Saint Nicholas of Mozhaysk, or Nikola of Mozhaysk (), is a Russian variation of the

Saint Nikolaus Saint Nicholas of Myra (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greek descent from the maritime city of Patara in Anatolia (in modern-day Antalya Province, Turkey) dur ...

traditions. According to the legend, during the 14th-century siege of

Mozhaysk MozhayskAlternative transliterations include ''Mozhaisk'', ''Mozhajsk'', ''Mozhaĭsk'', and ''Možajsk''. (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, town and the administrative center of Mozhaysky District, Moscow Oblast, Mozhaysky Distri ...

city by

Mongols Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, China ( Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family o ...

, 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. The motive became a popular plot for

Russian icons Russian icons represent a form of religious art that developed in Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodox Christianity after Kievan Rus' Christianization of Kievan Rus', adopted the faith from the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire in ...

and

high-relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...

Nicholas in Estonia

According to folklore researcher, Hele Bome, 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 of

Petseri Pechory (; Estonian and Seto: ') is a town and the administrative centre of Pechorsky District in the Pskov Oblast, Russia. Its population in the 2010 Census was 11,195, having fallen from 13,056 recorded in the 2002 Census and& ...

(near the Estonia-Russia border).

Moscow Kremlin

The icon of Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk was installed on the wall of

Nikolskaya Tower The following is a list of towers of the Moscow Kremlin. The Kremlin Wall is a defensive wall that surrounds the Moscow Kremlin, recognizable by the characteristic notches and its towers. The original walls were likely a simple wooden fence wit ...

above the Nikolsky Gate to

Moscow Kremlin The Moscow Kremlin (also the Kremlin) is a fortified complex in Moscow, Russia. Located in the centre of the country's capital city, the Moscow Kremlin comprises five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall along with the K ...

. The icon is dated to the end of 15th - beginning of 16th century. The Tower was exploded by retreating French during the

French invasion of Russia The French invasion of Russia, also known as the Russian campaign (), the Second Polish War, and in Russia as the Patriotic War of 1812 (), was initiated by Napoleon with the aim of compelling the Russian Empire to comply with the Continenta ...

in 1812. The top of the tower was completely destroyed but the icon was damaged only slightly. The icon was again damaged by artillery fire during the

October Revolution The October Revolution, also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution (in Historiography in the Soviet Union, Soviet historiography), October coup, Bolshevik coup, or Bolshevik revolution, was the second of Russian Revolution, two r ...

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. During the Soviet rule the icon was plastered over. It was uncovered and restored in 2010.

In popular culture

Mikola Mozhaiski is a character in the 1999 novel '' Enchantment'' by

Orson Scott Card Orson Scott Card (born August 24, 1951) is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. , he is the only person to have won a Hugo Award for Best Novel, Hugo Award and a Nebula Award for Best Novel, Nebula Award in List of joint ...

Gallery

File:Nikolskaya Tower, 1812.jpg, Nikolskaya Tower after French retreat, the top of the tower was destroyed but the icon survived File:Полуразрушенные Никольские ворота.jpg, Kremlin icon of Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk after the

in 1917 File:СВЯТИТЕЛЬ НИКОЛАЙ ЧУДОТВОРЕЦ (НИКОЛА МОЖАЙСКИЙ).jpg, Icon of Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, 16th-17th century File:СВЯТИТЕЛЬ НИКОЛАЙ ЧУДОТВОРЕЦ (НИКОЛА МОЖАЙСКИЙ), С ЖИТИЕМ.jpg, Icon "Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk and his Life" File:Nickola Mogayskiy.JPG, Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk with Saint martyrs

Catherine Katherine (), also spelled Catherine and Catherina, other variations, is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are popular in countries where large Christian populations exist, because of its associations with one of the earliest Ch ...

and Paraskevi File:S.Nicholas03 (17 c, Rublev's museum).jpg, Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, 17th century File:Saint Nicholas Icon Lubok.jpg, Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk,

lubok A ''lubok'' (plural ''lubki''; ) is a Russian popular print, characterized by simple graphics and narratives derived from literature, religious stories, and popular tales. ''Lubki'' prints were used as decoration in houses and inns. Early exampl ...

File:Икона Николы с верховья реки Пинеги.jpg, Icon of Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, 1894

References

{{Authority control Medieval Russian saints Saint Nicholas Mozhaysky Uyezd