Prologue in Sermons: May 9

The Holy Servants of God Show Special Love and Mercy To Those Who Honor Their Holy Memory

May 9

(The Miracle of Saint Nicholas and the Carpet)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

All of us, brethren, know that the holy servants of God, being especially close to God, do not cease, even after their departure into the heavenly world, to intercede for us before God and to ask grace and mercy for us all. Enlightened by the light of the face of God, the saints of God see us and know what feelings and desires we have toward them. Therefore, without doubt, they become loving protectors, defenders, and helpers especially to those among us who cherish a special love for them, who pray to them with special zeal, and who honor the days of their commemoration. This is not difficult to prove by examples, for there are many such examples in the lives of the saints. Let us take one such example for our instruction.

There lived in Constantinople a certain pious craftsman named Nicholas, who had a fervent love for Saint Nicholas and always honored his feast days with special devotion. When old age came upon this man, and he was no longer able to work, he fell into poverty. Once, during this period of his life, as the feast of the Saint approached, Nicholas became deeply troubled: how would he celebrate the feast? He shared his sorrow with his wife, and she answered him:

“You know, my master, that we are both old and near death. Why should we not, perhaps for the last time, honor the memory of the Saint? I have a carpet — what use is it to us? Go, sell it, and buy what is needed for the feast.”

Nicholas rejoiced at his wife’s suggestion, took the carpet, and went with it to the marketplace. There he met an unknown old man who asked him:

“Where are you going, my friend?”

“To the market,” Nicholas answered. “I need to sell this carpet.”

The old man said:

“And what price would you like for it?”

“It used to be worth eight gold coins,” Nicholas said, “but now I will take whatever you give.”

“Will you take six gold coins?” said the old man.

Nicholas gladly agreed, for the carpet was not worth that much. He took the gold, gave the carpet to the old man, and they parted. But before Nicholas had even managed to return home, the unknown old man who bought the carpet came to his wife and, giving her the carpet, said:

“Your husband, an old friend of mine, asked me to bring this carpet to you. Take it.”

And with these words, after handing over the carpet, the stranger disappeared. The wife, thinking that her husband had regretted selling the carpet, became very angry with Nicholas. And when he returned, she showered him with reproaches and, showing him the carpet, called him a liar and a betrayer of Saint Nicholas. But when the husband saw the carpet in his wife’s hands, he was so astonished that he could not answer her. At last, when he recovered himself somewhat, a thought flashed through his mind: could this be a miracle of the Saint? Then, lifting up his hands to heaven, he cried out:

“Glory to You, O Christ God, Who works wonders through Your wondrous Nicholas!”

After this he turned to his wife and asked:

“Tell me, who brought you the carpet?”

The wife answered:

“A dignified old man, clothed in bright garments, brought the carpet to me and said that you had ordered him to bring it here. I did not dare ask who he was.”

Then the husband showed his wife the gold remaining from the sale of the carpet, as well as the food, wine, prosphora, and candles he had bought for the feast of the Saint, and said:

“As the Lord lives, I believe that the one who bought the carpet from me was none other than Saint Nicholas himself. For when I was selling him the carpet, no one standing near me saw him, and they thought I was speaking with an apparition.”

Then the wife also understood that the servant of God had worked a miracle for them, and together they thanked and glorified the Saint with one mouth.

Thus, brethren, it is beyond doubt that the saints see us and know what feelings we have toward them. And surely they repay love with love and return a hundredfold whatever good deed we do out of love for them, especially on the days of their commemoration — for example, if we bring an offering to the church or help the poor. All this teaches us to turn to the saints in prayer, to cherish warm feelings of love toward them, to honor their feast days, and to imitate their virtues.

Let us bless the Lord, Who has given us in them great intercessors, defenders, and helpers, and let us remember that they are always ready to ask God for grace and mercy for us all, especially for those who love and honor them. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.