The Historical St. Nikolas

Meet St. Nikolas of Myra (modern day Turkey)

Alternate name: Nikolas the Wonderworker

Please note: Turkish/Greek descent. Not pale white. He was only 5’6” so the little St. Nick stands.

Lived 3/15/270 - 12/6/343

His recognized feast day by the Christian church is December 6, so that’s a perfect time to tell his tales being toward the beginning of the Christmastime/SANTA-season.

Just after the height years of the Roman Empire and before its fall, Nikolas lived in the Mediterranean maritime city of Patara. At the time the area was Greek; it is now the southern coast of Turkey. Nikolas’ parents were devout Christians who died in an epidemic when Nikolas was a teenager. He then lived with his uncle who was an early Christian bishop. Nikolas inherited a good earning (especially for his young age) from his diseased parents. He had heard Yeshua’s words to the rich young man in the Gospel [Mark 10:17-22], thus used his inheritance to help those in need.

The primary told story of St. Nikolas saving girls from prostitution highlights his Christ-like nature and gives clues to how aspects of the modern Santa Claus emerged. You could substitute “prostitution” with “slavery” for children. A poor family had 3 young daughters that were legally old enough to marry. The impoverished father could not afford an acceptable dowry (payment for marriage) and the daughters were at risk of force into prostitution [Re: Roman taxes]. Nikolas heard this and used the cover of night to secretly deliver the coins needed to pay each of the daughters’ dowries - either by putting in their drying stockings, dropping down the chimney, or throwing through the window… The sentiment the is the same regardless the method: Give what the receiver needs and take no credit. The father was desperate to know who saved his daughters and stayed by the fire each night, eventually catching Nikolas delivering the coins for the third dowry. 

TRADITION IDEA: Share this story when hanging stockings on St. Nikolas’ feast day (December 6). For additional fun, anonymously add small gifts in stockings throughout the season.

The Roman Emperor Diocletian strongly persecuted Christians, and Nikolas faced exile, imprisonment and possibly torture for his faithful works. At the time, prisons were so filled of Christ followers that there wasn’t enough room for both them and murderers and thieves. When he was eventually freed and returned home, he was celebrated and continued to pursue a virtuous life.