Nicholas the Wonderworker is the most famous Christian saint who lived in the 4th century. For his kind heart and helping people, he was rewarded with special favors from the Lord. The saint became famous for the numerous miracles that are performed even after his death. On May 22, the Orthodox remembered the transfer of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker.
After his death, the saint was buried in the cathedral of the city of Myra in Lycia (now the Turkish Demre). For centuries, hundreds of thousands of Christians rushed to his relics. It was one of the largest pilgrimage centers. But after 700 years there was a threat of conquest by the Turks, who were Muslims. Merchants from the Italian city of Bari reached the Lycian World in order to protect the relics of the saint from possible desecration.
They broke a stone platform over the tomb of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and then the lid of the sarcophagus. And they were discouraged: the coffin was filled to the brim with peace - fragrant oil oozing from the remains of the saint. The merchants performed a small service and only after that they were taken to the ship and brought to Bari, where they rest to this day.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is prayed especially fervently in the Russian Church. The thing is that the Orthodox believe in his help. According to a long tradition, each saint has his own 'specialization'. Someone pray for the gift of children, someone for healing from illness, someone asks a certain heavenly protector for help in a new business. However, Nikolai Ugodnik does not have a definite 'direction': people turn to him for any reason. For example, this saint is considered the patron saint of sailors and travelers. He is also asked for a speedy recovery.
