Nicholas Ivanenko, city of Vileika, region of Minsk (Belarus) shares this story. Once, when I was working as the director of a cultural center I was invited to spend New Year’s Eve at a restaurant. This was during the Nativity fast (the Advent period of fasting, abstinence, and penance that is observed from the end of November until the first week of January by Eastern Orthodox churches), but I was interested in the payment which was offered and agreed to go. The night before I was in my own dream: in our parish church the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker are on display. Everyone is taking a turn to come up and venerate them. My turn came up, too. But when I leaned over the holy relics, St Nicholas rose, pushed me aside in anger and began to berate me in front of the whole congregation.
I woke up from a terrible sense of shame and fear, and could not fall asleep again for a long time. I prayed and cried, but clarity of mind came later. I did not change my mind about going to the restaurant—the payment was half of my usual salary. The feeling of fear and shame did not leave me, however. It prevented me from falling into deeper and more disgusting sins that New Year’s Eve. Yet it is impossible to stay clean when one jumps into a dirty puddle.
The extra money I made was spent on medications for my daughter who had suddenly become ill. I became despondent, thinking of my irreparable worthlessness. But St Nicholas was merciful to me and brought me consolation later. Some kind people gave me an icon with an unusual depiction of St Nicholas. The saint’s face, however, looks exactly as I remember it in my dream. Every day I ask forgiveness of St Nicholas, for I am not worthy to bear his name; I ask for help and intercession. And I know: though I am a perishing and sinful man, this God pleaser never forsakes me.