Fat. Laughing. Herding reindeer. The best response I suppose we might offer in return is, "Bah! Humbug!"
In Hudson for years now (on this day, now going into ten such years), the little congregation of Saint Herman's has attempted on a yearly basis to demonstrate and illustrate to the people of our town "Who is the REAL Saint Nicholas?" How successful has the effort been? God knows. But if we've reached even one, the effort has been worth it.
As I prepare for the Vesperal Liturgy for his Feast, I often go back to read from the many wonders that Saint Nicholas has worked. This year, a more recent account caught my attention, and I'll offer it to you as I found it.
In
the 1920’s, Russia was in turmoil. The
communists were overrunning not only the political operation of the country,
but in the process they were attempting to snuff out the church.
In
Kiev at that time, there lived an elderly widow who had one son and one
daughter. The woman dearly loved Saint
Nicholas, and in every instance when difficulty arose, she would go to the
church for whom he was patron and pray before his icon. She would always leave feeling consoled, her
suffering eased. Her son, after
completing his student work, became an officer of the city.
Now
the city government was being changed by the Communists. And as a show of force, they arrived and
arrested all former city officials, this young man amongst them. His sister, now beside herself, ran from
government agency to agency, but could find out nothing about her brother. The old woman instead ran to Saint
Nicholas. At the church, she prayed for
endless hours. When she returned to her
home, as always, she was consoled – the saintly bishop would help. While the daughter anguished over her lack of
progress, the mother sat and sipped some tea.
Early
the next morning, the son returned home.
Hungry, beaten, dirty, dead tired, he told of a large group of people
like him who were taken in an armed convoy of guards, leading them to the town
of Pechersk. There in that town was a
stadium of sorts where horses were raced, and beyond it, a grove with trenches
dug to defend Russia against the Swedes when Peter I was Czar. There, those taken were to be placed into the
trenches and shot.
The
son told the story that as they approached the stadium, a little old man came
from around a corner. He approached the
leader of the soldiers and asked, “Where are you taking them?” The commander said, “To Dukhonin’’s
headquarters,” which in the jargon of the time meant “to be executed”. He then said, “Go away, old man!” The old man left, but not before grabbing
this young man by the hand, and saying, “Let him go. I know him.”
Neither
the commander nor any of the guards even uttered a single word as the old man
led the youth away. Once out of sight of
the guards, the old man said, “Go home to your mother,” and the old man immediately
vanished.
The
old woman was overjoyed to see her son, and immediately set off to give thanks to Saint
Nicholas. The son was so very tired and
beaten that he wanted only to go to sleep, but the mother would have none of
that. She dragged him to the
church. While the boy may have been
there occasionally, he had little interest in anything there when he was
younger.
As
his mother led him into the church, she took him before the icon of Saint
Nicholas. The boy turned white and began
to shake. He could barely manage a
whisper to his mother. “Mother, dear,
this is the same old man who led me to freedom…”
As Orthodox Christians, we neither need nor want any of the corrupted views of this Blessed Saint! He is for all time a servant of the Living God, of Jesus Christ, and he has guarded and continues to guard those who run to him for help in times of trouble and need. They go to him asking healing, protection from storms, intervention before Christ to save from sins. They do not go asking for iPods, or Playstations, or bicycles. His wonders aid the spirit. They do not edify the desire for excess in a world overrun with excessiveness. The words we sing in his honor resound with this idea.
O who love Nicholas the Saintly,
O who serve Nicholas the Saintly,
Him will Nicholas receive,
And give help in time of need,
Holy Father Nicholas!
He who dwells in God's holy mansions
Is our help on the land and oceans.
He will guard us from all ills,
Keep us pure and free from sins,
Holy Father Nicholas!
Holy Saint, hearken to our prayer.
Let not life drive us to despair.
All our efforts shall not wane
Singing praises to your name:
Holy Father Nicholas!
Nicholas, tearfully we sinners
Beseech you in our fervent prayers.
Help us in our tribulations.
Comfort every Christian nation.
Holy Father Nicholas!
Ask these things of the blessed Saint. And like the old woman, believe that his love, which is an image of the love of Christ, can and will deliver us from whatever evil may beset us. Our battle is against evil, and not for "things".
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