Nicholas, bishop

Biography

He was born in the year 280 in Patara of Licia. He received a good education from his parents, whom he apparently lost when he was very young, so some of his relatives took care of his education. As he grew older, he realized that the goods of this earth do not make us happy, and he dedicated himself to helping all those in need. Then he began to work miracles with which his life is full. When he lost his parents, it was an uncle of his, who was Bishop of Mira, who sponsored and helped him until he was ordained a priest. But that life did not satisfy him either and for this reason, he decided to abandon the world and retired to the Thebaid, those wastelands where monks abounded, who, fleeing from the world, led a life of prayer and sacrifice, devoted only to God. He was in this haven of peace when his uncle, the Bishop of Mira, died and the eyes of the clergy and the people fell on Nicolás, who, much to his regret, had to abandon his retirement to devote himself to the apostolate of the diocese. He governed it with great prudence and wisdom and, above all, with enormous charity. There was no poor person who came home who did not find a remedy for their needs. The election of Nicholas as Bishop of Mira (Türkiye) was surrounded by miracles. Also that of his episcopal consecration. The legend says that a woman took her little son who had been burned in the flames and placed him at the feet of the new Bishop and Nicholas brought him back to life. In the year 325, the first Council of the Universal Church was held in the city of Nicaea. It seems that our Saint took part in it. During this trip they recorded the famous miracle in which he brought back to life three young people, who had been killed by a barbarian hotelier, to feed those who came to his inn. Devotion to Saint Nicholas is the most popular in many countries, especially for celebrating him as "Santa Claus" and as a lawyer in danger. It has many churches dedicated to it around the world, especially in Greece. It is called "from Bari" because since the 11th century his relics have rested there, in Bari, Italy.