St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Archbishop of Myra in Lycia

Date: 05 December 2005 19:59:55

Troparion (Tone 4):
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Nicholas,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 3):
You revealed yourself, O saint, in Myra as a priest,
For you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ
By giving up your soul for your people,
And saving the innocent from death.
Therefore you are blessed as one become wise in the grace of God.

Icon from The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America

The "real" St Nicholas, whose feast we celebrate today (December 6), was a bishop of the church, a steadfast follower of Christ and His Gospel. He also had a deep practical love for the poor and the afflicted, showing kindness to all who came to him and distributing his inheritance

One of the most popular stories of his generosity is his saving of three girls from prostitution:

There was a certain formerly rich inhabitant of Patara, whom St. Nicholas saved from great sin. The man had three grown daughters, and in desparation he planned to sell their bodies so they would have money for food. The saint, learning of the man's poverty and of his wicked intention, secretly visited him one night and threw a sack of gold through the window. With the money the man arranged an honorable marriage for his daughter. St. Nicholas also provided gold for the other daughters, thereby saving the family from falling into spiritual destruction. In bestowing charity, St. Nicholas always strove to do this secretly and to conceal his good deeds.

From OCA's Life of the Saint

Another, less Santa-like incident ;-), is also well-known. At the First Ecumenical Councuil, St Nicholas struck Arius (again, from the OCA website):

St. Nicholas, fired with zeal for the Lord, assailed the heretic Arius with his words, and also struck him upon the face. For this reason, he was deprived of the emblems of his episcopal rank and placed under guard. But several of the holy Fathers had the same vision, seeing the Lord Himself and the Mother of God returning to him the Gospel and omophorion. The Fathers of the Council agreed that the audacity of the saint was pleasing to God, and restored the saint to the office of bishop.

Our parish always has a St Nicholas Children's Play the Sunday after the Feast of St Nicholas. I'm greatly looking forward to it this Sunday.