The True Story Of St. Nick (Part 1)

An ancient merchant had three lovely daughters. But due to a tragic turn of events, he had lost all hope that his daughters would be able to marry and live a happy life. It was the third century, and this businessman had lost his fortune when pirates pillaged his ship. His beautiful daughters were of marrying age, and without money he could give them no dowry.

In those days, young women without a dowry had few options for survival. Many were forced into slavery or prostitution.
The father prayed around the clock that somehow God would grant a miracle for his family. A young Christian bishop discovered the plight of this man and his daughters. One evening, in the middle of the night, the bishop secretly slipped a sack of gold through a window into the merchant's house. This timely gift saved the virtue of the man's oldest daughter. Later, another sack saved the second daughter.

Anticipating a third gift of gold, the father determined to discover who was helping his family. He stayed up all night and when the sack was dropped through the window, the father ran down the road and apprehended the mysterious benefactor. The merchant immediately recognized the young bishop and tried to give thanks to him. This bishop was a wealthy man, having received a large inheritance at the death of his parents.

The humble minister deflected the praise. "No, all thanks go to God, not to me." The father answered, "I need to let everybody know you did this." The bishop responded, "No, you must promise me that not until I'm dead will you let anyone know how you received the gold." This compassionate bishop believed literally Christ’s injunction that when we give, we should do so in secret, sacrificially in Christ’s name and not our own.

The merchant promised that he would tell no one of the way this minister helped save this family. And it wasn’t until after his death that the world learned the numerous stories of the generosity of this bishop of the early Church, Saint Nicholas.

Through his timely gifts, Saint Nicholas helped to restore the hope of this family, and hundreds more in his community. But the ministry of Bishop Nicholas extended beyond giving gifts. History tells us that he was persecuted by the Roman authorities and imprisoned for his faith. Later, when Emperor Constantine made Christianity the state religion, Nicholas boldly defended the doctrine of the Trinity at the Council of Nicea.

Throughout his ministry, Bishop Nicholas selflessly poured out his life and his fortune as he served the people in and around his home.