Georgian Orthodox Church marks St Nicholas Day

The Georgian Orthodox Church is marking St Nicholas Day, commemorating the transfer of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to the Italian city of Bari.

St Nicholas was born in 257 AD in the city of Patara, in the ancient region of Lycia in Asia Minor. According to Church tradition, his parents, Theophanes and Nona, had long been unable to have children and were known for helping the poor and donating generously to those in need.

The Church teaches that Nicholas displayed signs of holiness and miraculous abilities from an early age. In 325 AD, he took part in the First Council of Nicaea, where bishops affirmed the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and opposed heretical teachings.

St Nicholas died at the age of 85 on 6 December 342 AD. He was buried in the cathedral of Myra, while his relics later became associated with myrrh and a fragrant oil believed by believers to possess healing properties.

His relics are now kept at the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in the Italian city of Bari.

The feast of St Nicholas is observed twice a year in Georgia - on 19 December, marking the saint’s feast day, and on 22 May, commemorating the transfer of his relics from Myra to Bari.