History of Saint Nicholas
What do you say when someone asks you who is Santa Claus?
You say a jolly old man dressed in red flying in a sleigh with reindeer's pulling it who loves cookies and milk.
The true man behind this image is the widely known Saint Nicholas.
There is not a lot about the history of Saint Nicholas and there is no denial of his popularity.
He was in both Eastern and Western Churches, he is the Saint most pictured by Christian artists, second only to the Blessed Virgin.
He was born March 15, 270 in Lycia (Asia Minor). He was born into a wealthy family.
They brought him up very well while encouraging his need for true religion. At a young age he had a strong devotion to Christ.
He also lost his parents at a young age and used his inheritance to help the sick, needy, and poor. As he got older he continued to help and serve others.
His uncle, the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia at the time, ordained Saint Nicholas as a priest and appointed him abbot of a monastery.
After the death of his uncle, the Archbishop,
Saint Nicholas was appointed the Bishop of Myra. in Lycia and served on the first council of Nicaea in 325, but his entire life he kept the same spirit of generosity and earning the description, " the special protector of the innocent and wronged."
Saint Nicholas died in 350. His Legacy is most well known for the protector of well behaved children.
This is thought to inspire the " naughty and Nice List."
He got this reputation from bringing back to life of two well-behaved schoolboys after they had a rather sad death. If you are French or not and have heard the French song Le Legende de Saint Nicolas, you might be familiar with that story.
Another event that furthered his reputation was helping a father that was to sell his three daughters into prostitution because he couldn't pay their dowries.
Saint Nicholas refused to let that happen and wanted to protect the girls. So for Three night Saint Nicholas snuck to the fathers home and left a bag of gold in his bedroom window, so the father could [pay his daughters dowries.
The Father caught Saint Nicholas on the third night in the act and thanked him for being his helper and for delivering his soul and his daughters souls from hell.
Some legends even say that the coins he tossed to the fathers window sill fell into the daughters stockings which they had hanging.
Sounds familiar? Doesn't it?
It is said that this legend led to the custom of gift giving to celebrate the saints feast.
He is also known for the Protector of Sailors.
This reputation came from coming to the aid of sailors who were stuck in storms at sea near Lycia.
Saint Nicholas would just appear, manning the ropes and sails and bringing the ship to port.
Another well known tale describes a ship that ran aground in a storm, The sailors prayed for Saint Nicholas to help them.
He then appeared on the ship, helping them free it with ropes and poles and the vanish.
The sailors were very happy to be alive so after reaching a safe harbor,
the grateful sailors went to the cathedral in the nearby city of Myra to Thank God. To their surprise, they found Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra, in the church and recognized him as the man who had appeared on their ship and saved them.
He was known as the sailors friend.
He was a Saint to all
