Nicholas of Myra fell ill, and his end drew near. According to The Golden Legend, a late medieval account, “when it pleased our Lord to have him depart out this world, he prayed our Lord that he would send him his angels; and inclining his head he saw the angels come to him, whereby he knew well that he should depart … and so saying, ‘Lord, into thine hands I commend my spirit,’ he rendered up his soul and died.” Tradition says that Nicholas died on December 6, the date now observed as his feast day.
