12-12-2019

History of St. Nicholas Day

Nicholas was born around 270 in the city of Patara, southwestern Asia Minor. His parents were Christians, but for a long time could not have children. Then the couple promised God that if they had a baby, he would devote his life to serving the Lord.

Then Nicholas was born and he really became a priest, and later a bishop. After the death of his parents, Nikolai received a large inheritance, but used it to help the poor.

Nicholas also taught children to be kind, obedient and not to do evil deeds.

A story is known about how Nikolai the Miracle Worker provided a dowry to three daughters from a poor family, secretly throwing purses with money in their house, and thus saved the girls from shame and unfortunate share. Another story says that St. Nicholas saved people innocently sentenced to death by stopping the executioner with a sword carried over their heads. The help of St. Nicholas saved the inhabitants of the city of Mira from a severe hunger when he appeared in a dream to an Italian merchant, gave him money and asked him to sail to Mira with grain.

In Kiev, the first celebration of St. Nicholas Day was held on December 19, 1990 for 700 orphans and children from large families. A year later, the holiday was celebrated in 20 cities of Ukraine.

In the Carpathians in the National Natural Park Hutsulshchyna there is even a manor of St. Nicholas. There are guided tours for children and adults.