Saint Nicholas on
the bus
The following was translated by HTM from an article in a Greek news paper
and published in Orthodox Life in the 1960's
In February, 1965, a bus full of people was going toward a city.
Next to the driver there was sitting an old man about seventy-five years of
ages, with a white beard, tall, and "full of vigor". He wore a heavy
coat with a fur collar, and a fur cap with flaps. The bus was going slowly
because of the snow which was falling outside. At one turn, the chains of the
back wheels came off. The bus skidded and almost collided with another full
bus. All these things happened very quickly. The driver lost control of the
bus, and everyone's heart jumped. Finally, the two buses halted at a distance
of barely three-quarters of an inch apart, without any mishap.
Then the old man made the sign of the Cross and cried out:
"Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee! Blessed be thy name, O my All-holy
Mother of God, who has saved us…" In a few moments the other bus left. The
driver and his assistant went out to put on the chains.
Smiling, one young man opened a conversation with the old man.
"Forgive me, elder," he said, "but I could not hold back from
laughing when I heard you call upon the non-existent Heavenly Powers and saw
you make your Cross. Habit, of course, is second nature. I see that you wear
also the distinguishing mark of a scientist. But in our times, in the year
1965, it is an incongruity."
The conversation attracted the attention of all. The old man,
without becoming troubled, said, "Gladly, my young comrade, shall I answer
you. And if you want I will make a self-criticism…Wherefore, do you know what I
think? All of us are somewhat hypocrites. All of us pretend that we are
atheists, dedicated members of the Party, with profound knowledge of Marxism
and many other things. And yet there comes a moment every once in a while when
the real man in us expresses himself. Behold, just as it happened even now!
This mishap was sufficient to demonstrate it. Since you sit in that place, you
of course did not see what happened behind you. I, however, who sit sideways,
saw at least another eight or ten making their Cross. It is something within us
which we will never be able to uproot, because it would be like uprooting our
very bowels. Thus, every day all of us fall into 'errors' - that is, we
remember that there exists a certain great, unknown, and good Power Whom we
pretend to ignore…"
I assure you that this personally never happens with me,"
said the young man.
The old man chuckled and said, "Your will permit me to
prove you false, beloved comrade, because just previously you said, 'These
things in our times, in the year 1965, are an incongruity.' What was the reason
for you to remember that one thousand nine hundred and sixty-five years have
passed from the time when the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, was
born!"
"This," said the young man after having been taken
aback a little, "is an evil remnant of an evil past, which must definitely
be wiped out. The way you are speaking, you are going to convince us that even
miracles take place!"
The old man was silent some moments, and afterwards said,
"Yes, my beloved one, there are even miracles of God which you yourself
will believe, just as all that are here will also believe. When, however, ye
see them, you will be obliged to keep silent because, if you speak, there is
danger that they will close you in some psychiatric clinic."
The bus had come into the main artery. The heavy snow stopped
and thus the driver was able to increase the speed. At one moment, all - as
many as were looking at and listening to the old man - saw his place empty! Two
or three that were close to his seat made the sign of the Cross, saying,
"Holy, Holy is God the Almighty." One of them turned toward the back
of the bus and shouted, "Do you understand now who saved us from the
collision? He himself, the old man with the white beard, was the Protector of
our People…Saint Nicholas!" "I do not know what we are going to do,
comrades," said one other in the meantime, "but wherever I may be, I
am going to tell of this miracle of St. Nicholas! And let them lock me in a psychiatric
ward if they can. I have you all as witnesses; and especially you,
comrade…" The young communist covered his face with his hands for a long
time.
After about two hours, the bus stopped and all got down to drink
hot tea. The young communist approached several of his fellow-passengers, full
of emotion. He asked for their addresses. He also gave them his. All the others
also did the same among themselves. "Do you know what I propose,
comrades?" said one young woman, "Let us not lose contact with one
another. This which we say today and heard with our ears is a great thing. Very
great. What can it forebode? Certainly something good, because the little old
grandfather was the Protector of our people.
The above miracle was written by an eyewitness. "I can not
write more," he says, "because I am overcome with emotion and am
weeping. I also was on the bus."
