St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas was a fourth century saint and a Greek bishop of Myra. St. Nicholas is also known as, “Nikolaos of Myra.” Nicholas was born in Asia Minor within the Roman Empire, as an only child of christian parents. Nicholas was brought up well by his parents, and followed in the footsteps of their good actions. Both of Nicholas’ parents died tragically during an epidemic when he was a young man. His parents left him well off, but to be raised by his uncle- who was the Bishop of Patara. His uncle mentored him and helped Nicholas to learn works of charity, to read, and later in Nicholas’ life his uncle had him ordained as a priest.

An opportunity soon arose for Nicholas to perform a work of charity. Nicholas became informed about a man who had lost all of his money and needed help to support his three daughters. Thus, Nicholas took a bag of gold and threw it into an open window of the man’s house during the night. At intervals Nicholas gave a dowry to each of the daughters, who all got married soon after. The last time Nicholas did this the father was watching for him, and was overwhelmed with gratitude for him.

St. Nicholas was chosen to be the new bishop of Myra during the time of persecutions in the beginning of the fourth century. Nicholas was the chief priest in the town, and preached the truths of the faith with a “holy liberty.” Nicholas was seized by magistrates, tortured, then thrown into prison and chained. When Constantine assumed the imperial diadem of the Romans, St. Nicholas, along with many other Christians, were released.

According to traditions St. Nicholas was present at the Council of Nicaea in 325, but while there punched the heresiarch Arius in the face. The council fathers deprived him of his episcopal insignia and committed him to prison. But our Lord and His Mother appeared there and restored to him both his liberty and his office.

St. Nicholas died and was buried in his episcopal city, Myra, and by the time of Justinian there was a basilica that had been built at Constantinople in honor of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas is celebrated as the patron saint of several classes of people, in the East, of sailors, and in the West, children. St. Nicholas became recognized as a saint long before the Roman Catholic Church began the current process of canonization; and therefore does not have a specific date of canonization. St. Nicholas’ feast day is December 6.

As St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children we can all pray for his intercession, that he may help all the unborn (and born) children of our world.

St. Nicholas, Pray for Us!