A History of Saint Nicholas

[Lee Freeman]

Below is an article on the real Santa Claus that I wrote for our church's bulletin last week. To me, its a nice corrective to the view of some Christians that Christmas and its trappings are mainly based upon paganism.


   Around the year 280 AD a young boy named Nicholas was born in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) in the city of Pataras to noble Christians named Epiphanus and Johanna. This boy would go on to become a saint of the Church, St. Nicholas of Bari. Unfortunately most of what we know about Nicholas is based upon legend and hagiography. The true details of his life are sketchy at best.

   According to medieval legend, on the day he was born baby Nicholas stood upright in the basin and would only nurse at night, once on Wednesdays and once on Fridays. According to the canons: "He was exceedingly well brought up by his parents and trod piously in their footsteps. The child, watched over by the church, enlightened his mind and encouraged his thirst for true and sincere religion.

[John 1:1]

Thank you for posting this Lee, it seems so natural how our current tradition has evolved into what we see today.  Now, going back to what I've been taught though, where it got moved to the winter solstice, then adding Christs birth into it, we have 3 different events combined as one.  Now my question is, what day was Christ really born, Dec 25th is not it obviously.

[Te Deum]

I was browsing the forum and noticed your thread.  I thank you for your article on St. Nicholas - the real Santa Claus 

Last year I also wrote up a story on St. Nicholas.  Since I feel this an an appropriate time, I will share it:

Today is the feastday of St. Nicholas, the model of the modern-day Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was from the 4th Century and was Bishop of Myra. The many churches built to honor him and the stories about him are all testimonials to his holiness. St. Nicholas is best remembered for his compassion towards the poor. Born at Patara in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor, he became bishop of Myra and became known for his zeal and piety. He was present at the Council of Nicaea and condemned the heresy of Arianism.

In one story, St. Nicholas saved three unjustly incarcerated officers one time, and at another time, he saved three boys from death. St. Nicholas helped one man, who couldn't pay the dowries for his three daughters by throwing gold through the window of the home. He did it several times and each was done secretly until the last time when he threw the gold in the home. The man inside saw him and was overjoyed in thanking him. One can read more about him on the Patron Saints Index.

St. Nicholas is an example of a man living a life for Christ Jesus, Our Lord and God. He did great actions but we too must do the same. We don't have to go throw gold in windows or anything like that, but we too are called to be a saint. A saint is simply defined as a person in Heaven and we all are called to this joy. Imagine being in the greatest joy, the presence of Our Lord, for all eternity. That is what was made possible on through the Cross and Resurrection. Don't just believe in Jesus, but follow Him! "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26)

Patron: against imprisonment; against robberies; against robbers; apothecaries; bakers; barrel makers; boatmen; boot blacks; boys; brewers; brides; captives; children; coopers; dock workers; druggists; fishermen; grooms; judges; lawsuits lost unjustly; longshoremen; maidens; mariners; merchants; murderers; newlyweds; old maids; parish clerks; paupers; pawnbrokers; perfumeries; perfumers; pharmacists; pilgrims; poor people; prisoners; sailors; scholars; schoolchildren; shoe shiners; spinsters; students; thieves; travellers; unmarried girls; watermen; Greek Catholic Church in America; Greek Catholic Union; Bari, Italy; Fossalto, Italy; Duronia, Italy; Portsmouth, England; Greece; Lorraine; Russia; Sicily;

[Pokhara]

There is a fine triptych depicting scenes from the life of St Nicholas in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh.  I can't remember who painted it, but I think it dated from the fifteenth century.

[Lee Freeman]

I was browsing the forum and noticed your thread.  I thank you for your article on St. Nicholas - the real Santa Claus 

Last year I also wrote up a story on St. Nicholas.  Since I feel this an an appropriate time, I will share it:

Today is the feastday of St. Nicholas, the model of the modern-day Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was from the 4th Century and was Bishop of Myra. The many churches built to honor him and the stories about him are all testimonials to his holiness. St. Nicholas is best remembered for his compassion towards the poor. Born at Patara in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor, he became bishop of Myra and became known for his zeal and piety. He was present at the Council of Nicaea and condemned the heresy of Arianism.

In one story, St. Nicholas saved three unjustly incarcerated officers one time, and at another time, he saved three boys from death. St. Nicholas helped one man, who couldn't pay the dowries for his three daughters by throwing gold through the window of the home. He did it several times and each was done secretly until the last time when he threw the gold in the home. The man inside saw him and was overjoyed in thanking him. One can read more about him on the Patron Saints Index.

St. Nicholas is an example of a man living a life for Christ Jesus, Our Lord and God. He did great actions but we too must do the same. We don't have to go throw gold in windows or anything like that, but we too are called to be a saint. A saint is simply defined as a person in Heaven and we all are called to this joy. Imagine being in the greatest joy, the presence of Our Lord, for all eternity. That is what was made possible on through the Cross and Resurrection. Don't just believe in Jesus, but follow Him! "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26)

Patron: against imprisonment; against robberies; against robbers; apothecaries; bakers; barrel makers; boatmen; boot blacks; boys; brewers; brides; captives; children; coopers; dock workers; druggists; fishermen; grooms; judges; lawsuits lost unjustly; longshoremen; maidens; mariners; merchants; murderers; newlyweds; old maids; parish clerks; paupers; pawnbrokers; perfumeries; perfumers; pharmacists; pilgrims; poor people; prisoners; sailors; scholars; schoolchildren; shoe shiners; spinsters; students; thieves; travellers; unmarried girls; watermen; Greek Catholic Church in America; Greek Catholic Union; Bari, Italy; Fossalto, Italy; Duronia, Italy; Portsmouth, England; Greece; Lorraine; Russia; Sicily;

Thanks, Te Deum. BTW, I like your screen name.

Pax.

[Gracious]

May GOD Bless you Lee!!!

I too would like to chime in & say THANKS ... very informative

What a benevolant soul he was!

Gracious