The Life of St Nicholas the Wonderworker

St Nicholas was born in Patara (Lycia) c. 270 and became Bishop of Myra. The oldest Lives (Michael the Archimandrite, 9th century) tell of the rescue of three innocent men condemned to death, help to three poor maidens and the saving of sailors. He died c. 343.

His veneration spread across the Christian world from the 6th century. In 1087 his relics were translated from Myra to Bari, where myrrh still flows from them. In Rus St Nicholas is the most venerated saint after the Theotokos.

The story of his striking Arius at the Council of Nicaea appears in late sources and belongs to church tradition.