Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker and Archbishop of Myra in Lycia is famed as a great saint. He was born in the city of Petra in the Lycian region (on the south coast of the Asia Minor peninsula), and was the only son of pious parents Theophanes and Nonna, who had given a vow to dedicate him to God. As the result of longtime prayer of his barren parents, the infant Nicholas from the very day of his birth revealed to people the light of his future glory as a wonderworker. His mother, Nonna, after giving birth was immediately healed from illness. The newborn infant while still in the baptismal font stood on his feet three times, without support from anyone, indicating by this to honor the Most Holy Trinity. Saint Nicholas from his infancy began a life of fasting, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he accepted milk from his mother only but once, after the evening prayers of his parents.

From the time of his childhood Nicholas thrived on the study of Divine Scripture; by day he would not leave church, and by night he prayed and read spiritual books. His uncle, Bishop Nicholas of Petra, rejoiced at the spiritual success and deep piety of his nephew. He ordained him a reader, and then elevated Nicholas to the dignity of a deacon, making him his assistant and entrusting him to preach. In serving the Lord the youth was fervent of spirit, and in his ability to answer questions of faith with proficiency   aroused the wonder and deep respect of believers. Constantly at work, and praying unceasing, Nicholas displayed great kind-heartedness towards the flock, and the afflicted coming to him for help. He distributed all his inheritance to the poor. Having learned about the bitter need and poverty of a certain formerly rich family, Saint Nicholas saved them from great sin.  The despairing father considered giving up his three grown daughters to sin to save them from hunger. The saint, grieving lest the man perish a sinner, by night secretly brought him through the window three sacks of gold.  By this action, he saved the family from falling into spiritual destruction. In bestowing charity, Saint Nicholas always strove to do it secretly, concealing his good deeds.

On his pilgrimage to the holy land, the bishop of Petra entrusted the guidance of the flock to Saint Nicholas, who fulfilled this mission with passion and love. On the way the saint predicted the onset of a storm threatening the ship with inundation, since he saw the devil itself on ship. At the entreaty of the despairing pilgrims, he calmed by his prayers the waves of the sea. Through his prayer a certain sailor of the ship, mortally injured was saved after falling from the mast.

Having reached the ancient city of Jerusalem and having come to Golgotha, Saint Nicholas gave thanks to the Savior of the race of mankind. When he made  rounds of all the holy places, making prayers, one night on Mount Zion the closed doors of the church opened by themselves in front of the arriving great pilgrim.  After he visited the holy places, Saint Nicholas decided to withdraw into the wilderness, but he was stopped by a Divine voice, urging him to return to his native country. He returned to Lycia , yearning to a spiritual life in a monastery, named Holy Zion. But the Lord again announced another pathway, awaiting him: "Nicholas, this is not the field, on which thou ought to await Mine harvest, but rather turn round and go into the world, and there My Name shall be glorified in thee." In the vision the Lord gave him a Gospel of exquisite workmanship.

After, the death of archbishop John, he was chosen a bishop of Lycian Myra. The choice of the new archbishop was the choice of God as directed him in a vision. Saint Nicholas remained a great ascetic, appearing to his flock as an image of gentleness, kindness and love towards all people. This was particularly precious for the church during the time of persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Bishop Nicholas was locked up in prison together with other Christians. sustained them and endured bravely the fetters, punishment and torture.  The Lord preserved him unharmed. Under Constantine, Saint Nicholas was restored to his flock, which joyfully received back their guide and intercessor.

Despite his great gentleness of spirit and purity of heart, Saint Nicholas was a zealous and ardent warrior of the Church of Christ. Fighting evil spirits, the saint made rounds of the pagan temples and shrines in the city of Myra and its surroundings, shattering the idols and turning the temples to dust.

In the year 325 Saint Nicholas was a participant in the 1st Ecumenical Nicean Council  along with the other 318 fathers of faith, who stood up against the heretic Arius.

Having returned to his own diocese, the saint brought it peace and blessings, sowing the word of Truth, uprooting heresy and healing the fallen and those led astray through ignorance. He was indeed a light in the world and the salt of the earth.

During his life the saint worked many miracles. Of them the one accorded the greatest fame was the deliverance from death by the saint of three men, unjustly condemned by a greedy city-commander. The saint boldly went up to the executioner and took hold of his sword, already suspended over the heads of the condemned. The city-commander, denounced by Saint Nicholas in wrong-doing, repented himself and begged for forgiveness. During this time there were also three military officers, dispatched by the emperor Constantine to Phrygia. They were unjustly under a sentence of death, and compelled to seek the intercession of Saint Nicholas who appeared in sleep to the holy Constantine, and called on him to dismiss the wrongful death-sentence of the military officers who, now in prison, prayerfully called out the saint to intercede. He worked many other miracles. Through his prayers, the city of Myra was rescued from a terrible famine. Once he appeared in a vision to a certain Italian merchant and  left him as a pledge of payment three gold money-pieces, which the merchant found in his hand upon wakening in the morning, requesting him to sail to Myra and furnish grain there, and he did. More than once did the saint save those drowning in the sea, and provide release from captivity and imprisonment.

Having reached old age, Saint Nicholas expired peacefully to the Lord (+345-351). His venerable relics were preserved undecayed in the local cathedral church. In the year 1087 his relics were translated to the Italian city of Bari. 

Abridged from OCA- Feasts and Saints.
 

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