"A vast multitude was imprisoned in every place," wrote an eyewitness. "The prisons — prepared for murderers and robbers — were filled with bishops, priests, and deacons ... so there was no longer room for those condemned of crimes." This is not a tale beginning with the Bolshevik Revolution in Russian, but the times through which St Nicholas lived (from Eusebius' Church History, VIII, 6, 9).
And while one would hardly expect to find "old St Nick" or Santa Claus in jail, we often find out that "truth is stranger than fiction." So let's remember: St. Nicholas is much more than a children's Christmas legend, he is much more than "jolly old St Nick", or Santa Claus. St Nicholas was flesh and blood, a prisoner for Christ, one who lived the Gospel by his words and deeds, and bishop of the Mediterranean city of Myra.
So, what do we know about St. Nicholas? He was born, ancient biographers tell us, to wealthy parents in the city of Patara about 270 A.D. He was still young when his mother and father died and left him a fortune.
As a teen-ager Nicholas' humility was already evident. He had heard about a family destitute and starving. The father had no money for food, much less the dowry needed to marry off his three daughters. He was ready to send his oldest girl into the streets to earn a living as a prostitute.
Under the cover of night, Nicholas threw a bag of gold coins through the window of their humble dwelling. In the morning the father discovered the gold. How he rejoiced: his family was saved, his daughter's honor preserved, and a dowry for her marriage secured. Some time after, Nicholas secretly provided a dowry for the second daughter. Still later for the third.
But on the third occasion, the girls' father stood watching. As soon as the bag of gold thudded on the floor, he chased after the lad till he caught him. Nicholas was mortified to be discovered in this act of charity. He made the father promise not to tell anyone who had helped his family. Then Nicholas forsook his wealth to answer a call to the ministry.
At the nearby city of Myra a bishop supervised all the churches of the region. When the bishop died, the bishops and ministers from other cities and villages — Nicholas among them — gathered to choose a successor.
Nicholas was in the habit of rising very early and going to the church to pray. This morning an aged man awaited him in the sanctuary. "Who are you, my son?" he asked.
"Nicholas the sinner," the young minister replied. "And I am your servant."
"Come with me," the old priest directed. Nicholas followed him to a room where the bishops had assembled. The elderly minister addressed the gathering. "I had a vision that the first one to enter the church in the morning should be the new bishop of Myra. Here is that man: Nicholas."
Indeed they did choose him as bishop. Nicholas was destined to lead his congregation through the worst tribulation in Christian history to that point.
In A.D. 303, the Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered a brutal persecution of all Christians. Those suspected of following the Lord were ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods. Nicholas and thousands of others refused.
Deacons, priest, bishops, and lay people were dragged to prison. Savage tortures were unleashed on Christians all over the empire. Believers were fed to wild animals. Some were forced to fight gladiators for their lives while bloodthirsty crowds screamed for their death. Women suffered dehumanizing torment. Saints were beaten senseless, others set aflame while still alive.
Yet persecution couldn't stamp out Christianity. Rather it spread. The 3rd Century writer Tertullian observed, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."
Those who survived Diocletian's torture chambers were called "confessors" by the people and venerated as living saints, because they didn't forsake their confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. St Nicholas was one of these.
Finally, after years of imprisonment, the iron doors swung open and Bishop Nicholas walked out, freed by decree of the new Emperor Constantine. As he entered his city once more, his people flocked about him. "Nicholas! Confessor!" they shouted. "Saint Nicholas has come home."
The bishop was beaten but not broken. He served Christ's people in Myra for another thirty years. Through the prayers of this tried and tested soldier of faith, many found salvation and healing. Nicholas participated in the famous Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. He died on December 6, about 343, a living legend, a saint of Christ's Holy Church, beloved by his whole city.
Even the "St Nick" or Santa Claus of modern day fame still carries faint reminders of this ancient man of God. The color of his outfit recollects the red of bishop's robes; gifts secretly brought on Christmas eve bring to mind his humble generosity to the three daughters.
Yet if he were alive today, this saint would humbly deflect attention from himself. No fur-trimmed hat and coat, no reindeer and sleigh or North Pole workshop. As he did in life centuries ago, the Bishop Nicholas would point people to his Master.
"I am Nicholas, a sinner," the old saint would say. "Nicholas, servant of Christ Jesus, Lord, who has come to Bethlehem to be born. Let us worship Him!"
h/t Fr. Simeon Brett Johnson
No comments:
Post a Comment