We have little credible information about St. Nicholas, but he has remained a very popular saint to this day, especially among children, so it is understandable that he is associated with many legends and stories, which aim to encourage children and adults to generosity and mercy. which were the main features of that saint.
Data on the year of his birth and death are not generally accepted, but there are significant discrepancies. Thus, some believe that he was born in Patara (Demre) in today's Turkey around 270, while others prefer to say that it was the second half of the 3rd century, without specifying, the third that he was born between 255 and 270. , etc. It is sometimes stated in his biography that he was born into a family of wealthy parents who could not have children for a long time, and then were blessed with a future saint, and named him Nicholas, after his uncle of the same name who was bishop of Miri. His parents died early, and Nikola became a priest, so he sold all his property and distributed it to the poor.
Tradition says that he preferred the self-denying life of helping others and by no means wanted to accept the invitation to become a bishop, so on the first attempt, after his uncle died, he managed to escape and went to the Holy Land where he lived an ascetic secret life. his uncle's heir died, and he had just returned to the city, by coincidence, or more precisely by God's plan, Nikola had been elected bishop. Namely, the clergy had agreed that the first priest to enter the church the next day would become a bishop, and, without any knowledge of that decision, the first priest to rush to the Lord in the morning was Nicholas.
As a bishop in the city of Miri, he showed great care and love for the poor, and many miracles are attributed to him. He died on December 6, but the exact year of his death varies considerably from source to source. Thus, some state that it happened in 327, others in 343, and still others around 350. etc., but all sources confirm that he died in Myra, where he was buried, and his body was later, in the 11th century, due to Turkish conquests, transferred to Italy, to the city of Bari, where a significant shrine developed.
Although the life of St. Nicholas is shrouded in many unreliable data, it should be emphasized that his merciful work and love for the most endangered has inspired many throughout history, and inspires today, as evidenced by many legends and stories about the saint, some of whom are quite old, while others have emerged in more recent times. In this sense, although they should be accepted with reservations, and this is especially true of recent legends that turn St. Nicholas into Santa Claus and Santa Claus, with distinct consumerist connotations, the value of such stories should be emphasized, especially from a pedagogical point of view. mercy and love for one's neighbor, which the saint was very distinguished by.
A somewhat lesser-known legend says that a boy had a fish bone stuck in his throat, and St. Nicholas healed him with a blessing. Another legend claims that a wicked innkeeper lived in Mira who stole and killed children and served their meat to guests. St. Nicholas discovered him and found in his basement three murdered children whom he brought back to life by making the sign of the cross above their dead bodies. He is therefore honored as the protector of children.
Regardless of the fact that these and other legends about St. Nicholas have no reliable historical confirmation, it is worth noting their educational value, which can fit nicely into any Christian family upbringing, encouraging children to strive to be kind and merciful, just as it once was. St. Nicholas himself.
In iconography, St. Nicholas is usually depicted with three bags of gold coins or three golden balls, which point to his charitable work of helping three girls. It is also more often shown with an anchor or a boat in the background, which is symbolically connected with the miracle of calming the storm.Sometimes it is artificial they also show how a small child kisses his hand or how he is in a cable with three children.
Saint Nicholas is honored by both the Eastern and Western Churches, and is revered as the protector of Russia, Greece and Sicily, and in addition to being the protector of children, sailors and travelers, he is also revered as the protector of prisoners, former thieves, bakers, brewers, shoemakers and murderers. penitents, newlyweds, widows, pilgrims, etc.
His name is of Greek origin and consists of two words: nika - victory and laos - people, and can be translated as victorious in the people, so we can conclude that St. Nicholas with his life and inspiration that remains to this day, the one who is God's with strength and help he overcame many cold hearts and allowed kindness and love to spread a little more, at least on his memorial, both in the family and in society.
