Spotlight On A Saint: St. Nicholas

Published: December 18, 2003

Nicholas is said to have been born in the fourth century at Patara in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor, a region of the ancient world that corresponds roughly to modern Turkey. He served as bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia, also a province of Asia Minor, and was present at the Council of Nicaea, which denounced Arianism—a heresy that arose in the fourth century and doubted the divinity of Jesus Christ.

His Contribution To The Church

The generosity and holiness of St. Nicholas is the stuff of legend. Nicholas was the son of wealthy parents who died early. He chose to use his inheritance for works of charity. One of the most famous stories involving St. Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who did not have the suitable funds to provide dowries for his three daughters of marriageable age. The desperate man would be forced to give his daughters to prostitution. Upon hearing this, Nicholas, under cloud of darkness, tossed a bag of gold into the father’s open window. He did this on two other occasions as well, providing the dowry for the three women, who went on to marry. Over the centuries, this particular legend evolved into the custom of gift giving on the saint’s feast day. It is the image of St. Nicholas that is found more often than anyone’s on Byzantine seals, and in the later Middle Ages nearly 400 churches were dedicated in his honor in England alone. He is said to have been represented by Christian artists more frequently than any saint except Mary. By a twist of the tongue, in English-speaking countries, St. Nicholas became Santa Claus, further expanding the example of generosity portrayed by the bishop.

How He Can Help You

During this Christmas season, Santa Claus is one of the most prominent figures of the secular world. Remember instead, the holy, giving St. Nicholas, and try to emulate him in your own life.