Today’s the feast of St. Nicholas, the model for Santa Claus. He’s also patron of Russia and one of the most important saints of the eastern churches. 

Nicholas lived in the 5th century in Myria, a seaport in Asia Minor. When Moslems overran that region in the 11th century, sailors from Bari, Italy, took his relics from his shrine in Myria and installed them on May 9,1087 in a shrine in Bari, along the Adriatic coast.  

Since then, the Basilica of St. Nicolas has been a pilgrimage destination for eastern and western Christians.  Russian pilgrims are especially prominent, but pilgrims from other eastern churches also come.  Pope John Paul wanted Nicholas’ shrine to be place for dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1966, an Orthodox chapel was built in the basilica for celebrating the Orthodox liturgy. In 2018 Pope Francis met with religious leaders from the Middle East to pray for peace in Syria, Nicholas’ birthplace.

In 2007, Vladimir Putin himself came to Bari as a pilgrim and knelt before St. Nicholas’ tomb. In 2017, Pope Francis lent relics of Nicholas to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow as a gesture to improve relations. Mr. Putin kissed the glass cased relic at its arrival. 

I would guess there are pilgrims in Bari today from Russia and its allies and Ukraine and its allies mixing uneasily around the saint’s grave. We pray today leaders of those troubled lands quietly and quickly find the gift of peace.

Some years ago Pope Francis joked that “The communists stole some of our Christian values. Some others, they made a disaster out of them.“ Has St. Nicholas been an inspiration for communism?                                                                                            

A story of Nicholas that stands out is the story of his rescue of three girls who were to be sold off into slavery because they have no money for a dowry. Dropping gold through the window of their house at night, Nicholas disappears. His gift gave the girls the promise of a better life.

Help the poor, the story says, they deserve a better life.

The girls’ father tracked Nicholas down and asked why he did what he did and wants no thanks or recognition. It’s better only God knows, Nicholas answers. He want’s no power over others or credit. He’s an example of “quiet giving,” a high form of love.

We see that kind of love in Jesus Christ; he taught it to his disciples.

We can still learn from Nicholas; he’s still a great teacher children should know. Here’s some videos of his life from a previous blog: https://vhoagland.com/2023/11/22/santas-story/