A farmer, who had three daughters was so poor that he could not afford proper dowry for them, thus could not get his daughters married. He was in despair. Not getting them married meant that the girls would have to remain unmarried and eventually fall into prostitution. Nickolas heard of the poor man's plight and decided to help him realize his dream. He did not want publicity for what he was going to do, thus very modestly, he went to the house of the farmer under the cover of the night and found the stockings of the three maidens, left to dry near a fire. He placed three purses full of gold coins, in each one of the stockings, one for each daughter, and thus saved the poor man from his pain.
Nickolas was none other than the much celebrated present day Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was a 4th century church father and bishop, also called the Nikolaos of Myra. He had a reputation for secretly gifting the poor like slipping coins into the shoes of the needy.
Santa Claus, perhaps as we all know comes from the Dutch name 'Sinterklaas', which came from saying St.Nicolas, over and over again. I remember myself as a kid saying 'One Eight' (18) for a Nissan cargo van, which was actually called the 'Nissan Vanette'. Similarly, repeated- yet corrupted forms of saying St. Nicolas gave way for the current Santa Claus.
A story of the intercession and social intervention of Nickolas. Once upon a time, Myra was struck with a severe famine leading to the deaths of many people. At that time, a ship full of wheat, originally meant for the Emperor Constantinople, was docked at the nearby port. Nickolas went and explained the situation of the land pleaded with the sailors to unload a part of the wheat grains. The sailors were reluctant at first, because the quantity was measured and any less, would invite the emperor's wrath. But upon the old man's assurance that nothing untoward would happen, they agreed to give some wheat. It is said that when the ship reached Constantinople, there was no change in the weight of the wheat grains! But in reality they had in fact given away wheat enough for two full years!
There is another miracle story of Nicholas. During the severe famine, a cruel butcher killed three young boys and stored their bodies in big barrels to sell them as ham. Nickolas saw this horrific crime and through his prayers, brought the three boys back to life.
This story led to people believing in him as the protector of children. In many countries, paintings and pictures depict this incident, showing a father Saint with three young boys in a barrel.
The life of St. Nickolas was beautiful and seemed like it was scripted by God. His legend lives even today, though in a very narrow sense of what he actually did. Santa Claus was a reformer, savior of the poor and a man whose life was made fluent in prayers. He understood the needs of the society and stressed for community living. He interceded for the poor and took bold steps to alleviate poverty. Santa Claus was a man of prayer. His prayers were the blessing rain in Myra.
Christmas is after all, not all about Ho Ho Ho! Or a red nosed reindeer that Santa Claus uses for a chauffeur driven car. Or the empty stockings hung near a lavishly dressed Christmas tree.
Christmas must be in the spirit that Nikolaos lived and strove for. It is about sharing. Not only among the friends we know, but sharing with the poor we don't know. Christmas is about prayers, a renewal of heart and the intercession for a nation torn in strife and sorrow.
Christmas is about giving without seeking anything in return.
Nickolas was none other than the much celebrated present day Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was a 4th century church father and bishop, also called the Nikolaos of Myra. He had a reputation for secretly gifting the poor like slipping coins into the shoes of the needy.
Santa Claus, perhaps as we all know comes from the Dutch name 'Sinterklaas', which came from saying St.Nicolas, over and over again. I remember myself as a kid saying 'One Eight' (18) for a Nissan cargo van, which was actually called the 'Nissan Vanette'. Similarly, repeated- yet corrupted forms of saying St. Nicolas gave way for the current Santa Claus.
A story of the intercession and social intervention of Nickolas. Once upon a time, Myra was struck with a severe famine leading to the deaths of many people. At that time, a ship full of wheat, originally meant for the Emperor Constantinople, was docked at the nearby port. Nickolas went and explained the situation of the land pleaded with the sailors to unload a part of the wheat grains. The sailors were reluctant at first, because the quantity was measured and any less, would invite the emperor's wrath. But upon the old man's assurance that nothing untoward would happen, they agreed to give some wheat. It is said that when the ship reached Constantinople, there was no change in the weight of the wheat grains! But in reality they had in fact given away wheat enough for two full years!
There is another miracle story of Nicholas. During the severe famine, a cruel butcher killed three young boys and stored their bodies in big barrels to sell them as ham. Nickolas saw this horrific crime and through his prayers, brought the three boys back to life.
This story led to people believing in him as the protector of children. In many countries, paintings and pictures depict this incident, showing a father Saint with three young boys in a barrel.
The life of St. Nickolas was beautiful and seemed like it was scripted by God. His legend lives even today, though in a very narrow sense of what he actually did. Santa Claus was a reformer, savior of the poor and a man whose life was made fluent in prayers. He understood the needs of the society and stressed for community living. He interceded for the poor and took bold steps to alleviate poverty. Santa Claus was a man of prayer. His prayers were the blessing rain in Myra.
Christmas is after all, not all about Ho Ho Ho! Or a red nosed reindeer that Santa Claus uses for a chauffeur driven car. Or the empty stockings hung near a lavishly dressed Christmas tree.
Christmas must be in the spirit that Nikolaos lived and strove for. It is about sharing. Not only among the friends we know, but sharing with the poor we don't know. Christmas is about prayers, a renewal of heart and the intercession for a nation torn in strife and sorrow.
Christmas is about giving without seeking anything in return.
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