Nicholas was born at Patra in Asia Minor to parents, who, having long been childless, had petitioned God with many prayers. Already as a youth Nicholas became noted for his zeal in helping the unfortunate and oppressed. In his native city there lived a poor noble man who had three daughters of marriageable age; he could not obtain a suitor for them because he could offer no dowry. He courted the idea that he might sacrifice his daughters innocence in order to raise the money. When Nicholas became aware of this, he went by night and threw a bag containing as much gold as was needed for a dowry through a window. This he repeated the second and third nights. During a sea voyage he calmed the storm with his prayer; he is therefore venerated as patron of sailors. On a certain occasion he was imprisoned for the faith. In a wonderful way he later became bishop of Myra; his presence is noted in the council of Nicaea. He died a quiet death in his episcopal city, uttering the words: 'into your hands I commend my Spirit.'Nicholas is highly venerated in the East as a miracle worker, as a preacher of the word of God, spokesman of the Father, and in the West as a gentle protector of children
