Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
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.
Stewardship Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese invites parish leadership of the New York District and the New Jersey Metropolis to the first in a six-part online/zoom series to help you and your parish leaders create a culture of true Christian stewardship. Learn empirically proven strategies to better engage parishioners and increase stewardship results.
Rev. Protopresbyter John D. Protopapas was born in Pano Zodhia, Cyprus on December 12, 1926 to Demetrios Protopapas and Panagiota Katsaris, and was dedicated to the church on January 23, 1927, which then became his official birth date. His father was the Protopsaltis of the village and taught him Byzantine music at an early age.
The Department of Greek Education presents the Hagia Sophia Art Contest for children ages 6-14. The deadline is December 31st, 2020 and features cash prizes for first, second, and third place.
As it does every year, Thanksgiving comes and goes quickly. We spend a few hours trying to feel grateful, but then start looking for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals so we can buy more stuff. If gratitude is nothing but a feeling that lasts a few hours, are we doing something wrong? Maybe we're approaching thanksgiving the wrong way. Maybe we spend too much time focused on the “thanks,” and not enough on the “giving.”