The Life of Saint Nicholas, Part 2, The Miracles

There were many other miracles and legends about Bishop Nikolaos. As a young man, Nikolaos made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On the way home, while out at sea, a storm blew up. The wind was tossing the ship around and the sailors thought they were going to die. Nikolaos knelt and said a prayer and the sea became calm. There was a terrible famine in Myra in 311-312. It is said that Bishop Nikolaos saved the people of Myra from starvation. He talked to some sailors from a ship headed for Constantinople with a load of wheat for the Emperor. He told them if they unloaded some of the wheat there that they would come to no harm. They were scared, but trusted him anyway. They unloaded part of the wheat there. At Constantinople, the wheat was exactly the same weight. Another legend says a wicked butcher captured three boys, killed and cut them up. then pickled them in brine. Bishop Nikolaos learned about it. His prayers restored their bodies and brought them back to life. The most famous miracle of all was connected to three young ladies. Their father had recently lost all his wealth and could not provide them with dowries. Without dowries, they could not marry. Not being able to take care of them, their father would have to sell them into slavery. When Bishop Nikolaos heard of this, he visited the house at night. He threw three bags of gold into the house. Some say he threw them through the window, some say down the chimney. They landed in stockings the girls had washed and hung up beside the fireplace to dry. Bishop Nikolaos often did acts of charity during the night because he didn't want people to see him. He would often put gifts in shoes left sitting out. People started telling their children he would not come unless they were asleep. Bishop Nikolaos died peacefully on 6 December 343 in Myra.

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