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Saint Nicholas - Feast Day December 6th

By Nicholas - Grade 6

An icon of St. Nicholas

Saint Nicholas was a bishop of many loving people. He gave his food, clothes, and money to the poor. He was born in 300 A.D. to wealthy parents who educated him in the best schools and raised him to be a strong and dedicated Christian. His parents died during an epidemic while he was still young and he gave up his whole inheritance to the needy. He wanted to stay in the Holy Land, but God told him to return to Myra in Licea. He was ordained as Bishop or Myra at a very young age. The Bishop in Myra was given a vision and he knew that Nicholas was to be the new Archbishop.

After he taught the people about Christ, they stopped worshiping the Emperor Diocletian and worshipped God instead. Saint Nicholas was imprisoned for his faith.

In 325 A. D. during the 1st Ecumenical Council all the Orthodox Church leaders met to clarify the faith. He helped defeat the Arian heresy. But during the council he was jailed for hitting a person across the face and his bishop vestments ware taken away. That very night Mary and Jesus came to him in a dream and gave him the Gospel and bishop garments to wear and he knew his beliefs were right. Other church officials had a similar dream and he was given back his vestments and was bishop once again.

He died on December 6, 343 AD in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church.

The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day.

There was story of how he helped a poor many save his daughters from a life of slavery by giving them bags of gold for their dowries. One of the bags of gold was dropped down the chimney because the doors of the man’s house were locked. The bag fell into the stocking of one of the girls that was hanging by the fireplace. This is why we hang our stockings or put out shoes to get gifts from St. Nicholas.

St. Nicholas is venerated today as a miracle worker, and patron Saint of children, mariners, orphans, travelers, merchants, paupers, and captives. He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need.

For a description of this icon and the troparion and kontakion for this saint please click here