APOPKA | Excitement was in the air as parishioners of St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Parish in Apopka came together to celebrate St. Nicholas Day, marking the beginning of Christmas.
In the beauty of the Greek Orthodox rite, parishioners came forward lighting candles and submitting prayers to the Lord during the liturgy as they eagerly anticipated the coming of St. Nicholas after Mass. Families filled the small church sharing in the joy of their Christmas traditions while arriving in traditional costume, bringing food to share after the children’s presentation to St. Nicholas.
Pastor, Father Roman Kuzminskyi explained St. Nicholas Day marks the beginning of Christmas for Catholic Ukrainians. The saint was Bishop of Myra in Turkey in the 4th century. “He was a man like you and I, and then he started to do a lot good things and make gifts for children. It’s special for children and for the people and we continue to do the same after liturgy,” said Father Kuzminskyi. “To us it’s just a reminder that Christ is coming—His birth is coming. Christ is the biggest gift for us.”
The gifts given by St. Nicholas on his feast day are preparation for the coming of the Lord. Like Jesus, St. Nicholas cared for the poor and forgotten. Many miracles are attributed to the saint who was introduced to Ukraine in the 1090s. Originally his feast day was celebrated Dec. 19 by both the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, representing most Christians in the country. Following the Russian invasion in 2022, with the introduction of the Gregorian liturgical calendar, St. Nicholas Day moved to Dec. 6. Under Soviet rule, Ukrainians were prohibited to celebrate this holiday.
Following tradition, upon his arrival, the children reveled in skits depicting stories of his miracles passed down by generations, paying him homage. They performed lovely dances and wowed the crowd with songs on various instruments including the bandura, a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument held similarly to a cello. Each recital honored the saint and proved to him their goodness.
Volodymyr Chornyy is president of the parish board. “St. Nicholas Day has very deep roots in Ukraine and is a very traditional holiday for us—one of the most cherished and most anticipated holidays,” he said. Together with his wife, Lesya, who wrote the program, the couple coordinated the day’s events. They have three children, two of which participated in the presentations.
Volodymyr Chornyy is president of the parish board. “St. Nicholas Day has very deep roots in Ukraine and is a very traditional holiday for us—one of the most cherished and most anticipated holidays,” he said. Together with his wife, Lesya, who wrote the program, the couple coordinated the day’s events. They have three children, two of which participated in the presentations.
Noting St. Nicholas dedicated his life to helping others he said, “Even being from a very rich family, he was helping the poor. He was helping sick people. He would give a lot of monetary support, and people would not even know who did those miracles, because he would do it quietly.”
Just as St. Nicholas Day kicks off Christmas in Ukraine, Chornyy shared on Christmas Eve, families will cook a 12-course meal, each course representing a different apostle of Christ. They wait until the first star of the evening appears, calling to mind the birth of Jesus. Then, they eat.
All the dishes are made without animal products, except fish. They exclude butter, milk, eggs, and sour cream. Foods like cabbage rolls, pickled vegetables, herring, salads made of shredded beets and horseradish, are some popular offerings. Kutia starts the night, a meal made from boiled wheat and seasoned with honey, poppy seeds, nuts and dried fruits. It is a symbol of the unity between mankind, God and those who have passed to eternal life. The final dish is usually bread, a symbol of life, death and resurrection.
On Christmas day everyone participates in Mass, then goes caroling from house to house, singing and praising Christ. The festivities conclude on or around Jan. 6 with the Baptism of Jesus.
By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, December 19, 2025