St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas
...the real Santa Claus
...the real Santa Claus
•
T
he true story of Santa Claus
begins with Nicholas, who was
born during the third century
in the village of Patara, near Myra in
modern-day Turkey. Nicholas’ wealthy
parents, who raised him to be a devout
Christian, died in an epidemic while he
was still a young boy. Obeying Jesus’
words to “sell what you own and give the
money to the poor,” Nicholas used his
whole inheritance to assist the needy, the
sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his
life to serving God and was made Bishop
of Myra while still a young man.
Bishop Nicholas became known
throughout the land for his generosity
to those in need, his love for children,
and his concern for sailors and ships. St.
Nicholas’ feast day is celebrated on December 6, the anniversary of his death.
Nicholas’ tomb in Myra became a
popular place of pilgrimage. Following
many wars and attacks in the region,
some Christians were concerned that access to the tomb might become difficult.
In the spring of 1087, sailors succeeded
in transporting the bones to Bari, a seaport on the southeast coast of Italy.
A church was built over St. Nicholas’
crypt where many faithful pilgrims journeyed to honor the saint who had rescued children, prisoners, sailors, famine
victims, and many others through his
compassion, generosity, and the countless miracles attributed to his intercession.
The Nicholas shrine in Bari was one of
medieval Europe’s great pilgrimage centers. Nicholas became known as “Saint
in Bari.” To this day pilgrims and tourists
visit Bari’s great Basilica di San Nicola in
the thousands.
Photo: Chris Clement
Photo: Chris Clement
St. Nicholas, aka James M. Rosenthal, brings Christmas cheer to New York in December 2007.
St. Nicholas, aka James M. Rosenthal, brings Christmas cheer to New York in December 2007.
T
he true story of Santa Claus
begins with Nicholas, who was
born during the third century
in the village of Patara, near Myra in
modern-day Turkey. Nicholas’ wealthy
parents, who raised him to be a devout
Christian, died in an epidemic while he
was still a young boy. Obeying Jesus’
words to “sell what you own and give the
money to the poor,” Nicholas used his
whole inheritance to assist the needy, the
sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his
life to serving God and was made Bishop
of Myra while still a young man.
Bishop Nicholas became known
throughout the land for his generosity
to those in need, his love for children,
and his concern for sailors and ships. St.
Nicholas’ feast day is celebrated on December 6, the anniversary of his death.
Nicholas’ tomb in Myra became a
popular place of pilgrimage. Following
many wars and attacks in the region,
some Christians were concerned that access to the tomb might become difficult.
In the spring of 1087, sailors succeeded
in transporting the bones to Bari, a seaport on the southeast coast of Italy.
A church was built over St. Nicholas’
crypt where many faithful pilgrims journeyed to honor the saint who had rescued children, prisoners, sailors, famine
victims, and many others through his
compassion, generosity, and the countless miracles attributed to his intercession.
The Nicholas shrine in Bari was one of
medieval Europe’s great pilgrimage centers. Nicholas became known as “Saint
in Bari.” To this day pilgrims and tourists
visit Bari’s great Basilica di San Nicola in
the thousands.
N
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St. Nicholas is depicted as patron saint of children
in this stained-glass window at St. Nicholas’
Church, Encino, California. He is also patron
of bankers, pawnbrokers, scholars, orphans,
laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers,
maidens, students, sailors, captives, perfumers,
and—oddly enough—thieves and murderers.
this great saint.”
Further information about St. Nicholas is available at the St. Nicholas Center
website: www.stnicholascenter.org and at
www.stnicholassociety.com.
Through the centuries St. Nicholas
has continued to be venerated by Roman Catholics and Orthodox and honored by Protestants and Anglicans, says
the St. Nicholas Center website. “By his
example of generosity to those in need,
especially children, St. Nicholas continues to be a model for the compassionate
life.”
“There is a little bit of St. Nicholas in
each of us,” says Rosenthal.
Life, the monthly newspaper for all Episcopalians
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icholas is especially popular
in the Netherlands, where he
is known as Sint Nicolaas, or
Sinterklaas. When the Dutch arrived in
America, they brought the tradition with
them. His name became Santa (Saint,
Sint) Claus (Klaas, Nicholas).
“St. Nicholas is the true and real name
for the great gift-giver,” says the Rev.
Canon James M. Rosenthal, president
of the U.K.-based St. Nicholas Society.
Each year, Rosenthal, an Episcopal
Church missionary, dons the traditional
St. Nicholas garb, including beard and
miter, and shares some authentic Christmas cheer with passersby, telling the
story of how St. Nicholas of Myra is the
true Santa Claus.
“It is like finding one’s roots, that is
the reclaiming of the St. Nicholas tradition versus Santa Claus,” says Rosenthal.
“Why not be fair and regain the integrity
and purpose of the beloved saint and see
the evangelistic opportunities it brings?”
St. James’ Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago is hosting a St. Nicholas exhibition
through January 5 that includes a collection of art, icons, symbols, toys, statues
and more from all over the world.
Meanwhile, the St. Nicholas Center
website includes an interactive online
presentation of the life of St. Nicholas
and the customs and traditions associated with the saint.
“Santa Claus is fine, but St Nicholas
is so much better,” says Carol Myers,
creator of the St. Nicholas Center, who
attends Grace Episcopal Church in Holland, Michigan. “I am thrilled seeing so
many Episcopal churches celebrating
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N
icholas is especially popular
in the Netherlands, where he
is known as Sint Nicolaas, or
Sinterklaas. When the Dutch arrived in
America, they brought the tradition with
them. His name became Santa (Saint,
Sint) Claus (Klaas, Nicholas).
“St. Nicholas is the true and real name
for the great gift-giver,” says the Rev.
Canon James M. Rosenthal, president
of the U.K.-based St. Nicholas Society.
Each year, Rosenthal, an Episcopal
Church missionary, dons the traditional
St. Nicholas garb, including beard and
miter, and shares some authentic Christmas cheer with passersby, telling the
story of how St. Nicholas of Myra is the
true Santa Claus.
“It is like finding one’s roots, that is
the reclaiming of the St. Nicholas tradition versus Santa Claus,” says Rosenthal.
“Why not be fair and regain the integrity
and purpose of the beloved saint and see
the evangelistic opportunities it brings?”
St. James’ Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago is hosting a St. Nicholas exhibition
through January 5 that includes a collection of art, icons, symbols, toys, statues
and more from all over the world.
Meanwhile, the St. Nicholas Center
website includes an interactive online
presentation of the life of St. Nicholas
and the customs and traditions associated with the saint.
“Santa Claus is fine, but St Nicholas
is so much better,” says Carol Myers,
creator of the St. Nicholas Center, who
attends Grace Episcopal Church in Holland, Michigan. “I am thrilled seeing so
many Episcopal churches celebrating
Subscribe to Episcopal
St. Nicholas is depicted as patron saint of children
in this stained-glass window at St. Nicholas’
Church, Encino, California. He is also patron
of bankers, pawnbrokers, scholars, orphans,
laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers,
maidens, students, sailors, captives, perfumers,
and—oddly enough—thieves and murderers.
this great saint.”
Further information about St. Nicholas is available at the St. Nicholas Center
website: www.stnicholascenter.org and at
www.stnicholassociety.com.
Through the centuries St. Nicholas
has continued to be venerated by Roman Catholics and Orthodox and honored by Protestants and Anglicans, says
the St. Nicholas Center website. “By his
example of generosity to those in need,
especially children, St. Nicholas continues to be a model for the compassionate
life.”
“There is a little bit of St. Nicholas in
each of us,” says Rosenthal.
Life, the monthly newspaper for all Episcopalians
$27 per year (18% savings off the cover price) or $50 for two years
Call 1-800-374-9510 or send an e-mail to [email protected]
In-depth coverage of General Convention starts in January. You won’t want to miss an issue!