Vespers for the Feast of Saint Nicholas was served on Thursday 5 December at St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town. It was also the name day of our priest Reverend Fr. Nikolaos.
In his address after the service His Eminence Archbishop Sergios thanked Father Nikolaos for always being there for everyone and for his incredible energy and enthusiasm in looking after his congregation. In response, Father Nikolaos recalled his first days as the parish priest here in Cape Town and how he and Presvetera Maria arrived with three little children. Now they are all grown up and soon there will be the patter of tiny feet in the church with the imminent arrival of their first grandchild!
Afterwards a cocktail party was held at the Church Hall to celebrate his Name Day followed by the service of the Holy Eucharist on Friday morning.
Saint Nicholas is an iconic saint who is revered and venerated by all the Christian churches as well as being a patron saint of Greece. He was also known as Saint Nicholas of Myra as he served as Bishop of Myra which is now part of modern-day Turkey. Because of the many miracles attributed to his incredible intercessions with God, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker.
Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need and his love and care for children. He is most famous in the Western world as the model for Santa Claus due in part to his reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of the poor who left them out for him. He is also known as Nikolaos of Bari, as in 1087, part of his relics were furtively translated to Bari in south eastern Italy and the remaining bones were taken to Venice.His relics still preserved in the church of San Nicola in Bari and up to the present day an oily substance, known as Manna di S. Nicola, which is highly valued for its medicinal powers, is said to flow from them.
Saint Nicholas is also the patron saint of sailors, as on many occasions after his death as well as during his lifetime, he miraculously assisted ships in distress and saved seafarers and so he became known as the protector of all who sail the seas. He was an extremely pious and ascetic person and literally lived his life in the service of God, always helping others in every way. Saint Nicholas reposed on 6 December 343AD and we commemorate him on this day.
Father Nikolaos, like his saint, has an incredible affinity with the children of our community which is evident by the large number of our youth of all ages who serve at the altar with him every Sunday.
By Pepe Sofianos