Saint Nicholas of Myra in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

The Hymnographer, Saint Theophanes, finding himself in weakness and perplexity as he attempts to praise so great a saint as Saint Nicholas — “With what crowns of praise shall we wreathe the Hierarch?… With what melodious songs shall we extol the Hierarch?” And again: “Nicholas, do not disdain my undertaking; for desiring and not boasting, thrice-blessed one, I have dared;” that is: Thrice-blessed Nicholas, do not reject my attempt to praise you. For I dared it out of longing, not out of pride — seeks to set him before us by using the place of his episcopate, Myra of Lycia; his very name, Nicholas; and his epithet, “the Wonderworker.”

Homily for the Commemoration of Saint Nicholas of Myra (Fr. Daniel Sysoev)

Homily for the Commemoration of Saint Nicholas of Myra

By Fr. Daniel Sysoev

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

I congratulate you all on the feast day of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker! The ancient prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah were sent by God to rebuke the Jewish people and the shepherds of Israel, to whom it was said: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who feed themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock? You have eaten the fat and clothed yourself with wool, you have slaughtered the fatlings, but have not fed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, nor healed the sick sheep, nor bound up the wounded, nor brought back the ones driven out, nor sought the lost ones, but have ruled them with violence and cruelty. So they were scattered without a shepherd, and when they were scattered, they became food for every beast of the field. My sheep have wandered over every mountain and over every high hill; My sheep are scattered over all the face of the earth; and no one knows them, nor does anyone search for them” (Ezek. 34:2-7).

Homily Two on Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily Two on Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
and the Name Day of the Right-Believing Tsarevich and Grand Prince Nicholas Alexandrovich

By St. John of Kronstadt

"The righteous will be remembered forever" (Psalm 111:6)

Today's feast day and all saints' days serve as proof that the righteous man lives in the eternal memory of posterity. Saint Nicholas lived fourteen hundred years ago, yet we remember him as if he lived and died only yesterday. His holy, God-pleasing life, his benefaction to humanity, are so vividly presented to us. Why, then, does he live in the eternal memory of humanity? Because virtue is immortal, because even after death he lives, and dwelling in heaven, he looks down from there upon us who dwell on earth and acts beneficially upon those who call upon him for help with faith and love. Thus, it is not for nothing that the righteous man is eternally glorified by the Church: his glory is, so to speak, an echo of his immortal, great deeds, his constant response from heaven to our calls in times of spiritual and physical need. People generally don't like to remember anyone in vain, and they quickly forget someone who lived a useless life. If they do remember someone, it means they're worth remembering, it means they live in their hearts through their deeds. I'd like to use this feast as an opportunity to discuss the immortality of the human soul.

December: Day 6: Teaching 2: Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra

December: Day 6: Teaching 2:
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
 
(Dangers to People of All Ages and Means of Protection Against Them)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Nicholas, who is celebrated today, both in life and now, was a zealous assistant in navigation. While still a priest, he set sail for Jerusalem to venerate the Holy Sepulchre. Suddenly, a storm arose and the ship began to be swamped by waves. Those sailing with him began to ask him to pray for salvation. He began to pray fervently, and the storm began to subside. The sea soon became completely calm, and everyone's sorrow and fear turned to joy and jubilation.

II. Few of us, brethren, have had or will have to experience the dangers of seafaring; but all of us, without exception, are subject to the dangers of another kind — that of sailing on the sea of life. Yes, in life, as at sea, we are surrounded by dangers everywhere, surrounded in childhood as well as in youth, in manhood as well as in old age.

Prologue in Sermons: December 6

One Should Do Good to One's Neighbors, If Possible, Secretly

December 6
 
(The Tale of Three Maidens)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to do good to our neighbors in secret. He says this: "Take heed that you do not do your almsgiving before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:1). Those who openly give alms with impure motives, seeking to be praised and extolled, and even rewarded, act contrary to this warning. Those who are free from these impure motives can openly give alms without fear of losing the favor and reward of the Heavenly Father. But woe to the hypocrites, like the Pharisees, vain almsgivers! By receiving rewards from men, they forfeit the right to receive them from God. For their admonition, we believe, it would not be without benefit to hear how the Savior's true followers fulfilled the aforementioned commandment.