St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

"Human life is a fickle sea, a fleeting shadow, waters swayed by waves. And although the storm is terrible, swimming is dangerous, nevertheless, we swimmers sleep carelessly... Sorrows rise like waves, malice lurks like pitfalls.… If you see a storm, steer more skilfully, watch how you sail, do not sink your boat, overloading it either with wealth acquired through unrighteousness, or with the burden of passions." (St. Gregory the Theologian) Since ancient times, a seagoing vessel has served as a symbol of Christian life, sailing on the waves of a raging sea, where repentance is a ship, the fear of God is a pilot, and love is a divine harbor. The ship of the Church leads us safely to the eternal harbor through troubled waters. Under the sign of the cross of the silver boat, made by Vladimir Mikhailov, is the image of the heavenly patron saint of seafarers, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The icon of the saint stands on a victorious banner-sail, on the edges of which the golden tassels of the standard are symbols of spiritual triumph. A native of Patara, St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, devoted his life to the service of the Church from an early age, becoming the good helmsman of Christ's ship. When the bishop of Patara ordained Saint Nicholas to the priesthood, at the suggestion of the Holy Spirit, he turned to the people and prophetically said: "I see, brethren, a new sun rising above the earth, which is a merciful consolation for the sorrowful. Blessed is the flock that will be worthy to have him as its shepherd, for he will kindly guard the souls of those who have erred, nourish them in the pasture of piety, and be a merciful helper in troubles and sorrows." These words were later fulfilled and the saint became famous for great and glorious miracles. Many of the saint's miracles are connected with the sea ― once the ship on which Saint Nicholas sailed to Palestine to worship holy places was in danger from stormy waves. But when the saint prayed for salvation, the storm was tamed, and the ship arrived safely at its destination. Having fulfilled his vow in Palestine, the saint intended to leave for his homeland on the same ship, but the shipwrights, who promised to bring him to Lycia, deceived him and sent their ship in the other direction. Suddenly, at the prayer of St. Nicholas, a storm arose, and the ship, despite all the efforts of the sailors, drifted to the shores of Lycia. On another occasion, a ship on its way to the Lycian countries was caught by a violent storm that threatened shipwreck. The shipwrights, only by hearing about Saint Nicholas, as a helper to all the unfortunate on the waters, called Saint Nicholas, and he appeared on the ship himself, began to steer the rudder and forbade the wind to rage on the sea. In the akathist, St. Nicholas is called helping "traveling on the earth and floating on the sea," "the wonders of the abyss, poured out by God," "the quiet refuge of the afflicted," "the well-known storehouse of the drowning," "the good helmsman floating in the midst of the depths," "the troubles of the sea." They pray to him for peace, for pilgrims, sailors, travelers, for the strengthening and purity of the Orthodox faith... On the reverse side of the icon are the words of prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker: "The rule of faith and the image of meekness, abstinence of the teacher, reveal to your flock What is the Truth of things. For this reason, you have acquired high humility, rich in poverty, Father, Hierarch Nicholas, pray to Christ God, that our souls may be saved. O holy hierarch, thou hast appeared in the world, for having fulfilled the gospel of Christ, O Venerable One, thou hast laid down thy soul for thy people and saved the innocent from death. For this reason you were sanctified, as a great sacrament of God's grace."