Life
Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra, was born in the city of Patara in Lycia (present-day Turkey) in the third century, into a noble and devout family. His parents, Theophanes and Nona, had long been childless; when Nicholas was born, they consecrated him to God. From his earliest years he displayed exceptional piety — according to tradition, he fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays even as an infant.
After the death of his parents, Nicholas inherited considerable wealth, which he distributed entirely to the poor. The most celebrated story tells of three sisters whose father, in desperation to escape poverty, was preparing to sell them into disgrace. For three successive nights Nicholas threw bags of gold through the window of their home, securing a dowry for each girl and saving them from ruin.
He was ordained a priest and later elected Archbishop of the city of Myra in Lycia. As bishop he was a prominent voice at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325, where, according to tradition, he forcefully confronted the heretic Arius. During the persecutions of Diocletian he was imprisoned but never wavered in his faith.
Tradition preserves many wonders attributed to him: he appeared in a dream to Emperor Constantine to save three unjustly condemned officers, calmed storms at sea for sailors, restored dead children to life, and aided the poor and forsaken. He reposed in deep old age around 343. After the Turkish invasions his relics were transferred to Bari, Italy, in 1087, where they continue to exude holy myrrh to this day.
Saint Nicholas is venerated as the protector of sailors, travelers, children, and the poor. In Serbia his feast — Nikoljdan — is the most popular patron-feast (slava) celebrated by Serbian families.
Tropar (Tone 4)
A rule of faith and an image of meekness, a teacher of temperance hast thou appeared to thy flock — the very embodiment of truth. Therefore thou hast achieved the heights through humility, riches through poverty. O Father, Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion (Tone 3)
In Myra, O saint, thou wast revealed as a true minister of God; for having fulfilled the Gospel of Christ, thou didst lay down thy soul for thy people and didst deliver the innocent from death. Wherefore thou art sanctified as a great initiate into the grace of God.
About the Feast
Nikoljdan is the most popular patron feast in Serbia — approximately one in five Serbian families celebrates it. It falls on December 19 by the New (Gregorian) calendar, corresponding to December 6 by the Old (Julian) calendar.
Because Nikoljdan falls within the Nativity Fast, the feast-day table is entirely meatless. Pride of place belongs to the slava bread (slavski kolač) and the slava wheat (koljivo). Fish is traditionally served since Saint Nicholas’s day is not a strict fast day within the Nativity Fast — fish has long been permitted. Other customary dishes include prebranac (baked beans), Lenten stuffed cabbage (posne sarme), and pickled-cabbage salads.
Customs include the lighting of the slava candle, the cutting of the feast bread (done by the priest or the senior male of the household), the reading of the saint’s life, and visits to relatives and friends. The host of the feast is bound by honor to receive guests throughout the entire day.
In Serbian folk tradition, Saint Nicholas is said to hold the key to the sea and to open it on his feast day. A popular saying goes, “Saint Nicholas — half winter, half summer,” marking his feast as a midpoint between autumn and the depths of winter.