St. Nicholas - The Gift Giver and Miracle Worker By Carleigh Cavender and Danielle Tobar   St. Nicholas is one of the most famous saints, but most people know little about his life. He was born in a small village located in modern-day Turkey to a wealthy Christian couple. His parents died when he was young, and he gave up all his possessions to live like Jesus. He gave his life to helping others and living for God. He also loved serving his people and became Bishop of Myra at a fairly young age. He was not chosen the normal way, though. When the former bishop died, other bishops gathered to select someone new. One bishop heard a voice that told him to watch the doors of the church the next day. The first person named Nicholas to walk through the doors was to be bishop. The next day St. Nicholas was consecrated and became the new bishop of Myra. Nicholas was said to have performed miracles. A famine plagued Myra when he was bishop and his people were starving. When grain ships docked in a nearby port, Nicholas asked for grain. The sailors told him they needed every bit for a delivery in Alexandria, and Nicholas assured that every piece of grain would be accounted for when they arrived at their destination. Then Nicholas took plenty of grain, but just as he had promised the sailors had every ounce of grain they needed for Alexandria. The community was fed from that grain for two years and even had some left over to plant. In 325, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicea. It was the first ecumenical council, called by Emperor Constantine. The council was called to discuss the heresy of Arianism, the belief started by Arias that Jesus was not equal to God. It is said that Nicholas slapped Arias across the face when he met him at the council and was imprisoned by Constantine. Jesus and Mary were said to have visited Nicholas in prison and to have brought him his stole and the gospels. Often Nicholas is portrayed in this scene with Jesus and Mary. One of the best-known stories of Nicholas is that of a poor man and his three daughters. Because the man did not have dowries for his daughters, all three were bound to be sold in slavery. Three different times, a bag of gold mysteriously appeared in the man’s home. The bags were thrown in through the window. They landed in shoes, starting the old tradition of leaving out shoes for gifts left by St. Nicholas. Other stories tell of his saving boys from horribles and bringing a boy captured by pirates back to his family. Many pilgrims visited Nicholas’s tomb after he died. Bari and Venice, two cities in Italy, wanted relics of St. Nicholas. Some Bari sailors succeeded in getting some, and a church was built over them. It is known as Basilica di San Nicola. Many people travel to Bari to see the great church dedicated to one of the world’s favorite saints. St. Nicholas’s feast day is December 16. He is the patron saint of ships, sailors, and prisoners or people who are wrongly accused. Saint Nicholas is widely accepted as the greatest protector of children. The list of people of whom he is the patronage is far too long to list, but it ranges from judges to shoemakers and from florists to orphans. He is most popular in the East, especially Russia. He is the patron of Greece, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, and numerous others. He is also patron of countless cities across the world. He left a lasting legacy that is especially remembered during the Christmas season and on his feast day. Hundreds of years later, Saint Nicholas has continued to be a of compassion and generosity everywhere.