N icholas of Myra (End of the 3rd Century–345 or 352)

Abstract Nicholas was a bishop who was recognized as a saint after his death. He was born in Patara of Lycia, a province of Asia Minor, in the end of the 3rd century and died in Myra of Lycia in 345 or 352. Although he is one of the most popular saints in the Eastern as well as the Western Church, there is scarcely anything historically certain about him, except that he was Bishop of Myra in the 4th century. According to various traditions, he was ordained a presbyter at an early age by his uncle Archbishop Nicholas. He was well known as an almsgiver and a pastor who took special care of the orphans from the early years of his ministry. Later he was elected bishop of Myra. He was imprisoned around 305, during the persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian. He is said to have participated in the First Ecumenical Synod, convened in Nicaea by Constantine the Great against the heresy of Arianism. However, there are doubts regarding his presence in the synod, since his name is not mentioned in any of the old lists of bishops that attended. He died in Myra and was buried in a basilica dedicated to his memory. In 1087 his relics were abducted and brought to Bari by crusaders of the First Crusade.