On May 9, the Orthodox Church celebrates the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as the memory of the Holy Prophet Isaiah. The day this year coincides with Maundy Thursday.
Today’s holiday is called the summer Nicholas Day in contrast to the winter Nicholas Day on December 6.
Saint Nicholas lived in the 4th century and served as bishop of the city of Myra in the Asia Minor region of Lycia (hence his nickname Mirlician). At the end of the 11th century, his relics were transferred from Myra, already conquered by the Seljuk Turks, to the city of Bari, Italy, where they are still kept today. Today we remember exactly the transfer of the saint’s relics to Bari.
Prophet Isaiah, one of the most famous Jewish prophets, was born in Jerusalem and lived in the 8th-7th century BC. He was married and had two sons. God called him in 738 to be a herald of His will before the people. In the preserved biblical book with descriptions of life and revelations received from God, Isaiah tells how he was called.
Once, when he was in the temple, he saw the Lord sitting on a high throne. The temple was bathed in a bright radiance of divine glory. Six-winged seraphim angels stood around the divine throne and sang: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory!”.
The time in which Isaiah lived was very difficult for the Jews. In their pursuit of earthly goods they often committed iniquities. The priests were unworthy people, the rulers were greedy and dishonest. They hypocritically served God, but were unjust and corrupt. That is why God allowed calamities and invasions of foreign nations to befall them.
Throughout the decades of his life, Prophet Isaiah denounced sinfulness, severely condemned idolatry, called for repentance and a return to faith in God. In times of obvious peril, he encouraged the people and held out the hope of redemption. Illuminated by the Holy Spirit, who announced the birth of the Redeemer from a Virgin, as well as His name “Emanuel”, which means “God is with us”.
#celebrate #memory #holy #prophet #Isaiah
