The Life of St.

Nicholas the
Wonderworker
Archbishop Of Myra in Lycia
 The Life of St. Nicholas the
Wonderworker

The holy hierarch of Christ, Nicholas, the great wonderworker, a speedy helper and an
extraordinary mediator before God, grew up in the land of Lycia. He was born in the town
of Patara.[1] His parents, Theophanes and Nonna, were pious people, prominent and
wealthy. This blessed couple, for their God-pleasing life, many alms and great virtues,
were worthy to raise a branch holy and like the tree which is planted by the streams of
the waters, which shall bring forth its fruit in its season.[2]

When this blessed youth was born, he was given the name Nicholas,
which means conqueror of nations. And he, by the blessing of God,
truly appeared as a conqueror of evil, for the good of the whole world.
After his birth, his mother Nonna was immediately free of pain and
from that time until her death remained barren. By this nature itself
bore witness that this woman could not have another son, similar to St.
Nicholas: he alone should be the first and the last. Sanctified already
while in his mother's womb by the grace of God, he showed himself to
be a reverent venerator of God be/ore he saw the light of day; he
began to perform miracles earlier than he began to feed on his
mother's milk, and was a taster before he was accustomed to eat food.

After his birth, while still in the baptismal font, he stood on his feet for
three hours, supported by no one, by this rendering honor to the Holy
Trinity, of Whom he later would show himself to be a great servitor and
intercessor. In him it was possible to recognize the future
wonderworker even by the war in which he drew near to his mother's
breast, because he led on the milk only of the right breast, signifying
by this his future standing on the right hand of the Lord together with
the righteous. He gave signs of his extraordinary abstinence in that on
Wednesdays and Fridays he took his mother's milk only once, and this
in the evening, after the parents' completion of the customary prayers.

His father and mother were much astonished and foresaw what a strict faster their son
would be in his life. Being accustomed to such temperance from his swaddling clothes, St.
Nicholas during his whole life until his death spent Wednesday and Friday in strict fasting.
Growing with the years, the youth grew also in knowledge, perfecting himself in the
virtues, in which he was taught by his pious parents. And he was like a fruitful field,
receiving in itself and putting forth the good seed of instruction and bringing forth every
day new fruits of good behavior. When the time came to learn the divine Scriptures, St.
Nicholas, by the force and acuteness of his mind and the help of the Holy Spirit, in a little
time attained much wisdom and succeeded in book-learning such as befits a good pilot of
Christ's ship and a skillful shepherd of rational sheep. Having reached perfection in word
and learning, he showed himself to be perfect in his very life. He by all means avoided
vain friends and idle conversations, shunning conversation with women and didn't even
look at them. St. Nicholas preserved a true chastity, with a pure mind always
contemplating on the Lord and assiduously visiting the temple of God, following the
Psalmist, who said: I have chosen rather to be an outcast in the house of my God.[3] In
the temple of God he passed entire days and nights in lifting up his mind to God in prayer
and in the reading of divine books, meditating on spiritual knowledge, enriching himself in
the divine grace of the Holy Spirit and creating in himself a worthy dwelling for Him, in
accordance with the words of the Scripture: Ye are the temple of God and the Spirit of
God dwelleth in you.[4] The Spirit of God indeed dwelt in this virtuous and pure youth
and, serving the Lord, he glowed with the Spirit. In him were noticed no habits natural to
youth: in his moral disposition he was like an old man, because all esteemed him and
marveled at him. An old man, if he shows youthful inclinations is a laughing-stock to
everyone; on the other hand, if a youth has the disposition of an old man, he is esteemed
by all with wonder. Inappropriate is youth in old age, but excellent and worthy of esteem
is old age in youth.

St. Nicholas had an uncle, bishop of the town of Patara, having the same name as his
nephew who was called Nicholas in his honor. This bishop, seeing that his nephew was
successful in the virtuous life and by all means evaded the world, began to advise his
parents that they should give their son to the service of God. These heeded this advice
and consecrated to the Lord their child whom they themselves had received from Him as
a gift. For in ancient books it is told concerning them that they were childless and already
had no hope. of baring children, but by many prayers, tears, and deeds of mercy they
begged of God a son for themselves, and now had no regret in bringing him as a gift to
Him Who had given him. The bishop, receiving this old man in youth, who had gray hairs
of wisdom and youth in old age, an undefiled life,[5] raised him to the rank of priest.
When be ordained St. Nicholas a priest, then, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
addressing the people who were in the church, he pronounced a prophecy:

"I see, brethren, a new sun rising above the earth and manifesting in himself a gracious
consolation for the afflicted. Blessed is the flock that will be worthy to have him as its
pastor, because this one will shepherd well the souls of those who have gone astray, will
nourish them on the pasturage of piety, and will be a merciful helper in misfortune and
tribulation."

This prophecy was indeed later fulfilled, as will be evident from later narrative.

Having accepted the priestly rank, St. Nicholas added labors to labors; keeping vigil and
remaining in unceasing prayer and fasting, he, being mortal, strove to imitate the
bodiless ones. Leading a life equal to the angels and flowering from day to day all the
more in beauty of soul, he was entirely worthy to rule in the church. At this time, Bishop
Nicholas, desiring to go to Palestine for the veneration of the holy places, handed over the
rule of the church to his nephew. This priest of God, St. Nicholas, having taken over the
place of his uncle, took care of the at/airs of the church in the same way as the bishop
himself. At this time his parents passed on to eternal life. Having obtained their estate in
inheritance, St. Nicholas distributed it to the needy. For he paid no attention to temporal
riches and did not concern himself with its increase, but, renouncing all earthly desires,
with all his heart he strove to devote himself to the One God, crying: Unto Thee, O Lord,
have I lifted up my soul. Teach me to do Thy will for Thou art my God. On Thee was I
cast from the womb; from my mother's womb, Thou art my God.[6]

And his hand was outstretched to the needy, on whom it poured alms richly, as a water-
filled river abounds in streams. Here is one of his many deeds of mercy.

There lived in the town of Patara a certain man, prominent and rich. Falling into extreme
poverty, he lost his former prominence, because of the uncertain life of this age. This man
had three daughters who were very beautiful in appearance. When he was already
deprived of all necessities, so that there was nothing to eat and nothing to wear because
of his great poverty, he planned to give his daughters to prostitution and turn his house
into a brothel so that by this means he might obtain a livelihood for himself and acquire
also food and clothing for himself and his daughters. O woe! To such unworthy thoughts
does extreme misery lead! Having this unclean thought this man wanted already to fulfill
his evil design. But the All-good Lord, not desiring to see a man in perdition and, in His
love for mankind, helping in our misfortunes, placed a good thought in the mind of His
servant, the holy priest Nicholas, and by inspiration sent him secretly to the man who was
perishing in soul, for consolation in poverty and forewarning from sin. St. Nicholas, having
heard of the extreme poverty of this man and knowing through revelation from God of his
evil intention, felt great pity for him and decided to draw him out, together with his
daughters, from poverty and sin, as from fire. However, he did not wish to show his good
deed to this man openly, but intended to give generous alms secretly. St. Nicholas did
thus for two reasons. On the one hand, he wanted to escape vain, human glory, following
the words of the Gospel: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men;[7] on the other
hand, he did not want to offend the man who once was rich and now had fallen into
extreme poverty. For he knew how painful and insulting alms are to him who has fallen
into pauperism, because it reminds him of his former prosperity. Therefore St. Nicholas
considered it better to act according to the teaching of Christ: Let not thy left hand know
what thy right hand doeth.[8] He so much shunned the praise of men that he tried to
hide himself even from him whom he benefited. He took a large sack of gold, came at
midnight to the house of that man and, throwing this sack in the window, hastened to
return home. In the morning this man arose and, finding the sack, untied it. At the sight
of gold, he fell into great consternation and did not believe his eyes, because from
nowhere could he expect such a favor. However, in examining the money with his fingers,
he was convinced that it was in fact gold before him. Having rejoiced in spirit and
wondering at it, he wept for joy, for a long time he pondered over who could show him
such a favor, and could think of nothing. Attributing this to the action of divine
providence, he continually thanked his benefactor in his soul, rendering praise to the Lord
Who cares for all. After this he gave his oldest daughter in marriage, giving her as dowry
the gold miraculously given to him. St. Nicholas, knowing that this man acted according
to his wishes, loved him and decided to do a like mercy also to the second daughter,
intending by a lawful wedding to protect her also from sin. Preparing another sack of gold
like the first one, he by night, hidden from all, by the same window threw it into the
house of man. Arising in the morning, the poor man again found gold in his house. Again
he was astonished and, falling to the earth and drenching himself with tears, he said:

"O merciful God, Author of our salvation, Who hast redeemed me by Thine Own Blood and
now redeemest by gold my home and my daughters from the nets of the enemy, do Thou
Thyself show me the minister of Thy mercy and Thy philanthropic goodness. Show me
this earthly angel who preserves us from sinful perdition, so that I might know who hath
snatched us from the poverty which oppresses us and delivers us from evil thoughts and
intentions. O Lord, by Thy mercy secretly done for me by the generous hand of Thy
servant unknown to me, I can give my second daughter lawfully in marriage and with this
escape the snares of the devil, who desired by a tainted gain, or even without it, to
increase my great ruin."

Having prayed 'thus to the Lord and having thanked Him for His goodness, this man
celebrated the wedding of his second daughter. Hoping in God, the lather nourished
undoubting hope that He would also grant a lawful husband to the third daughter, again
secretly giving by a beneficent hand the gold necessary for it. In order to learn who
brought gold to him, and whence, the father did not sleep for many nights, watching/or
his benefactor and desiring to see him. Not much time passed when the awaited
benefactor appeared. The servant of Christ, Nicholas, quietly came also a third time and,
having stopped at the usual place, threw in the same window a similar sack of gold, and
immediately hurried to his home. Hearing the clink of the gold thrown in the window, the
man ran after the servant of God as rapidly as possible. Having caught up with him and
recognizing him, because it was impossible not to know the saint by his virtues and
illustrious origin, the man fell at his feet, kissing them and calling the saint a deliverer, a
helper, and a savior of souls which came to the edge of ruin.

"If," said he, "the Lord great in mercy had not raised me up through thy generosity, then
I, an unfortunate father, already long ago would he lost together with my daughters in
the fire of Sodom. Now we are saved through thee and delivered from a horrible fall into
sin."

And yet many similar words he tearfully said to the saint. Just after raising him from the
earth, the holy servant of God took from him an oath that during his life he would tell no
one about what had happened to him. Telling him yet many things to his profit, the saint
dismissed him to his home.

Out of the many deeds of mercy of the servant of God we have related only one, so that
it be known how merciful he was to the poor. Because there would not be enough time for
us to tell about this in detail, how generous he was to the destitute, how many hungry he
led, how many naked he clothed, and how many he ransomed from moneylenders.

After this, the holy lather Nicholas desired to go to Palestine, to see and venerate those
holy places where our Lord God, Jesus Christ, walked with His most pure feet. When the
ship sailed near Egypt and the travelers knew not what awaited them, St. Nicholas, who
was among them, foresaw that soon a storm would arise and informed his fellow travelers
of it, telling them that he had seen the devil himself entering the ship with the intent to
drown all of them in the depths of the sea. And in this very hour unexpectedly the
heavens were covered with clouds, and a powerful storm raised a terrible turbulence on
the sea. The travelers tell into great terror, and having despaired of their salvation and
expecting death, entreated holy lather Nicholas to help them who were perishing in the
deep sea.

"If thou, O servant of God," they said, "do not help us by thy prayers to the Lord, then we
shall immediately perish."

Commanding them to have courage, to place their hope in God and without any doubts to
expect a speedy deliverance, the saint began to pray fervently to the Lord. Immediately
the sea became peaceful, and a great calm set in, and the common sorrow turned into
joy. The joyful travelers rendered thanksgiving to God and His servant, holy Father
Nicholas, and were doubly astonished -- both at his foretelling of the storm and the
cessation of distress. After this, one of the sailors had to climb to the top of the mast. In
descending from there he slipped and fell from the very heights to the middle of the ship,
killing himself and lying breathless. St. Nicholas, ready to help before it was needed, at
once resurrected him by his prayer, and the man rose as if awaking from sleep. After this,
hoisting all sails, the travelers happily continued their voyage, under favorable winds, and
peacefully put in to shore at Alexandria. Healing here many ill and demon-possessed
people and consoling the afflicted, the servant of God St. Nicholas again set out for
Palestine according to his original plan.

Reaching the holy city of Jerusalem, St. Nicholas came to Golgotha, where Christ our God
stretched out His immaculate hands and wrought salvation for the race of mankind. Here
God's servant poured out prayers from a heart burning with love, sending up thanksgiving
to our Savior. He went round all the holy places, making fervent veneration everywhere.
And when at night he wanted to enter a holy church[9] for prayer, the closed doors of the
church swung open by themselves, disclosing an unhindered entry to him for whom were
opened also the heavenly gates. Having spent a long enough time in Jerusalem, St.
Nicholas intended to seclude himself in the desert, but was restrained by a Divine voice
from on high, which admonished him to return to his homeland. The Lord God Who orders
everything to our profit, did not will that that luminary, who by the will of God needs must
illuminate the metropolis of Lycia, should remain hidden under a bushel in the desert.
Having arrived aboard ship, the servant of God made an agreement with the crew so that
they would deliver him to his native land. But they schemed to deceive him and directed
their ship not to Lycia, but to another land. When they sailed from the harbor, St.
Nicholas, noticing that the ship sailed another way, fell at the feet of the seamen,
beseeching them to direct the ship to Lycia. But they paid not the slightest attention to
his entreaties and continued to sail along the charted route: they didn't know that God
would not forsake His servant. And suddenly a storm swooped down, turned the ship in
the other direction, and quickly carried it in the direction of Lycia, threatening the crew
with complete destruction. Thus carried by Divine power over the sea, St. Nicholas finally
arrived in his fatherland. In his good nature he did no evil to his perfidious enemies. He
not only was not angry, but also did not accuse them by a single word, but dismissed
them with a blessing to their own country. He himself came to the monastery founded by
his uncle and called Holy Sion, and here he proved to be a welcome guest to the entire
brotherhood. Receiving him with great love as an angel of God, they were delighted by
his divinely-inspired speech and, imitating the good nature with which God had adorned
His servant, learned from his angel-like life. Finding in this monastery a silent life and a
peaceful haven for contemplation, St. Nicholas hoped also to spend the remaining time of
his life here without going out. But God showed him a different way, because He did not
desire so rich a treasure of' virtue, which ought to enrich the world, to remain cloistered
in a monastery, like a treasure buried in the earth, but that it should be open to all and
by him accomplish a spiritual purchase, acquiring many souls. And so, once, the saint,
standing at prayer, heard a voice from on high:

"Nicholas, if you desire to be vouchsafed a crown from Me, go and struggle for the good
of the world."

Hearing this, St. Nicholas was terrified and began to ponder over what this voice desired
and required of him. And again he heard:

"Nicholas, here is not the field on which you must bring forth the fruit I expect; but turn
back and go into the world and let My name be glorified in you.

Then St. Nicholas realized that the Lord needed him to forsake the podvig of silence and
go into the service of people for their salvation.

He began to consider where he should go, either to his fatherland, the town of Patara, or
to another place. Fleeing vainglory among his fellow citizens and tearing it, he thought of
removing himself to another town where no one would know him. In this same Lycian
land was the renowned city of Myra, which was the metropolis of all Lycia.[10] To this city
came St. Nicholas, led by divine providence. Here he was known to no one; and he
remained in this city as a pauper, having nowhere to lay his head. Only in the house of
the Lord did he find shelter, having his only refuge in God. At that lime the bishop of this
city, John, the archbishop and foremost hierarch of the entire land of Lycia, died.
Consequently all the bishops of Lycia gathered in Myra in order to choose a worthy one
for the vacant throne. Many respected and prudent men were nominated as successors to
John. Among those who were doing the choosing there was a great discord, and certain
among them, led by Divine zeal, said:

"The election of a bishop to this throne is not up to the decision of people, but is a matter
of God's direction. It is proper for us to say prayers so that the Lord Himself will disclose
who is worthy to receive such rank and be the shepherd of the whole land of Lycia."

This good counsel reel with general approval and all devoted themselves to fervent prayer
and fasting. The Lord Who fulfills the desires of those that fear Him, attending to the
prayer of the bishops then revealed to the oldest of them His good will. When this bishop
stood at prayer, before him appeared a man in an image of light and commanded him to
go to the doors of the church during the night and observe who will enter before everyone
else.
"This," said He, "is My choice; receive him with honor and install him as archbishop; the
name of this man is Nicholas."

The bishop informed the rest of the bishops about such a divine vision, and these, hearing
this, increased their prayers. The bishop who had been considered worthy of the
revelation stood in that place where it was ordered in the vision, and awaited the coming
of the desired man. When the time came for the morning service, St. Nicholas, urged by
the spirit, came to the church before all, for he was accustomed to rise at midnight for
prayer and come earlier than the others for the morning service. As soon as he entered
the narthex, the bishop who had been vouchsafed the revelation stopped him and asked
him to tell his name. St. Nicholas remained silent. The bishop again asked him about his
name. The saint meekly and softly answered him:

"My name is Nicholas, I am the servant of thy holiness, Master." The pious bishop,
hearing such a brief and humble speech, understood by the very name -- Nicholas --
foretold him in vision, as well as by the humble and meek answer, that before him was
the very man whom God was pleased to have as foremost bishop of the church of Myra.
For he knew from Holy Scripture that the Lord takes care of the meek, the silent, and
those who tremble before the word of God. With great joy he rejoiced, as if he had
received some secret treasure. Immediately taking St. Nicholas by the hand, he told him:
"Follow me, child."

When with honor he led the saint to the bishops, they were filled with divine delight, and
being relieved in spirit that they had found the man indicated by God Himself, they
conducted him to the church. Rumor about this spread everywhere and innumerable
multitudes of people flocked swifter than birds to the church. The bishop who had been
deemed worthy of the vision addressed the people and exclaimed:

"Brethren, receive your shepherd whom the Holy Spirit Himself anointed and to whom He
entrusted the care of your souls. He was not appointed by an assembly of men, but by
God Himself. Now we have the one that we desired, and have found and accepted the one
we sought. Under his rule and instruction we will not lack the hope that we will stand
before God in the day of His appearing and revelation."

All the people gave thanks to God and rejoiced with ineffable joy. Not being able to
endure the praise of men, for a long time St. Nicholas refused to accept the sacred office;
but yielding to the ardent requests of the council of bishops and all the people, he
ascended the episcopal throne against his will. To this he was impelled by a Divine vision
which he had yet before the death of Archbishop John. Concerning this vision St.
Methodius, patriarch of Constantinople, relates. Once -- he said -- St. Nicholas saw at
night that before him stood the Savior in all His glory and gave him a Gospel ornamented
with gold and pearls. On the other side of himself St. Nicholas saw the most holy
Theotokos who placed on his shoulders the episcopal omophorion. After this vision a few
days passed, and Archbishop John of Myra died.

Recalling this vision and seeing in it the clear will of God, and not wishing to refuse the
fervent entreaties of the council, St. Nicholas accepted the flock. The council of bishops
with all the church clergy performed over him the ordination and joyously celebrated,
made glad by the shepherd given of God, Nicholas, the hierarch of Christ. By this means
the Church of God received a bright lamp which did not remain under a bushel, but was
set on the episcopal and pastoral place proper to him. Having been honored with this
great office, St. Nicholas rightly divided the word of truth and wisely guided his flock in
the teaching of faith.

In the beginning of his pastorship the servant of God said to himself thus:

"Nicholas! The rank received by you requires different habits, so that you live not for
yourself but for others."

Desiring to instruct his rational sheep in the virtues, he did not hide his virtuous life as
before. For formerly, he passed his life secretly serving God Who Alone knew his ascetic
feats. But now, after receiving the episcopal office, his life was open to all, not by
vainglory before the people, but for their benefit and the increase of God's glory, so that
the word of the Gospel be fulfilled: "Let your light so shine before men that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.[11] By his good deeds St.
Nicholas was like a mirror for his flock and, according to the word of the apostle, "an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in
purity.[12] In character he was meek and forgiving, humble of spirit, and shunned all
vainglory. His clothing was simple, his food - fasting fare, which he always ate only once
a day, and that in the evening. All the day long he spent in labor proper to his office,
listening to the requests and needs of those who came to him. The doors of his house
were open to all. He was kind and affable to all, to orphans he was a father, to the poor a
merciful giver, to the weeping a comforter, to the wronged a helper, and to all a great
benefactor. To assist in him in the ruling of the church he chose two virtuous and prudent
counselors who were invested with priestly rank. These were men well-known in all of
Greece -- Paul of Rhodes and Theodore of Ascalon.

So St. Nicholas tended the flock entrusted to him, the rational sheep of Christ. But the
envious evil serpent, never ceasing to incite war against the servants of God and not
enduring the flourishing of piety among the people, raised persecution against the Church
of Christ through the impious emperors Diocletian and Maximtan.[13] At this same time,
from these emperors an order was sent all over the empire that Christians must renounce
Christ and worship idols. Those who did not submit to this order were compelled to it by
confinement in prison and severe tortures and, finally, given over to execution. This storm
breathing evil, by the fervor of the zealots of darkness and ungodliness, soon reached
also the city of Myra. The blessed Nicholas, who was the leader of all Christians in this
city, freely and boldly preached the piety of Christ and was ready to suffer for Christ. For
this he was seized by impious torturers and confined in prison together with many
Christians. He remained not a little time, bearing severe suffering, enduring hunger and
thirst and an overcrowded dungeon. He led his fellow prisoners on the word of God and
quenched their thirst with the water of piety; confirming in them faith in Christ God,
strengthening them on an indestructible foundation, he persuaded them to be firm in the
confession of Christ and to suffer eagerly for the truth. By this time Christians again were
given freedom, and piety shone forth, like the sun alter dark storm clouds, and like some
calm coolness after a storm. For Christ the Lover of mankind, looking upon His
inheritance, annihilated the ungodly, casting down Diocletian and Maximian from the
imperial throne and destroying the power of the adherents of Hellenic impiety. By the
appearance of His Cross to Constantine the Great, to whom He was pleased to entrust the
kingdom of Rome, the Lord God "raised up a horn of salvation"[14] for His people. The
Emperor Constantine, recognizing the One God and placing all his hope in Him, conquered
all his enemies by the power of the precious Cross and ordered all temples of idols to be
destroyed and Christian temples to be restored, and dispelled the vain hopes of his
predecessors. He liberated all confined in prisons for Christ, and honoring them with great
praises as courageous warriors, returned these confessors of Christ each to his
fatherland. At this time also the city of Myra again received its shepherd, the great bishop
Nicholas, who had been deemed worthy of the crown of martyrdom. Bearing in himself
the Divine grace, he, as before, healed the passions and ailments of people, and not only
of the faithful, but also the unbelievers. Because of the great grace of God that dwelt in
him, many glorified him and were astonished at him and all loved him. For he shone with
purity of heart and was endowed with all the gifts of God, serving his Lord in holiness and
righteousness. At that time there remained still many Hellenic temples, to which impious
people were attracted by devilish suggestion and many inhabitants of Myra remained in
perdition. The archbishop of the Most High God, animated by Divine zeal, visited all these
places, destroying and turning into dust the temples of the idols and purifying his flock
from diabolical defilement. Thus fighting with evil spirits, St. Nicholas came to the temple
of Diana,[15] which was very large and richly adorned. presenting an agreeable dwelling
for demons. St. Nicholas destroyed this polluted temple, leveled its high edifice to the
ground and the very foundation of the temple, which was in the earth, he scattered in the
air, taking up arms more against the demons than against the temple itself. The evil
spirits, not enduring the arrival of the servant of God, uttered doleful cries, but,
vanquished by the weapon of prayer of the unconquerable warrior of Christ, St. Nicholas,
they were forced to flee from their habitation.

The right-believing Emperor Constantine, desiring to firmly establish the Christian Faith,
commanded an ecumenical council to be convened in the city Nicea. The holy fathers of
the council laid down the correct teaching, anathematized the Arian heresy, and together
with it Arius[16] himself, confessing the Son of God of equal honor and essence co-
everlasting with the Father, re-established peace in the holy Divine, Apostolic Church. St.
Nicholas was also among the 318 fathers of the council. He stood courageously against
the impious teachings of Arius, and together with the holy fathers of the council affirmed
and taught all the dogmas of the Orthodox Faith. A monk, John, of the Studite Monastery
relates concerning St. Nicholas that, animated like the Prophet Elias by zeal for God, he
put the heretic Arius to shame at the council not only by word but also by deed, smiting
him on the cheek. The fathers of the council were indignant at the saint and for his daring
action decided to deprive him of his episcopal rank. But our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and
His most-blessed Mother, beholding from on high the deed of St. Nicholas, approved His
courageous action and praised his divine zeal. For some of the holy fathers of the council
had a vision similar to the one the saint himself was vouchsafed even before his
ordination to the episcopate. They saw that on one side of the saint stands Christ the Lord
Himself with the Gospel, and on the other, the most pure Virgin Theotokos with an
omophorion, and they give the hierarch the emblems of his rank, of which he was
deprived. Understanding from this that the boldness of the saint was pleasing to God, the
fathers of the council ceased to reprove the saint and rendered him honor as a great
servant of God.[17] Returning from the council to his flock, St. Nicholas brought it peace
and blessing. With his mellifluous mouth he taught the entire people sound instruction,
cut off at the very root erroneous ideas and reasonings and, having exposed the
embittered, senseless heretics deep-rooted in wickedness, expelled them from Christ's
flock. As a wise farmer purifies all that is found on the threshingfloor or on a grindstone,
selects the best grain, and plucks out the tares, so the prudent laborer on the
threshingfloor of Christ, St. Nicholas, filled the spiritual granary with good fruit, scattered
and swept away the tares of heretical deception from the wheat of the Lord. That is why
the Holy Church calls him a fan blowing away the weedy teachings of Arius. And indeed
he was a light for the world and salt of the earth, because his life was light and his words
were salted with wisdom. This good shepherd took great care for his flock, in all of its
needs, not only nourishing it on spiritual pasturage, but also providing for its bodily
needs.

Once in the land of Lycia there was a great famine, and in the city of Myra there was an
extreme shortage of food. Feeling pity for the unfortunate people who were perishing
from hunger, God's bishop appeared at night in a dream to a certain merchant who
happened to be in Italy, who loaded his entire ship with grain and intended to sail to
another land. Giving him a pledge of three gold coins, the saint commanded him to sail to
Myra and sell the grain there. Awaking and finding the gold in his hand, the merchant was
frightened, amazed by such a dream which was accompanied by the miraculous
appearance of money. The merchant did not dare to disobey the command of the saint,
went to the city of Myra and sold out his bread to its inhabitants. At the. same time he did
not hide from them the appearance of' St. Nicholas to him in a dream. Having acquired
such consolation in hunger and listening to the tale of the merchant, the citizens gave
glory and thanks to God and extolled their miraculous nourisher, the great Bishop
Nicholas.

At that time in great Phrygia there arose a revolt. Having learned of it, the Emperor
Constantine sent three commanders with their soldiers to pacify the rebellious region.
These were the commanders Nepotian, Ursus, and Herpylion. With great haste they set
sail from Constantinople and remained at one port of the diocese of Lycia which was
called the Adriatic shore. Here there was a town. Since strong rough seas prevented their
sailing farther, they remained in this harbor to wait for calm weather. During their stay
certain soldiers, going ashore to purchase necessities, took a great deal by force. Since
this happened often, the inhabitants of this town were embittered; as a consequence, at a
place called Plakomata, there arose argument, strife, and abuse between them and the
soldiers. Learning of this, the holy Bishop Nicholas himself' decided to travel to that town
in order to quell the civil strife. Hearing of his arrival, all the citizens, together with the
soldiers, went out to meet him and bowed down. The saint asked the commanders
whence and whither they guarded the way. They told him that they were sent by the
emperor to Phrygia to put down the revolt which had arisen there. The saint admonished
them to hold their soldiers in submission and not to allow them to oppress the people.
After this he invited the commanders into the city and cordially entertained them. The
commanders, having disciplined the offending soldiers, stilled the revolt, and were
honored with a blessing from St. Nicholas. When this happened, there arrived from Myra
certain citizens lamenting and weeping. Falling at the feet of the saint, they asked him to
defend the wronged, relating to him with tears that in his absence the ruler Eustathius,
bribed by envious and evil people, condemned to death three men from their town, who
were guilty of no crime.

"Our whole town," they said, "laments and weeps, and awaits your return, Master. For if
you had been with us, then the ruler would not have dared to make such an unjust
judgment."

Having heard about this, God's bishop began to grieve in soul, and in company with the
commanders immediately set out on his way. Upon reaching the place, called "Leo," the
saint met certain travelers and asked them whether they knew of those men condemned
to death. They answered:

"We fell them on the field of Castor and Pollux, being dragged away to execution."

St. Nicholas went faster, rushing to prevent the death of those innocent men. Having
reached the place of execution, he saw that a multitude of people was gathered there.
The condemned men, with their afros bound crosswise and with faces covered, had
already knelt on the ground, stretched out their bare necks and awaited the blow of the
sword. The saint saw that the executioner, harsh and violent, had already drawn his
sword. Such a spectacle threw all into horror and distress. Combining anger with
meekness, Christ's saint passed freely among the people, without any fear snatched the
sword from the hands of the executioner, threw it upon the ground and then set the
condemned men free of their bonds. All this he did with great boldness, and no one dared
to stop him, because his word was powerful and Divine power was apparent in his
actions: he was great before God and all the people. The men, delivered from the death
sentence, seeing themselves unexpectedly restored from near death to life, shed warm
tears and uttered joyful cries, and the all the people assembled there gave thanks to their
bishop. The ruler Eustathius arrived there and wanted to approach the bishop. But the
servant of God turned away from him with disdain and when the ruler fell at his leer, he
thrust him aside. Calling down upon him the vengeance of God, St. Nicholas threatened
him with torment for his unjust rule and promised to tell the emperor of his deeds. Being
denounced by his own conscience and frightened by the threats of the bishop, the ruler
with tears begged for mercy. Repenting of his injustice and desiring reconciliation with the
great Father Nicholas, he laid his guilt before the elders of the city, Simonides and
Eudocius. But the lie could not be hid, because the bishop knew well that the ruler, being
bribed with gold, condemned the innocent to death. For a long time the ruler begged him
to forgive him, and only then, when, with great humility and tears he acknowledged his
sin, did the servant of Christ grant him forgiveness.

At the sight of all that happened, the commanders who had remained together with the
hierarch were amazed at the zeal and goodness of the great bishop of God. Having been
vouchsafed of his prayers, and having received from him a blessing for their journey, they
set out for Phrygia in order to fulfill the royal command given to them. Arriving at the
place of the revolt, they quickly suppressed it, and having fulfilled the royal commission,
they returned with joy to Byzantium. The emperors and all the grandees gave them great
praise and honor, and they were deemed worthy to take part in the royal council. But evil
people envying such fame of the commanders, conceived enmity against them. Having
meditated evil against them, they came to Eulavius, the ruler of the city, and slandered
those men, saying:

"The commanders counsel ill, because, as we have heard, they introduce innovations and
mediate evil against the emperor."

In order to win over the ruler to their side, they gave him much gold. The ruler informed
the emperor. Having heard about this, the emperor, without any investigation, ordered
those commanders to be confined in prison, learning that they might run away secretly
and fulfill their evil design. Languishing in jail, and conscious of their innocence, the
commanders were perplexed as to why they were thrown in prison. After a short time,
the slanderers began to fear that their slander and evil would come to light and they
themselves might suffer. Therefore, they came to the ruler and fervently begged him that
he not allow those men to live so long and hasten to condemn them to death. Ensnared in
the nets of avarice, the ruler was obliged to carry out what was promised to the end. He
immediately departed to the emperor and, like a messenger of evil, appeared before him
with a sad lace and a sorrowful look. Along with this, he wished to show that he was very
much concerned about the life of the emperor and truly devoted to him. Striving to incite
the emperor's anger against the innocent, he began to hold forth with lying and cunning
speech, saving:

"O Emperor, not one of those shut in prison wishes to repent. All of them persist in their
evil design, not ceasing to plot intrigues against you. Therefore, command without delay
to hand them over to torture, so that they may not anticipate us and accomplish their evil
deed, which they planned against the military commanders and you."

Alarmed by these words the emperor immediately condemned the commanders to death.
But because it was evening, their punishment was delayed until morning. The prison
guard learned of this. Having privately shed many tears over such a disaster threatening
the innocent, he went to the commanders and said to them:

"For me it would have been better if I had not known you and had not enjoyed pleasant
conversation and repast with you. Then I would easily bear separation from you and
would not lament in soul over the disaster coming upon you. Morning will come, and the
final and horrible separation will overtake us. I already do not see your faces dear to me,
and do not hear your voice, because the emperor ordered to execute you. Instruct me
how to deal with your possessions while there is yet time, and death has not yet
prevented you from expressing your will."

He interrupted his speech with sobs. Learning of their horrible sentence, the generals rent
their clothing and tore their hear, saying:

"What enemy has begrudged us our lives? For the sake of what are we, like malefactors,
condemned to execution? What have we done, for what is it necessary to hand us over to
death?"
And they called upon their relatives and friends by name, setting God Himself' as their
witness, that they had done no evil, and wept bitterly. One of them by the name of
Nepotian recalled, regarding St. Nicholas, how he, having appeared in Myra as a glorious
helper and good defender, delivered three men from death. And the commanders began
to pray:

"O God of Nicholas, having delivered the three men from an unjust death, look now also
upon us, for there can be no help from men. There hath come upon us a great disaster,
and there is none who might deliver us from disaster. Our voice is cut off' before the
departure of our soul from the body, and our tongue is parched, burnt up by the fire of
our heartfelt distress, so that we are not able to offer prayer unto Thee. "Let Thy
compassions quickly go before us, O Lord.[18] Rescue us out the hand of them that seek
after our souls." Tomorrow they wish to kill us, but do Thou hasten to our aid and deliver
us innocent ones from death."

Attending to the prayers of those who fear Him and, like a father, pouring out compassion
on His children, the Lord God sent His saint and servant, the great Bishop Nicholas, as
help to the condemned men. That night the saint of Christ appeared to the emperor in a
dream and said:

"Arise quickly and release those commanders languishing in prison. They were slandered
to you and they suffer guiltlessly."

The saint explained in detail every deed and added:

"If you do not obey me and do not let them go, then I will raise a revolt against you
similar to the one that occurred in Phrygia and you will perish by an evil death."

Astounded at such boldness, the emperor began to wonder how this man dared to enter
into the inner chamber at night, and said to him:

"Who are you that you dare to threaten us and our power?"

He replied: "My name is Nicholas, I am the bishop of the metropolis of Myra."

The emperor became confused and, arising, began to ponder upon what this vision
meant. Meanwhile, on that night the saint appeared to the ruler Eulavius and informed
him about the condemned men also. Awakening from sleep, Eulavius became frightened.
While he thought on this vision, there came a messenger from the emperor and told him
about what the emperor had seen in a dream. Hastening to the emperor, the ruler
disclosed his vision to him, and both of them were amazed that they had seen one and
the same thing. At once the emperor ordered the commanders brought to him from
prison, and said to them:
"By what sorcery did you bring these dreams upon us? A very angry man appeared to us
and threatened us, boasting to soon bring war upon us."

The commanders turned one to another in perplexity and, knowing nothing, looked at one
another with distressed glances. Noticing this, the emperor was mollified and said: "Fear
no evil, tell the truth."

With tears and sobs they replied: "O Emperor, we know nothing of sorcery and have
designed no evil against your power, may the All-seeing Lord be a witness in this. If we
are deceiving you, and you learn anything ill of us, then allow no favor or clemency either
to us or to our relatives. From our fathers we learned to honor the emperor and be
faithful to him before all things. Thus also now we faithfully defend your life and, as is
proper to our rank, unswervingly fulfill your commands to us. Serving you with zeal, we
subdued the revolt in Phrygia, stopped the civil strife, and demonstrated our courage
sufficiently by this deed itself, as those witness to whom this is well-known. Your power
heaped honors upon us before, and now you with anger set yourself against us and
pitilessly condemned us to an agonizing death. And so, O Emperor, we think that we
suffer only for our zeal toward you alone, for which we have been condemned and,
instead of glory and honors which we had hoped to receive, the fear of death has
overtaken us."

At this address the emperor became compassionate and repented of his rash behavior.
For he began to tremble before the judgment of God and left embarrassment for his royal
purple, seeing that he, being a lawgiver for others, was ready to make a lawless
judgment. He looked compassionately upon the condemned men and conversed with
them briefly. Listening to his speech with compunction, the commanders suddenly saw St.
Nicholas sitting next to the emperor and, by signs, promising him forgiveness. The
emperor interrupted their discourse and asked:

"Who is this Nicholas, and which men did he save? Tell me about it."

Nepotian related to him everything in the order of its occurrence.

Then the emperor, learning that St. Nicholas was a great servant of God, marveled at his
boldness and his great zeal in defense of the wronged, freed those commanders and said
to them:

"It is not I that grant you life, but the great servant of the Lord, Nicholas, whom you
called upon for help. Go to him and offer him thanksgiving. Say to him also from me that
'I fulfilled your command that the servant of Christ be not angry with me.'"

With these words he handed them a golden Gospel, a golden censer ornamented with
stones, and two lamps and ordered all this to be given to the church of Myra. Having
received a miraculous escape, the commanders set out on their way at once. Arriving in
Myra, they rejoiced and were glad that they were vouchsafed to see the saint again. They
expressed great gratitude to St. Nicholas for his wonderful help and chanted:
"Lord, O Lord, who is like unto Thee? Delivering the beggar from the hand of them that
are stronger than he." [19]

They gave generous alms to the needy and the paupers and returned home safely. Such
are the works of God with which the Lord magnified His servant. The tame of them spread
everywhere, as on wings, it reached across the sea and spread throughout the world, so
that there was no place where people did not know of the great and wonderful miracles of
the great bishop Nicholas, which he wrought by the grace given him by the Almighty
Lord.

Once, travelers sailing by ship from Egypt to the land of Lycia encountered strong
turbulent seas and storm. The sails were already torn by the hurricane, the ship was
lashed by the blows of the waves, and all despaired of their deliverance. At this time they
remembered the great bishop Nicholas, whom they had never seen but only heard of,
that he is a speedy helper to all that call upon him in misfortune. They turned to him in
prayer and began call upon him for aid. The saint immediately appeared to them, walked
on to the ship, and said:

"You called upon me, and I have come to help you; be not afraid!" All saw that he took
the helm and began to pilot the ship. As on that occasion when our Lord bade the winds
and the sea,[20] the saint at once commanded the storm to cease, keeping in mind the
words of the Lord:

"He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also."[21] Thus the true servant
of the Lord commanded both the wind and the sea, and they were obedient to him.
Afterwards, under favorable winds the travelers reached the city of Myra. Going ashore
they went to the city, desiring to see him who had saved them from disaster. They met
the saint on the way to church and, recognizing in him their benefactor, they fell at his
feet, giving thanks to him. The wondrous Nicholas not only delivered them from danger
and death, but also showed concern for their spiritual salvation. By his clairvoyance he
saw in them with his spiritual eyes the sin of fornication, which separates man from God
and leads him away from keeping the commandments of God, and said to them:

"Children, I beseech you, consider within yourselves and correct your hearts and thoughts
for the pleasing of the Lord. For even if we have hidden things from many people and
have reckoned ourselves righteous, yet nothing can be hidden from God. Therefore,
hasten with all diligence to preserve sanctity of soul and purity of body. For thus saith the
divine Apostle Paul: "Ye are the temple of God... if any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy.''[22]

Having instructed those men with edifying words, the saint dismissed them in peace. For
the character of the saint was as a childloving father, and his countenance shone with
Divine grace like an angel of God. From his face, as from the lace of Moses, emanated a
bright ray, and to him who only looked at him there was great benefit. For him who was
burdened with some kind of passion or affliction of soul, it was enough to fix his gaze on
the saint in order to receive consolation in his sorrow; and he who conversed with him
already improved in good. And not only Christians, but also non-believers, any of them
came to hear the sweet and mellifluous discourses of the saint, came to compunction and,
noting the evil of unbelief which was implanted in them since infancy and accepting in
their heart the right word of truth, entered upon the way to salvation.

The great servant of God lived for many years in Myra, shining with Divine goodness, in
the words of the Scripture: "He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as
the moon at the full; as the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High God... and as
lilies by the rivers of waters... and as precious myrrh making all fragrant.''[23] Having
reached a ripe old age, the saint paid his debt to human nature and, after a short bodily
illness, ended his temporal life well. With joy and psalmody he passed on to eternal
blessed life, escorted by holy angels and met by choirs of saints. At his burial the bishops
of LVcia gathered with all the clergy and monastics and a countless multitude of people
from all cities. The precious body of the saint was laid with honor in the cathedral church
of the diocese of Myra on the sixth day of the month of December.[24] Many miracles
were performed by the holy relics of the servant of God. For his relics gushed forth a
fragrant and healing myrrh with which the sick were anointed and received healing. For
this reason people from all corners of the earth came to his tomb seeking healing for their
diseases and receiving it. Because not only ailments of the body, but also of the soul,
were healed, and evil spirits were expelled by this holy myrrh. For the saint warred
against demons and conquered them not only during his life, but also after his repose, as
he conquers also now'.

Several God-fearing men who lived at the mouth of the River Tanais, hearing of the
myrrh-streaming and healing relics of the saint of Christ, Nicholas, which lay in Myra of
Lycia, planned to sail there by sea for veneration of the relics. But the evil demon which
was once cast out of the temple of Diana by St. Nicholas, seeing that the ship was being
readied to sail to this great father, and being furious at the saint for the destruction of the
temple and for his expulsion, plotted to prevent these men from accomplishing their
planned journey and thus deprive them of holy things. He transformed himself into a
woman carrying a vessel of oil, and said to them:

"I wanted to carry this container to the tomb of the saint, but I am very afraid of a sea
journey because it is dangerous for a woman who is weak and suffering from a sickness
of the stomach to sail on the sea. Therefore, I beg you, take this vessel, carry it to the
tomb of the saint and pour oil into the lamp."

With these words the demon handed the vessel to the God-lovers. It is not known what
demonic enchantments were mixed with that oil, but it was meant for the harm and
destruction of the travelers. Not knowing the destructive effects of this oil, they fulfilled
the request and, having taken the container, they put out to sea and sailed safely for a
whole day. But in the morning a northerly wind arose and sailing became difficult for
them. Being in distress during many days of unfavorable sailing, they lost patience from
the continual rough seas and decided to turn back. They had already turned the ship in
that direction when St. Nicholas appeared before them in a small boat and said:
"Where are you sailing to, men, and why, having abandoned your former course, are you
turning back? You can calm the storm and make the journey easy for sailing. The devil's
nets are hindering your voyage because the vessel of oil was given to you not by a
woman, but by a demon. Throw the vessel into the sea, and immediately your voyage will
begin to be successful."

Hearing this, the men threw the demonic vessel into the depths of the sea. Immediately
black smoke and flames came out of it, the air was filled with a great stench, the sea
opened up, the water boiled and began to bubble from the very depths, and the watery
spray was like sparks of fire. Those people that stood on the ship were greatly frightened
and screamed with terror, but the helper who had appeared to them commanded them to
have courage and not be afraid, calmed the turbulent storm and, delivering the travelers
from fear, made safe their voyage to Lycia. For at once a cool and fragrant wind blew
upon them, and with gladness they successfully reached the desired city. Having
venerated the myrrh-streaming relics of their speedy helper and intercessor, they offered
thanks to Almighty God and celebrated a supplicatory hymn to the great Father Nicholas.
After this they returned to their own country and told everyone everywhere of that which
had happened to them on their journey.

Many great and marvelous wonders were performed on land and sea by this great
servant. He helped those in distress, saved from drowning and brought out those in the
depths of the sea, released from captivity and brought home those who were freed,
delivered from bonds and prison, defended from being wounded by the sword, freed from
death and gave many healings to many, sight to the blind, power to walk to the cripple,
hearing to the deaf, the gift of speech to the dumb. He enriched many suffering in
infirmity and extreme poverty, gave food to the hungry, and to all those in need he
appeared as a ready helper, a warm intercessor and speedy mediator and defender. And
even now he helps those that call upon him and delivers them from misfortune. His
miracles it is impossible to count, as it is likewise impossible to describe all of them in
detail. The East and the West know this great wonderworker, and his miracles are known
to all the ends of the earth. May the Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be
glorified in him and may his holy name be extolled by the lips of all unto the ages. Amen.

FOOTNOTES
1 Patara was a maritime trading city in the province of LVcia (now Anatolia) in Asia Minor.
It was founded by the Phoenicians and is now in ruins.

2 Psalm 1:3.

3 Psalm 83:11.

4 1 Corinthians 3:16.
5 Wisdom 4:9.

6 Psalms 24:1; 142:11; 21:10.

7 Matthew 6:1.

8 Matthew 6:3.

9 It was a small church on Mt. Sion, the only one at that time in all Jerusalem, populated
with heathens and bearing the name Aelia Capitolina. This church, according to tradition,
was built in the house where the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Mystery of Communion
and where the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles later occurred.

10 Myra (now Mira, in Turkish Dembre) was the main city of ancient Lycia and was
located near the sea on the River Andracus, at the mouth of which was the port of
Andriaca.

11 Matthew 5:16.

12 1 Timothy 4:12.

13 Emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284 to 305 AD) were co-rulers, the first ruled in
the East and the second in the West. The persecution raised by Diocletian was
distinguished for its special cruelty. It began in the city of Nicomedia where, on the very
day of Pascha, upwards of 20,000 Christians were burned in the church.

14 Luke 1:69.

15 Artemis, otherwise Diana, a famous Greek goddess personifying the moon and
considered to be the protectress of forests and the hunt.

16 Arius denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ and did not recognize His consubstantiality
with the Father. Called by the Equal-of-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine, the First
Ecumenical Council was convened in the year 325 under the chairmanship of the emperor
himself and it introduced into Church use the Symbol of Faith, later supplemented and
completed in the Second Ecumenical Council, which was held in Constantinople in 381 AD

17 According to the testimony of A.N. Muraviev, there is preserved in Nicea until now,
even among the Turks, a tradition concerning this. In one of the forts of this city they
point out the prison of St. Nicholas. Here, according to tradition, he was imprisoned
because he struck Arius at the council, and was held in bonds until he was justified by
heavenly judgment, which was marked by the appearance of a Gospel and an
omophorion, as they are portrayed on icons of the saint (Letters from the East, St.
Petersburg, 1851, part 1, pp. 106,107).

18 Psalm 78:8.

19 Psalm 34:11,12.

20 Matthew 8:26.

21 John 14:12.

22 1 Corinthians 3:16,17.

23 Ecclesiasticus 50:6-8.

24 The year of the death of St. Nicholas is not known precisely; according to some, the
servant of God died in the year 341, but according to others, the year of his demise
occurred between the years 345- 352 AD