Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

3109 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan  48103

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Our Holy Father Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
 December 6

This Saint lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, and reposed in 330.  As a young man, he desired to espouse the solitary life.  He made a pilgrimage to the holy city Jerusalem, where he found a place to withdraw to devote  himself to prayer.  It was made known to him, however, that this was not the will of God for him, but that he should return to his homeland to be a cause of salvation for many.

He  returned to Myra, and was ordained bishop.  He became known for his abundant  mercy, providing for the poor and needy, and delivering those who had been unjustly accused.  No less was he known for his zeal for the truth.
He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of the 318 Fathers at Nicaea in 325;  upon hearing the blasphemies that Arius brazenly uttered against the Son of God, Saint Nicholas struck him on the face.  Since the canons of the Church  forbid the clergy to strike any man at all, his fellow bishops were in perplexity what disciplinary action was to be taken against this hierarch whom all revered.  In the night our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady Theotokos appeared to certain bishops, informing them that no action was to be taken against him, since he had acted not out of passion, but out of
extreme love and piety.

The Apolytikion for Holy Hierarchs, "The truth of things has revealed you to your flock ..." was written originally for Saint Nicholas.  He is the patron of all travelers, and of sea-farers in particular; he is one of the best known and loved Saints of all time.

Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA.

Saints of the Church  |  Saint Nicholas  |  Saint Nicholas Apolytikion  |  Saint Nicholas Kontakion  |  Saint Nicholas Parish

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