The priest came forward to explain the difference between Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus.
He explained that, unlike the commercial image of the main culprit of Christmas in the West, the Christian saint does not grant wishes.
This comment was given in a conversation with RIA Novosti by associate professor of the Moscow Theological Academy Antony Borisov.
It is noted that December 19 is the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, who died on this day. The Christian Church also honors the date of the transfer of the saint's relics.
As the priest noted, Saint Nicholas is considered one of the most revered saints in Rus', despite the fact that, in essence, he belongs to a culture alien to us.
However, he should not be confused with Santa Claus, since Christian saints do not grant wishes.
The priest explained that together with them, believers turn to God, who also cannot be perceived as a “wish-fulfilling factory.”
In addition, Borisov concluded, the image of Saint Nicholas in the West has now become commercial, used in advertising and has no pedagogical value for people.
