Wednesday, December 5, 2018

FEAST AND BIOGRAPHY OF SAINT NICHOLAS OF MYRA

         Saint Nicholas of Myra

detail of a stained glass window of Saint Nicholas of Bari; by James Powell and Sons, 1904; chapel of Saint Nicholas, cathedral of Saint David, Wales; photographed on 21 July 2011 by Wolfgang Sauber; swiped from Wikimedia CommonsAlso known as
  • Nicholas of Bari
  • Nicholas of Lpnenskij
  • Nicholas of Lipno
  • Nicholas of Sarajskij
  • Nicholas the Miracle Worker
  • Klaus….
  • Mikulas….
  • Nikolai….
  • Nicolaas….
  • Nicolas….
  • Niklaas….
  • Niklas….
  • Nikolaus….
  • Santa Claus
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PriestAbbotBishop of Myra, Lycia (modern Turkey). Generous to the poor, and special protector of the innocent and wronged. Many stories grew up around him prior to his becoming associated with Santa Claus. Some examples
  • Upon hearing that a local man had fallen on such hard times that he was planning to sell his daughters into prostitution, Nicholas went by night to the house and threw three bags of gold in through the window, saving the girls from an evil life. These three bags, gold generously given in time of trouble, became the three golden balls that indicate a pawn broker’s shop.
  • He raised to life three young boys who had been murdered and pickled in a barrel of brine to hide the crime. These stories led to his patronage of children in general, and of barrel-makers besides.
  • Induced some thieves to return their plunder. This explains his protection against theft and robbery, and his patronage of them – he’s not helping them steal, but to repent and change. In the past, thieves have been known as Saint Nicholas’ clerks or Knights of Saint Nicholas.
  • During a voyage to the Holy Lands, a fierce storm blew up, threatening the ship. He prayed about it, and the storm calmed – hence the patronage of sailors and those like dockworkers who work on the sea.
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