Worlds of Lycia - the site of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Worlds - the oldest city, worthy of attention due to Bishop Nicholas, who later became a saint and wonderworker. Few people have not heard of the great saint. Today they come here to bow to the temple where he once served, and to walk the paths that his feet have treaded. This great Christian had a burning faith, unfeigned love and jealousy for God. Miracle-worker - that's how it is called, because it is hardly possible to count the number of miracles connected with the name of St. Nicholas ...

Glorious city

It is not known exactly when the Lycian Worlds were formed, but, based on some entries in the chronicles, one can presumably say that this is the fifth century. Today a new road Kasha-Fenike is laid through the city. In the Calais area at 25 km and there is a nice city. He is known for many events, one of which is the meeting of the apostle Paul with his followers when he was on his way to Rome. This happened in the year 60, during the early Christianity.

In the II century BC. E. The city became a diocesan center. In the year 300 AD. E. Bishop of Myra became Nikolai, a native of Patara, where he served until his death in 325 AD. After the death, Bishop Nikolai Mir of Lycia was soon recognized as a saint, as God glorified him with marvelous phenomena in cancer. Now the city has become a place of pilgrimage for believers.

Worship relics and attractions

In a church named after St. Nicholas, a tomb often has a queue. This is due to the fact that pilgrims, bowing to relics, long make wishes. Although, according to the Orthodox tradition, it is not necessary to stand for several minutes at the crab, detaining others, enough to bow to the relics and mentally ask the saint for intercession and help.

Desires should not be selfish and self-serving, by and large, the most important thing for a Christian is the salvation of the soul. All requests can be made in prayer at home, and the crayfish with relics only ask not to forget the saint, as was said in the prayer of prayer.

The glorious city of Myra Lycian has many attractions. He is part of the confederation of ancient Lycia. It is located close to the sea. According to legend, near the harbor of the Andrá River, under the name of Andriaka, the apostle Paul came to the shore before heading to Rome. Territorially the city was located near the modern Turkish town of Demre (Calais - Antalya province).

The remains of antiquity

The name of the city of Myra of Lycia derives from the word "myrrh" - a pitch of incense. But there is another version: the city was named "Maura" and has an Etruscan origin. In translation, this means "the place of the Mother Goddess." But later it underwent phonetic changes, as a result of which the name Mira emerged. From the ancient city preserved the ruins of the theater (Greco-Roman) and tombs carved into the rocks, the uniqueness of which lies in the fact that they are in elevated places. This is an ancient tradition of the peoples of Lycia. Thus, the dead must have the best opportunity to get to heaven.

Being a large city, the Myra of Lycia since Feodosia II was the capital of Lycia. In the III-II centuries BC. E. She had the right to chasing her own coins. The decline came in the VII century. Then the city was destroyed by Arab raids and flooded with mud of the Miros River. The church has also been repeatedly destroyed. Especially strongly, she was defeated in 1034.

Formation of the monastery

After the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomakh together with his wife Zoe gave instructions to build a church wall around the church and transformed it into a monastery. In May 1087, Italian merchants took hold of the relics that belonged to the shepherd, and transported them to Bari. Here Nicholas the Wonderworker of the World of Lycia was declared the patron saint of the city. According to legend, when the relics were opened, the Italian monks sensed the spicy scent of myrrh.

In 1863 the monastery was bought by Alexander II. Work on restoration has begun. But soon they were stopped. In 1963, excavations were carried out on the monastery territory, as a result of which colored mosaics were found out of marble - the remains of wall painting.

Veneration of the World of Lycian Miracle-Worker Nicholas

For Christians, the city has a special meaning. And this he owes to the Orthodox Saint Nicholas, whose day of remembrance is celebrated on December 19. This is a great miracle worker, known for his swift intercession and protection for children. Especially orphans, traveling and sailors. To many, he was personally either for guidance or for help. There are a lot of stories about miracles connected with the saints.

Even in life, the shepherd saved one girl from a shameful marriage because of his father's debts. And soon her sisters. He threw a bag of gold coins out the window when it was night. The happy father was able to solve all the pressing problems and protect the daughters from marriage for the sake of money.

Many people were healed by the shrine of a saint. Known is the case of pacification of the sea storm by Nicholas and salvation from the sinking of the ship.

In Russia, there was a story called Zoya's Standing. It happened in the times of the USSR. But here St. Nicholas the World of Lycia proved to be a strict adherent of Orthodoxy.

Customs and modernity

In the Western tradition, Saint Nicholas became the prototype for the creation of the fairy-tale hero of Santa Claus. He is perceived as a defender of children, whom he brings gifts on the night of Christmas.

Of course, from the point of view of a believer, this is blasphemy over the image of a saint who has become eccentric, lives in Lapland, is removed in Coke advertising and wears a red jacket. And the majority of tourists who visit the beaches of Antalya do not even suspect that they are only two hours away from the holy place where you can pray and ask for the most intimate, and no one will be left without attention.

From the former holy city there is not much left, because modern tourism industry imposes a powerful imprint on everything, turning even quiet places into a kind of Disneyland. Already on the approaches to the temple, where once served as Archbishop of the World of Lycian Wonderworker, tourists are greeted by a large plastic Santa, recalling the New Year holidays. Already further, closer to the church, stands the figure of St. Nicholas of God, made in the canonical style.

Quiet and peaceful these places can be seen in the cold season. The church of the saint evokes the sensations of eternity. It is a pity that the relics of Nicholas the Savior are in Bari.

An excursion to the Worlds is offered at each hotel on the coast. The cost will be 40-60 dollars. Most tours involve lunch and boat trips to Fr. Kekova for viewing ancient ruins.

The person of the saint

Nicholas himself was born in the city of Patara. His father and mother - Theophanes and Nona - came from aristocrats. The family of Nicholas was well-off. But, despite the possibility of a luxurious existence, the saint's parents were adherents of the charitable Christian life. Until very old they had no children, and only thanks to the ardent prayers and the promise to dedicate the child to God did the Lord give them the joy of being parents. In the baptism of the baby, Nicholas was named, which means from the Greek - the conquering people.

According to legend, from the first days the infant fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays, refusing mother's milk. In adolescence the future saint showed a special disposition and ability to teach. He was not occupied with the empty entertainment peculiar to his peers. Everything evil and sinful was alien to him. Most of the time, the young ascetic spent reading Holy Scripture and praying.

After the death of his parents, Nikolai became the heir of a large fortune. However, it did not bring joy, like the one that is present when communicating with God.

Priesthood

Having accepted the rank of priest, St. Nicholas the World of Lycia, the Wonderworker conducted an even stricter life of the ascetic. His blessings the Archbishop wished to do secretly, as commanded in the Gospel. From this act in the Christian world, a tradition has followed, during which children on Christmas morning find gifts secretly brought at night by Nicholas, who in the west is called Santa Claus.

Despite the high office, the presbyter Nicholas remained a model of humility, love and meekness. The Shepherd's clothes were simple, without any ornaments. The food of the saint was lean, and he took it once a day. The shepherd did not refuse anyone any help or advice. During the time of the service of the prelate, persecutions were persecuted against Christians. Nicholas, like many others, was tortured and imprisoned on the orders of Diocletian and Maximian.

Scientific approach

Radiological studies confirmed the presence on the relics of signs indicating that the prelate Mir Likijskih was for a long time in damp, cold ... And also during radiological studies of the remains of the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker (1953-1957) it was found out that the iconographic image and portrait image coincide with the appearance , Reconstructed on the skull of the tomb in Bari. Growth miracle worker was 167 cm.

At a fairly old age (about 80 years), Nicholas the Wonderworker went to the Lord. According to the old style, this day fell on December 6. And in a new way - it's 19. The temple in the Worlds exists today, but the authorities of Turkey are allowed to perform services only once a year: on December 19.