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Amulets
Fabric amulets are small bags, most often with church symbols or images of saints. They are usually filled with incense or other small objects.
Amulets are used as talismans; for these reasons they are often attached to clothes with a pin, and sometimes worn around the neck on a cord. The amulets can also be attached to the headboard of the bed.
Saint Nicholas
St. Nicholas is considered the protector of sailors, who turn to him with their troubles and difficulties. He is especially revered by islanders, since most island families are associated with maritime professions. In many countries, however, Nicholas is a Christmas saint as he brings gifts to children and helps families in need.
The saint lived in the 3rd century AD. He was orphaned at a young age and inherited a large fortune. Being by nature a philanthropist, Saint Nicholas disposed of his possessions to help the needy, orphans, the poor, widows, and heads of families.
Saint Nicholas wanted to devote himself to an ascetic life, but it so happened that he was elected Archbishop of Myra in Lycia and was engaged in instructing his flock in the way of truth. He even took part in the First Ecumenical Council.
The relics of St. Nicholas are kept in Bari, Italy. Their medical examination revealed the saint's austere and ascetic life, as well as the hardships he endured during his lifetime.
According to legend, during a storm he protected sailors from mortal danger and even resurrected one of them when he was mortally wounded.
St. Nicholas is commemorated on December 6 (19).
Saint Spyridon
Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous is the patron saint of Piraeus and the island of Corfu in Greece. Because of the great miracle he performed at the First Council of Nicaea in 325, he is considered the patron saint of pottery. At the Council, there was a heated dispute about the divinity of Jesus Christ and the trinity of God. Bishop Spyridon argued in support of this trinity. When it was his turn to speak, he took a clay brick in his hands, after which, crossing himself, he said:
"In the name of the Father", at which point a flame burst forth from the clay;
"And of the Son", and water began to drip from the brick;
"And of the Holy Spirit", after which only dry clay remained in his hands.
Those present were shocked and astonished. Spyridon explained that just as fire, water, and clay are three elements that make up one brick, so the Holy Trinity is God, one in Three Persons. And so, the participation of the Bishop of Trimythous contributed to the establishment of truth at the Ecumenical Council.
Shoemakers also venerate Saint Spyridon, for the shoes of the saint are a great shrine.
Spyridon of Trimythous was born in 270 AD in the Cyprus village of Assia (Askia), in a fairly prosperous family of shepherds who carried on the family business.
He was a simple, kind man, always distinguished by his love for his neighbor. On Sundays and holidays, Spyridon often took the fellow shepherds to church and then explained to them the Gospel or some of the apostolic passages. The saint always protected widows and orphans.
Spyridon married a pious woman, and they had a daughter, Irini. Soon, however, his wife died. But even after this grievous loss Spyridon did not fall into despondency, but continued to serve God by his good deeds. The people loved and respected him so much that he was elected bishop of Trimythous in Cyprus. By the grace of God, he manifested many miracles there.
The imperishable relics of the saint, which to this day retain the weight and temperature of a living human body, are kept on the island of Corfu. Even the saint's shoes wear out periodically; it is believed that he comes out of his shrine to help all who turn to him. Therefore, his shoes are regularly changed, and the old, worn-out ones are cut into small pieces and distributed to the faithful.
