Saint Nicholas (Cвятий Mиколай) is one of the most well-known saints of the Church. He was born in the city of Patara, in the region of Lycia in Asia Minor (what is now modern-day Turkey). Saint Nicholas’ parents were pious people, and Nicholas was dedicated to serving the Lord from a very young age. Although his family was very wealthy, St. Nicholas used his inheritance to help the poor and needy. St. Nicholas became the bishop of Myra, and he was beloved by his flock. He became known for his mercy, love and kindness. He performed many miracles, even during his lifetime, and is known today as “Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker”. The saint rescued the city of Myra from a famine through his prayers, saved people from downing at sea, and delivered many who had been unjustly accused from captivity and punishment. One of the most famous stories about St. Nicholas shows his generosity and compassion. St. Nicholas learned of a man who had lost all of his money. The man had three grown daughters but he was too poor to provide a dowry for his girls to get married. In desperation, the man planned to have the girls sell themselves in order to get money for food. Hearing of this, St. Nicholas visited their home in the dead of the night and secretly tossed a bag of gold coins through the window. The saint came again with more gold the next two nights and so the man was able to provide his daughters with honorable marriages. Saint Nicholas lived to an old age and fell asleep in the Lord on December 6th. The year of his death is still uncertain but was sometime between 342 and 352 AD. Saint Nicholas is commemorated on December 6th, which is December 19th in the Julian calendar.