 19th century Russian icon St Nicholas Center Collection |
When Vladimir the Great brought Christianity to Kiev in AD 988, stories of Saint Nicholas came along, too. Nicholas is greatly revered in Russia as the protector of the weak from the strong, the oppressed from the oppressor, and the poor from the rich— he is the Russian champion of the disadvantaged.
Saint Nicholas is the Orthodox tradition's Wonder or Miracle Worker. As such he is Russia's most beloved saint; his icon often appearing on triptychs with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Numerous Russian cathedrals, monasteries, and churches have been dedicated to St. Nicholas. In villages, St. Nicholas was revered as merciful intercessor for working people. Merchants and others revere St. Nicholas the Miracle-worker as the patron of all who travel on land or sea, and have dedicated marketplace churches to him. Ship captains carry St. Nicholas icons on board ship. Long-haul truck drivers keep his icon on the dashboard, hoping for protection from accident. His icons have been prized gifts for weddings and birthdays. The beloved saint's name is also very popular for Russian boys.
 Archbishop gives St. Nicholas icon to ship captain at start of a round-the-world voyage, beginning in Vladivostok |
 St. Nicholas icon on Russian Grand Circle cruise ship MS Rossia Photo: Linda Garrison About.com Cruises |
Russian cosmonaut Sergey Volkov installed an icon of Saint Nicholas on the ISS (International Space Station) in November 2011. The ISS is a joint project of US NASA with the space agencies in Japan, Russia, Canada and Europe.
Proverbs like these reveal Nicholas' great popularity in Russia:
"Bring your tribulations to Nicholas the Merciful, and he will take them to the All-Merciful Savior."
"If anything happens to God, we've always got St. Nicholas."
"There is no icon like Nicholas."
 Festival of the Translation of the Relics, May 21st, Moscow Photo: Voices of Russia |
 Russian Military Dog Tag St Nicholas Center Collection |
As patron of farming and cattle and master of water, St. Nikola the Wonder-Worker is in many sayings. For example, "The winter Nikola will bring the horse to the stable. The spring Nikola will feed the horse." Peasants prayed to him in all situations; he assisted in any trouble. Mothers invoked Nicholas for safety when their sons went to war, before a wedding for a happy marriage, and at times of childbirth.
St. Nikola's winter day, December 6th or 19th, was believed to be the beginning of winter matchmaking. Legend had it that on this day St. Nicholas comes down from heaven and goes about the whole land, helping ordinary people. St. Nicholas Feast Day was the second most important holiday, only Easter was greater. It was believed that Nicholas held the keys to Heaven, opening the gates of Paradise and meeting those who had died. In the 1600 and 1700s letters to Saint Nicholas were placed in the hands of the deceased, requesting that their sins be forgiven.
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St. Nicholas Center Collection
In the name of St. Nicholas, more than 6,000 pilgrims make a three-day walk following an icon of St. Nicholas, from Kirov to the holy village of Velikoretsky. This June pilgrimage has taken place for the past six centuries, though during the Soviet era the numbers fell to a trickle. Since the Soviet Union's collapse, the Festival of St. Nicholas is again very popular. About 3,000 pilgrims completed the 50-mile walk within the designated three days. Others take longer to finish. A service of thanksgiving for the works of St. Nicholas the Miracle-maker is held at the end of the pilgrimage.
 3.2 meter bronze Saint Nicholas by sculptor Sergey Isakov on Tanfilyev Photo: www.nikola Used by permission |
The Foundation of St. Nicholas the Wonder-worker is installing monuments to him at various places along Russia's frontiers, because Saint Nicholas is patron of all travellers and, also, border guards. Bronze sculptures have already been placed in Anadyr, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Omsk, Batajsk, Elista, and Maikop.
One was installed in July 2007, on the Kurils' Tanfilyev island. The consecration service was led by a priest from Moscow, with officers and soldiers of the Coast Guard Federal Security Service, and representatives of the St. Nicholas Foundation. In 2005 an Orthodox chapel was built for border guards stationed on the otherwise uninhabited island.
Russian Folk Tale
Russia Gives Saint Nicholas Statue to Bari, Italy
Saint Nicholas Monuments 
Placed by the Foundation of Saint Nicholas Wonder-Worker and others
Icon, Lost and Found
Story of the St. Nicholas icon on Nikolskaya Tower, Moscow Kremlin
Link
Russian site devoted to St. Nicholas
Comprehensive site in Russian, web translators are a big help
SOURCES:
"6,000 Pilgrims March Behind Saint's Icon," The Times, London, June 8, 2001, News, p. 8.
"Monument to St. Nicholas the Wonder-worker to be erected on one of the Kurils disiputed islands," Interfax Religion, July 24, 2007
"Russian Orthodox saint statue erected on disputed island" Serbianna, July 26, 2007
"Santa Claus, AKA Nicholas," by Olg Bogdanova, Taday, December 19, 2007
