The Muddy Cart

In all the legends, St. Nicholas is regarded as a kind character. This quality was attributed to him in the story in which he and Prophet Ilya were introduced together. It was autumn. One afternoon, a Russian peasant was driving along a heavy road. All of a sudden, his cart stuck fast in the mire. At that very moment, St. Kasian came by. The peasant asked for help, “Help me, brother, to get my cart out of the mud!” “Get along with you!” replied St. Kasian, “Do you think I am free and have time to waste with you here?” Saying this, he walked away. Soon, St. Nicholas came that way. The peasant asked St. Nicholas for help and he stopped and helped the poor peasant. After some time, when the two saints arrived in heaven, the Lord asked them where they were and what they were doing. “I have been on the earth,” replied St. Kasian, with a very haughty attitude.

 In Heaven

St. Kasian continued, “And I happened to pass by a peasant whose cart had stuck in the mud. He cried out to me, saying, “Help me to get my cart out! But I did not want to spoil my heavenly clothes.” Now, the Lord asked St. Nicholas, “Where were you?” “I have been on the earth,” said St. Nicholas, whose clothes were covered with mud, “I went along that same road, and I helped the peasant to get his cart out of the mud.” Then the Lord said, “Listen, Kasian! You did not help the peasant; therefore, people will honour you by thanksgiving only once every four years. But to you, Nicholas, because you helped the peasant to set free his cart, people will honour you twice a year by thanksgiving.” Since that day, it had become customary to offer prayers and thanksgiving to Nicholas twice a year, but to Kasian only once in four years.

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