Yesterday, our parish celebrated St Nicholas’ feast day with an “in-person” visit from the saint and a distribution of stockings for the children. Sofie, our older daughter, was all about it. She was very eager to go up and speak to “St Nicholas,” and, having asked my permission, went and spoke to him. This was twice in four days that St Nicholas had visited her. We, of course, celebrated the saint’s feast day on Thursday morning with “gold” (gold-foiled-covered chocolate) coins in both daughters’ shoes. A cross and icon from Holy Dormition Monastery, and a gift of a Golden-book read-along CD and book.
With our family being sick, we were unable to go to the prayer services on Wednesday. So the girls kissed St Nicholas’ icon good night. (It’s a postcard that we’ve affixed to the wall next to our other icons.) And I prayed the akathist prayers to St Nicholas. I hated to miss such a wonderful occasion (our beloved deacon informed me that it was a joy-filled service), but sickness has just ravaged our family for the past couple of weeks, and has kept us from the Eucharist and from Vespers. Even so, we were not to be without the benefits of St Nicholas’ prayers.
Our priest and his wife had travelled to Bari several weeks ago and brought back myrrh which streams from the relics of St Nicholas. On Sunday, all present, Orthodox or not, were invited to come forward after the Liturgy and be anointed with the myrrh from St Nicholas’ bones. With Sofie and Delaina, I went forward with the prayer that St Nicholas’ intercessions would bring us healing from our physical ailments.
With great joy I am happy to share that I am as well as I’ve been for a couple of weeks. I’ve only a trace of the sniffles, and have much energy and joy.
St Nicholas, pray for us.
[...] fact, as I recollected on the last few weeks, I was brought again to the joy I have felt since being anointed with myrrh from St Nicholas’ relics. Ironically, I have had much over which to grieve (in varying degrees): the anniversaries of the [...]