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Saint Nicholas: Bishop of Myra in Lycia -- A.D. 270-343 On December 6, the church commemorates St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (in modern Turkey). Many know him now as Santa Claus, because of the many legends which surround his care and concern for children. For many in northern Europe, December 6 is the day of gift giving. During this Advent and Christmas season, let us remember Nicholas' love for God and for God's people. “The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God's giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.” Nicholas Appearing to us as the brightest dawn of piety and the epitome of the wondrous stars, Nicholas, the holy hierarch of Christ, trains everyone to give praise to God. As we annually commemorate him, he illuminates the way ahead of us like a light-filled beam of the sun of justice, casting the radiance of his virtues like gold-gleaming rays. Nicholas Biographer Michael the Archimandrite circa AD 830 Scriptures from The Life of Saint Nicholas… 1. "Teach me, Lord, to do Your will, because You are my God" (Psalm 143.10) 2. "Even if wealth abounds, do not surrender your heart" (Psalm 62.11) 3. "Let almsgiving and acts of faith not abandon you, but fasten them around your neck and you will find grace" (Proverbs 3.3) 4. "That person benefits his soul, who has pity on the destitute and those who happen to be poor in their livelihood." (Proverbs 11.17). 5. "God loves a person who is a cheerful giver" (Proverbs 22.8) 6. "The one who pities a beggar is himself nurtured" (Proverbs 22.9) 7. "Provide good things before God and humankind" (Proverbs 3.4) 8. "Save those who are led away to death" (Proverbs 24.11) Nicholas did not cease to continually hand over his abundance — to store it up in the secure treasure-houses of heaven. Acts 27:5-6, "After we had sailed across the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board."
