In the Church of Saint Nicholas in the Old Town of Kotor, today on the feast of the Transfer of the Relics of the Holy Father Nicholas, the glory of this Holy Temple was celebrated and the Holy Liturgy was served.
During the transfer of the relics of Saint Nicholas, many miracles occurred, both from touching the relics and from the peace that flowed abundantly from them, and they still occur today.
On this day, the miracle is also remembered when Saint Nicholas restored sight to the blind Serbian king Stefan Dečani.
The transfer of the relics of Saint Nicholas of Myra took place in 1087.
The rector of the Cetinje Theological Seminary, Archpriest Blagoje Rajković, said in his sermon that today we celebrate one of the greatest and most revered saints, not only in our nation but also in the entire world, that is, not only in Orthodoxy but also in general, in all of Christianity.
“From the beginning of the Church of Christ, from the preaching of the holy apostles, to the present day, many have believed in the Resurrection of Christ and become members of the Church. They lived with their God-pleasing deeds, they pleased God and achieved salvation to be in the Kingdom of Heaven. However, not all people who believed in God, who were Christians, were equally successful in this feat of theirs,” said Fr. Blagoje, emphasizing the importance of the Holy Father Nicholas for the spread of Christianity in the East and the West, where his holy relics rest today.
"He helped people spiritually, and when necessary, even with the imperial officials. Love was in his heart, which is why he did many good deeds. Not every earthly good deed we do is equal, but if we have love in our hearts, we will always strive to do them, as Saint Nicholas did. After his death, the relics of Saint Nicholas worked many miracles, and this is a testimony to this God's blessing that a person in communion with God will live forever," said Father Blagoje, adding that Saint Nicholas is also one of the great and God-worthy saints in the Kingdom of Heaven, and that here on earth, his holy body brought peace first in the city of Myra in Lycia, in present-day Turkey, and after being transferred to the city of Bari in Italy, it continues to work miracles to this day.
He also reminded that the holy church in Kotor where he served is dedicated to one of the most revered saints in our people, and that many of our homes and many churches celebrate Saint Nicholas, especially on the coast.
"The relics of St. Nicholas, when the city fell under the rule of the Turks at the end of the 11th century, were transferred to the Italian city of Bari, which was Orthodox at that time," said Father Blagoje.
He reminded that in this part of present-day Italy, services were held "according to our Byzantine liturgical rite" until the middle of the 13th century.
"That is how Saint Nicholas, certainly by his own will and by God's will, ended up there. There are many other traditions that tell of that journey from Myra of Lycia to Bari, and according to one of them, his holy relics also arrived on this side of the Adriatic near Bar and Ulcinj, where a church was built with his name...
So, dear brothers and sisters, we too should pray to Saint Nicholas, but also imitate his God-pleasing life.
Whenever we are in some trouble, doubt, or when we are choosing whether to tell the truth and put ourselves at some risk of suffering, or to tell a lie and get away with it, let us keep in mind this example of the Holy Father Nicholas, who always and everywhere preached truth and love, because God Himself, as they say, is the way, the truth and the life.
May the glory of this holy temple be happy, and to Father Nemanja, the elder and the governor, pilgrims and guests, we pray that Saint Nicholas will intercede for us before God," said, among other things, Father Blagoje.
The Archbishop's Vicar of Kotor-Tivat, the parish priest of Kotor, Archpriest-Staurophorus Nemanja Krivokapić also wished everyone a happy slava, thanked Father Blagoje for the wonderful holiday sermon, as well as the students and professors of the Cetinje Theological Seminary who were at our celebration today.
"I also greet Father Mikhail, a priest of the Moscow Patriarchate in Germany, who served with us, as well as the group of pilgrims. You are all welcome," said Father Nemanja, inviting him to the service in the church porch prepared by members of the Serbian Sisters' Circle of Kotor.