Commemoration of St. Nicholas, the Wonder-worker

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. He was a contemporary of the Emperor Constantine, and one of the participants in the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. He was known for his compassion and mercy, as well as his zeal for Orthodoxy. He is the patron of travelers, especially those at sea.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion in the 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.

The reading and Gospel for today reminds us as well about him. In the letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews (Hebrews 13:17-21), he reminds us to obey our leaders and submit to them, as they are from God. This reading reminds us of how St. Nicholas submitted to Orthodoxy, defending the faith against Arius. The Gospel likewise is the same (Luke 6:17-23), which is essentially the shorter form of the Beatitudes in Matthew. Jesus at the end of it tells us that those who suffer for His sake shall earn their reward, and we no doubt see in St. Nicholas as one who suffered for His sake, defending the faith against impiety and heresy.