The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas

by William J. Bennett

There is an old, strange story about how Nicholas became bishop. The man who had served as the bishop of Myra for many years had died, and the other bishops of the region gathered in the city to elect someone to succeed him. They discussed the matter for several days, and prayed over it, but reached no agreement over who would be the right choice. Finally one of the oldest and wisest bishops stood and suggested that they should put the matter into God’s hands. He announced that he had had a dream in which a voice told him to watch the doors of the church before morning prayers. The first person named Nicholas to enter the church would be the man they were looking for. Would the bishops be willing to try it? They would. As the time for the morning prayer service approached, the old bishop stationed himself near the church door and waited. Meanwhile, Nicholas, in town to pay his respects to the memory of the deceased bishop, had awakened at dawn. Dressing quickly, he headed to church to spend some time in quiet meditation before the prayer service began. As he stepped through the door, an old bishop he did not know stopped him. “What do people call you, my son?” the old man asked. “My name is Nicholas, your servant,” he answered with humility. “Follow me, child.” Taking him by the hand, he led him before the other bishops and cried, “Here, my brothers, is Nicholas. Let us greet our new bishop.”