The Legend

The Theologian: Legend tells us Saint Nicholas was born in Patara, Turkey about 280 AD. Being a scholar and preacher, he was appointed Bishop of Myra, Greece. During a season of Roman persecution, Bishop Nicholas was imprisoned and tortured. He spent years in chains for refusing to worship Roman idols. He earned the title of Confessor because he suffered for his faith but was not martyred. Upon the rise to power of Constantine the Great and the legalization of Christianity via the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Nicholas was freed and returned to his duties.

After his release from prison, and upon assuming his duties as Bishop, he discovered that a new threat was facing the church: Arianism, a spiritual poison that denied the Devine nature of Christ, falsely teaching that Christ was not God, but a being created by God. An early historian, writing 500 years after his death, gave credit to Bishop Nicholas for saving Myra from the Arian heresy.

The Grace of Giving: He is remembered most for his giving. When his parents died, Saint Nicholas inherited great wealth, but he kept none of it for himself. He used his wealth to give helps gifts to those who were sick and poor around the country.

Santa Comes to America: The Dutch brought their traditions of Sinter Klass to America where he would ring his bell and give out cakes and nuts to children. In England, Father Christmas comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve leaving treats and toys in stockings. In America, it seems that many of the traditions of the Christmas season are blended together, giving us Santa Claus.

Christmas Gift Giving: While Christmas shopping has been an American tradition since the early 1800s, it’s more than a tradition… the heart of gift-giving is much older than that. Every gift we share serves as a two-fold reminder: