By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Dec 6, 2024 / 04:00 am
St. Nicholas, whose feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6, is known to possibly be the real-life inspiration for the beloved Christmas character of Santa Claus.
Not a lot is known about the historical Nicholas, who was bishop of Myra, a Greek city in modern-day Turkey, during the fourth century A.D. But there are many stories and legends that explain his reputation as a just and upright man, charitable gift-giver, and miracle-worker.
Here are five things to know and share about St. Nicholas:
1. There is a legend behind why St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children.
Many people know that St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, but they may not know why he has that title.
There is a grisly legend that says that during a famine in Myra, three young boys were lured into a butcher’s shop, where they were killed and then brined in a wooden barrel with the intention of being sold as “ham.” The good bishop worked a miracle, bringing the pickled children back to life and saving them from a gruesome fate.
This story became the subject of many portrayals of Nicholas in art, especially during the Middle Ages.
Welcome to the world of St. Nicholas, a beloved figure in both Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Some believe that depictions of Bishop Nicholas with three boys contributed to his reputation as a protector of children. But did you know that he is also the patron saint of brewers and coopers? Yes, the legend of the brining may explain this odd connection.
2. A Unifying Figure in the Russian Orthodox Church
St. Nicholas holds a special place in the hearts of Catholics and Orthodox Christians alike. In the Russian Orthodox Church, he is known as St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for the many miracles attributed to him. He is revered as a holy bishop and a good shepherd of his people. Interestingly, in the Orthodox liturgical cycle, only three saints are specifically named, and St. Nicholas is one of them.
Although Nicholas did not leave behind any theological writings, he embraced his role as a bishop with humility, stating that he should live not for himself, but for others.
3. The Jolly Old St. Nicholas?
Despite his popularity among Orthodox Christians, St. Nicholas may not always be depicted as the jolly old man with a round belly and merry dimples. In iconography, he is often portrayed with a white beard, but the jovial imagery we associate with Santa Claus may not always be present. Regardless, his legacy lives on through the centuries.
