Saint Nicholas, the Miracle Maker (Nikulden)

On December 6 the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors Saint Nicholas, the Miracle Maker (Nikulden). He is the patron saint of fishermen, sailors and bankers, as well as protector of the innocent, weak and oppressed.

On this day every Christian family in Bulgaria celebrates and the housewives prepare a fish meal – most often a carp dish. Nikola, Nikolay, Nikolina, Nenka, Nina, Neno, Nenka, Nina, Nino, Kolyo and others celebrate their name day on this date.

There are three temples in Sofia that bear the name of the saint. St. Nicholas of Myra, the Miracle Maker Church is in the city center opposite the Holy Metropolis of Sofia and here is placed the miraculous icon of the saint. Miraculously, it was unscathed after the devastating bombings of Sofia in World War II.

The second temple honoring the saint - St. Nicholas the Miracle Maker Church known also as the Russian church, is located in the heart of the capital. It was designed by a Russian architect in the Russian Revival Style. The grave of Archbishop Seraphim (Nikolay Sobolev) is in the crypt. As he was thought to be a Miracle Maker people visit the crypt praying for his miraculous help. The third temple bearing the name of the saint is located in Vrabnitsa quarter.