The Bishop of Myra

One decoration of Christmas we cannot overlook is Santa Claus. He is everywhere. Did you know that Santa is based upon a real person? In the late 3^rd century, a boy was born in Patara, a seaside port town in what is today the country of Turkey. His parents named him in honor of the child’s priest-uncle, Nicholas, who came to bless the baby. Uncle Nicholas was the abbot of a monastery in a nearby city.

Nicholas was born into a wealthy family, but he was not spoiled. His mother and father raised him to be a devout Christian and taught him that they should be thankful for how blessed they were. His father would frequently remind him that in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus said, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required” (Luke 12:48). Nicholas grew up learning that giving to others was more important than anything else in life.

Sadly, when he was still a teenager, both Nicholas’ parents contracted the plague and died. Nicholas went to live with his namesake uncle in the city of Myra, but he would always remember what it was like not to have his parents, and how important it was to try to bring joy into the lives of children.

When Nicholas grew up, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life. He always loved the sea. Maybe a sailor. Perhaps a merchant buying and selling goods and spices from all over the world. Before he had to decide, one day his uncle informed him that now that he was an adult, he was legally in full control of his inheritance. All the wealth his parents had earned was now his. Suddenly, Nicholas was rich! He then knew exactly what he was going to do. His parents and uncle had taught him about Jesus’ words in Matthew when He told the rich man, “…go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). And that’s just what Nicholas did. He began using his inheritance to help the needy, the sick, and the suffering.

For instance, he secretly helped a man provide a dowry for three of his daughters begging the man not to reveal who he was. “You must thank God alone for providing these gifts in answer to your prayers,” Nicholas said.

Not long after that, the whole city of Myra was heartbroken when they learned their pastor, the Bishop of Myra had died. The priests and leaders of the city then gathered in the cathedral to select a new bishop and they chose Nicholas.

As Bishop, Nicholas could be found all over the city offering help to anyone in difficulty, and then quietly disappear without waiting for thanks. His reputation as a holy man grew and grew, even spreading to distant cities that had never seen him.

Bishop Nicholas was especially concerned that families had enough to eat and a good place to live. That children got ahead in life, and that older people lived out their lives happy and in peace. It is as a lover of children that Bishop Nicholas is best remembered today. He never forgot how important it was to try to bring joy into the lives of children and as he walked through Myra, he would carry a sack inside of which were small gifts for all the children he met – apples, oranges, nuts, and sometimes cookies, sweets, or a small wooden toy. Bishop Nicholas’ kindness touched their hearts, and they learned from him what a beautiful thing giving is.

Today, at Christmas, we remember what a beautiful thing giving is, because of what God teaches us, and we honor this man, who the church would eventually recognize as a saint, because of his great example of unselfish giving. He is the real Saint Nicholas.

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