Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

About this event

Festal Orthros: 8:30 – 9:30 AM

Festal Divine Liturgy: 9:30 – 11:00 AM

The Orthodox Church commemorates St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, who lived in the time of St. Constantine the Great and reposed in 330. As a young man he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, hoping to devote himself to a life of solitary prayer. God called him instead to return home to Myra, where he was ordained bishop and became known for his abundant mercy to the poor and to those unjustly accused.

St. Nicholas was equally zealous for the truth. At the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325, he struck the heretic Arius for blaspheming the Son of God. When the bishops debated how to discipline him, Christ and the Theotokos appeared to them in a vision, saying he had acted out of love and piety. Patron of travelers and seafarers and the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus, he is one of the best-known and best-loved saints.

For more information on this feast, please visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese's Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra page .

Apolytikion of Nicholas the Wonderworker

Fourth Tone

A model of faith and the image of gentleness, the example of your life has shown you forth to your sheep-fold to be a master of temperance. You obtained thus through being lowly, gifts from on high, and riches through poverty. Nicholas, our father and priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

Kontakion of Nicholas the Wonderworker

Third Tone

Saintly One, (St. Nicholas) in Myra you proved yourself a priest; for in fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, venerable One, you laid down your life for your people and saved the innocent from death. For this you were sanctified as One learned in divine grace.