Rejoice blameless provider for three
maidens;
Rejoice fervent guardian of purity.
Rejoice hope of the hopeless;
Rejoice delight of the whole world.
From the Akathist to St. Nicholas the
Wonderworker (Ikos 5)
Probably all of us could tell some
story about miraculous help we’ve received in our lives from St. Nicholas the
Wonderworker. He is truly a great intercessor and pleaser of God, who helps
people in all different situations.
I was fortunate to hear first-hand
one story of help from the extraordinary God-pleaser, similar to the famous
story of how he helped a father with three daughters when he “gave maidens
three cold coins in a wrapper and thus delivered them from a sinful fall.”
In the 1990s, times of stagnation and
lawlessness, the father of one family fell seriously ill. He was taken to the
hospital, but the doctors warned them ahead of time that they would take him,
but the family would have to bring the medicine, because they had absolutely
nothing there to give to him. At that moment only the two young daughters were
living at home. Their mother had left for another country to work so that the
family could at least be fed, because they had been left during those years
with practically nothing to live on.
The situation became
threatening—their father was getting worse by the day. Finally, the doctor
warned them that their father was dying, and if the daughters could not bring
the necessary medicine his days would be numbered. A sum was needed that was
large for those days, and the daughters simply didn’t have it. Their mother was
far away, and they were able to reach her only by letters, and who knows when
they would arrive. The poor daughters asked everyone they knew for a loan, but
they didn’t manage to find any money.
The girls were desperate. Then they
happened to learn that there were buses coming from Greece, and for one night
with a driver they could receive exactly the sum they needed to save their
father. When they heard that their father’s life was hanging on hours, out of
desperation they decided to sacrifice their honor in order to save their
ardently beloved father. They took with them a girlfriend who was to take the
money up front and leave with it in order to avoid being defrauded, and went to
the stop where the drivers were supposed to arrive. But no buses came, not that
day nor the next. (As they found out later, there was a break down on the road
and the buses arrived very late.) When they returned home their friend, a
religious girl, said:
“I prayed very hard to St. Nicholas
to keep that from happening!”
“What have you done? What will happen
to our father?!” they replied.
The girls didn’t go to the hospital
because they were afraid to hear bad news, but went home instead. And there it
turns out that a distant relative had arrived after learning about their
father’s condition, and was ready to give them the money they needed. Beyond
themselves with joy, the girls bought the medicine and ran to the hospital in
time to save their father. That relative then helped them with a car to take
their father home. That is how the merciful God-pleaser kept the girls from
committing an irreversible act, and saved them from that terrible sacrifice.
***
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker helps
even without medicine. One day, when I was just beginning to enter into church
life, I felt very bad. There were no medicines at home, and we had no mobile
phones then to call friends or family—so as my last hope I called out with
faith to St. Nicholas, to whom I’d never turned before for help: “St. Nicholas
the Wonderworker, help me!” That very moment, just as I said it, my condition
took a sharp turn for the better, as if I had taken a fast-working, effective
medicine. It was just amazing! I will always remember the time and place where
this happened.
This was my first experience of
turning to that great saint in times of trouble. Later I would turn to him many
times and always receive help.
One day, when I was seriously ill but
didn’t have the means to get medical care, we began to pray to St. Nicholas the
Wonderworker—and the saint did not put us to shame. My husband found a large
bill on a busy street. No one was searching for money. My husband stood there
asking people whether they had lost any money, but he couldn’t find the owner,
so he went home. My doctor visit cost exactly what my husband had found. We
were able to pay the doctor with that very bill.
Recently I again had recourse to this
amazing God-pleaser’s help. I had to go to another city. Because of the
pandemic I didn’t want to risk riding a packed bus, and we couldn’t afford a
taxi. Hoping in God’s help, I went to church and asked St. Nicholas the
Wonderworker. I hadn’t even gotten home before my son cheered me up, telling me
that the husband of our acquaintance was driving to that city and he could take
me. The trip that usually takes six hours we finished in four, and were not
tired at all. And as it turns out, the driver’s name was Nicholai! Upon arrival
we went to church to thank the saint for his speedy help.
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, “most
glorious intercessor in troubles, and great protector in misfortunes,” help us
always in our needs and sorrows, and do not leave us bereft of your merciful
aid!
Irina Krikheli
Pravoslavie.ru
12/19/2021
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