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The Nativity of Nicholas the Wonderworker: why this holiday is special and what miracles are associated with the saint centuries later
Christmas of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is an Orthodox holiday celebrated on August 11. It is dedicated to the birthday of one of the most revered Christian saints. In Russia, he is also called Nikolai the Saint. For more information about what is unusual about this day and why St. Nicholas remains one of the most beloved saints among believers, see the Izvestia article.
What kind of holiday is the Christmas of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker?
In the Orthodox tradition, the saint's memorial day is usually celebrated, not his birthday. The Nativity of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is a rare exception. It is celebrated along with the Nativity of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and John the Baptist.
St. Nicholas lived in the III–IV centuries and became famous for his mercy, assistance to those in need, and numerous miracles. In Russia, he is revered as the patron saint of travelers, children, sailors, and anyone who needs help and intercession.
The feast of the Nativity of Nicholas the Wonderworker existed in Russia already in the XVI century. Later, the tradition was interrupted, but in 2004, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia gave his blessing to resume the celebration. Today, this day is celebrated in many parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church.
What date will be the Christmas of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in 2026?
Christmas of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is celebrated annually on August 11. The holiday has a fixed date and does not depend on Easter. In 2026, it falls on a Tuesday.
The Orthodox Church honors the memory of St. Nicholas twice a year. In the folk tradition, the holidays are called Nikola Summer and Nikola Winter. St. Nicholas the Summer is celebrated on May 22 in memory of the transfer of the relics of the saint from Myra of Lycia to the Italian city of Bari in 1087. St. Nicholas the Winter is celebrated on December 19, the day of the saint's death.
In addition, the memory of Nicholas the Wonderworker is celebrated every Thursday, since this day of the week in the Orthodox tradition is dedicated to the holy apostles and St. Nicholas as one of the most revered saints of God.
Who was Nicholas the Wonderworker: the Story of the Saint's Life
According to church tradition, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was born in the second half of the third century in the city of Patara in the Lycia region (in modern Turkey) into the family of pious Christians Theophanes and Nonna.
From an early age, the future saint was distinguished by his deep faith, and devoted much of his time to prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. When he grew up, he took holy orders and became a presbyter. After the death of his parents, Nicholas distributed a significant portion of his inheritance to the poor and devoted his life to serving God and helping people.
According to legend, when a new bishop was being elected in the Lycian Worlds, one of the bishops had a vision that this post should be filled by a man named Nicholas, who would be the first to come to the temple for morning worship. Thus the saint was elected bishop.
He became famous for his mercy, caring for those in need, protecting the wrongfully convicted, and helping those in need. Many legends about miracles are associated with his name, thanks to which Nicholas received the nickname the Wonderworker.
According to church tradition, St. Nicholas died around the year 345-351 and was buried in the Lycian Worlds, but even after his death the miracles did not stop.
What miracles are associated with St. Nicholas the Wonderworker?
As the rector of the church of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke in Tver, Anthony Rusakevich, told Izvestia, the most famous miracle of St. Nicholas is considered to be the salvation of three daughters of a ruined man from dishonor. According to the hagiography, the saint secretly planted three bags of gold in their house, so that the girls could get married and avoid being sold to a brothel. It is with this legend that the tradition of giving gifts for New Year and Christmas is associated.
St. Nicholas also became famous as a defender of the unjustly convicted and a peacemaker. According to the "Act of the Stratelates", he saved three inhabitants of the Lycian World from execution by snatching a sword from the executioner's hands, and later helped free the slandered military leaders (Stratelates) by appearing in a dream to Emperor Constantine and Prefect Ablabius and threatening them with death.
The saint is also credited with numerous miracles at sea. Believers considered him the patron saint of sailors and travelers, because, according to legend, he saved people during storms and even resurrected a sailor who fell off the mast during a storm.
Church tradition has preserved many testimonies of miracles that occurred through prayers to St. Nicholas and his relics.
— There are detailed descriptions of dozens of posthumous miracles from Byzantine, Latin and Slavic collections: the rescue from captivity of Scholarius Peter, the return home of the peasant son Basil, the rescue of Dimitri from drowning, the Miracle of the Carpet and many others, — said Father Anthony.
According to him, numerous miracles were recorded after the transfer of the relics of the saint to Bari in 1087. The legends mention from 100 to 125 miracles that occurred during the first week after the arrival of the shrine.
Hagiographic literature also preserves stories of miracles associated with the icons of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Russia. One of the most famous is the "Miracle of the Brainchild", associated with the icon "Nikola Mokry".
According to legend, the couple from Kiev were returning by boat along the Dnieper River after a pilgrimage to Vyshgorod when their young son accidentally fell into the river. The grief-stricken parents fervently prayed to St. Nicholas for help. The next morning, the servants of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev heard a child crying and found a living baby near the icon of the saint, who was wet, as if he had just been taken out of the water. The parents recognized their son in him, and the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker has since been called "Nikola the Wet."
"Over the centuries, faith in the saint's help has been supported by numerous testimonies that have been passed down from generation to generation,— Rusakevich emphasized.
Why is St. Nicholas the Wonderworker revered all over the world
According to the interlocutor of Izvestia, Nicholas the Wonderworker is considered one of the most revered saints in the world due to the "universal nature of his intercession", as well as the wide reach of those in need of help, which made him "his" saint for a wide variety of social strata and cultures.
In the Christian East, the saint is considered the patron saint of travelers, prisoners, and orphans. In the West, he is revered mainly as a defender of children, and the image of the saint formed the basis of the world-famous character Santa Claus.
"In Russia, his veneration was so great that the number of temples and icons dedicated to him was second only to those of the Mother of God, and his name was one of the most popular when naming babies," Father Anthony noted.
According to him, the veneration of the saint has gone far beyond the Christian world. Thus, the Kalmyk Buddhists called him "Mikola-burkhan" and considered him the patron saint of fishermen, while the Buryats associated his image with the White Elder— the deity of longevity and prosperity.
Such worldwide, interfaith, and even intercultural veneration of the saint is explained by his reputation as a quick and merciful helper in a variety of troubles — from salvation at sea to protection from unfair condemnation and need.
Traditions on the day of the Nativity of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker — what can and cannot be done
According to the Typicon (Orthodox liturgical rule), the days of St. Nicholas' memory are among the most revered holidays and are celebrated with an All-Night Vigil.
— This means that the holiday is crowded and it is attended by many believers, — said Father Anthony.
According to him, on this day one should take part in a festive divine service, pray to the saint, receive communion, and also engage in works of charity, imitating his virtues of secret help.
It is not recommended to indulge in idleness, backbiting, drunkenness and other actions that contradict the Christian way of life. Also, do not put household chores above prayer and temple visits.
As for folk prohibitions on cleaning, needlework or other household chores, they are, as the priest noted, a folk custom, not a strict church rule.
Prayers to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Troparion, voice 4
"The rule of faith and the image of the teacher's meekness and abstinence reveal thee to thy flock, which is the truth of things; for this reason hast thou acquired high humility, rich in poverty, Father Hierarch Nicholas, pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved."
Kontakion, glas 3
"In the world, O holy one, thou didst appear as a priest: for having fulfilled the gospel of Christ, O Venerable One, thou didst lay down thy soul for thy people, and didst save the innocent from death; for this reason thou didst sanctify thyself, as a great sacrament of God's grace."
Greatness
"We magnify you, Holy Father Nicholas, and honor your holy memory, for you pray to Christ our God for us."
Prayer
"O all-good Father Nicholas, to the shepherd and teacher of all who flow to your intercession by faith and call upon you with warm prayer, quickly strive and deliver the flock of Christ from the wolves that destroy it, and protect every Christian country and preserve it with your holy prayers from worldly rebellion, cowardice, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare, from famine, flood, fire, sword and futile death.
And as thou hast had mercy on three men who sit in prison, and hast delivered them from the king's wrath and the sword, so have mercy on me, in mind, word, and deed, in the darkness of my sins, and deliver me from the wrath of God and eternal punishment, so that through thy intercession and help, through Thy mercy and grace, Christ the God of peace and a sinless life will grant me to live in this place and deliver me from this standing, and will make me worthy to share my right hand with all the saints. Amen to that."
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