December 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

In Eastern Orthodox liturgical practice, December 6 commemorates the feast day of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, one of the most beloved and venerated saints in the Orthodox Church.

The liturgical observance of St. Nicholas on December 6 (or November 19 on the Julian calendar, which some Orthodox Churches still follow) is a major feast. Services typically include Great Vespers on the evening of December 5, followed by Matins and the Divine Liturgy on December 6. Specific hymns, prayers, and readings appropriate to St. Nicholas are incorporated into these services, reflecting his life, virtues, and intercessory power. A polyeleos (a service of great mercy) is often chanted during Matins, and a festal homily or sermon is typically given.

Icons of St. Nicholas are especially prominent on this day, and the faithful venerate them with great reverence. Many Orthodox Christians attend church services, receive Holy Communion, and often engage in acts of charity in honor of the saint. Family gatherings and celebratory meals are common.

Saint Nicholas is considered the patron saint of many groups, including children, sailors, merchants, students, repentant thieves, and pawnbrokers. His feast day is therefore often a time for specific prayers and blessings related to these particular groups.

The commemoration is characterized by a spirit of thanksgiving for the saint's example of piety, generosity, and pastoral care. It serves as a reminder to Orthodox Christians to emulate his virtues and to seek his intercession before God.