For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
As I entered the Romanesque church, the plain exterior belied not only the beauty within, but the depth of legend and lore. Alabaster windows instead of stained glass curiously let in sufficient light. Built in 1087, the Basilica di San Nicola stands as it has stood for centuries in the Old Town of Bari, Italy. While I’ve visited many churches, basilicas, and cathedrals, I was struck by the magnitude of stories and miracles centered around its patron saint, San Nicola.
In the English-speaking world, we know him as Saint Nicholas. Born in AD 270 in a town called Myra in what is now modern-day Turkey, Nicholas became a bishop in the Catholic church and was one of the signers of the declaration of faith known as the Nicene Creed. Legends surrounding his life create a persona who was extremely generous, giving to the poor, often at night anonymously. Deemed the patron saint of children, many of the miracles attributed to Saint Nicholas involve helping and even rescuing children. One such story tells how the father of three daughters, too poor to afford their dowries, planned to sell them to prostitution. Nicholas is said to have dropped three bags of gold coins through their open window at night, providing the needed dowry and saving the girls from a life of ill repute. Another story, more gruesome, involves the murder of three brothers and their miraculous resurrection from the dead by Nicholas.
When Nicholas died on December 6, in 343, many churches were built in his honor and his tomb outside of Myra became a popular pilgrimage site. Even today, December 6th is celebrated as Saint Nicholas Day. In 1087, when Myra was conquered by an opposing army, afraid of what would happen to the tomb, sailors from Bari scooped up most of Saint Nicholas’ remains and carried them back to Bari.
Today, our modern-day Santa Claus has his beginnings in the story of Nicholas, this saintly priest and bishop. In 1823, Clement Clarke Moore’s poem entitled Twas the Night Before Christmas changed the American view of Saint Nicholas from an elderly bishop in robes to a jolly and rotund man in a red suit trimmed in white fur.
While I knew Saint Nicholas was an actual person of history, I had no idea of the legends, miracles, and generosity attributed to him. As our tour guide regaled us with story after story, I couldn’t help but think of the One who was miraculously born in a manger over 2,000 years ago. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God gave the greatest gift of all when He gave His son Jesus to be born as a helpless baby in a manger. And Jesus gave His life so generously on a cross so that we could receive the greatest gift of all, a personal relationship with God and eternal life. Jesus came down to earth one holy, silent night to lead us up to heaven.
May we not get so caught up in celebrating Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas that we forget to worship the One who came on that dark and wintry night to be the Light of the World to all who believe. I believe. Do you?
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the miraculous birth of Jesus on that most holy night. I thank You for the gift of Your one and only Son who in turn, through His death on a cross, gives eternal life, the most generous gift of all, to anyone who believes. May I look past the busyness of the season and remember the true Reason we celebrate Christmas. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
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Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Basilica di San Nicola, Bari, Italy.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
As I entered the Romanesque church, the plain exterior belied not only the beauty within, but the depth of legend and lore. Alabaster windows instead of stained glass curiously let in sufficient light. Built in 1087, the Basilica di San Nicola stands as it has stood for centuries in the Old Town of Bari, Italy. While I’ve visited many churches, basilicas, and cathedrals, I was struck by the magnitude of stories and miracles centered around its patron saint, San Nicola.
In the English-speaking world, we know him as Saint Nicholas. Born in AD 270 in a town called Myra in what is now modern-day Turkey, Nicholas became a bishop in the Catholic church and was one of the signers of the declaration of faith known as the Nicene Creed. Legends surrounding his life create a persona who was extremely generous, giving to the poor, often at night anonymously. Deemed the patron saint of children, many of the miracles attributed to Saint Nicholas involve helping and even rescuing children. One such story tells how the father of three daughters, too poor to afford their dowries, planned to sell them to prostitution. Nicholas is said to have dropped three bags of gold coins through their open window at night, providing the needed dowry and saving the girls from a life of ill repute. Another story, more gruesome, involves the murder of three brothers and their miraculous resurrection from the dead by Nicholas.
When Nicholas died on December 6, in 343, many churches were built in his honor and his tomb outside of Myra became a popular pilgrimage site. Even today, December 6th is celebrated as Saint Nicholas Day. In 1087, when Myra was conquered by an opposing army, afraid of what would happen to the tomb, sailors from Bari scooped up most of Saint Nicholas’ remains and carried them back to Bari.
Today, our modern-day Santa Claus has his beginnings in the story of Nicholas, this saintly priest and bishop. In 1823, Clement Clarke Moore’s poem entitled Twas the Night Before Christmas changed the American view of Saint Nicholas from an elderly bishop in robes to a jolly and rotund man in a red suit trimmed in white fur.
While I knew Saint Nicholas was an actual person of history, I had no idea of the legends, miracles, and generosity attributed to him. As our tour guide regaled us with story after story, I couldn’t help but think of the One who was miraculously born in a manger over 2,000 years ago. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God gave the greatest gift of all when He gave His son Jesus to be born as a helpless baby in a manger. And Jesus gave His life so generously on a cross so that we could receive the greatest gift of all, a personal relationship with God and eternal life. Jesus came down to earth one holy, silent night to lead us up to heaven.
May we not get so caught up in celebrating Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas that we forget to worship the One who came on that dark and wintry night to be the Light of the World to all who believe. I believe. Do you?
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the miraculous birth of Jesus on that most holy night. I thank You for the gift of Your one and only Son who in turn, through His death on a cross, gives eternal life, the most generous gift of all, to anyone who believes. May I look past the busyness of the season and remember the true Reason we celebrate Christmas. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2017 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Basilica di San Nicola, Bari, Italy.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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