In Asia Minor, in the Greco-Roman city of Myra, around AD 300, a pious young man named Nikolaos was born. He was one of the youngest men to be a priest, and his devotion and piety were famous. So was his practicality. At a time when additional daughters could be sold into slavery if the family could not afford a dowry for them, Nikolaos stepped forward, providing funds to dismiss women and men, sometimes to help them in their marriages, other times alone. to alleviate their crippling poverty. . Some tales have him throwing bags of gold down the chimney, a forerunner of Santa’s modern journey down the chimney.
His generosity was born from an understanding of the potential pain of those he decided to help: Nikolaos was persecuted and imprisoned for his faith, so his compassion for the possible loss of freedom for those he helped was very real and personal.
The later life of Agios Nikolaos
Nikolaos later became bishop, helping to establish the Formative Council of Nicea which decided many points of Orthodox Christian practice. The bishops donned a dramatic red robe, and some images of Nikolaos depict him with a white beard, while others show him shaven.
Later, he became a patron of Russia, reaching above the Arctic Circle to the traditional territory of Santa. While in the far north, he may have acquired an association with reindeer, as he is known as the patron saint of another Arctic animal, the wolf. Or the images of him riding a horse with the thief of his bishops may have been misinterpreted as him riding or being accompanied by a horned animal. In modern Greek island celebrations, your mode of transportation may even be by bike.
Saint Nicholas around the world
Saint Nikolaos became the Dutch Sinterklaas, who later became the modern “Santa Claus.” The most famous representation of Santa Claus comes from “Twas the Night Before Christmas” when all over the house, wow, sorry, whose original title is “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.”
His “Name Day” is December 6, the anniversary of his death, which is still a gift-giving date in many countries, although most have settled on the 25th as the gift-giving date.
After Nikolaos’s death, he was made a saint, patron of sailors and children, butchers, bakers, and judges, to name just a few. Many Greek beaches and ports still have sanctuaries for him. Part of the process of making saints requires attested miracles, and he amassed many. While those miracles don’t list traveling around the world in a single night, throwing gifts everywhere, once miracles can be handled, why should something be impossible?
Still a holy worker
Today, Saint Nicholas the Wonder Worker of Myra is called to preside in spirit over Orthodox gatherings that seek to unify the churches.
May your own winter festivals, however you celebrate them, also be full of wealth, unification, and miracle.
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