26th Sunday after Pentecost
St. Nicholas Bulletin - December 19, 2021
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo esta entra nosotros! |
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Becoming Rich Toward God
Homily from Fr. Steven Kostoff
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“Take heed and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).
There is hardly a Christian who would disagree with this teaching of the Lord, as expressed in the words above, when it comes to our relationship with the “abundance of our possessions.” We know that our life does not “consist” in them. In other words, these very possessions do not, and simply cannot, impart genuine meaning and significance to our lives. These possessions are external to our inner being; for they cannot define us as human beings made “in the image and likeness of God”—and we can say that without dismissing these possessions as just so much “mammon.” There are things we need and there are things we enjoy. Yet, I also cannot but arrive at the inescapable conclusion that even though we know this teaching to be true, we seem to pay such teaching just so much “lip service” because of the extent to which we are enamored and captivated (enslaved?) by “the abundance of our possessions!” Who is the person that can claim otherwise?
On one level—certainly not the highest!—our lives seem to be a steady progression of accumulating as much as possible, the only limit to this accumulation being imposed on us by the extent of our available resources. This means that the abundance—or at least the quality—of our possessions will increase as our access to “purchasing power” increases. (Thus, at Christmas, the extent and quality of the gifts that end up in the hands of children will depend upon the wealth—or lack of wealth—of their parents. Those who “have” will simply have more once Christmas comes and goes). As Christians, then, we find ourselves in the awkward position, indicative of a genuine tension, of accepting our Lord’s teaching about the dangers of accumulating possessions as true, and yet unable to arrest the desire and endeavor of adding to this abundance. The “consumer within” is a driving force indeed!
The Lord reveals His teaching about possessions through the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21, found immediately after the words cited above. This parable is relatively short and to-the-point, so I will include it here in order to refresh our familiarity with it.
“The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; that there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample good laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
This parable is not only short and to-the-point, but it is almost brutal in its clarity and inescapable truthfulness—one can plan all one wants, but death will cut short the most well-conceived plans with an unexpected finality that makes a mockery of those very plans. When death comes, the rich man’s wealth is shown to be a worthless form of security for his “soul.” (This parable always brings to my mind the words of Tevye the dairyman, who mused that the more man plans, the harder God laughs!) The parable does not make a moral monster of the rich landowner. There is no hint of his being a particularly sinful person. Indeed, he is probably quite indicative of his “type”—outwardly, at least, he is decent and a man of status. And he may have attended his local synagogue with regularity. It is his preoccupation with “the abundance of his possessions”—“what shall I do” and “I will do this”—that renders him a “fool” in the judgment of God. He had a preoccupation that was self-centered in its orientation, culminating in a blindness that resulted in forgetfulness of God, instead of pursuing the meaningful task of striving to be “rich toward God.” As a Jew guided by the Law, he had that opportunity, but squandered it.
His careful plans to build larger barns to accommodate his ever-increasing store of crops had the immediate impact of making life easier and enjoyable—a time to “eat, drink, and be merry.” This, in turn, was a self-satisfying expansion and investment of his time and energy. In the process, he pushed the inevitability of his death into a vague and perhaps far-off future. (The saints teach us that the “remembrance of death” is a key component of our spiritual lives, precisely to protect us from any such foolish forgetfulness). It is an attitude/temptation as alive today as it was in the time of Christ. As real as the barns the landowner envisioned may have been, they were equally symbolic of a choice he made with the direction of his life. And this choice toward wealth proved to be quite costly. Is this not our present-day “portfolio-building” equivalent to the rich landowner’s building of barns? Are we more preoccupied with becoming “rich toward God,” or simply with becoming rich in the accumulation of our possessions? Will we have to suffer with being called a “fool” when that time comes?
Perhaps we can understand the rich landowner’s pursuit of an abundance of possessions as an unconscious strategy toward finding and establishing a sense of security in life. We are all aware of the fragile nature of our lives, and the threats posed to our security on a host of fronts: poverty, illness, death itself. There is nothing quite so reassuring as the feeling of security that would protect us from such threats, while to feel insecurltiy is a cause of great anxiety. Civilization and technology are built and developed to provide security for human beings in an insecure world. Thus, we find ourselves facing the same dilemma as the landowner of the parable in our own search for security. We often turn to the very means that he did in order to build up that ever-shifting sense of security—the accumulation of an “abundance of possessions.” How ironic, though, that we tend to “secure our security” with the very means that cannot really provide it, while we neglect trying to get “rich toward God,” the only true security! As the biblical scholar Timothy Luke Johnson wrote, “It is out of deep fear that the acquisitive instinct grows monstrous. Life seems so frail and contingent that many possessions are required to secure it, even though the possessions are frailer still than the life” (Gospel of Luke, p. 201). And, as another biblical scholar, Brendan Byrne, writes with a certain bluntness, “Attachment to wealth is incompatible with living, sharing and celebrating the hospitality of God” (The Hospitality of God, p. 115).
The impact of the Parable of the Rich Fool is discovered precisely in the choice between two very different types of “security” with which the parable confronts us—the abundance of our possessions, or being rich toward God. It seems like a simple choice—especially for Christians—but somehow it ends up being a good deal more complicated. We need to search our minds and hearts as to why this is true. Christ did not deliver parables to entertain us with pleasant stories, nor to edify us with a moral story that remains within our “comfort zone.” The choice with which that parable does confront us demands a response—though it is possible that if we do not have “ears to hear,” we can walk away from the parable with indifference. (“Let us attend!” always precedes the reading of the Holy Scriptures in liturgical services so as to focus our minds on the appointed readings). Let us, however, assume that we do have “ears to hear.” If, then, the parable shakes out the false sense of security that possessions may give us, we then have to reflect deeply on how to become “rich toward God.” Of course, we must begin by cultivating the gifts of God so graciously bestowed on us—faith, hope and love. We can direct our prayer towards this. We need to unhypocritically practice prayer, almsgiving and fasting. We further immerse ourselves in the “words of the Word”—the Holy Scriptures. It is essential that we confess our sins, and then wage a “spiritual warfare” against them. The possibilities within the grace-filled life of the Church are many indeed. We are neither predestined nor forced to avail ourselves of these possibilities. We must choose to do so, supported by the grace of God. This choice may very well determine whether or not, at the end of our lives, we will hear either “Fool!” or “Well-done, good and faithful servant.” As Jesus often exclaimed, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
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Commemorating St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, St. Maximos, Metropolitan of Kiev
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure body, You rose on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to You, O Giver of Life: “Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your Kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, O Lover of mankind!”
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS TROPARION—TONE 4
Truly you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Nicholas, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
RESURRECTION KONTAKION—TONE 1
As God, You rose from the tomb in glory, raising the world with Yourself. Human nature praises You as God, for death has vanished. Adam exults, O Master! Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries to You: “You are the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!”
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS KONTAKION—TONE 3
You revealed yourself, O saint, in Myra as a priest, for you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ by giving up your soul for your people, and saving the innocent from death. Therefore you are blessed as one become wise in the grace of God.
HYMN OF THE THEOTOKOS—TONE 6
Steadfast Protectress of Christians, Constant Advocate before the Creator; despise not the cry of us sinners, but in your goodness come speedily to help us who call on you in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you!
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Milan Radanovic Epistle: Matthew Hoover
Matins Next Week: Nick Ressetar Epistle Next Week: Natalija Gligorevic
EPISTLE: Ephesians 5:8-19, Hebrews 13:17-21
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the First Tone: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on You!
CHOIR: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on You!
READER: v: Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the just!
CHOIR: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on You!
READER: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us ...
CHOIR: … as we have set our hope on You!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: God gives vengeance unto me, and subdues people under me.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: He magnifies the salvation of the King and deals mercifully with David, His anointed, and his seed forever.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Ефесцима 5:8-19, Јеврејима 13:17-21
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 1 Нека буде милост Твоја, Господе, на нама, као што се уздасмо у Тебе.
Хор: Нека буде милост Твоја, Господе, на нама, као што се уздасмо у Тебе.
Читач: Веселите се, праведници, пред Господом, праведнима доликује похвала.
Хор: Нека буде милост Твоја, Господе, на нама, као што се уздасмо у Тебе.
Читач: Нека буде милост Твоја, Господе,
Хор: на нама, као што се уздасмо у Тебе.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање посланице Светога апостола Павла Ефесцима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, некада бијасте тама, а сада сте свјетлост у Господу: владајте се као дјеца свјетлости; Јер плод Духа је у свакој доброти и праведности и истини. Истражујте што је угодно Господу. И немојте узимати учешћа у бесплодним дјелима таме, него их још разоткривајте. Јер је срамно и говорити о ономе што они тајно чине. А све што се разоткрива свјетлошћу се објелодањује; јер све што је објелодањено излази на свјетлост. Зато вели: Устани ти који спаваш и васкрсни из мртвих, и обасјаће те Христос. Дакле, пазите добро како живите, не као немудри, него као мудри, користећи вријеме, јер су дани зли. Због тога не будите неразумни, него схватите шта је воља Господња. И не опијајте се вином, у чему је разврат, него се испуњавајте Духом, говорећи међу собом у псалмима и химнама и пјесмама духовним, пјевајући и појући Господу у срцу своме.
Покоравајте се онима који владају вама и будите покорни, јер они пазе на ваше душе, као они који морају да полажу рачун. Нека то чине са радошћу, а не са тугом, јер би вам то било неисплативо. Моли за нас; јер смо уверени да имамо чисту савест, да у свему желимо да живимо часно. Али ја вас посебно позивам да то учините, да бих вам што пре био враћен. Сада нека Бог мира који је подигао Господа нашег Исуса из мртвих, тај велики пастир оваца, крвљу вечног завета, да вас употпуни у сваком добром делу да вршите његову вољу, делајући у вама оно што је мило у Његовим очима, кроз Исуса Христа, коме слава у векове векова. Амин.
Свештеник: Мир ти читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост.
Читач: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Бог ми даје освету и покорава људе испод мене.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Он увећава спасење Краља и милостиво се односи са Давидом, његовим помазаником и његовим сјеменом заувијек.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Luke 12: 16-21; 6: 17-23
At that time, He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Лука 12: 16-21; 6: 17-23
Каза Господ причу ову: У једнога богатог човјека роди њива. И размишљаше у себи говорећи: Шта да чиним, јер немам у шта сабрати љетину своју? И рече: Ово ћу учинити: срушићу житнице своје и саградићу веће; и ондје ћу сабрати сва жита моја и добра моја; И казаћу души својој: Душо; имаш многа добра сабрана за многе године; почивај, једи, пиј, весели се, а Бог му рече: Безумниче, ове ноћи тражиће душу твоју од тебе; а оно што си припремио чије ће бити? Тако бива ономе који себи тече благо, а не богати се Богом.
И сиђе с њима и стаде на равно место са гомилом ученика својих и великим мноштвом народа из целе Јудеје и Јерусалима, и са обале Тира и Сидона, који дођоше да га слушају и да се исцеле од својих болести , као и они који су били мучени нечистим духовима. И оздравише. И цело мноштво је тражило да Га додирне, јер је из Њега изашла сила и све их исцелила. Затим је подигао своје очи на своје ученике и рекао: „Благо вама сиромашнима, јер је ваше царство Божије. Благо вама који сте сада гладни, јер ћете се наситити. Благо вама који плачете сада, јер ћете се смејати. Благо вама када вас људи мрзе, и када вас искључе, и погрде и и прогоне име ваше као зло, Сина Човечијега ради. Радујте се том дану и скачите од радости! Јер заиста је ваша награда велика на небу, јер на сличан начин су њихови очеви чинили пророцима.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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December Birthdays
Laurie Brosius (Dec 1), Stephani York (Dec 2), Alex Govelovich (Dec 2), Georgi Herigan (Dec 4), Gordana Fasnacht (Dec 4), Alexandra McFall (Dec 4), Paul Kasper (Dec 7), Alexa Healy (Dec 10), Nicholas Blitva (Dec 11), Sarah Milletics (Dec 11), Lorraine James (Dec 15), Quinn Gilroy (Dec 15), Irina Miljkovic (Dec 17), Steve Barry (Dec 17), Michael Filepas Jr (Dec 23), Carole Blitva (Dec 25)
December Anniversaries
Alex & Nicole Bazdar (Dec 11), Dori & Doug Bert (Dec 18), Lauren & Ross Spangler (Dec 21), Pharon & Christine Bertsch (Dec 27)
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NATIVITY FAST
The Nativity Fast begins on Sunday, November 28. This means that we prepare the body to receive the Incarnate Christ Child through fasting, alms-giving and prayer. It is a time to focus upon giving alms to the poor. It is a time to focus upon offering ourselves to God’s Church. It is a time to re-dedicate ourselves to praying to God, both in Divine Services and at home. Receive the Fast with Joy!
OF CONCEPTION OF THE THEOTOKOS
We will celebrate the Feast of the Conception of the Theotokos with Liturgy on Wednesday, December 22 at 9 am.
SPECIAL THANKS TO GOD
We would like to thank Wiedeman Funeral Home and the Wiedeman family for once again providing us with our 2022 Wall Calendars. If you haven’t gotten yours yet, they are in the lobby for you to pick up.
We would also like to thank Dewey Yetter for once again assembling and donating the kits the Sunday School uses for planting wheat on St Nicholas Day. We are thankful he continues to share his stewardship with our students.
POINSETTIA SALE
Once again, we will be decorating our church for Christmas with Poinsettias. You can purchase one for $9 to help offset the church’s cost. Please contact Daria Milletics (717-939-3872) or email office@stnicholassteelton.org, if you are interested in purchasing any.
SERBIAN/AMERICAN CLUB 2022 DUES
Peggy Radanovic will be seated in the church hall after Liturgy on Sundays to collect 2022 dues. Dues remain at $5 for the year.
KSS/CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS 2022 DUES
Jovanka Shaffer will be seated in the church hall after Liturgy on Sundays to collect 2022 dues. Dues remain at $5 for the year.
MOTHERS CLUB 2022 DUES
Mothers Club dues for 2022 are due. Please submit $5 to Popadija Andreja. The Mothers Club primary mission is to support our Sunday School and children. If you are not a member and would like to join, please also contact Popadija Andreja.
CHURCH SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Please do not forget to register your children for Church School. The registration link can be found at: https://goo.gl/forms/xsYDlxcOMs1I9das2 Or, by filling out a form at the Tutor’s stand.
MOTHERS CLUB NEWS
Mother’s Club members please join us at our Annual Christmas Party on January 9th at 12 noon at Gilligans Restaurant. Please bring a $10 gift to participate in the grab bag gift exchange. We will also be electing officers. We have a few open board seats and if you are interested, please contact Tracy Petrovich, Paula Werner or Nikki Lewis to discuss or answer any questions.
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $15/pack (32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic, Matthew Hoover, or call the office at 717.939.3872.
NEW ITEMS AVAILABLE IN THE DISPLAY CASE
The Mother’s Club Display Case has new Nativity/Christmas Cards available. Check them out!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
SOTAYA HAM/LAMB SALE
We are once again having our Christmas Fund Raising event.
For your Christmas dinner on January 7,
let us provide you with hot Roast Lamb or Roast Pork.
Roasted Potatoes in lamb/ham juice are also available.
Contact Chris Radanovic at 717-841-6794 or chrisrad@mindspring.com.
Deadline to reserve your lamb/ham is Friday, December 24.
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The Life of St. Nicholas, The Wonderworker
Archbishop of Myra in Lycea
Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia is famed as a great saint pleasing unto God. He was born in the city of Patara in the region of Lycia (on the south coast of the Asia Minor peninsula), and was the only son of pious parents Theophanes and Nonna, who had vowed to dedicate him to God.
As the fruit of the prayer of his childless parents, the infant Nicholas from the very day of his birth revealed to people the light of his future glory as a wonderworker. His mother, Nonna, after giving birth was immediately healed from illness. The newborn infant, while still in the baptismal font, stood on his feet three hours, without support from anyone, thereby honoring the Most Holy Trinity. Saint Nicholas from his infancy began a life of fasting, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he would not accept milk from his mother until after his parents had finished their evening prayers.
From his childhood Nicholas thrived on the study of Divine Scripture; by day he would not leave church, and by night he prayed and read books, making himself a worthy dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Bishop Nicholas of Patara rejoiced at the spiritual success and deep piety of his nephew. He ordained him a reader, and then elevated Nicholas to the priesthood, making him his assistant and entrusting him to instruct the flock.
In serving the Lord the youth was fervent of spirit, and in his proficiency with questions of faith he was like an Elder, who aroused the wonder and deep respect of believers. Constantly at work and vivacious, in unceasing prayer, the priest Nicholas displayed great kind-heartedness towards the flock, and towards the afflicted who came to him for help, and he distributed all his inheritance to the poor.
There was a certain formerly rich inhabitant of Patara, whom Saint Nicholas saved from great sin. The man had three grown daughters, and in desperation he planned to sell their bodies so they would have money for food. The saint, learning of the man’s poverty and of his wicked intention, secretly visited him one night and threw a sack of gold through the window. With the money the man arranged an honorable marriage for his daughter. Saint Nicholas also provided gold for the other daughters, thereby saving the family from falling into spiritual destruction. In bestowing charity, Saint Nicholas always strove to do this secretly and to conceal his good deeds.
The Bishop of Patara decided to go on pilgrimage to the holy places at Jerusalem, and entrusted the guidance of his flock to Saint Nicholas, who fulfilled this obedience carefully and with love. When the bishop returned, Nicholas asked his blessing for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Along the way the saint predicted a storm would arise and threaten the ship. Saint Nicholas saw the devil get on the ship, intending to sink it and kill all the passengers. At the entreaty of the despairing pilgrims, he calmed the waves of the sea by his prayers. Through his prayer a certain sailor of the ship, who had fallen from the mast and was mortally injured was also restored to health.
When he reached the ancient city of Jerusalem and came to Golgotha, Saint Nicholas gave thanks to the Savior. He went to all the holy places, worshiping at each one. One night on Mount Sion, the closed doors of the church opened by themselves for the great pilgrim. Going round the holy places connected with the earthly service of the Son of God, Saint Nicholas decided to withdraw into the desert, but he was stopped by a divine voice urging him to return to his native country. He returned to Lycia, and yearning for a life of quietude, the saint entered into the brotherhood of a monastery named Holy Sion, which had been founded by his uncle. But the Lord again indicated another path for him, “Nicholas, this is not the vineyard where you shall bear fruit for Me. Return to the world, and glorify My Name there.” So he left Patara and went to Myra in Lycia.
Upon the death of Archbishop John, Nicholas was chosen as Bishop of Myra after one of the bishops of the Council said that a new archbishop should be revealed by God, not chosen by men. One of the elder bishops had a vision of a radiant Man, Who told him that the one who came to the church that night and was first to enter should be made archbishop. He would be named Nicholas. The bishop went to the church at night to await Nicholas. The saint, always the first to arrive at church, was stopped by the bishop. “What is your name, child?” he asked. God’s chosen one replied, “My name is Nicholas, Master, and I am your servant.”
After his consecration as archbishop, Saint Nicholas remained a great ascetic, appearing to his flock as an image of gentleness, kindness and love for people. This was particularly precious for the Lycian Church during the persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Bishop Nicholas, locked up in prison together with other Christians for refusing to worship idols, sustained them and exhorted them to endure the fetters, punishment and torture. The Lord preserved him unharmed. Upon the accession of Saint Constantine (May 21) as emperor, Saint Nicholas was restored to his flock, which joyfully received their guide and intercessor.
Despite his great gentleness of spirit and purity of heart, Saint Nicholas was a zealous and ardent warrior of the Church of Christ. Fighting evil spirits, the saint made the rounds of the pagan temples and shrines in the city of Myra and its surroundings, shattering the idols and turning the temples to dust.
In the year 325 Saint Nicholas was a participant in the First Ecumenical Council. This Council proclaimed the Nicean Symbol of Faith, and he stood up against the heretic Arius with the likes of Saints Sylvester the Bishop of Rome (January 2), Alexander of Alexandria (May 29), Spyridon of Trimythontos (December 12) and other Fathers of the Council.
Saint Nicholas, fired with zeal for the Lord, assailed the heretic Arius with his words, and also struck him upon the face. For this reason, he was deprived of the emblems of his episcopal rank and placed under guard. But several of the holy Fathers had the same vision, seeing the Lord Himself and the Mother of God returning to him the Gospel and omophorion. The Fathers of the Council agreed that the audacity of the saint was pleasing to God, and restored the saint to the office of bishop.
Having returned to his own diocese, the saint brought it peace and blessings, sowing the word of Truth, uprooting heresy, nourishing his flock with sound doctrine, and also providing food for their bodies.
Even during his life the saint worked many miracles. One of the greatest was the deliverance from death of three men unjustly condemned by the Governor, who had been bribed. The saint boldly went up to the executioner and took his sword, already suspended over the heads of the condemned. The Governor, denounced by Saint Nicholas for his wrong doing, repented and begged for forgiveness.
Witnessing this remarkable event were three military officers, who were sent to Phrygia by the emperor Constantine to put down a rebellion. They did not suspect that soon they would also be compelled to seek the intercession of Saint Nicholas. Evil men slandered them before the emperor, and the officers were sentenced to death. Appearing to Saint Constantine in a dream, Saint Nicholas called on him to overturn the unjust sentence of the military officers.
He worked many other miracles, and struggled many long years at his labor. Through the prayers of the saint, the city of Myra was rescued from a terrible famine. He appeared to a certain Italian merchant and left him three gold pieces as a pledge of payment. He requested him to sail to Myra and deliver grain there. More than once, the saint saved those drowning in the sea, and provided release from captivity and imprisonment.
Having reached old age, Saint Nicholas peacefully fell asleep in the Lord. His venerable relics were preserved incorrupt in the local cathedral church and flowed with curative myrrh, from which many received healing. In the year 1087, his relics were transferred to the Italian city of Bari, where they rest even now (See May 9).
The name of the great saint of God, the hierarch and wonderworker Nicholas, a speedy helper and suppliant for all hastening to him, is famed in every corner of the earth, in many lands and among many peoples. In Russia there are a multitude of cathedrals, monasteries and churches consecrated in his name. There is, perhaps, not a single city without a church dedicated to him.
The first Russian Christian prince Askold (+ 882) was baptized in 866 by Patriarch Photius (February 6) with the name Nicholas. Over the grave of Askold, Saint Olga (July 11) built the first temple of Saint Nicholas in the Russian Church at Kiev. Primary cathedrals were dedicated to Saint Nicholas at Izborsk, Ostrov, Mozhaisk, and Zaraisk. At Novgorod the Great, one of the main churches of the city, the Nikolo-Dvorischensk church, later became a cathedral.
Famed and venerable churches and monasteries dedicated to Saint Nicholas are found at Kiev, Smolensk, Pskov, Toropetsa, Galich, Archangelsk, Great Ustiug, Tobolsk. Moscow had dozens of churches named for the saint, and also three monasteries in the Moscow diocese: the Nikolo-Greek (Staryi) in the Chinese-quarter, the Nikolo-Perervinsk and the Nikolo-Ugreshsk. One of the chief towers of the Kremlin was named the Nikolsk.
Many of the churches devoted to the saint were those established at market squares by Russian merchants, sea-farers and those who traveled by land, venerating the wonderworker Nicholas as a protector of all those journeying on dry land and sea. They sometimes received the name among the people of “Nicholas soaked.”
Many village churches in Russia were dedicated to the wonderworker Nicholas, venerated by peasants as a merciful intercessor before the Lord for all the people in their work. And in the Russian land Saint Nicholas did not cease his intercession. Ancient Kiev preserves the memory about the miraculous rescue of a drowning infant by the saint. The great wonderworker, hearing the grief-filled prayers of the parents for the loss of their only child, took the infant from the waters, revived him and placed him in the choir-loft of the church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) before his wonderworking icon. In the morning the infant was found safe by his thrilled parents, praising Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Many wonderworking icons of Saint Nicholas appeared in Russia and came also from other lands. There is the ancient Byzantine embordered image of the saint, brought to Moscow from Novgorod, and the large icon painted in the thirteenth century by a Novgorod master.
Two depictions of the wonderworker are especially numerous in the Russian Church: Saint Nicholas of Zaraisk, portrayed in full-length, with his right hand raised in blessing and with a Gospel (this image was brought to Ryazan in 1225 by the Byzantine Princess Eupraxia, the future wife of Prince Theodore. She perished in 1237 with her husband and infant son during the incursion of Batu); and Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, also in full stature, with a sword in his right hand and a city in his left. This recalls the miraculous rescue of the city of Mozhaisk from an invasion of enemies, through the prayers of the saint. It is impossible to list all the grace-filled icons of Saint Nicholas, or to enumerate all his miracles.
Saint Nicholas is the patron of travelers, and we pray to him for deliverance from floods, poverty, or any misfortunes. He has promised to help those who remember his parents, Theophanes and Nonna.
Saint Nicholas is also commemorated on May 9 (The transfer of his relics) and on July 29 (his nativity).
Troparion — Tone 4
Truly you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Nicholas,
entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion — Tone 3
You revealed yourself, O saint, in Myra as a priest,
For you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ
By giving up your soul for your people,
And saving the innocent from death.
Therefore you are blessed as one
become wise in the grace of God.
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December Charity
V. Rev. Fr. Srboljub Jockovich
Fund
In 2010, our congregation established The Fr. Srboljub Fund as a permanent resource for special ministries and other special needs or events in our church community or with our Orthodox Christian partners in the Central PA area or the larger Orthodox Christian community. Each month we participate in the Charity Sunday program and we always give those donations to an outside charity. Through the Fr. Srboljub Fund, we have created a dynamic new way to support the special ministries of our Church community and to respond to the special needs of our Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters. We are preparing ourselves to respond to ministries and programs in areas such as feeding the hungry, youth and senior programs, library needs, gift shop resources, education and outreach initiatives, visitation efforts and unforeseen emergencies or crises. Please give generously to the Fr. Srboljub Fund so we may honor our long-time spiritual leader in this unique way as we grow our resources and are prepared to respond when a special need arises. God bless you and thank you for your generosity.
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