St. Nicholas was born in 270 A.D. in the city of Patara in Lycia (modern day Turkey). His parents died when he was a young man, leaving him a substantial inheritance, which he determined to devote to works of charity.
Not long thereafter, Nicholas learned of a man in Patara who, because of his poverty, could neither support his three daughters nor find husbands for them. As a result, this man was considering giving his daughters over to prostitution.
When Nicholas heard of this, under cover of darkness, he went to the man’s house with a bag of gold, which he threw into an open window. Nicholas then slipped away undetected. Now having a dowry, the oldest daughter was soon married. Thereafter, Nicholas repeated his charitable act for the other two daughters, who also married. Continue reading “The Real Saint Nicholas”
