The story of St. Nicholas actually consists of two stories. The first is the biography of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Mirlikia, the second is the story of why today St. Nicholas is so popular and is such a sweet old man, sometimes with a belly, sleigh and deer.
Biography of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas is said to have been born around 270 in the Greek colony of Patara (now a region of Turkey). Other sources say that he lived at the turn of the XNUMXrd and XNUMXth centuries. The first reports of his achievements date back to the XNUMXth century – hence the inaccuracy regarding the year of his birth and death.
Interestingly, the cult of St. Nicholas of Mirlikisky, and only later his biography became known, therefore information about him may not be facts, but only a set of attributes and deeds attributed to him. This does not change the fact that the now revered Saint Nicholas is an exceptional figure.
Saint Nicholas, according to sources, was the only child born into a wealthy and pious family. As he grew up, he gave up worldly pleasures in favor of godliness.
He was known for his sensitivity to human misery and want. He stood up for the offended and helped the poor. After the death of his parents, he generously helped those in need, using his family fortune – he gave everything. Moreover, he always did it in such a way that it was impossible to find the benefactor.
He became a bishop in Mir (present-day Demre, Antalya province in Turkey). His image was bright and recognizable: with a characteristic red miter (headdress) and a staff (pastoral staff). The red robe and miter was certainly the inspiration for the modern red Santa Claus costume.
Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, is reported to have died on December 6 (December 19 in the Gregorian calendar) between 345 and 352 AD. For Christians, the death of a saint is tantamount to his birth in heaven. Therefore, in the Christian tradition, it was customary to send each other Christmas cards with congratulations on the day before the anniversary of death.
Legends and information about St. Nicholas
There are legends about the kindness and mercy of Saint Nicholas. So, one tells about soldiers saved from death, mistakenly sentenced to death. The second tells how Mikolai secretly gave a dowry to the three daughters of a poor neighbor, who scoffed at Mikolai’s piety. And this act allowed the women to get married and saved them from shame (since the father wanted to sell them to a brothel).
The following legends are associated with miracles after the death of Saint Nicholas. One of the legends says that he saved the sailors from the death of their ship during a storm. The sailors prayed to the saint, and he appeared and pulled them out of the sinking ship. The rescued sailors sailed to Mira and prayed there, thanking Nicholas.
Another legend says that it was thanks to the miraculous intervention of St. Nicholas, the inhabitants of Mira were saved from starvation. It is said that he directed the actions of the ship’s captain in such a way that he changed course, entered the port of Mira and unloaded 100 bags of grain for the hungry. Then he went to the port of destination – Constantinople – and there it turned out that not a single sack was missing from the ship’s hold!
Considering these maritime miraculous interventions of St. Nicholas, it is not surprising that on the shores of the Mediterranean and Black Seas there are many chapels, churches and monasteries dedicated to St. Nicholas.
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Well, modern children are looking forward to the Day of St. Nicholas, as they expect an honest trial of a kind “wizard” – will he put a rod for the disobedient under the half-head or will he give it for good behavior? As a rule, Saint Nicholas (with the support of his parents) justifies his good image and gives children long-awaited gifts.