SaintNicholas:BishopofMyrainLycia--A.D.270-343OnDecember6,thechurchcommemoratesSt.Nicholas,BishopofMyra(inmodernTurkey).ManyknowhimnowasSantaClaus,becauseofthemanylegendswhichsurroundhiscareandconcernforchildren.FormanyinnorthernEurope,December6isthedayofgiftgiving.DuringthisAdventandChristmasseason,letusrememberNicholas'loveforGodandforGod'speople.“ThegiverofeverygoodandperfectgifthascalleduponustomimicGod'sgiving,bygrace,throughfaith,andthisisnotofourselves.”Nicholas
Appearingtousasthebrightestdawnofpietyandtheepitomeofthewondrousstars,Nicholas,theholyhierarchofChrist,trainseveryonetogivepraisetoGod.Asweannuallycommemoratehim,heilluminatesthewayaheadofuslikealight-filledbeamofthesunofjustice,castingtheradianceofhisvirtueslikegold-gleamingrays.
NicholasBiographerMichaeltheArchimandritecircaAD830
ScripturesfromTheLifeofSaintNicholas…
1. "Teachme,Lord,todoYourwill,becauseYouaremyGod"(Psalm143.10)2. "Evenifwealthabounds,donotsurrenderyourheart"(Psalm62.11)3. "Letalmsgivingandactsoffaithnotabandonyou,butfastenthemaround
yourneckandyouwillfindgrace"(Proverbs3.3)4. "Thatpersonbenefitshissoul,whohaspityonthedestituteandthosewho
happentobepoorintheirlivelihood."(Proverbs11.17).5. "Godlovesapersonwhoisacheerfulgiver"(Proverbs22.8)6. "Theonewhopitiesabeggarishimselfnurtured"(Proverbs22.9)7. "ProvidegoodthingsbeforeGodandhumankind"(Proverbs3.4)8. "Savethosewhoareledawaytodeath"(Proverbs24.11)Nicholasdidnotceasetocontinuallyhandoverhisabundance—tostoreitupinthesecuretreasure-housesofheaven.Acts27:5-6,"AfterwehadsailedacrosstheseathatisoffCiliciaandPamphylia,wecametoMyrainLycia.TherethecenturionfoundanAlexandrianshipboundforItalyandputusonboard."