Many of you probably want to change your life, as well as the lives of loved ones for the better. Don't know how to do it? As you know, there are things that we cannot change, we need help from above. This article is dedicated to St. Nicholas (Mirlikiysky) the Wonderworker, beloved by believers.
This saint of God became famous among not only Orthodox, but also Catholics. Therefore, he is revered in many countries of the world. Christians can, with deep faith, read a prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker for 40 days or more, depending on the circumstances. Let's take a closer look at when and how long you can offer your petitions to the saint of God, whether you need to prepare and how to behave during prayer.
Brief information about St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas lived in the city of Mir in the 3rd century AD. He was a very pious and pious man. In adulthood, the Lord called him to serve the people, as well as perform miracles. It is thanks to the fact thatmany healings were witnessed, troubles were averted, the innocent were freed through the prayers of the saint to the Lord, people during his lifetime and at all times turned to him for help.
We can briefly cite three events that are mentioned in the life of a saint: the release of prisoners from prison, salvation from drowning at sea, the marriage of three daughters of a poor man.
That is why in the Orthodox tradition it is customary to pray to St. Nicholas for a safe journey, marriage and in case of any dangers.
How to pray
It is customary to pray in secret outside the church or in the temple, but not during divine services (with the exception of the prayer service and akathist to St. Nicholas). You need to have a canonical text in front of you that clearly reflects what you should ask from God and His saints. You should read the words very carefully, delve into their meaning, make them your prayer.
Only after reading it, you can formulate personal requests as your heart tells you. But at the same time, it is important to understand that everything is the will of the Lord. And the saint, by his intercession before God, will certainly arrange everything in a way that will be better not only for the one who prays. Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker, read for 40 days, can be perceived each time more tangible by the human heart, it can teach you to live exactly as you need.
How to understand prayers
Read the first line with the invocation of the name of the saint. It says that he is an "ambulance". It is advisable to pronounce these words with deep faith that he and youwill help soon. Further, we realize our sinfulness, and also repent of despondency. We must know that the Lord punishes us for our impious deeds and bad thoughts. For life to change for the better, we must change. The prayer ends with asking for mercy from God so that after death heavenly life will be given.
Thus, you can read the text of the prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker for 40 days and even more. Just before you commit to your plan, you should take seriously some of the rules listed below.
How to prepare
Preparation for long prayer is very important. You should go to the priest in the temple (preferably after confession), explain the whole situation to him and ask for blessings for prayers to Nicholas the Wonderworker. To read 40 days or not, you also need to find out from the priest. But usually experienced and pious ministers of the church do not give clear recommendations on the number of days. As much as you need, as much as you will pray.
After the blessing, you need to purchase a book of prayers behind a candle box or in an Orthodox bookstore if there is no canonical text at home. Reading should be standing or kneeling, turning to face the icon. If there is no image of the saint, then you can pray without it, the main thing is to understand who we are addressing.
Is it true that you need to read strictly 40 days?
Often from unchurched people you can hear that you need to read a prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker 40days strictly, no more, no less. But this myth should be dispelled, because God does not have timekeeping. Exception: reading the Ps alter over the deceased for 40 days. And you can and even need to pray all your life, but to whom, how much and how - a person must decide for himself or, which is better, with a confessor (father, who is chosen by believers as a spiritual mentor, leader in a pious life and in preparation for eternal life).
Read the prayer for as long as the priest advises you, or for life circumstances. Sometimes people, having received what they asked for, give up prayer without thanking either God or the saint. You can't do that. So don't forget to be grateful. But it should not be material, but spiritual - unwillingness to return to a sinful life, careful attitude to what the Lord has sent.
Miraculous help of St. Nicholas to his contemporaries
You can cite a story that happened in Perm in 2009. Probably, many residents of the city remember the “enraged bus”, whose brakes did not work, but the transport was able to finish its fateful journey right in front of the monument to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Then the event was without casu alties. Even atheists agreed that a miracle happened.
Not every person who has received what they ask will confirm that the prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker is read for 40 days. The reviews make it clear that everyone has their own deadlines for fulfilling the petition: someone prayed for only one second, and someone for about five years. What is important here is not the number of days and months, but the presence of deep faith andhope that the Lord and His saints are listening will surely help.
How will the fate of the one praying change
If a person tries to correct his life, not to sin, as God requires, then everything will change dramatically. Of course, troubles can continue with God's permission, but it is very important that the person himself becomes spiritually purer, kinder, more sincere. Prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker, changing fate (40 days), is just a myth that may not correspond to reality. After all, Orthodox prayer is not a spell or a mantra, here you need to change yourself, and not try to rebuild events.
It is the sincere intention to change for the sake of the Lord, the desire to pray to St. Nicholas as if to a close friend, that will help to ensure that prayer is without counting. Often, changes in people come imperceptibly, only after months and years a person realizes that all desires have been fulfilled, all prayers have been answered.
When the request comes true
As mentioned earlier, a prayer is read to Nicholas the Wonderworker for 40 days or more / less, depending on the situation. It is not recommended to predict the exact timing of the execution of the application (except for events that must occur exactly on time, for example, the defense of a diploma with "excellent").
Often, those who do not seek to get what they want soon, very quickly come to consolation, as prayers have already been answered. And those who want to gain something from that hour have to pray for a very long time.
The Holy Fathers answer the question about the durationprayers like this: "A long prayer tests you, so you yourself will understand whether you really need what you are asking for or not."
And if the request is not fulfilled within 40 days?
Unfortunately, it also happens that a believer knows that what is desired does not have to happen within forty days. But deep down, he hopes for a miracle. About the prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker for 40 days, the reviews say that such terms can not always be. To be more precise, many lose count and do not know how long they prayed, since the act of communication with God and the saints is important for them.
Sometimes people ask how many times a day to read. It should be remembered that prayer is not a pill prescribed by a doctor. As much as your heart desires, so much can be read during the day. But attention to prayer and sincerity are important.
What to do if you missed one or more days
It is worth dispelling another myth related to prayers to St. Nicholas: if one day is missed, then you need to start the countdown again. In fact, all this is not so. Indeed, in life a person may have different circumstances under which he will not be able to devote time to prayer. The Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos and all heavenly powers do not need our reports on the work done in the form of dates and numbers, what is important for them is that we are changing, growing stronger in faith, striving for salvation. After all, this is what is said in the prayer to the saint beloved by many.
You have learned that it is not always necessary to read a prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for 40 days. But if there are anydoubt, we recommend that you contact an experienced priest or bishop. In addition, reading a prayer for more than one month will be unbearable for some people for one reason or another. And a spiritually prepared Christian is likely to want to continue even after receiving what is asked for. It is only important to remember what the Lord says in the Gospel: "Ask, and it will be given to you" (Gospel of Matthew 7, 7).
