>The Real Saint Nicholas

>Happy Saint Nicholas Day! You can read more about the fourth century Bishop who worked miracles, fought for the true faith against heresies, and is considered the Patron Saint of Children, Sailors and other groups… here… and here… and a link to a children’s book, Life of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, is here. And another link, to a story about a miracle-working icon of Saint Nicholas (at right) is here.

While we were in Greece in October, we took a boat one day from Pireus (near Athens) to the Isalnd of Aegina. As our boat pulled up to the dock, the first thing we saw was this tiny white church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Inside were beautiful icon murals of the life of Saint Nicholas. One shows the saint saving sailors from a shipwreck during a storm.

Holy Saint Nicholas, hold the rudder!

At our parish, St. John in midtown, Memphis, we’ll celebrate the feast with Divine Liturgy at 9 am this morning. (Last night there was Great Vespers, a presentation about the life of Saint Nicholas, and an opportunity to bring new toys for the Memphis Interfaith Association’s Holiday Hope Chest.) More info is here.

On the radio the other day I heard about how volunteers were going into some schools today to read the life of Saint Nicholas to school children.

You can volunteer for events like these here.

A Visit From Saint Nicholas is sponsored by Hands on Memphis.

Here’s a picture of Sharon Meadows, from Madison, Mississippi, painting an icon of Saint Nicholas at an icon workshop at St. John last year.

My next workshop will be March 27-30. If you’re interested, email me at [email protected].

Happy Saint Nicholas Day!