3 True Stories for St. Nicholas Day

St. Nicholas of Myra may have morphed into jolly Old St. Nick in the popular imagination, but early accounts paint quite a different picture of the man whose traditional feast day falls on December 6. 

So as you stuff your shoes with chocolate, remember these narratives of the saint’s life – and you may walk away inspired to emulate his holiness!

The earliest “Life of St. Nicholas” we have comes from John the Deacon, translated into Latin from the Greek Methodius ad Theodorum in about 880 A.D. 

Translation from the Latin by Roger Pearse.

One of [Nicholas’] over-wealthy fellow-citizens fell into such poverty that he did not even have the necessities of life. What more can I say? With his hunger increasing, he decided to prostitute his three virgin daughters, whose hands in marriage even humble men were spurning, so that by their infamous trade he might at least carry on his unhappy life. Shame on him! Immediately the report of such an evil – nothing else spreads faster than that, or with more rapidity – demoralised the whole city, and it filled people with much talk… 

When the holy man [Nicholas] discovered this, he sympathized with that most miserable man, and, deploring the defilement of the virgins, he decided to replenish completely their poverty out of his abundance, so that the nobly-born girls should not be defiled by the infamy of the brothel. But as he was unwilling to have any observer of his own deed other than Christ, he began to explore the different times at which this might be done in such a way, as to also be unknown to those for whom it was being done…

So when the hour of a certain night arrived, he took not a little gold, and wrapping it in a cloth, he went to the man’s house; he secretly threw the gold inside, through a window which seemed appropriate, after looking from all sides, and secretly departed…

In the morning, therefore, when the man had arisen, and had discovered that gold, he at first stood frozen, and then he exulted with so much joy, and he gave such great thanks to God; if anyone wanted to, they could realise this from his flowing tears which the magnitude of his joy had poured out.

From an anonymous Greek account from around 400, AD.

Translated from Latin by Charles W. Jones.

Just then some people came from the city to that most holy man, saying: “Lord, if you had been in the city, three innocents would not have been handed over to death as they were, because Judge Datianus, taking those three men into custody, has ordered them beheaded. The whole city is in a turmoil because Your Sanctity was not to be found there.”

On hearing this, the most holy bishop became downcast. After speaking with the soldiers he took their leaders and crossed the city.

Coming [there], he asked those who were coming away from those who had received sentence whether they were still alive. They told him that the men still lived and were directly ahead at a place known as Dioscorus…

Saint Nicholas, now running, found a great crowd of people before the executioner, who was holding his sword up, anticipating the coming of the holy man. When Nicholas came up to the place of the confessors of Christ, he found the three men with their faces covered with linen cloths. They had been placed in position, with their hands tied behind them. They were bending their knees and bowing their heads, expecting death.

At that moment Saint Nicholas, according as it is written, “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1), fearlessly grabbed the sword from the executioner and cast it to the ground. Loosening the men from their chains he took them with him to the city. 

From the Encomium (Praise) of St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople, given 440, AD.

Translated from Latin by Bryson Sewell and Andrew Eastbourne.

The following “greeting” was given in memory of Nicholas after his death, with St. Proclus welcoming him to heaven.

Greetings, Nicholas, the leader of Myra. Greetings, Nicholas, who has God as a whole in himself, along with the Son and Holy Spirit. Greetings, Nicholas, who dwells in Myra and reached the capital city. Greetings, Nicholas, who, without leaving your home, redeem the captives. Greetings, Nicholas, who appear to the king in dreams and terrify him that he would be delivered over to a hostile sword and to the birds. Greetings, Nicholas, who appeared to Ablabius in visions, and announced to him a death-bringing life and destruction with all his household. Greetings, Nicholas, victor over the tyrant and evil demon. Greetings, Nicholas, who are called upon by everyone and heed all of them. 

May you rejoice, Nicholas, who are far away and heed the pitiful cries of the oppressed. May you rejoice, Nicholas, who are the precious treasure of the city of Myra. May you rejoice, Nicholas, who even out of a death-bringing night gave life to those who were sitting in a prison. May you rejoice, Nicholas, who with inexpressible joy.…

Come, just as the Lord says in the Gospels, “Enter into the joy of your Lord.”