In which church are the relics of St. Nicholas. Where are the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

The temple, built in honor of the great saint in the history of Orthodoxy, Nicholas the Wonderworker, located in the very center of Moscow in Khamovniki, is considered one of the most significant architectural creations. Its beauty attracts tourists from all over the world. No less interesting is the history of the temple, the cultural sights belonging to it and the construction process.

Khamovnaya Sloboda: historical background

Khamovniki district, which is now practically the very center of Moscow, belonged to the suburban area of ​​our capital at the beginning of the 16th century. Until that time, there was not a single building in Khamovniki, and the entire vast territory was set aside for grazing horses.

Radical transformations began closer to the 17th century. The first building erected on the territory of Khamovnaya Sloboda was the Novodevichy Convent.

Thanks to him, the population growth in the area began. It is important to note that not only priests, but also artisans which contributed to the development own culture Khamovnikov.

The main advantage of freedom was finely woven fabrics, of such remarkable quality that they were regularly supplied to the royal court. In honor of this craft, Khamovniki were named. As you know, the old Russian name for flax sounds like “ham”, and the name of the settlement came from it, and later the whole area of ​​​​the largest populated city Russia.

How the Church of St. Nicholas was built in Khamovniki

Since Khamovnaya Sloboda occupied a rather vast territory, it was supposed to have its own church. The first mention of a pilgrimage dates back to the distant 1625. At that time, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was made of wood and did not have any features that could attract attention. A little later, namely after 32 years, the building was rebuilt, and in its place now flaunted a stone church, executed in the best traditions of those years.

The building received its name, which has survived to this day, "Nicholas the Wonderworker at the Metropolitan's Stables" in 1677. And in 1629, another new building began to be erected near the church. It is important to note that by the beginning of the 18th century, the architectural style in Russia had undergone significant changes, so the temple was subject to significant restoration.

Influenced by foreign influences strict native Russian style is replaced by a brighter, more picturesque and to some extent pretentious "wonderful pattern". Its distinguishing features are live colors, tiles performed in different color schemes, abundance decorative elements and decorations. The church is now not stone, but brick, finished with white stone on top, complemented by beautiful tiles of red and green colors.

The complex of the church of St. Nicholas at the present time

The temple complex is made in the traditions of its style and includes the following buildings:

• church with five domes;
• refectory;
• aisles of Moscow metropolitans Dmitry and Alexy;
• a hipped bell tower located near the western entrance;
• one of the largest and tallest bell towers in Moscow - an eight-domed one, which, by the way, is the last building made in this style.

The whole complex was consecrated in 1682. All other minor extensions appeared as needed.

Significant events

It is interesting to study not only the features of the architectural style in which the church is made, but also the history of its existence and numerous revivals.

During the First Patriotic War, when Bonaparte was advancing on our capital, according to the plans of the Russian commanders, all of Moscow, including the Church of St. Nicholas the Pleasant, was given over to be burned and destroyed by enemies.

As can be understood, the injuries inflicted on this incomparable architectural structure were very great, and interior decoration and practically completely destroyed. After the victory over the French, the authorities were in no hurry to start the restoration of the complex, and only in 1845 half of the repair work was completed, and a new fresco appeared on the wall. The full restoration of the church falls on 1849.

On this, of course, numerous temple restorations and his fortification did not end. The work of skilled architects was carried out three more times:

• in 1896;
• in 1949;
• in 1972.

Despite all the circumstances, the temple did not stop its work. Believers always came to it with joy to become part of the most beautiful divine services.

Closer to the beginning of the 19th century, the temple territory was fenced metal fence, and then installed Forged gates also a local attraction.

In 1922, a special event took place in the life of the entire complex: the solemn return of a huge bell, the second largest, cast by the famous Ladygin, took place. Its weight is more than 108 pounds. The fate of the remaining bells from the original set, unfortunately, is unknown. Some of them were lost during the persecution of the church organized by the Soviet authorities. This list also includes a three-hundred-pound bell, which was the largest in the entire complex.

Another sad fact is that during the persecution, many icons, gold and silver accessories were seized, which were not only special decorations of the church, but also had great cultural value.

Main attraction

In honor of the shrine, which is proud not only of the temple, but of the entire capital, the entire left chapel is named. The ancient icon, set in a gold frame, depicts the Mother of God with a baby. "The guarantor of sinners" is known for its miraculous and healing power. She became a donation to the temple from a rich man.

He noticed that during the pronunciation of a prayer in front of the “Guest of Sinners”, small droplets of a fragrant liquid stand out on the image. Having anointed themselves with this oil, many people who had already lost all hope were cured. After the icon was in the possession of the temple, crowds of people began to flock to worship, wishing to receive God's blessing. The image showed all its strength during the cholera raging in Moscow, when desperate doctors smeared patients with the received world, and they began to grow stronger right before our eyes.

Temple in Khamovniki: schedule of services

The cathedral operates according to the following schedule:

• The service begins at seven o'clock in the morning.
• After 45 minutes, everyone can confess.
• Liturgy continues at eight or a little later.
• At five o'clock, parishioners are waiting for.

Address of the temple: Leo Tolstoy street, house two. If you get to the shrine for the first time, then you should navigate along the Frunzenskaya Embankment, as well as along the Kultury Park.

Sixteen and a half centuries separate us from the day of his blessed death. Saint Nicholas, who was born around the year 280 in the Asia Minor city of Patara, in Lycia - the “Wolf Country”, then a province of the Roman Empire, died in December 545 and, as archbishop of the city of Mir in the Lycian region, found his rest in this city. Emperor Theodosius the Younger in the 5th century erected a large cathedral church here, where the relics of the Saint were laid. The bishop, who did not leave his flock even after the death, stayed here until the second half of the 11th century, when the area was captured and devastated by the Turks.

In 1087, according to church sources, Saint Nicholas appeared in a dream to a priest in the city of Bari and commanded that his relics be transferred from Mir to Bari. The dreamer conveyed the desire of the Saint to his fellow citizens, who transported the relics of the Saint from the captured city to Italy, saving them from destruction.

Currently, there is a dispute between Turkey and Italy about the return of the relics of St. Nicholas, which in the 19th century were taken out of Antalya, devastated by the Turks and to this day are in the Italian city of Bari, back to Demre (former Lycian Myra), since the Turks proclaimed that holy relics are the property of the state. This is the article below.

Many in the world do not know where the real homeland of St. Nicholas is. This should not surprise us, because the city where he was born (Patara) completely disappeared from the face of the earth, and the ancient great empire of the World of Lycians was reduced to the size of a village with a population of several thousand (Demre, Kale). All this happened on the land of Turkey, which in the name of Allah destroyed ancient Christian churches or, as in the case of Hagia Sophia, covered up ancient frescoes, and used the temples as Muslim mosques.

It should, however, be said that the history of Lycia at the end of the 11th century is very poorly studied. It is known that since 1036 the Turks began an intensive capture of that part Byzantine Empire, but for the next decades the Lycian population still remained Greek in language and culture and, naturally, was connected by religious ties with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

St. Nicholas spoke Greek and belonged to Greek culture, but was not a Greek, but was a Lycian (Asia Minor, eight hundred years later - Turkey). He took part in the Council of Nicaea in 325, according to Theodore Lector, who died by 334. The basilica, which still admires Kale today - in the past Demre, in the ancient Worlds dates back to the VIII-IX centuries.

In 1087, St. Nicholas was not stolen from the Byzantines, since Lycia was no longer under the military control of the Byzantines in the second half of the 11th century. It was not stolen from the Turks either, because they moved freely in this zone, but had not yet annexed this territory to their empire. When the holy relics arrived in Bari in 1087, armed clashes took place there, with sacrifices in order to prevent the order of the archbishop to transfer the holy relics to the Cathedral. Indeed, the old palace of the Byzantine ruler was adapted for the basilica of the Saint, which, as the church of the Bari people, was opposed to the Cathedral, the episcopal church.

It is the Barian chronicles about the transfer of the relics of the saint that are the most important documents for the study of Lycia of that period. And the reason for this is very clear: these chronicles undoubtedly belong to that time. Indeed, after the holy relics arrived, Archbishop Urson (who died in February 1089) sent his armed guards to pick them up and bring them to the Cathedral. Thus, he provoked bloodshed, as the people wanted to dedicate a separate church to St. Nicholas. A few months later, the noble Curcorio (?) commissioned the cleric Nikephoros to write a description of this event. Upon learning of this, the archbishop wanted his version of events to be presented as well, so he gave a similar instruction to Archdeacon John.

In the first days of 1088, referring to the return from Antioch, Nicephorus wrote that the Barians were inspired to take away the body of blessed Nicholas from the city of Mir of the Lycians. Entering the port without noise, they moored the ships. Then they sent two pilgrims from Jerusalem, who boarded a ship with them in Antioch (one was a Greek, and the other a Frenchman), to survey the territory, because the Turks devastated it in an ungodly way. They reached the resting place of the holy body and made sure that it was not there.

In addition, during negotiations with the monks, one of them said that the inhabitants of the city of Mir, because of the fear of the Turks, retired to the mountains at a distance of about twelve stades, and if they did not return to live and protect this city, the Saint would move to another place. .

Archdeacon John cites an interesting episode that happened on the way to the city of Mir. He says that the Bari sent a pilgrim ahead, who they always carried with them. Returning, he reported that there were many Turks near the Basilica of the Saint. In fact, the ruler of the city died, it was for this reason that everyone gathered - for the funeral. Upon learning of this, the Barians raised their sails and immediately sent their ships to Antioch.

This episode is also narrated in the Jerusalem legend, written a little later on French. As for the Russian legend (it also dates back to the 11th century), it says this: “The Ishmaelites destroyed churches and monasteries, and the cities remained under their rule. They also raided Lycia, where the body of St. Nicholas was buried (...) But our Lord did not allow his devoted slave to rest with his mortal remains in a devastated place where he could not be glorified by anyone.

Here is the picture that emerges from two chronicles of 1088 and two chronicles written five or six years later. There was a Turkish ruler in the city. And based on the fact that we are talking about the story of eyewitnesses, the events described are not in doubt. The worlds were then already under Turkish rule and, therefore, one thing is for sure: St. Nicholas was not stolen from the Byzantines (Greeks), who were removed from the government of the city. At that time, there were few Lycians left, native speakers of the Greek language and culture, since most of them took refuge in the mountains nearby. That the Barians had no intention of stealing is shown by the fact that, despite their armament, they began negotiations with the monks and expressed their willingness to pay. That is, there was some serious religious and political motive that pushed them to this.

Scientists have restored the appearance of the great saint by his relics.

Chairman of the Board of the Orthodox Society "Tabernacle" Alexander Bugaevsky and Archimandrite Vladimir Zorin, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II, compiled the life of Nicholas the Wonderworker - latest biography most revered saint by Christians.

They set themselves the goal of not missing a single fact, a single detail from the ancient texts. And most importantly, they were compared with the results of a survey by scientists of his relics. The results were sensational.
On the basis of archaeological, anatomical and anthropological studies, Russian researchers described the real appearance of the saint: his height, complexion and even facial features, and also identified the illnesses that the Miracle Worker suffered from.

Double

For the first time, all the facts from the life of another Lycian saint, Nicholas of Pinar, were removed from the text of his life, which were mistakenly brought there more than a thousand years ago.
“Nikolai of Mirlikiy was the archbishop of the city of Mira in the 4th century,” Alexander Bugaevsky explains, “and Nikolay Pinarsky lived in the 6th century, became the archbishop of Pinarsky and died on December 10, 564. The confusion arose because of the very similar details of the biographies of the saints: both come from Lycia, archbishops, revered saints and miracle workers. These coincidences led to a misconception that existed long years: that in the history of the church there was only one Saint Nicholas, who became famous as the Wonderworker.
relics
Archbishop Nicholas of Myra was described by contemporaries as meek and humble: “He dressed very simply, without any adornments, and had a face full of holiness and grace. An amazing radiance emanated from him, as from the prophet of God Moses.

To conduct an anatomical and anthropological study of the holy relics, a tomb in Bari was opened, - says Alexander Bugaevsky. - The examination was conducted by Professor Luigi Martino.

Mantle

A hitherto unknown miracle is inscribed in the life of Nicholas the Pleasant, which was not previously included in the biography of the saint. Alexander Bugaevsky discovered the "Act on Tax" in four Greek manuscripts.
Nicholas the Wonderworker saved his native Lycia from an unbearable tax, which plunged the people into terrible poverty. Saint Nicholas went to Constantinople to ask for mercy from the emperor. Before meeting with the ruler, the archbishop and bishops served a liturgy. And when during the sacrament the saint said: “Holy to the saints!” - everyone in the altar saw a fiery flame come out of his mouth.

Entering the throne room, the saint saw that the sun was blinding the eyes of Emperor Constantine. He took off his mantle from his shoulders and threw it over a sunbeam to cover the eyes of the king. And the mantle did not fall, but hung in the air!
The amazed emperor complied with the request and reduced the ruinous tax.
Decree
The saint understood that the emperor might change his mind and that this document should be read out in Lycia as soon as possible, but the journey there took six days. Nicholas found a reed pipe in the temple, put the royal decree in it, and with a prayer threw the document into the sea. And by a miracle, he immediately ended up in the homeland of the saint - hundreds of miles away.

On the same night, the saint appeared in a dream to a priest from Myra, ordered them to go down to the harbor, find a letter on the shore and read it to the people.
Three days later, under pressure from the courtiers, Constantine changed his mind and asked for the letter back. He could not believe that the decree had already been announced, and sent messengers to Lycia to find out how the document had arrived there.
After faithful people reported the miracle to the emperor, he saw the will of God in this and left his decision in force.
appearance
Professor Luigi Martino, as a result of studying the remains, established that the face depicted on the icons fully corresponds to appearance of a person buried in the tomb: “In terms of the structure of the skull and skeleton, the saint belonged to the white Caucasoid Mediterranean race, which is characterized by medium height and dark skin. With a high forehead, with a nose tending to an aquiline, a skeleton of medium strength.

An anthropological study of the relics testifies that the great saint did not eat meat, but ate only plant foods. The growth of Nicholas the Wonderworker was also determined - 167 centimeters.

The degree of reverence for this saint in the Orthodox Church in general can be judged by the fact that he is given a special service on Thursdays every week along with the apostles. This mainly explains the fact that since ancient times, Russian people have honored St. Nicholas, and more often than other saints, they turned to him with prayer, although he was a Lycian by origin, brought up on the foundations of the Greek-Byzantine culture.

Worship of the saints and hope for their help in difficult life situations have always been and remain an unshakable tradition of Christianity. Many believers have “their own”, beloved defenders and intercessors who are trusted with the most intimate thoughts and requests. First of all, this Holy Mother of God, Blessed Matrona, Xenia of Petersburg, Seraphim of Sarov, Healer Panteleimon and others. Their names are often heard in prayers, lips fall to their icons.

But perhaps the most revered saint of the Russian people is Nicholas the Wonderworker. He is also called Nicholas the Pleasant and Saint Nicholas. After Mother of God he ranks second in the number of Orthodox and Catholic churches dedicated to him and built in his honor (Catholics also revere Nicholas the Wonderworker). Only in Russia alone you will find thousands of St. Nicholas churches, scattered as if gems, in towns and villages. And how many of them are there in the whole world!

Nicholas the Wonderworker: life story and where he is buried

What special did this man do during his lifetime, and why did he become close and understandable to the hearts of millions of people? You can learn about this from his biography. The future great saint was an unusual child from birth. He devoted himself early to God and served only him all his life, and he also loved people and helped every suffering person in any way he could.

He was born in 270 AD. e. in the Roman province of Lycia, in the city of Patara, in the south of the peninsula of Asia Minor (this place is known to thousands of Russians as Antalya - a wonderful vacation spot on the coast of Turkey). Nicholas was a long-awaited, late child in a prosperous Christian family. His mother was a sickly woman and could not have children for a long time. Together with their husband, they prayed to God that he would give them a child, and when, finally, their son was born, they immediately vowed to devote him to worship. After giving birth, the mother happily got rid of her illnesses, but Nikolai remained the only child - suffered and dearly loved.

From early childhood, Nicholas devoted much time to the study of divine scripture. The success of the boy was observed by his close relative, Bishop of Patara. He was pleased with the child's desire to know God, he was proud of the pious behavior of his nephew, and a few years later contributed to the elevation of Nicholas to the priesthood. The flock fell in love with their young presbyter for his purity, mercy and readiness to help anyone. He often distributed items from his personal property to the needy, shared money and food with them. He tried to hide his good deeds and in most cases provided support to people secretly.

However, some instances of his mercy received publicity. Many believers know the story of the ruined father of the family, who, out of desperation, was ready to offer each of his three daughters to any man who was ready to pay money. Upon learning of this, St. Nicholas filled three sacks with gold and threw them into the poor man's window at night, thus saving the family not only from starvation, but also from spiritual death.

And here is how the famous actor, priest Ivan Okhlobystin, told the same story:

“It was like this: a neighbor of St. Nicholas went bankrupt and was ready to give his daughters in marriage to unloved, but rich old people. When Saint Nicholas became aware of this unfair decision of his father, he collected all the gold of the church where he served as a bishop in order to give it to his desperate father. Nikolai put the gold in a sock, after which he threw it to his neighbor through the window.
The happy father paid off his debts, and his daughters did not suffer. It was around Christmas time. Thus was born the tradition of hiding Christmas gifts in socks for relatives and friends.”

As a young priest, one day Nicholas decided to go to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places there. On the way, the ship on which he was sailing almost got into a strong storm. But Nicholas the Wonderworker was able to predict the impending storm in advance and pacify the raging sea with a prayer. There also happened a tragic incident with one of the sailors: he fell from the mast and crashed, but thanks to the fervent prayers of Nicholas, the deceased was resurrected. Witnesses of these miracles were pilgrims who sailed on the same ship.

So, during his lifetime, St. Nicholas could change the fate of unfortunate people, and today they continue to do good and show mercy to all who firmly believe in him.

Having visited Jerusalem and venerated the shrines associated with the deeds of the Son of God Jesus Christ on Earth, Saint Nicholas decided to retire to the skete, to the desert, but the voice of the Lord ordered him to return to his homeland, to Lycia.

Nikolai did not reach his native Patara, but settled in the town of Lycian Myra, where he was soon elected archbishop. For his flock, this great man has always remained a model of mercy, love for people and extraordinary modesty. During the reign of Emperor Diocletian (from 284 to 305 AD), for his beliefs, he, along with other Christians, was imprisoned and spent difficult 8 years there.

After the accession to the throne of St. Constantine Equal-to-the-Apostles, Nicholas returned to his temple, where the people sincerely rejoiced at the meeting with their mentor and intercessor. Throughout his life, Nicholas - a man pleasing to God - was also pleasing to his flock, which grew far beyond the boundaries of the Lycian world.

In the same town, on December 6, 342, a great man, St. Nicholas, died and rested. His relics were kept in the city cathedral church for more than 700 years, healing the sick and suffering. In 1087, the main part of the relics was transported to the Italian city of Bari, and a small part of them - to Venice. They are kept there to this day.

The story of the life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is not limited to our short story. During his long and good life, he healed souls and wounds, preached the Christian doctrine everywhere and demonstrated both strength and determination, meekness and humility. Today St. Nicholas is considered a special patron of sailors, travelers, orphans and innocently convicted.

Today, December 19, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Saint Nicholas is considered the patron saint of travelers and seafarers. And he is one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox world.

Saint Nicholas, who lived in the III-IV centuries, became famous as a great saint of God, therefore in the people he is usually called Nikolai Ugodnik. Saint Nicholas was considered “the representative and intercessor of all, the comforter of all the sorrowful, the refuge of all those in trouble, the pillar of piety, the faithful champion.” Christians believe that even today he performs many miracles to help people who pray to him.

Making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Nicholas the Wonderworker, at the request of desperate travelers, calmed the raging sea with a prayer. Holding the sword of the executioner, Saint Nicholas saved from death three husbands who had been innocently condemned by the greedy mayor.

Not only believers turned to him, but also pagans, and the saint responded with his unfailing miraculous help to all who sought it. In those saved by him from bodily troubles, he aroused repentance for sins and a desire to improve their lives.

During his earthly life, he performed so many good deeds for the glory of God that they cannot be listed, but among them there is one that belongs to the number of virtues and to what served as the basis for their performance, which moved the saint to a feat - his faith, amazing, strong, zealous.

Saint Nicholas died in the middle of the 4th century at a ripe old age. According to church tradition, the relics of the saint were preserved incorruptible and exuded a wonderful myrrh, from which many people were healed. In 1087, the relics of Nicholas the Pleasant were transferred to the Italian city of Bar (Bari), where they are still located.

Therefore, it is worth going to church on such a day and lighting candles.

Where the relics rest Saint Nicholas?

Sixteen and a half centuries separate us from the day of his blessed death. Saint Nicholas, who was born about the year 280 in the Asia Minor city of Patara, in Lycia, the "Wolf Country", then a province of the Roman Empire, died in December 343, and as archbishop of the city of Mir in the Lycian region, found his rest in this city. Emperor Theodosius the Younger in the 5th century erected a large cathedral church here, where the relics of the Saint were laid. The bishop, who did not leave his flock even after the death, remained here until the second half of the 11th century.

Ruins of the church of St. Nicholas in the Lycian Worlds (modern Demre, Turkey)

The messengers found the relics in the aforementioned Theodosius Basilica under a bushel and, having first poured the myrrh that flowed from the relics of the saint into special vessels, they transferred the coffin of the Saint to the ship. On the night of April 11, the ship left Myra, and on May 9, having endured preliminary quarantine, arrived in Bari, whose inhabitants, led by the bishop and the clergy, went on ships and boats to the sea to solemn meeting shrines.

Kings and queens (including the Polish queen Bona from the Milanese house of Sforza, buried in the altar of the basilica) donated a lot to decorate the temple. The Serbian king Urosh II in 1319 arranged a silver throne in the crypt over the tomb of the Saint. His son Urosh III in 1325 donated the altarpiece of St. Nicholas the Pleasant. At the expense of Sovereign Nicholas II, after visiting Bari, when he was still heir, the marble floor was repaved there, in the crypt.

...The book of honored guests has been preserved in the archives of the temple. On one of the pages there is a laconic autograph: “Nikolai. November 12, 1892." There is also an icon in the temple, donated by the last Russian emperor to his Angel.

Basilica of San Nicola (upper temple), Bari, Italy

May 9 (22 - New Style) The Western and our Russian Churches celebrate the "spring Nikola" - the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas to Bari. This holiday, says A.A. Dmitrievsky, "gathers to the city a mass of pilgrims from all over Italy and from other countries, both Orthodox and Catholics, and is furnished with solemn services and litanies."

The crypt, or rather, the underground church, in which the relics of the Saint are located, is the most ancient part of the temple; it was consecrated by Pope Urban II on October 1, 1089. The church was rebuilt from the former palace of the catapana, the Byzantine governor of Apulia. Construction lasted two years. The space of the church (30 x 15 m) is divided into rows of 26 columns, two of which are of rare Numidian marble, the rest are Greek. One column, in the corner, at the foot of the stairs, clasped with iron ties, is considered miraculous. Believers, applying to it, receive healing from various diseases. According to an ancient legend, this column comes from the St. Nicholas Church in the Lycian Worlds. She herself miraculously sailed from Asia Minor following the relics of St. Nicholas. On the night before the consecration of the temple, people saw how the Hierarch himself, with the help of two angels, put this column in place.

Basilica of San Nicola (crypt), Bari, Italy

The Tomb of the Wonderworker has a strict ascetic form (later silver frames were removed during the last restoration). In front of the tomb there is a semicircular opening through which the priests enter to collect the wonderful world. The relics of Nicholas the Pleasant are among the myrrh-streaming. It was discovered back in Mira. When the Bari sailors opened the tomb in order to extract and transfer the holy relics to Italy, it turned out that the honest head and bones of the Saint were almost floating in an unknown mysterious liquid. Taking the relics, the sailors tried to take the sacred liquid with them in vessels. Subsequently, it is called differently: the Orthodox - "oil" or "peace", modern Catholics - "manna of St. Nicholas." For the convenience of collecting the world, the bottom of the tomb is made slightly sloping towards the center. The authentic liquid, collected once a year, on May 9, is poured into large containers of holy water, as the healing myrrh is distributed to a huge number of Orthodox and Catholic pilgrims.

Nicholas the Wonderworker - biography, a few strokes

In ancient times, the Turkish city of Demre (province of Antalya) was called Mira and was part of the confederation of ancient Lycia. Nicholas the Wonderworker served as bishop in the majestic Christian church of this city for many years.

Nicholas was not a hermit, like many saints. On the contrary, he was always among people, helping them not only with moralizing, but also specific cases. He saved the unjustly convicted from execution, rescued slandered generals from prison, fought hunger, providing the Mirolikian citizens with bread - he fed the poor, took care of the orphans. His kindness, combined with an active nature, made him extremely popular and loved by the people.

The pilgrimage to Nicholas the Wonderworker began during his lifetime. However, after his death, the flow of believers not only did not decrease, but even increased many times over. Many came to the Lycian Worlds to venerate the relics of the saint, which began to flow strongly myrrh (in fact, the city of Mira itself, according to one version, has a common root with the word "myrrh" - a resin that is often present in incense). However, at the end of the 11th century, the pilgrimage became dangerous. The invasion of the Saracens (that is, the Turkish army) hit the eastern regions of the Byzantine Empire. Their hordes marched with fire and sword to Jerusalem. They destroyed the cities, villages, churches and monasteries that lay on their way, turning fertile places into a dead desert.

Lycia was devastated. The surviving residents of the city fled in fear from the robbers, hiding high in the mountains. Only monks remained in the Lycian Worlds, who kept the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker as the greatest treasure. In the Middle Ages, they looked at such shrines in a very peculiar way - they tried to take possession of them. It seemed that having taken possession of the holy relics, people would immediately receive more help from the holy saints of God, and therefore often the holy relics were obtained by theft, like some kind of booty, and they were highly valued. Here is a story that happened with the relics of St. Nicholas:

Nicholas the Wonderworker - relics

In 1087, merchants from the Italian city of Bari went to the city of Antioch (also on the territory of modern Turkey) to trade in grain. On the way back, they stopped at the Lycian Worlds, where the relics of St. Nicholas rested. They forced the monks, under the threat of torture, to point out where Saint Nicholas was buried, seized the relics and transferred them to the ship. They were in a hurry - they were afraid that the inhabitants of the city of Peace, having heard about this disgrace, would descend from the mountains and win back the great shrine from them. Therefore, part of the relics remained in the tomb.

On the way, a terrible storm broke out. The priests sailing on the ship learned that several sailors secretly took a particle of the relics for themselves - some of the saint's tooth, and some of the bone. The priests warned that if they did not immediately return everything, they would certainly perish. The sailors immediately gave up everything - and the storm immediately subsided. On May 9, 1087, the ships safely entered the port of Bari.

There are 2 points of view on the release of the relics of Nicholas the Pleasant from Turkish captivity. The point of view of Russian Orthodoxy is precisely the salvation of relics, but the Greeks believe that the theft was committed by the inhabitants of Bari, such is their point of view. The Russians immediately interpreted the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas as salvation from the Turkish conquerors, who had already arrived in Asia Minor. And the Greeks for a long time considered Asia Minor, despite the presence of the Turks, a part of the Byzantine Empire, and thus they believed that the relics of St. Nicholas had been stolen from them.

, (from the Greek basilike - royal house), where the remains of St. Nicholas rest today, rises in the center of the Italian city of Bari. This building is the prime example Romanesque style, strict and majestic. Previously, there was a palace of the Byzantine governor.

The relics of the saint rest under a high throne. For hundreds of years, miracles have been happening here - millions of believers are convinced of this. They come to Bari from all over the world to bow to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker and ask the saint for help. Only on holidays in the lower church of the basilica do special gates open and pilgrims get the opportunity to approach the tomb of St. Nicholas. To touch this place, people line up in a huge queue from early morning.

Together with the relics of St. Nicholas, the inhabitants of Bari took out the now famous icon, in Italy it is called Nicola del Nero, i.e. Nicholas Black. On the icon, the saint really looks somewhat swarthy. Many Italians in antiquity even considered him dark-skinned. However, in the works of Russian icon painters, it is usually a gray-haired old man of Slavic appearance. On Greek icons, Nicholas the Wonderworker has a typical Greek appearance. For many years, scientists have wondered - what did St. Nicholas the Wonderworker really look like?

In 1953, the Italian professor, anatomist Luigi Martino opened the veil over the mystery of the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker. The professor studied the relics of the saint in detail. The results of the research made a sensation in the scientific world - the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker, restored from the remains, not only had a great resemblance to the image on the icons, but also pointed to specific facts of his life. In particular, Professor Martineau found out that Nicholas the Wonderworker had fractures of several bones, joints and even his nose. This confirms the version of historians that the saint had to suffer more than once for his faith. Back in 980 AD. Byzantine writer and scholar Metaphrastus mentioned that during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian, Nicholas was thrown into prison. The Byzantine historian reports on the traces of torture on the body of Nicholas, it was said that the saint even visited on the rack ....

Half a century later, the research of the Italian professor Luigi Martino was fully confirmed by the famous British anthropologist Caroline Wilkinson and her colleagues from the University of Manchester. In 2005, they began to restore the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In the scientific world, Caroline Wilkinson's work on the reconstruction of the appearance of famous historical figures is recognized as unique and highly accurate. Using complex system metric measurements, photography, x-rays and computer graphics, she manages to achieve a close resemblance of the reconstruction to the original. As a result of the work carried out, Caroline Wilkinson was looked at by a short, bald man of strong build with olive shade skin and close-set brown eyes. According to research, he was about 168 cm tall, that is, not at all tall. When he died, he was about 65-70 years old. If you describe his face, then it was very courageous, and at the same time - radiating an inner immeasurable strength. According to K. Wilkinson, "If you met him on the street today, you would probably decide that in front of you is either a boxer, or a restaurant bouncer, or just a typical criminal." He had a very strong rough skull, a large square head. It is interesting to note that he had a very noticeable nose fracture. Obviously, the bridge of her nose was broken, and then she was obviously treated. From this we can conclude that the nose was broken long before his death.

However, the resulting 3D computer image is still a little soulless and featureless. It is incapable of conveying the charm and spirituality of the face of St. Nicholas, from whom, as his contemporaries claimed, an amazing radiance emanated, as from the prophet of God Moses.

The Russian Orthodox Church glorifies the great Saint Nicholas twice a year. December 19 and May 22. These days, thousands of believers from Russia and the CIS countries come to Italy. Most of the pilgrims are exhausted by the hard road to Bari. Direct flights to this provincial town is not, so people are forced to get "on the messenger". From fatigue, many fall down, but continue to stand in line, hoping to touch the shrine. Those who are lucky will be able to touch the coveted glass eye. The rest will have to wait for the next holiday. Even the Russian tsars, who especially revered Nicholas the Wonderworker, thought about creating conditions for Russian pilgrims in Italy. Shortly before the 1917 revolution, Emperor Nicholas 2 decided to build a temple and a hotel in Bari. In the year of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, land was bought in Bari, and under the guidance of the famous architect Shchusev, a project for a Russian farmstead was created. The Bari Temple in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was built in 1913-1917. However, during the years of Bolshevik total atheism and the squandering of the national spirit, the temple was donated to the city of Bari. His return became a diplomatic task, the solution of which was personally dealt with by Putin and the first persons of the Russian clergy.

On March 1, 2009, the Bari Temple in honor of St. Nicholas was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church, along with the courtyard. The symbolic keys were handed over personally to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

For 10 years of his life in Italy, the rector of the Russian church-compound, father Vladimir Kuchumov became an eyewitness of many miracles. One of them happened to him. A few years ago, Kuchumov developed a stomach ulcer. But as soon as Father Vladimir venerated the relics of St. Nicholas, the illness receded.

Father Vladimir (Kuchumov) says:

- Personally, I have witnessed bright miracles many times. This, of course, is the healing of all kinds of the most serious ailments that are only known to medicine. Saint Nicholas performs his main miracle on thousands of people, who sometimes do not even notice it. I believe that this main miracle of St. Nicholas over people is the correction of their lives. And people are grateful to the saint for this - since the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker ended up in Bari, many famous historical figures have been here. The basilica has a treasury where expensive gifts are stored Saint for wonderful help. Most of it was made by kings and royalty. For example, lampadas - from the Russian Tsar Nicholas 2 and from the brother of Alexander 2 - Constantine. This tradition has been preserved to this day. In 2007, during a visit to Italy, President Vladimir Putin visited the Pope in the Vatican and presented him with an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. And then went to Bari. Vladimir Putin drove into the church of St. Nicholas and prayed at the relics of the Wonderworker, as Russian tsars once did. Gift Russian President stands in the courtyard of the basilica, this is a monument to St. Nicholas.

I am convinced that the transfer of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker from the World of Lycia to Italy is God's providence. In a different scenario, the great shrine could be irretrievably lost for the entire Christian world. We are only once again convinced of the power of God's providence - God is able to turn even bad human deeds to good consequences. So, as it were - the theft of relics, the capture of the place where they were; in a sense, the robbery turned into glory, universal worship before the name of the great saint, St. Nicholas. Even the Catholic West now sincerely and strongly honors the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

In Bari, holidays associated with the name of St. Nicholas are celebrated on a special scale. Every year on May 9, Catholics celebrate the anniversary of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and arrange a grand costumed performance. With the participation of several hundred people, events are reconstructed that have remained the most important and significant for the inhabitants of Bari for many centuries.

The Baryans are proud that they have the relics of St. Nicholas and zealously refute any version of the alternative location of the remains of the Wonderworker. However, many historians are convinced that some of the relics of the saint are in Venice.

During the first crusade, the Venetians, following in the footsteps of their predecessors from Bari, came to the Lycian Worlds. They found the temple of St. Nicholas and began torturing the monks, demanding that they give them the remaining relics. Finally, under torture, one of the monks showed where the greatest shrine was located. The Venetians again open the floor and "get" the remains of the relics of St. Nicholas. But there are few relics - no skull, very few bones ... Then they report the bones from other tombs. And on the way home, the Venetians from time to time give someone one bone or another. Thus, the relics of St. Nicholas end up in several countries, in several monasteries. Following this version, the remains of St. Nicholas were transported to Venice in 1100. Today they rest on the island of Lido, in a majestic temple erected in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker...

The life and miracles of St. Nicholas are captured here in the form of numerous frescoes and majestic statues. And also in the gallery valuable breeds wood unique handmade. Each wooden sculpture is dedicated to a separate episode from the life of Nicholas the Wonderworker. The tomb, where the relics of the saint rest, stands on a high marble pedestal decorated with mosaics. For almost 1000 years, the baryans disputed the fact that the Miracle Worker was on the island of Lido - many do not believe in this until now. However, in 1992, Professor Luigi Martino, who had previously opened the tomb of the saint in Bari, examined the remains on the island of Lido. And he found out that the missing parts of the relics of St. Nicholas were indeed in the tomb of Venice. But besides this, the bones of children, women and a false skull were added to the casket. And yet, approximately 20-25% of the remains of St. Nicholas are in the Venetian casket - in the coffin, which we can see on the island of Lido.

Nicholas the Wonderworker was neither a famous theologian nor the ruler of some large diocese or territory. But 17 centuries have passed - and we do not revere any of the saints as much as Nicholas the Wonderworker. Each nation considers it their own, and gives its appearance special features. This is a vivid proof of the deep veneration of Nicholas the Wonderworker, who can be safely called the most democratic and popularly beloved saint.

How to ask Nicholas the Wonderworker for help personally for yourself

The most important thing: in order to turn to St. Nicholas with your request, you need to sincerely, with all your heart, believe that you will certainly receive this help - this is a priority and required condition (read the epigraph to this article again). It is best to cry for help in front of the icon of St. Nicholas. It doesn’t matter at all whether this icon is in the temple, or at your home; whether it was created by the hands of an icon painting master or downloaded from the Internet and printed on your printer. If you need to ask for help on the way, but you do not have the image of St. Nicholas at hand - mentally imagine his image, draw in your imagination - this will be enough to feel a spiritual connection with him. (However, I still advise you to buy a small image of the Miracle Worker in the church shop - the so-called "fold" or wearable medallion - and carry it with you. I have had one similar to the one in the picture on the left for many years - I wear it in my purse, next to photos of relatives.)

It is most correct to turn to St. Nicholas the Pleasant for help with the words of a prayer, and it is not at all necessary that the prayer be pronounced strictly according to church canons, it is more important that with sincerity. If you don’t know the prayer yet or don’t remember its words, speak to the saint with those words that come from your heart, from the depths of your soul.

Before asking a saint for help, look carefully, peer at his icon (or at the mental image of St. Nicholas you created). Feel that the saint is looking at you, that your problems are not indifferent to him, feel his attention and love - this is easy. Remember that there is not a single person with an open heart to the universe, to whom the universe would refuse to help. And along the path to this help, Nikolai Ugodnik will lead you - the fastest among the guides from the Earthly to the Highest. And your request will be heard and fulfilled - believe in it. May faith help us all! Faith that

human

maybe

and should be

HAPPY!

Brief prayer appeals to Nicholas the Wonderworker:

Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker - canonical text:

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworkers - two. Saint Nicholas of Pinar lived in the 6th century and was the abbot of the Sinai Monastery. Both saints are from Lycia, archbishops, revered miracle workers - these coincidences led to a delusion that existed for many years: that in the history of the Church there was only one "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker."

Therefore, historical inconsistencies arose in the life of the great Wonderworker. For example, it turned out that Nicholas of Myra visited the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in the Holy Land long before its foundation by Empress Elena. In fact, Nicholas the Wonderworker was not in the Holy Land, the pilgrimage described in many of his lives was made by Nikolai Pinarsky.

Similarly, there was confusion with the names of the parents and uncle of Nicholas of Myra. Feofan (Epiphanius) and Nonna, mentioned in his lives, are the names of the parents of Nikolai Pinarsky.

2. Did Saint Nicholas hit Arius on the cheek?

The Greek Studite of Damascus, Metropolitan of Nafpaktos and Arta (XVI century), in his book Treasure, recounts the legend that during the Ecumenical Council Nicholas "hit on the cheek" his opponent Aria.

This is refuted by the professor of church history V. V. Bolotov: “None of the legends about the Council of Nicaea, even if with a weak claim to antiquity, mentions the name of Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, among its participants.”

The very facts of Nikolai's execution of Arius by Nicholas and the trial of Nicholas are completely and completely absent in the life of Nicholas, written by Simeon Metaphrastus in the 10th century and placed in the Cheti-Minei, there is nothing of the kind in the life of Nicholas, located in the Greek Synaxar, there are no such events in the Great Chetii - Menaion collected and published by St. Macarius in the middle of the 16th century. The description of a slap in the face first appears in Russian hagiography only at the end of the 17th century in the Lives of the Saints, written by Metropolitan Dimitry of Rostov.

Saint Nicholas slaps Arius on the cheek. Fresco

3. Was the transfer of relics to Bari a solemn pious event?

Life in Myra, on the outskirts of the Byzantine Empire (now the city of Dembre in southern Turkey), was turbulent in the 11th century. Lycia was constantly attacked by the Seljuks. Bari was a very large port city, Venice was a semi-merchant-semi-pirate maritime power. Both cities wanted to take possession of the relics of St. Nicholas as the patron saint of sailors.

Alexander Bugaevsky in his hagiographic investigation “The Truth about St. Nicholas” writes that, according to the Latin chronicles, the baryans came for the relics twice, and not once, as described in the Slavic narratives about the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas.

Bread was then brought to Asia Minor and Antioch from Apulia and Calabria. In 1087, the baryans brought bread to Antioch - Western Syria. They sailed past Mir, sent reconnaissance, but she quickly returned. The city was filled with Seljuks.

In Antioch, the grain was sold, and on the way back they again stopped at Myra. This time they did not meet the Seljuks, there were few inhabitants in the city. Four monks remained in the church of St. Nicholas. The baryans entered the temple and, threatening the monks, found out where the relics were.

Those tombs that the Turks are now demonstrating (and there are two sarcophagi in the temple) have nothing to do with holy relics. It is difficult to say where the saint was originally buried, but by the time they arrived, the saint's relics rested under a bushel, in one of the chapels, under the floor, decorated with mosaics.

The baryans smashed this mosaic with a crowbar, one of the sailors went down into the tomb and stood right on the holy remains fragrant with the world, damaging them. The relics were lifted in parts and placed in priestly robes. The head of the saint and many other fragments of the skeleton were transferred to the ship. But it was not possible to completely take the relics, as the sailors were in a hurry, fearing that the Lycians might interfere with the abduction.

Sarcophagus, in which the relics of St. Nicholas allegedly rested before the transfer

The transfer of relics from Mir to Bari can hardly be considered a pious event with the participation of people caring for the shrine. Although, if not for the raid of the baryans, priceless christian shrine, most likely, would have been lost during the conquest of Byzantium by the Ottoman Empire.

4. They say fake relics are spread all over the world, is that true?

A few days after the baryans, the Venetians landed in Myra to take the relics of the miracle worker, and everything happened again. There were again four monks in the temple. In search of shrines, the Venetians broke the altars, destroyed the temple. Under torture, one of the monks showed where the relics of the saint were buried.

Since there were few relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Venetians added other human remains to them: an extraneous skull, female and children's bones. Then the Venetians went on the Crusade, and soon the falsification was forgotten. For nine centuries, the Venetian tomb was opened many times, and since it contained a skull and many other remains, the Venetians claimed that it was they who possessed all the relics of the Wonderworker Nicholas.

During the Crusade, the holy relics were repeatedly given away. Quite a few particles from this Venetian ark are still walking around the world, the reliability of which is highly doubtful.

5. Is it true that the icons almost exactly convey the appearance of the saint?

Anthropological studies have confirmed that the icons accurately convey the appearance of St. Nicholas.

In 1953 during restoration work in the church in which the crypt is located, Luigi Martino, an anatomist from the University of Bari (Universita degli Studi di Bari), with the permission of the Vatican, examined the bones, leaving behind many radiographs and detailed measurements.

He made a conclusion about the saint's illnesses. Damaged joints, spine and chest bones testify to the torment that St. Nicholas endured in prison - he was tortured on the rack. Radiological examination of the skull showed extensive internal bony compaction of the cranium.

Professor Martino believes that these changes are caused by the long-term influence of the prison cold and dampness (the saint spent about twenty years in prison).

According to eyewitnesses, his face was full of holiness and grace. They say that an amazing radiance came from him, like from the prophet of God Moses. That is, grace was inherent in him in an obvious way. Luigi Martino reconstructed the appearance of Saint Nicholas from the skull.

This allowed Martineau's contemporary colleagues to carry out the reconstruction. It was made of "virtual" clay, the shape of which can be changed directly on the screen. Saint Nicholas had a manly face with olive skin, a square chin and a broken nose. This was found out by the severely damaged bones between the eyes.

6. Where did the famous portrait come from, which is often passed off as a reconstruction of the face of St. Nicholas from the skull?

This image is not a skull reconstruction of the saint's face. It is taken from the project "Expectation" by the contemporary Russian artist Konstantin Khudyakov, which includes "psychological portraits-reconstructions of characters from sacred history."

According to the authors of the project, technically the portraits were created “by repeated layering on each other, mutual conversion and transformation of the smallest physiognomic fragments, digital multisampling and similar computer graphics techniques.”

7. Is it true that some facts of the biography of St. Nicholas were deliberately excluded from the life?

Alexander Bugaevsky in his hagiographic investigation “The Truth about St. Nicholas” writes that ancient sources mention a remarkable deed of St. Nicholas, excluded from the text of his life in the 10th century, the act of taxation.

In the 4th century, Lycia was brought to ruin and famine by an unjust tax. A tax collector sent from the capital, demanding money, constantly humiliated the people. The inhabitants asked their archbishop for intercession. Saint Nicholas went to Constantinople, and after his conversation with the emperor, the tax was reduced 100 times. This decision was recorded in a letter sealed with a golden seal.

But the archbishop knew that under the influence of dignitaries, Constantine could cancel his decree. The saint turned to God for help, and miraculously the imperial charter ended up in the Worlds on the same day and was made public. The next day, the emperor, succumbing to persuasion, tried to change the decree. When the saint said that the document had already been read out in the Worlds and, therefore, had come into force, they did not believe him: it was a six-day journey from Constantinople to Lycia. To test the words of the saint, they equipped the fastest ship.

Two weeks later, the envoys returned and confirmed that the Lycian tax collector had received the emperor's charter on the day it was signed.

And six centuries later, under Basil II, an imperial menology was created, and hagiographers did not include this episode in the biography of St. Nicholas, so that influential bishops could not use this example, unfavorable for the royal treasury, to reduce tax in their dioceses.

Another deed - about grain carriers - is also not included in the life. It tells about how St. Nicholas in again saved the Worlds from hunger. Past Lycia, on five ships, bread was brought from Egypt to Constantinople. And the saint persuaded the captain to ship some of the bread in the distressed Worlds. Since the grain carrier was imperial, Constantinople considered this act unacceptable.

8. Is it true that St. Nicholas stopped the hand of the executioner, saving the innocently condemned?

The oldest editions of manuscripts about St. Nicholas are kept in the libraries of Oxford and Vienna. They are dedicated to the Act of the Stratilates.

On icons and frescoes and in a painting by I. E. Repin, St. Nicholas is depicted stopping the hand of the executioner, although in reality the salvation of the condemned looked different.

The emperor sent soldiers to pacify the rebellion of the Taifals (one of the Visigothic tribes resettled in Phrygia from the Danube). On the way, because of a storm, the army stopped in the harbor of Andriak, and a quarrel broke out in the market between the soldiers and local residents. Archbishop Nicholas managed to appease everyone. And he invited the stratilates, the leaders of the warriors, to his place.

At that moment, the inhabitants of Mir came running with the news that the ruler had arrested three innocent citizens and ordered them to cut off their heads. The saint, together with the stratilates and other soldiers, hurries to the city. He is already at an advanced age, he is about 70 years old. And the road is four kilometers uphill. The ancient chronicle directly states that St. Nicholas was afraid of not having time to come to the rescue and save innocent people from death. And then the stratilates sent soldiers to delay the execution.

On the famous painting Repin's sword is already raised above the townspeople, when St. Nicholas appears and at the last second holds the executioner. But the ancient text says: the sword was drawn by the executioner. It is hard to imagine that the executioner stood for half an hour with a heavy sword raised above his head. He drew his sword and waited. The soldiers delayed the execution until the saint approached with stratilates and freed the innocent people.

9. How was it possible to determine the year of the saint's death from the Act of the Stratilates?

In parting, the saint blessed the soldiers, predicted victory for them in the upcoming battle with the Taifals, and they won. After defeating the rebels, the stratilates returned back to Lycia and came to Saint Nicholas for the second time - to thank him for his prayers, and the saint warned them that they would get into trouble, but should not despair, but should turn to God, and the Lord would save them.

All three commanders are historically famous personalities. One of them, Nepotianus, became consul in 336, the other in 338.

When the stratilates returned to Constantinople, they were greeted with honors, and then envious people slandered them and, according to a slander, they put them in prison. And then Nepotian remembered what St. Nicholas had said to the Stratilates in Lycia, and the soldiers began to pray heartily. The miraculous appearance of St. Nicholas to Constantine granted them freedom, and the emperor presented the stratilates with the belts of commanders of the highest rank. And they, with gifts from the emperor, went to St. Nicholas for the third time.

The ancient text "The Acts of the Stratilates" specifies that they lived for a month with St. Nicholas, became his spiritual children. On the next year they again - for the fourth time - went to St. Nicholas, but found him dead.

A year ago, Emperor Constantine himself sent them, and then Saint Nicholas was alive, and Constantine died in May 337. The day of the repose of the saint is known exactly: December 19, and the exact year of death was not mentioned in the texts of his lives. Our calendars indicate that St. Nicholas died around 345. And, as a rule, it is said that he was born in 280.

This seems very strange. Because according to the lives of St. Nicholas became a bishop before the Diocletian persecution. That is about 300 years. It turns out that he was elevated to such a high rank at the age of 20, and this is extremely unlikely. This means that St. Nicholas could not die in 345, in addition, in the ancient chronicle, Nepotian was never called a consul, which means that he was not yet in this rank. This means that the year 336 had not yet arrived by the time of their fourth visit to Mir. It turns out that St. Nicholas died in 334 or 335.

10. Is it true that the Greeks do not celebrate the transfer of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker?

A widespread opinion about the non-recognition by the Greek Church of the feast of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas is erroneous. In the modern Greek calendar, this event is celebrated on May 20.

This memory was included in the printed calendar thanks to the Monk Nikodim the Holy Mountaineer (1809), who discovered information about this holiday in a number of Athos manuscripts, translated the corresponding synaxaric legend from the Church Slavonic language, and himself wrote a service for the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas.

According to St. Nikodim, the relics were taken out of Mir Lycian on April 1, they made a stop at Fr. Zakynthos May 10, namely May 20 were brought to Bari.

One of the early manuscripts with an exact date, mentioning May 9 as the date of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas, is the Typicon of the Kryptoferratsky Monastery of 1300. The date of May 20 is recorded in a number of Byzantine manuscripts, the earliest known to us is the May Service Menaion of 1431 of the library of the Vatopedi Monastery No. 1145.