Does anyone in Poland not know Santa Claus or rather Saint Nicholas? While it may seem absurd, the answer is yes. More and more people, and among the little ones probably even most do not know who he really was the one that December 6 each year bestows gifts. Today, Saint Nicholas is associated with a hearty, red-nose dwarf from cold Lapland. His red outfit and characteristic hat is at all associated with the episcopal dignity. Instead crosier in his hand holds a bag full of gifts and goodies. Commercialization and paganization of life created such an image of one of once the most popular and most venerated saints. This is not a real picture.
Saint Nicholas, who later became Bishop of Myra (now Demre) was born in Patara in Lycia (in modern Turkey) about 270 AC. He was the only child of wealthy parents who fervently ask God for offspring. From an early age Nicholas was distinguished by piety. He was also very sensitive to the misfortunes of others. In addition, proved to be very diligent and capable student. High impact on his upbringing and spirituality had his uncle, the bishop of Myra, who o ordained our saint a priest.
Generous miracle worker - a zealous defender of the faith as the parents had a considerable fortune, so after the death of our holy willingly shared it with those in need. As a citizen of Patara had lost their possessions, and his three daughters risked going down the wrong path, Nicholas took a pouch of gold and threw it out the window into the house of the man. The eldest daughter married so that married. Just made it to two other girls. That is why St. Nicholas is often depicted in paintings with three bellows or three gold balls.
When he was elected Bishop of Myra, won the hearts of the faithful, not only pastoral zeal, but also a great concern for their material needs. The good and the miracles which he did, confer him even greater glory. When Emperor Constantine I the Great sentenced three young men from Mira to death for some, in fact, very serious offense, St. Nicholas went in person to Constantinople to beg pardon for their faithful. Another time, Nicholas led hot piety and devotion to the Passion of Christ decided to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. During the voyage the pilgrims surprised by a great storm. It seemed that the ship will sink. The sailors began to ask Santa for intercession to God. Santa Claus rolled his eyes, the storm quieted, and the ship was saved. When he fell from a bridge sailor, Nicholas invoking the name of God hath raised him from the dead. These events have made St. Nicholas is also worshiped as the patron saint of sailors.
Guided by God's grace during the plague that hit his hand also, ministered infected with the risk of their own lives. Tradition has it that the holy bishop of Myra raised three young men killed in anger by the Proprietor for the fact that they do not have paid debts. Was consumed by concern for the salvation of the souls of sinners. Many thieves led to repentance and amendment of life, and to return the seized valuables. St. Gregory the Great in the womb St. Nicholas says that in the time of persecution, which erupted for the emperors Diocletian and Maximian our saint was imprisoned (some sources say he was expelled). Has just been released by the Edict of Milan in 313 Twelve years later St. Nicholas attended the first Ecumenical Council of Nice, which was condemned Arianism. Nicholas had then slap the heretic Arius. Among the saints After long years of the blessed and holy life governments Bishop Nicholas went on a well-deserved reward for his Father's house on December 6 probably in 346 (although some sources say the interval between the years 345 and 352). Body of the saint was buried in Myra, where he lay until 9 May 1087, the same year, was transported to the Italian city of Bari. September 29, 1089, Pope Bl. Urban II consecrated his tomb in the Basilica issued in his honor. To this day, twice a year - May 9 and December 6 - Bari is celebrated in honor of St. ceremony. Nicholas. The first is in memory of Myra bring his relics, the second - on the day of his death.
Santa Claus has not ceased to work miracles even after his death. According to St. John Chrysostom from the bones of St. smelling liquid was coming out with medicinal properties, called "manna". Bishop of Myra began to receive due honor to the saints after death, but the oldest traces of his cult encounter until the sixth century, when Emperor Justinian issued in Constantinople in honor of one of the most sacred basilicas. In Rome St. Nicholas had two temples, issued as early as the ninth century. Pope St. Nicholas I the Great founded in honor of its patron, the Lateran separate chapel. Throughout the Christian world, the holy Bishop of Mira had so many temples that a medieval writer wrote: "If I had a thousand mouths and a thousand tongues, I would not be able to count all the churches built in his honor." It is worth noting that in the thirteenth century came the custom of handing out at school under the patronage of St. Nicholas scholarships and allowances. With time in Poland - as well as around the world - spread custom of giving children gifts or just holiday (December 6), or "the star". St. Nicholas was revered in Poland as well as the guardian of shepherds, the flock protection against predatory animals. That's why every December 5th shepherds fasted, and same day Santa Claus ordered a mass in the intention of caring for pets.
St. In the iconography of Santa Claus In the iconography of St. Santa Claus is shown dressed as bishop of the Latin rite, or Greek. Sometimes it is depicted as: a young man wrzucający three golden balls in a window of three poor girls, restoring life to man wrongly powieszonemu, rescuing survivors from the wreck of the ship; reviving three children, a baby praising God. Its attributes include: an angel with a miter, bread, three golden balls on paper or in your hand, crozier, book, anchor, three purses, ship, bag of gifts. Special worship is surrounded in Bari, Monserrat and Russia. He is also a patron saint of Greece, Antwerp, Berlin, Mira, Moscow, Novgorod, coopers, bakers, children, rafters, prisoners, merchants, sailors, millers, notaries, brides, bakers, pilgrims, brewers, travelers, fishermen, judges, students, prisoners, sailors.
*** This is the true story of Santa Claus. Zealous pastor, generous to the needy. Bishop with a good heart and a hard attitude of the error. Holding not only the "pouch of gold," but the crosier. And - last but not least - originating from Asia Minor, not cold, lying above the Arctic Circle Lapland.
This material by Boguslaw Fen was taken from the PiotrSkarga.pl Children's drawings, the work: "My favorite fun winter" Damian 7 years At the last meeting children prepared drawings of winter. Feel free to watch wszytkich share. 'Sledge' Alan 4 years 'Ski' Milena 'Scooter' 'Alan 4 years 'Skates' Milena Ada 3 years Mary 5 years 'Snowman' Bartek 4 years
Rysunki dzieci, temat pracy: "Moje ulubione zabawy zima"
Damian lat 7
Na ostatnie spotkanie dzieci przygotowaly rysunki zimowe. Zapraszam do ogladania wszytkich dziel.