The Legacy of St Nicholas--by Linden Malki

Yes, there really was a Saint Nicholas! He lived on the south coast of Asia Minor (Today's Turkey), the son of a wealthy family. He took the teaching of Jesus literally-used his inherited wealth to assist the needy and suffering, was known for his caring and love for children--stories are still told of his supplying dowries to daughters of poor families who couldn't afford to get them married; saved children and young people from kidnappings by pirates and slavers, and calmed a storm at sea when he was returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was also arrested at one point, as he lived during the period that the Church was just becoming acceptable.

As far as possible, he did these things anonymously, not wanting the credit for his miracles and generosity. His traditional feast day is December 6, the day of his death in 343AD.  In many countries this is the day that St Nicholas comes with presents; we in America give gifts in the name of St Nicholas  as part of our Christmas celebrations; and in some countries gifts are given on January 6, the celebration of the visit of the Wise Men. who also brought gifts. (The name Santa Claus is based on the Dutch or German "Sant Niklaas.")I told my kids that we give Santa presents when we give without wanting the credit.  My mom explained to me that Santa is the spirit of giving, that he has many helpers dressed up during the Christmas season, and we can be his helpers as well when we give gifts in his name.
 
St Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, on the  Mediterranean coast just east of the Aegean Sea. This is now a part of the Islamic country of Turkey, but one of the few areas where there has always been a Christian presence. It is near Smyrna, the only one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 which survived until modern times. His remains were moved to Bari, on the south coast of Italy, in the 1000's AD, and the church there is still a pilgrimage site. Within the last few years, renovations to the church led to the opening of his tomb, and bones were found that match what we know about Nicholas, and forensic artists have made models and drawings based on the bone structure, so that we may have a good idea of what he actually looked like.

The fact that the stories of his life and ministry have been told and retold, spread up into Europe and the American colonies, is an example of the strength of one man's faith and his works in the name of Jesus. What I was reminded of is St Paul's message to the church in Colossae about the results of following Jesus: "For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14) It is the presence of God in our lives that enables us to be like Nicholas of Myra, whose love for God and mankind is still inspiring an overflow of generosity as we celebrate Jesus' coming.