Biography of St. Nicholas of Bari, history of the patron saint of promised wives and sailors, when the defender of the weak elected bishop of Myra in Turkey is celebrated, a church dedicated to him near Bari.
Biography San Nicola di Bari
San Nicola di Bari, also known as San Nicola di Mira, was a Turkish bishop who was entrusted with the diocese of Myra, the Anatolian city of Turkey. He is highly revered as a saint by the Catholic Church, as well as by the Orthodox and other Christian denominations.
He was born around the year 270 in Patara di Licia in a wealthy family of Christian faith, he was an orphan of both parents when he was still a child, the inherited heritage used it to help the most needy.
A legend tells that Nicola, having heard of a wealthy man who fell out of favor who, unable to pay the expenses to give a decent marriage to the three daughters, wanted to start them at prostitution, made sure to throw a large amount of money into the house of the man for three consecutive nights, to allow his girls to have the right dowry to get married.
Another traditional story tells the story of the miracle of the resurrection of three children that a bad butcher had killed and put in salt to sell their meat, hence the name of protector of children.
Subsequently, after leaving his hometown, he settled in Myra, where he was first ordained a priest and, after the death of his predecessor, a new bishop.
Nicola also did some good works towards his fellow citizens, obtaining supplies during a serious economic crisis and a sharp reduction in the taxes to be paid to the Emperor.
He died in Myra on December 6, 343, probably in the monastery of Zion, tradition attributes many miracles to him both in life and in death.
His remains were preserved with great devotion, by the faithful, in the cathedral of Myra until 1087, after they were transferred to Bari for the work of an expedition made up of 62 sailors, including two priests, on board 3 ships .
The relics were deposited first in the Benedictine church, today the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, later in the new church built specifically and dedicated to San Nicola.
Feast of St. Nicholas of Bari
Since then San Nicola has become the patron saint of Bari, is celebrated twice during the year, on December 6, the day of his death, and on May 9, the arrival date of his remains.
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The celebrations of 9 May evoke the medieval era with a procession that, uniting the sacred and the profane, includes a few dozen costumed characters, including musicians and flag-wavers, who accompany the relics of San Nicola through the streets of the historic center of Bari. to the Cathedral.
To this are added various folklore shows with hundreds of performers.
