Everything Santa/St. Nicholas Blog

Over the years this tradition of angels accompanying  St. Nicholas grew as devotion to St. Nicholas was solidified.

For example, in Austria both “angels” and “devils” would accompany St. Nicholas as he visited houses on his feast day. A periodical from 1897 sheds some light on this European custom.

The character of St. Nicholas in Austria is usually taken by a young man versed in the church catechism. He is arrayed in a long, white robe with a silken scarf and a miter and scepter. He sometimes has with him two angels, dressed somewhat like choir-boys, each of whom carries a basket or bag, and along in the background follow a troop of devils … In the twilight of the fifth of December the bishop makes his rounds to the various houses where the children are collected in parties. He enters with the angels, while the devils wait outside. A great silence falls upon the assembled company, and the children are called up and examined religiously. This is carried out with great seriousness. If the trial is passed successfully, the angels step forward and give the child gifts and nuts and cakes … When the inquisition is over, the devils are allowed to enter and frighten the children … and amuse them with their strange dances and antics … After St. Nicholas has departed the children go to their homes, with the expectation that St. Nicholas will visit each house separately and be more generous and bring them more gifts. So, after saying their prayers with more than usual earnestness, they put baskets and dishes on the window-sills and go to bed.

The way this is celebrated varies according to the region in Europe, and has even grown to incorporate the modern depictions of St. Nicholas. Angels are often explained as the primary helpers who assist St. Nicholas in visiting all the children in the world. 

Suffice to say, this tradition has much truth behind it, as Catholics believe angels are real and do help us with our charitable deeds.

In most modern-day depictions of St. Nicholas (aka “Santa Claus”), small elves accompany the generous bishop as he graciously hands out gifts to children. However, before elves were ever in the picture, angels followed the beloved saint as he visited houses on the eve of his feast day (December 6).

The origin of this tradition is difficult to trace as it is found in many different countries in Europe, most notably in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Poland. However, a depiction of the saint in St. Nicholas’ Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, reflects this idea, as noted in a description of the artwork of the lower church written in 1892.

Two angels on either side of S. Nicholas hold the purses wherewith he dowered the daughters of a poverty-stricken nobleman, thus saving them from a life of infamy.

So, the angels appear to be the original helpers of St. Nicholas during his life, assisting him in his secret gift-giving that helped save a man’s daughters from prostitution.

It is fitting for angels to be associated with St. Nicholas, as they are invisible helpers, whose spiritual power is beyond anything we could imagine. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes, “The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being” (CCC 352).

Just as angels help us on a daily basis (though mostly unseen), we can say with complete faith and confidence that angels did help St. Nicholas before his death as well as after his death when he was admitted into the eternal embrace of Heaven.

In 1862, Tlingit (indigenous people in southeast Alaska) leaders asked the Russian Orthodox Bishop of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska to come to Juneau from his headquarters in San Francisco, so they could become Orthodox Christians. As there were no Russians in Juneau, the bishop asked how the Tlingit had come to this decision.

He was told that a young Tlingit man had had a vision of a short, white-bearded old man telling him to go to Sitka and be baptized. (The Tlingit in Sitka had their own Russian Orthodox chapel with services in the Tlingit language—unlike the American missionaries who were under orders from the United States government to suppress native languages and customs and use only English.). The young man went to Sitka and was baptized.

Not long afterward, he became very ill. Nearing death, he called for the elders of the village and told them the white-bearded old man had come again, giving the message that the Tlingit people should be baptized.

After the young man died, the elders had the same vision, with the same white-bearded man. As this vision, or dream, spread, the Tlingit people became very eager to be baptized. When they saw an icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, they recognized him as the white-bearded old man who had come to them in their dreams.

The Tlingit leader Yees Gaanaaix and his wife were baptized, followed by seven hundred Tlingit people, all coming into the Orthodox faith. The Russian Orthodox church in Juneau was dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in 1984. As the Tlingit people work on the sea, primarily as fisherman, the have a special love for Saint Nicholas, the protector of all who go to sea. The Juneau church is the oldest in continual use in southeast Alaska.

This is one of the oldest stories/legends of St. Nicholas that happened while he was alive.

Having completed their mission, they had been sent to put down a revolt in Frigia, the three generals, Nepotianus, Ursos, and Eupoleonis, returned as conquering heroes to Constantinople. Emperor Constantine gave a great reception honoring the generals; this made the Master of the Forces green with envy.

The Master offered Prefect Ablabius a bribe of 1700 pounds of gold to betray the three generals. Agreeing, Ablabius went to Constantine, telling him, “My lord, the officers who were sent to serve you have instead committed treason. When I learned of this, I could not keep silent. Now, if it please my lord, act!” The furious emperor immediately ordered the three generals to prison without further inquiry.

The jealous officers, now afraid they would be found out, pressured Ablabius, saying, “Why do you keep the generals alive in prison? As long as they are there they can help their cause.” So Ablabius went again to Constantine, saying, “My lord, those generals that you ordered to prison, continue to plot against you.” The emperor ordered the men to be beheaded that very night.

The warden told the generals they were to be executed before sunrise. The three rent their garments, crying “What evil did we do, that we should perish so miserably?” For they had served the emperor loyally and well; now without trial, they were condemned by the same emperor. They knew not what to do.

Then Nepotianus remembered what they had witnessed in Myra, Bishop Nicholas saving three innocent men from unjust condemnation and death. He cried out, “Lord God of Saint Nicholas have mercy upon us. Save us now, as you saved the three men who were unjustly condemned to death in Lycia. Saint Nicholas, servant of Christ, though you are far from us, pray to your God that we may be saved.” They all prayed the same way.

Saint Nicholas himself came to Emperor Constantine in a dream, saying, “Rise and free the three generals you have put in prison, Nepotianus, Ursus, and Eupoleonis. They have been condemned on hearsay. If you do not obey, I will stir up such a revolt that your body will be given to wild animals.” Constantine asked, “Who are you, and how did you get into my palace?” The saint replied, “I am Bishop Nicholas, from Lycia.” And he vanished.

Nicholas then appeared to Ablabius the prefect, saying, “Rise and free the three innocent generals you have put in prison. If you do not listen to me, you and your whole family will die.” Ablabius asked, “Who are you and where do you come from, to speak to me like this?” Nicholas answered, “I am Nicholas, servant of God, the Metropolitan in Myra.” And again he disappeared.

Constantine awoke and sent a messenger for Ablabius. The prefect sent the messenger back with the same story. Constantine ordered the three generals, the prefect, and the public into his court. Constantine asked the generals, “What kind of magic do you do that you can affect us while we sleep?” The three stared at the ground, afraid of being accused of working spells on the emperor. The question was repeated. Nepotianus replied, “My lord, we know nothing of magic. If we have done anything against Your Excellency, punish us.” The emperor then asked, “Do you know anyone named Nicholas?” Inspired and emboldened, they answered, “Lord God of Saint Nicholas have mercy upon us. Save us now, as you saved the three men who were unjustly condemned to death in Lycia.” The emperor asked, “Who is this Nicholas?” Nepotianus told him what Nicholas had done, freeing the innocent men in Myra.

Emperor Constantine spared the generals, saying, “It is not I who frees you, but Nicholas to whom you called for help. Get dressed in your uniforms, and go to give him thanks.” Constantine sent them away with rich gifts of gold holy vessels, a Gospel of gold, and two golden candelabra. The generals journeyed to Myra to thank Bishop Nicholas for their amazing rescue. Nicholas brushed aside their thanks, urging them to praise God who had so miraculously saved them. They then gave of their wealth to the poor, continuing to do so for many years while giving thanks to God.

One of the oldest stories showing St. Nicholas as a protector of children takes place long after his death. The townspeople of Myra were celebrating the good saint on the eve of his feast day when a band of Arab pirates from Crete came into the district. They stole treasures from the Church of Saint Nicholas to take away as booty. As they were leaving town, they snatched a young boy, Basilios, to make into a slave. The emir, or ruler, selected Basilios to be his personal cupbearer, as not knowing the language, Basilios would not understand what the king said to those around him. So, for the next year Basilios waited on the king, bringing his wine in a beautiful golden cup. For Basilios’ parents, devastated at the loss of their only child, the year passed slowly, filled with grief. As the next St. Nicholas’ feast day approached, Basilios’ mother would not join in the festivity, as it was now a day of tragedy. However, she was persuaded to have a simple observance at home—with quiet prayers for Basilios’ safekeeping. Meanwhile, as Basilios was fulfilling his tasks serving the emir, he was suddenly whisked up and away. St. Nicholas appeared to the terrified boy, blessed him, and set him down at his home back in Myra. Imagine the joy and wonderment when Basilios amazingly appeared before his parents, still holding the king’s golden cup. This is the first story told of St. Nicholas protecting children—which became his primary role in the West.