*St. Nicholas of Myra (d. 326)

St. Nicholas of Myra

There was no Santa Claus in our Family.

• First, Dad read Luke's account ot the Nativity.

• Then, from Matthew, about the wise men's gifts.

• Next, how King Herod tried to kill the Babe.

• And how Joseph led them all to safety.

Our Christmas was holy and true.

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The Man Behind the Myth

The Bishop of Myra was a man of holiness, Scripture, generosity, and courage — a shepherd who defended the truth of Christ when the world trembled on the edge of heresy.

A Saint for Advent — Not for Department Stores

We all know the name “St. Nicholas,” but the man himself has been buried beneath centuries of legend and a mountain of red velvet. The real Nicholas was not a bringer of toys — but a bringer of truth.

He was not a symbol of winter magic — but a bishop who walked with Christ in holiness and courage.

Before Santa Claus, there was Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, a man whose life points us back to the Christ-child, not away from Him.

Born into Faith — Formed by Scripture

Nicholas was born in the city of Patara, in Asia Minor, around the late 200s.His parents were devout Christians who dedicated him to the Lord from birth — much like Hannah did with Samuel.

When a plague swept their town, Nicholas’s parents died, leaving him a young heir of considerable wealth.

What did he do with it?

He gave it away — quietly, secretly, sacrificially.

He fed the hungry, ransomed prisoners, clothed the poor, and rescued young women from desperate situations. His generosity was not sentimental; it was Scriptural:

“When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.”— Matthew 6:3

This is the seed of all those later stories — not fantasy, but faith.

A Bishop in Dangerous Times

Nicholas was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man.These were the years when the Roman Empire was persecuting Christians fiercely. Under Diocletian, Nicholas was arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for refusing to deny Christ.

He was a pastor who suffered with his flock, not above them.

After Constantine ended the persecutions, Nicholas returned to his people — scarred, but faithful — and resumed shepherding the church with wisdom and courage.

Nicholas at the Council of Nicaea (325)

A Defender of Christ’s Deity

The greatest crisis of Nicholas’s lifetime was not Roman persecution — it was theological.

Arius, a popular teacher, was spreading a deadly doctrine:

“There was a time when the Son was not.”

He denied the full deity of Christ.

The emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 to settle the matter.

Tradition tells us Nicholas was there — and that he strongly rebuked Arius for diminishing the glory of the Son of God.

The issue was no small thing.

The church understood:If Christ is not truly God, He cannot truly save.

Nicholas stood with Athanasius and the faithful bishops who insisted:

“Very God of Very God…Begotten, not made,Being of one substance with the Father.”

This is the faith Nicholas defended — the faith we confess every Christmas:

The baby in the manger is God in the flesh.

The Real Nicholas and the Real Jesus

Today Nicholas is remembered mostly as a symbol of generosity.But his greatest gift was not money — it was fidelity to Jesus Christ.

His life reminds us:

• Holiness matters.

• Doctrine matters.

• Courage matters.

• Christ matters more than anything.

  
  

When you strip away the commercialism, you discover a man whose entire life preached one message:

“Jesus Christ is Lord.”

What would Nicholas say today if he saw crowds waiting for Santa but not for the Savior?

What would he say to a world that loves the holiday but not the Holy One?

What would he say to us?

Surely this:

“Keep Christ at the center.Love Him.Worship Him.Follow Him.Teach your children to know Him — the true Gift come down from heaven.”

Why Nicholas Still Speaks to Us

We live in a confused age:

• truth is treated casually

• holiness is optional

• doctrine is “divisive”

• Christmas is sentimental rather than sacred

  
  

Nicholas stands before us as a corrective.

A man who gave boldly.Prayed fervently.Loved deeply.Suffered willingly.Defended the faith courageously.

A man who would gladly lose Santa Claus if it meant we gained Christ.

A Prayer for Advent

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for the faithful witness of Nicholas of Myra. Give me a heart like his — generous, courageous, anchored in truth, and wholly devoted to You. Guard my life from empty sentiment and shallow faith. Fill me with the joy of knowing You, the wonder of Your incarnation, and the boldness to confess You in a world that desperately needs the real Christ. Amen.

Discussion Question

When you think of Nicholas — the real bishop, pastor, and confessor —what part of his example challenges you most this Advent?

Arise, sons of the king­dom!

The King is draw­ing nigh;

Arise, and hail with glad­ness

The rul­er from on high.

Ye Christ­ians, hast­en forth!

Your praise and hom­age bring Him

And glad ho­san­nas sing Him,

Naught else your love is worth.

Arise, ye droop­ing mourn­ers!

The King is ve­ry near;

Away with grief and sor­row,

For lo! your help is here.

Behold, in ma­ny a place—

We find Him, our sal­va­tion,

O bless­ed con­so­la­tion!

In His pure means of grace.

Arise, ye much af­flict­ed!

The King is now not far;

Rejoice, ye long de­ject­ed!

Here comes the Morn­ing Star.

The Lord will give you joy;

Though trou­bles now dis­tress you,

With com­fort He will bless you,

E’en death He will de­stroy.

-Words - Johann Rist (1607–1667)