Saint Nicholas of Mozhaysk
Saint Nikolai of Mozhaisk, or Mikola Mozhaiski, is a Russian variation of the Saint Nikolaus traditions.[1] According to the legend, during the 14th-century siege of Mozhaysk city by Mongols, the residents prayed to Saint Nicholas, who announced himself as a huge figure holding a sword in the right hand and the city of Mozhaisk on the palm of the left hand. After seeing such a frightful vision the Mongols retreated. The grateful citizen erected a wooden monument to Saint Nicholas as he was seen during his announcement.[2] The motive became a popular plot for Russian icons and high-reliefs.
Nicholas in Estonia
According to folklore researcher, Hele Bome,[3] Saint Nikolai of Mozhaisk is remembered in an icon sculpted in high-relief. This icon became most popular as a protective image, especially favored by Setu peoples, who sometimes venerate the icon with loaves of bread or cream, and who often seek blessings on their agriculture and cattle-raising. However the main role attributed to this figure is as a protector of the crops from the cold.
Some texts specifically describe the saint as a warrior-hero (e.g., a white-bearded man who stands on top of the monastery wall and can't be touched by enemy fire). The icon stands with a sword raised, which figures in the initial legends as Nikolai appeared to during a war time, but which is explained in other stories as the Saint threatening to strike an old woman who did not believe in him.
These legends may include events actually experienced in the life of the missionary
- REDIRECT Template:Interlanguage link
- This is a redirect from a page that was merged into another page. This redirect was kept in order to preserve this page's edit history after its content was merged into the target page's content. Please do not remove the tag that generates this text (unless the need to recreate content on this page has been demonstrated) nor delete this page. For more information follow the bold category link.
- For redirects with substantive page histories that did not result from page merges use {{R with history}} instead. of Petseri (near the Estonia-Russia border).
Moscow Kremlin
The icon of Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk was installed on the wall of Nikolskaya Tower above the Nikolsky Gate to Moscow Kremlin. The icon is dated to the end of 15th - beginning of 16th century.[4][5]
The Tower was exploded by retreating French during the French invasion of Russia in 1812. The top of the tower was completely destroyed but the icon was damaged only slightly.[4][5]
The icon was again damaged by artillery fire during the October Revolution in 1917. The gunshots destroyed the left hand (with the Mozhaisk cathedral) of the saint but the right hand with the sword was left intact. After this the icons of "Wounded Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk" appeared holding the sword with the right hand but with the left hand and the cathedral missing.[5]
During the Soviet rule the icon was plastered over. It was uncovered and restored in 2010.[4][6][7]
In popular culture
Mikola Mozhaiski is a character in the 1999 novel Enchantment by Orson Scott Card.
Gallery
-
Nikolskaya Tower, 1812.jpg
Nikolskaya Tower after French retreat, the top of the tower was destroyed but the icon survived
-
Полуразрушенные Никольские ворота.jpg
Kremlin icon of Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk after the October Revolution in 1917
-
СВЯТИТЕЛЬ НИКОЛАЙ ЧУДОТВОРЕЦ (НИКОЛА МОЖАЙСКИЙ).jpg
Icon of Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, 16th-17th century
-
СВЯТИТЕЛЬ НИКОЛАЙ ЧУДОТВОРЕЦ (НИКОЛА МОЖАЙСКИЙ), С ЖИТИЕМ.jpg
Icon "Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk and his Life"
-
S.Nicholas03 (17 c, Rublev's museum).jpg
Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, 17th century
-
Saint Nicholas Icon Lubok.jpg
Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, lubok
-
Икона Николы с верховья реки Пинеги.jpg
Icon of Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, 1894
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />- ↑ Dixon-Kennedy, Mike. Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic Myth and Legend. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1998.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol34/bome.pdf
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
