Russia and St. Nicholas of Myra

Some of Nicholas' acts are documented and, thus, amount to more than legend. One of the earliest such accounts is found in a sixth century Greek text. Three officers, sentenced to death, were saved by Nicholas who appeared to Constantine in a dream. Nicholas is credited with resurrecting three children burned to death in a fire and saving, yet another child, from drowning. He calmed a storm off the coast of Lycia, saving several sailors from certain death. The Bishop is said to have done many charitable acts. For example, Nicholas purchased a rug from a poor street vendor for an inflated price and then gave the rug to the vendor's wife as a gift. Thus, the couple gained financial help and retained their property. This act shows Nicholas' sensitivity to human dignity. (Icon of St. Nicholas the Wonder Worker and scenes from his life). Nicholas quickly became a beloved saint worldwide. He is a favorite patron saint, especially in Greece and Russia. In fact, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Moscow. A church was built in his honor, in the sixth century, by Roman emperor Justinian, at Constantinople. St. Nicholas' Feast Day is December 6th, the date of his death in ca. AD 350. In many Eastern traditions, this is a festive day of thanksgiving and gift giving.

Nicholas' popularity created many surnames worldwide; Nichols, Colson, Collins, etc. His transition to Father Christmas occurred first in Germany where the Reformed Protestant churches were in a majority. In the Dutch Reformed Church, St. Nicholas was known as Sinter Claes which became Santa Claus in English speaking countries. Christmas is the season when Christians celebrate the Nativity of Christ. It is, also, a holiday associated with the celebration of the family; especially children. The legends and accounts surrounding the Bishop of Myra, his charity, miracles and love for children and family make him the real Santa.

You are probably wondering how the jolly old elf with the red suit with a big belly figures into our story. During the American Civil War, a political cartoonist named Thomas Nast, endeavored to lift the spirits of the Union soldiers by drawing a gift bearing Santa Claus in a red, white and blue suit. The jolly elf motif is thanks to a theology professor, Dr. Clement Moore{1779-1863}of New York City, who wrote Twas the Night Before Christmas to entertain his restless children!

If you can put aside the commercialism of Christmas for a moment, it is easy to see how the real Saint Nicholas and the fictional Santa Clause do, indeed, embody the true spirit of the season. This is a time of gentleness, sharing and celebration of the family. These ideals translate into any language and culture.Differences between the Churches of East and West eventually culminated in the Great Schism of 1054. From the time of Constantine, the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire was ruled from Constantinople and the Western Roman Empire from Rome. The Western empire was more barbaric and busy invading Europe. Their theological development was influenced greatly by individuals such as St. Augustine {AD 354-430}. In the East, times were more peaceful, the arts and commerce flourished and Christian doctrine was fashioned by the Greek Fathers.

Rome, because of it's claim to Apostolic authority from Peter, maintained authority over the Church. The Eastern sees; Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople; considered the ultimate authority in Church dealings and doctrinal matters to be the ecumenical council. Thus, Orthodoxy, as the Eastern group of Churches is known, was not about to bow to the primacy of Rome.

It is from Constantinople that the Church spread to Russia, in the mid-900's, and developed into the Russian Orthodox Church. Its roots are in the Church of Constantinople; the Byzantine Orthodox Church; the Church of Bishop Nicholas. Thus, this beloved saint is cherished by the Russian Church and people.