Worlds is an ancient city that deserves attention thanks to Bishop Nicholas, who later became a saint and a miracle worker. Few have heard of the great hierarch. Today people come here to bow to the temple, where he once served, and to resemble the paths on which his feet set foot. This great Christian had an ardent faith, an unseemly love and jealousy of God. The Miracle Worker - that's what he is called, because it is hardly possible to count the number of miracles associated with the name of St. Nicholas ...
Glorious city
It is not known exactly when the Lycian Worlds were formed, but, based on some notes in the chronicles, we can presumably say that this is the fifth century. Today, a new Kasha-Fenike road has been laid through the city. In the area of Calais is 25 km away and is a glorious city. He is known for many events, one of them is the meeting of the Apostle Paul with his followers when he was heading to Rome. This happened in the year 60, during the time of early Christianity.
In the II century AD e. the city became a diocesan center. In 300 AD e. Bishop of Mira became Nikolai, a native of Patara, where he served until his death in 325. After his death, Bishop Nicholas Mir of the Lycians was soon recognized as a saint, since God glorified him with miraculous appearances in cancer. Now the city has become a place of pilgrimage for believers.
Worship of Relics and Attractions
In the church, named after St. Nicholas, the tomb is often worth a turn. This is due to the fact that pilgrims, bowing to the relics, make long desires. Although, according to the Orthodox tradition, it is not necessary for several minutes to stand by the crayfish, detaining others, it is enough to bow to the relics and mentally ask the saint for intercession and help.
Desires should not be selfish and selfish, by and large, the most important thing for a Christian is the salvation of the soul. All requests can be made in prayer at home, and for the crayfish with the relics, only ask not to forget the saint what was said in the cell prayer.
The glorious city of Lycian Worlds has many attractions. He is a member of the confederation of ancient Lycia. Located close to the sea. According to legend, at the harbor of the Andrak river, under the name Andriake, the Apostle Paul landed on the beach before setting off for Rome. Geographically, the city was located close to the modern Turkish town of Demre (Kale - Antalya Province).
Remnants of antiquity
The name of the city of Lycian Worlds comes from the word "myrrh" - the resin of incense. But there is another version: the city was called "Maura" and is of Etruscan origin. Translated, this means "the place of the Mother Goddess." But later it underwent phonetic changes, as a result of which the name “Worlds” came out. The ruins of the theater (Greco-Roman) and tombs carved into the rocks, the uniqueness of which lies in the fact that they are in elevated places, have been preserved from the ancient city. This is an ancient tradition of the peoples of Lycia. Thus, the dead must have the best opportunity to go to heaven.
Being a large city, the Worlds of Lycia from the time of Theodosius II was the capital of Lycia. In the III — II centuries BC e. she had the right to mint her own coins. Decline came in the 7th century. Then the city was destroyed during the Arab raids and flooded by the mud of the Miros River. The church also was repeatedly destroyed. She was especially defeated in 1034.
Monastery Formation
After the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomakh, together with his wife Zoe, gave instructions to build a fortress wall around the church and transformed it into a monastery. In May 1087, Italian merchants seized the relics that belonged to the shepherd and transported them to Bari. Here Nicholas the Wonderworker Mir Lycian was declared the patron saint of the city. According to legend, when the relics were discovered, the Italian monks felt the spicy smell of myrrh.
In 1863 the monastery was bought by Alexander II. Restoration work has begun. But they were soon stopped. Excavations were carried out in the monastery territory in 1963, as a result of which colored marble mosaics were discovered - the remains of wall painting.
Honoring the World of the Lycian Wonderworker Nicholas
For Christians, the city is of particular importance. And he owes this to the Orthodox St. Nicholas, the day of remembrance of which is celebrated on December 19. This is a great miracle worker, known for his quick intercession and patronage for children. Especially orphans traveling and sailors. To many, he appeared personally either for instruction or for help. Many stories are known about the miracles associated with the saint.
During his lifetime, the shepherd saved one girl from shameful marriage because of her father's debts. And soon her sisters. He threw a bag of gold coins out the window when it was night. A happy father was able to solve all pressing problems and save his daughters from marriage for the sake of money.
Many people have been healed from the crayfish of the saint. A known case of the pacification of a sea storm by Nicholas and rescue from the sinking of the ship.
In Russia, a story happened called “Standing Zoe”. It occurred during the Soviet era. But here Saint Nicholas Mir of the Lycians proved himself as a strict zealot for Orthodoxy.
Customs and Contemporaneity
In the Western tradition, St. Nicholas became the prototype for the creation of the fairytale hero Santa Claus. He is perceived as an intercessor for children to whom he brings gifts on Christmas night.
Of course, from the point of view of a believer, this blasphemy over the image of a saint who has become eccentric, lives in Lapland, makes commercials for Coca-Cola and wears a red jacket. And most tourists visiting the beaches of Antalya do not even suspect that they are only two hours away from the holy place where you can pray and ask for the most secret, and not a single request will be left without attention.
Little is left of the former holy city, because the modern travel industry leaves a powerful imprint on everything, turning even quiet places into a kind of Disneyland. Already on the outskirts of the temple, where Archbishop Mir Lycian Wonderworker once served, tourists are greeted by a large plastic Santa, recalling the New Year holidays. Already further, closer to the church, stands the figure of St. Nicholas the Divine, made in the canonical style.
Quiet and peaceful these places can be seen in the cold season. The church of the saint evokes a feeling of eternity. It is a pity that the relics of Nicholas the Ugodnik are in Bari.
An excursion to the Worlds is offered in every hotel on the coast. The cost will be 40-60 dollars. Most tours involve lunch and boat trips to Fr. Kekova to view the ancient ruins.
The personality of the saint
Nicholas himself was born in the city of Patara. His father and mother - Theophanes and Nonna - come from aristocrats. Nikolai's family was quite prosperous. But, despite the possibility of a luxurious existence, the saint's parents were adherents of a pious Christian life. Until they were very old, they had no children, and only through fervent prayers and the promise to devote a child to God did the Lord give them joy to be parents. In the baptism of a baby, they called Nikolai, which means from Greek - a conquering people.
According to legend, from the first days the baby fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays, refusing mother's milk. In adolescence, the future saint showed a special disposition and ability to science. He was not occupied with empty entertainments peculiar to peers. Everything evil and sinful was alien to him. Most of the time the young ascetic spent reading the Holy Scriptures and prayer.
After the death of his parents, Nikolai became the heir to a great fortune. However, it did not bring joy similar to that which is present in communion with God.
The priesthood
Having accepted the rank of priest, Saint Nicholas Mir of the Lycian Miracle Worker led an even more rigorous life of an ascetic. The archbishop wished to do his good deeds secretly, as commanded in the Gospel. From this act in the Christian world, a tradition went according to which children on Christmas morning find gifts secretly brought at night by Nikolai, who is called Santa Claus in the west.
Despite his high position, presbyter Nicholas remained a model of humility, love and meekness. The clothes of the Shepherd were simple, without any decorations. The saint’s food was lent, and he took it once a day. The shepherd did not refuse anyone help and advice. During the service of the saint, there was persecution of Christians. Nicholas, like many others, was tortured and imprisoned on the orders of Diocletian and Maximian.
Scientific approach
Radiological studies confirmed the presence on the relics of signs indicating that Saint Mir Lycian was for a long time in damp, cold ... And also during radiological studies of the remains of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (1953–1957) it was found that the iconographic image and portrait image coincide with the appearance reconstructed from the skull from the tomb in Bari. The growth of the miracle worker was 167 cm.
At a fairly advanced age (about 80 years), Nicholas the Wonderworker went to the Lord. According to the old style, this day fell on December 6th. And in a new way - this is 19. The Temple in the Worlds exists today, but the Turkish authorities allow to worship only once a year: December 19.