Nikolaev Mass
Description:
St. Nicholas penetrated the culture of this northern country, most likely through that part of the Icelanders who served as mercenary Viking wars or "Varangians" in Constantinople.
In Iceland, in importance, he could only compete with the Virgin, St. Peter and St. Olaf (baptized Norway): he was dedicated as many as 44 churches. He was the one who protected the sea and trade. Iceland, as a rocky island isolated from the rest of Europe, depended entirely on imported goods and therefore on the mercy of sea weather.
The second feature of Nicholas - patronage of scholars, embodied in the story of how he resurrected three students - also found reflection in Icelandic history. One of the churches dedicated to him was in Oddi, the center of medieval Icelandic scholarship. It was there that perhaps the most significant writer for Scandinavian history, Snorri Sturlason, was brought up.
Although Nikolaus was a patron of children, he never became an analogue of Santa Claus, a grandfather who brought gifts. In history, there are mentions of feasts that occurred on this day, as well as masses, but the Icelandic children had other “idols”, and not one, but as many as 13. More about them in the Christmas section.