About St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas, who lived in the 4th century and inspired the modern figure of Santa Claus, was a Greek bishop known for his exceptional generosity and love for children in what is now Turkey. Born to wealthy Christian parents in Patara, he inherited their fortune but gave it away to help the poor and sick. His most famous act of charity involved secretly providing gold dowries for three impoverished sisters, reportedly tossing bags of gold through their window at night to save them from being sold into slavery. As Bishop of Myra, he attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE and was known for defending orthodox Christian doctrine. He developed a reputation for performing miracles, including saving sailors from storms and rescuing three innocent men from execution. His habit of secret gift-giving, especially to children and the poor, led to his being celebrated on December 6th throughout much of Europe, eventually evolving into the tradition of Santa Claus. Though many stories about him blend historical fact with legend, his influence on Christian charity and gift-giving traditions has endured for over 1,700 years.
Prayers & Devotions
