ST. NICHOLAS

One of the most popular saints of the Christian Church of both the Greek East and Latin West, St. Nicholas has in modern times been so inaccurately portrayed as a part of the Christmas scene that it is a small wonder children do not confuse the celebration of the birth of Christ with that of the fat, white-bearded, and jolly fellow so well publicized by enterprising merchants. Despite the fact that the feast day of St. Nicholas falls on December 6, he is not called to mind by any save the knowledgeable Orthodox until the 25th, and the venerable saint, despite his association with the Savior, suffers as a result. The true greatness of this beloved saint is hidden in the shadows of legend, obscuring the identity of one of the most endearing of our saints.

Nothing is known of the early life of Nicholas, but it is known that he was born at the turn of the fourth century, during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, in Asia Minor and was a bishop of Myra, in that area which is now Turkey. Of a quiet and studious nature, he attended the Synod of Nicaea in A.D. 325. On that momentous occasion he was so withdrawn that he is not even mentioned in the account of the proceedings recorded by St. Athanasios the Great; however, his behind the scenes activity did add to the luster of this memorable convocation. His importance was recognized by the Emperor Justinian, who had a magnificent cathedral erected in his memory in Constantinople.

Prior to his elevation as archbishop, Nicholas had suffered imprisonment, harsh treatment and torture at the hands of the enemies of the Church. It was not until the reign of the Christian Emperor Constantine that he was able to lead the normal and peaceful life of a prelate. His leadership in Myra, which did not offer very hospitable surroundings for the Christmas of the day, was so effective that his fame and popularity gave rise to many legends that were well intended but served only to screen the true character of this very real and industrious saint who labored for Christ all the years of his life, echoing the truth of Christianity uttered centuries before by the apostles.

So great was St. Nicholas' popularity that he became the symbol of protection of children, which led to many of the legends about the men which have ultimately done more harm that good. After his death of natural causes at a venerable age, the legends and myths multiplied, but they only demonstrate how dearly loved he was for his great work. He became not only the patron saint of children, but also of merchants, sailors, and scholars, and was a protective symbol for travelers against highwaymen.

In a fascinating and daring enterprise in the late eleventh century, the residents, of Bari, Italy, where Nicholas' popularity had grown with the years, hatched a plot to recover the remains of the saint from Turkey. Through guile and ruse they were able to outwit the unwary but dangerous natives of Asia Minor and succeeded in removing the body of Saint Nicholas and transporting it to Bari. there it was paraded in triumph though the streets before being properly enshrined on 9 May 1087, after which a magnificent basilica was erected in his honor.

In a rare ecumenical gesture, the Roman Catholic church offered some relics of S1. Nicholas to the Archdiocese of North and South America in 1972, where they repose in honored glory. Fragments of the saint's remains also repose on the altars of the Church of the Archangel in Stanford, Connecticut, the Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York, and the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, New York.

The most widely accepted story of how St. Nicholas came to be associated with the gift-giving St. Nick is that which tells of how he secretly gave dowries to the three daughters of an impoverished parishioner, thus saving them from the disgrace that was the lot of spinsters of those days. Eventually, that carried over to the Christmas season and was associated with the Dutch Santa Claus. In fact he was generous to all people, but his fondness for children makes him especially revered.

Saint Nicholas' Feastday is December 6.

(Excerpts taken from: "Orthodox Saints", Volume 4, by George Poulos)