: the city of Demre. This modern Turkish town is built near the ruins of ancient Myra. As St. Nicholas is a very popular Orthodox saint, the city attracts many Russian tourists. A solemn bronze statue of the Saint by the Russian sculptor Gregory Pototsky, donated by the Russian government in 2000, was given a prominent place on the square in front of the medieval church of St. Nicholas. In 2005, mayor Suleyman Topcu had the statue replaced by a red-suited plastic Santa Claus statue, because he wanted the central statue to be more recognizable to visitors from all over the world. Protests from the Russian government against this action were successful only to the extent that the Russian statue was returned, without its original high pedestal, to a corner near the church.
Restoration on Saint Nicholas' original church in Demre is currently under way. In 2007, the Turkish Ministry of Culture gave permission for the Divine Liturgy to be celebrated at the site, and has contributed the sum of forty-thousand Turkish Lira to the project.
11. References
11. 1. Notes
1."Book of Martyrs," New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1948
2.Saint Nicholas ::: Serbia & Montenegro
3.Cunningham, Lawrence (2005). A brief history of saints. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-4051-1402-8. "The fourth-century Saint Nikolaos of Myra (in present-day Turkey) spread to the West through the port city of Bari in southern Italy…Devotion to the saint in the Low countries became blended with Nordic folktales, transforming this early Greek bishop into that Christmas icon, Santa Claus’."
4.Charles W. Jones, "Saint Nikolaos of Myra, Bari, and Manhattan: Biography of a Legend" (Chicago: University of Chicago Press) 1978.
5.John Steele Gordon, The Great Game: The Emergence of Wall Street as a World Power: 1653-2000 (Scribner) 1999.
6.Horace; Mulroy, David D. (1994). Horace's odes and epodes. University of Michigan Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-472-10531-1. "Patara: Patara, a Greek colony in Lycia (southern coast of modern Turkey)and the recorded birth place of Nicholas of Myra."
7.Lanzi, Gioia (2004). Saints and their symbols: recognizing saints in art and in popular images. Liturgical Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-8146-2970-3. "Nicholas was born around 270 in Patara on the coast of what is now southern Turkey."
8.Lanzi, Gioia (2004). Saints and their symbols: recognizing saints in art and in popular images. Liturgical Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-8146-2970-3. "Nicholas was born around 270 in Patara on the coast of what is now western Turkey; his parents were Epiphanius and Joanna."
9."Turks want Santa's bones returned". BBC News. 28 December 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8432314.stm. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
10.‘Santa Claus’s bones must be brought back to Turkey from Italy’
11.http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=409 (Dutch)
12.William J. Bennett, The True Saint Nicholas, (Howard Books) 2009, pages 14-17
13.A companion to Wace, Françoise Hazel Marie Le Saux, Cambridge Brewer 2005.
14."Translation of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari". Feasts and Saints. Syosset, NY: Orthodox Church in America Website. http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=101336. Retrieved 20 December 2007
15.http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=45375 (Dutch)
16.http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,594674,00.html (Dutch)
17.Dekker, Roodenburg & Rooijakkers (redd.): Volkscultuur. Een inleiding in de Nederlandse etnologie, Uitgeverij SUN, Nijmegen, 2000: pp. 213-4 (Dutch)
18.http://www.stichtingtoverbal.nl/nl/artikelen/folklore/sundrums/ (Dutch)
19.Meg Kissinger, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 1999, "St. Nick's Day can be a nice little surprise"
20.English: "St. Nicholas arrives"
21.This operetta is translated in Croatian too: "Sveti Nikola dolazi" and partly in Hungarian: "Jön a Mikulás".
11. 2. Further reading
•Jones, Charles W. "Saint Nicholas of Myra, Bari, and Manhattan: Biography of a Legend" (Chicago: University of Chicago Press) 1978.
•ASANO, Kazuo ed., The Island of St. Nicholas. Excavation and Research of Gemiler Island Area, Lycia, Turkey (Osaka University Press) 2010.
Daily Readings:
ELCA Readings:
Monday, December 6, 2010
Psalm 21
Psalm 21
1In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord, and in your help how greatly he exults!
2You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked you for life; you gave it to him— length of days forever and ever.
5His glory is great through your help; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6You bestow on him blessings forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9You will make them like a fiery furnace when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.
10You will destroy their offspring from the earth, and their children from among humankind.
11If they plan evil against you, if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.
13Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.
Isaiah 24:1-16a
Isaiah 24:1-16a
24Now the Lord is about to lay waste the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. 2And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor. 3The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled; for the Lord has spoken this word. 4The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth. 5The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. 6Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled, and few people are left. 7The wine dries up, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh. 8The mirth of the timbrels is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled. 9No longer do they drink wine with singing; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. 10The city of chaos is broken down, every house is shut up so that no one can enter. 11There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine; all joy has reached its eventide; the gladness of the earth is banished. 12Desolation is left in the city, the gates are battered into ruins.
13For thus it shall be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is ended. 14They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; they shout from the west over the majesty of the Lord. 15Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; in the coastlands of the sea glorify the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
16From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One. But I say, I pine away, I pine away. Woe is me! For the treacherous deal treacherously, the treacherous deal very treacherously.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-13
1 Thessalonians 4:1-13
4Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; 4that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, 5not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; 10and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, 11to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, 12so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.
13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
LCMS Readings:
December 6th, 2010
Monday of Populus Zion (Advent 2)
Nicholas of Myra, Pastor
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
December 6, 2010 - Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Today's Reading: Malachi 4:1-6
Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 14:1-23; 2 Peter 3:1-18
For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch." (Malachi 4:1)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Wow. What a week! First sun and moon being darkened and now the day burning like an oven! What's with all the fire and brimstone and freaky astronomical stuff for the Second Week of Advent? Some preachers live to preach just that stuff. They figure that they need to scare people away from their sins and so their whole ministry is all about the “End Times” and “Left Behind” and “The Apocalypse” and “Armageddon.” They love to talk on and on about the Beast and the coming together of world events that are prophesied in the Scriptures. The problem is, they don't talk about Jesus and that's what makes them fear-mongering, false preachers!
When Jesus and the prophets describe the passing away of this world and this creation, it is done to call us to repentance and faith in Jesus whose words keep us from passing away with the world. God's Word teaches us what the future of this fallen world is, so that we won't love it so much we want to cling to it as it burns up and passes away!
Apart from Jesus, this future is scary! It's terrifying. But in Christ, it's the ending of this sinful and fallen world and the beginning of an eternal paradise with the Lord. Christ has come and suffered and died on the cross in order to save us from what is to come. He has come and died for our sins so that our sins won't be punished with what's coming on the Last Day. Rather, because our sins are taken care of, we have eternal life and everlasting joy in the new heavens and new earth. Or, as Malachi puts it: “He will arise with healing in His wings.”
This healing is the forgiveness of sins and it comes to us by Water, Word, Body and Blood. Those gifts are the Lord's own promise that the horrible end to this world will not be a horrible end for you. Rather you have His promise that because He lives, you will be raised up on the Last Day and be given eternal life. Don't be terrified by that Day. Look forward to it and rejoice when it comes. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear; Arise, O Sun so longed for, O'er this benighted sphere. With hearts and hands uplifted, We plead, O Lord, to see The day of earth's redemption That sets Your people free! (LSB 515:4)
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflectons Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
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Collect
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Is. 14:1-12
The Restoration of Jacob
1(A) For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and(B) will set them in their own land, and(C) sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2And(D) the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD’s land(E) as male and female slaves.(F) They will take captive those who were their captors,(G) and rule over those who oppressed them.
Israel’s Remnant Taunts Babylon
3When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4you will take up this(H) taunt against the king of Babylon:
"How the oppressor has ceased,
(I) the insolent fury[a] ceased! 5The LORD has broken the(J) staff of the wicked,
the scepter of rulers, 6(K) that struck the peoples in wrath
with unceasing blows,that ruled the nations in anger
with unrelenting persecution. 7The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
(L) they break forth into singing. 8(M) (N) The cypresses rejoice at you,
(O) the cedars of Lebanon, saying,'Since you were laid low,
no woodcutter comes up against us.' 9Sheol beneath is stirred up
to meet you when you come;it rouses the shades to greet you,
all who were leaders of the earth;it raises from their thrones
all who were kings of the nations. 10(P) All of them will answer
and say to you:'You too have become as weak as we!
You have become like us!' 11Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
the sound of your harps;maggots are laid as a bed beneath you,
and worms are your covers.
12"How(Q) you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star,(R) son of Dawn!How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
Footnotes:Isaiah 14:4 Dead Sea Scroll (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain
Cross references:Isaiah 14:1 : Psalm 102:13; Zech 1:17 Isaiah 14:1 : 2 Chr 36:22, 23 Isaiah 14:1 : Zech 8:22, 23; Eph 2:12-14 Isaiah 14:2 : Isaiah 49:22; 60:9; 66:20 Isaiah 14:2 : Isaiah 61:5 Isaiah 14:2 : Joel 3:8 Isaiah 14:2 : Isaiah 60:14 Isaiah 14:4 : Mic 2:4; Hab 2:6 Isaiah 14:4 : Jer 51:13; Rev 18:16 Isaiah 14:5 : Isaiah 9:4 Isaiah 14:6 : Jer 50:23 Isaiah 14:7 : Isaiah 44:23; 49:13; 54:1; 55:12 Isaiah 14:8 : Ezek 31:16 Isaiah 14:8 : Isaiah 37:24 Isaiah 14:8 : Isaiah 2:13 Isaiah 14:10 : Jer 51:48 Isaiah 14:12 : Isaiah 24:21; 34:3 Isaiah 14:12 : Job 38:7
Second Reading: 2 Pt. 3:1-18
The Day of the Lord Will Come
1This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them(A) I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2(B) that you should remember the predictions of(C) the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come(D) in the last days with scoffing,(E) following their own sinful desires. 4(F) They will say, "Where is the promise of(G) his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." 5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth(H) was formed out of water and through water(I) by the word of God, 6and that by means of these the world that then existed(J) was deluged with water and(K) perished. 7But by the same word(L) the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and(M) destruction of the ungodly.
8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and(N) a thousand years as one day. 9(O) The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise(P) as some count slowness, but(Q) is patient toward you,[a](R) not wishing that any should perish, but(S) that all should reach repentance. 10But(T) the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then(U) the heavens will pass away with a roar, and(V) the heavenly bodies[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.[c]
11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved,(W) what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12(X) waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and(Y) the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13But according to his promise we are waiting for(Z) new heavens and a new earth(AA) in which righteousness dwells.
Final Words
14(AB) Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him(AC) without spot or(AD) blemish, and(AE) at peace. 15And count(AF) the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as(AG) our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you(AH) according to the wisdom given him, 16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters.(AI) There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction,(AJ) as they do the other Scriptures. 17You therefore, beloved,(AK) knowing this beforehand,(AL) take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18But(AM) grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(AN) To him be the glory both now and to the day of(AO) eternity. Amen.
Footnotes:2 Peter 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account 2 Peter 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12 2 Peter 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up
Cross references:2 Peter 3:1 : 2 Peter 1:13 2 Peter 3:2 : Jude 17 2 Peter 3:2 : Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21 2 Peter 3:3 : Jude 18 2 Peter 3:3 : 2 Peter 2:10 2 Peter 3:4 : Isa 5:19; Jer 17:15; Ezek 11:3; 12:22, 27; Mal 2:17 2 Peter 3:4 : 1 Thess 2:19 2 Peter 3:5 : Psalm 24:2; 136:6 2 Peter 3:5 : Gen 1:6, 9; Psalm 33:6; Heb 11:3 2 Peter 3:6 : 2 Peter 2:5 2 Peter 3:6 : Gen 7:11, 21 2 Peter 3:7 : 2 Peter 3:10, 12 2 Peter 3:7 : 2 Thess 1:9 2 Peter 3:8 : Psalm 90:4 2 Peter 3:9 : Hab 2:3; Heb 10:37 2 Peter 3:9 : Eccles 8:11; Rev 2:21 2 Peter 3:9 : Isa 30:18; Luke 18:7 2 Peter 3:9 : Ezek 18:23, 32; 33:11 2 Peter 3:9 : 1 Tim 2:4 2 Peter 3:10 : Matt 24:43 2 Peter 3:10 : Rev 6:14; 20:11; 21:1; Matt 24:35 2 Peter 3:10 : Isa 34:4; Isa 24:19; Mic 1:4; Nah 1:5 2 Peter 3:11 : 1 Pet 1:15 2 Peter 3:12 : Luke 12:36; 1 Cor 1:7; 1 Thess 1:10; Titus 2:13; Jude 21 2 Peter 3:12 : 2 Peter 3:10 2 Peter 3:13 : Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21:1 2 Peter 3:13 : Isa 60:21; Rev 21:27 2 Peter 3:14 : 1 Cor 15:58 2 Peter 3:14 : James 1:27 2 Peter 3:14 : Phil 2:15; Phil 1:10; 1 Thess 3:13 2 Peter 3:14 : 1 Thess 5:23 2 Peter 3:15 : 2 Peter 3:9 2 Peter 3:15 : Acts 15:25 2 Peter 3:15 : 1 Cor 3:10 2 Peter 3:16 : Heb 5:11 2 Peter 3:16 : Isa 28:13 2 Peter 3:17 : 2 Peter 1:12; Mark 13:23 2 Peter 3:17 : 2 Peter 1:10; 1 Cor 10:12 2 Peter 3:18 : 2 Peter 1:5; Eph 4:15; Col 1:10; 2:19; 1 Pet 2:2 2 Peter 3:18 : Rom 11:36 2 Peter 3:18 : 2 Peter 3:8
Monday Father Reading
"After the type of the Passover had been fulfilled and Christ had eaten with His Apostles the flesh of a lamb, He takes bread and passes on to the true Passover Sacrament, that just as Melchizedek had done as a type in ancient times, offering bread and wine, He Himself might show forth the truth of His Body and Blood." [St. Jerome. "Commentary on St. Matthew 26." 5th Century]
All Scripture Readings: English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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