Posted on 12/06/2006 6:05:19 PM PST by Pyro7480
From Myra
Pinging some special "suspects," who might be able to clue me in on the above ;-)
from www.goarch.org:
This Saint lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, and reposed in 330, As a young man, he desired to espouse the solitary life. He made a pilgrimage to the holy city Jerusalem, where he found a place to withdraw to devote himself to prayer. It was made known to him, however, that this was not the will of God for him, but that he should return to his homeland to be a cause of salvation for many. He returned to Myra, and was ordained bishop. He became known for his abundant mercy, providing for the poor and needy, and delivering those who had been unjustly accused. No less was he known for his zeal for the truth. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of the 318 Fathers at Nicaea in 325; upon hearing the blasphemies that Arius brazenly uttered against the Son of God, Saint Nicholas struck him on the face. Since the canons of the Church forbid the clergy to strike any man at all, his fellow bishops were in perplexity what disciplinary action was to be taken against this hierarch whom all revered. In the night our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady Theotokos appeared to certain of the bishops, informing them that no action was to be taken against him, since he had acted not out of passion, but extreme love and piety. The Dismissal Hymn for holy hierarchs, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock ... was written originally for Saint Nicholas. He is the patron of all travellers, and of sea-farers in particular; he is one of the best known and best loved Saints of all time.
Thank you very much!! I would guess you're Orthodox then. :)
The painting is called "St. Nicholas Saves Three Innocents from Death." The story is that +Nicholas, having restored order in Myra among a group of looting soldiers, was walking along with their general when he came upon the scene in the painting. Three innocent young men had been condemned to death by a evil, venal magistrate named Eustathios who was trying to ectort a bribe from the men or their families. When +Nicholas saw what was happening he grabbed the beheading sword and stopped the execution. Word spread fast and even the corrupt Eustathios came to see what had happened. +Nicholas demanded that he immediately clear the men or he would report him to the Emperor. He did, then Eustathios immediately fell to his knees, confessed his crime and begged the saint to forgive him, which he did.
You Latins, always coming to the Greeks for instruction and knowledge! :)
Hey, it takes a certain amount of humility for a man to admit he doesn't know something. ;-)
"Hey, it takes a certain amount of humility for a man to admit he doesn't know something. ;-)"
You're going to make an excellent priest, grasshopper!
What a wonderful historical account! Efharisto.
And thanks to you +St. Nicholas!
Ilya Yefimovich Repin - certainly a genius. How I wish I could have one of his works for Christmas...
http://experts.about.com/e/i/il/ilya_yefimovich_repin.htm
LOL! I was already picturing you as a cross between a Shaolin guru and a Greek elder. ;-)
"I was already picturing you as a cross between a Shaolin guru and a Greek elder. ;-)"
Hah! I'm more inclined to Theravada Buddhism and the Doctrines of the Elders (time out in Indo China, dontcha know). Some of their elders are really something!
As for the Greek part, well I do have a prayer rope and I do hang out in monasteries in the old country. But, alas, She Who Must Be Obeyed would never allow me to become a Geronda!
"Oh, by the way, check out my blog post:...."
You are too kind!
thanks for giving us that information/knowledge.
Life of Saint Nicholas the Bishop, from The Golden Legend compiled by Jacobus de Voragine
An Orthodox priest at Bari; the story of St. Nicholas' bones
Turkish Town Exchanges St. Nick for Santa (Former Myra, hometown of St. Nicholas)
St. Nicholas belongs in any reclamation of Christmas
Yes, There Really is a St. Nicholas !
Don't forget: St. Nicholas' Day is tomorrow [today] (get your shoes out!)
For more Repin paintings, many of which seem to have a religious or Ukrainian folk theme, see http://www.abcgallery.com/R/repin/repin.html
including perhaps my favorite, "The Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mahmoud IV."
Hint: they don't look like they are being as diplomatic as +Benedict.
Slava Ukrayini.
Thanks for the link, but ACK! to the pop-up ads with that page. My pop-up blocker didn't even catch them.
Sorry about that. I didn't even look.
"The Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mahmoud IV."
I've always gotten a kick out of that painting too!
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