A Note From Our Pastor: December 7, 2025

As you likely know, we celebrate the memorial of St. Nicholas this past week. Most everyone is aware of a connection between this historical figure (a 4th century bishop from Turkey) and the person we refer to as Santa Claus (or “Ol’ Saint Nick”, married to Mrs. Claus; lives in the North Pole; dressed head-to-toe in red and white, with black leather boots and belt; drives a sleigh, pulled by 8 [or 9] reindeer; drinks Coca-Cola; is watching you at all times to evaluate your behavior). What’s the connection?

St. Nicholas was born in 270, in present-day southwest Turkey. His parents died in an epidemic while he was still young, and he was raised by his uncle—also named Nicholas—the bishop of Patara. Young Nicholas entered religious life and was later ordained a priest. In 325, as bishop of Myra, he was one of many bishops to answer the request of Emperor Constantine to appear at the First Council of Nicaea, and was one of the bishops who signed the Nicene Creed.

There are many traditional accounts of him that recall his generosity, goodness and even miraculous acts, especially for the benefit of the poor or those in crisis. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker. He became known for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the stockings or shoes of those who left them out for him. The stories of this generous figure were celebrated and were told far and wide, even as his name evolved as it spread from one culture and language to another: Saint Nikolaos>Sint Nicolaas>Sinterklaas>Santa Claus.

Well not only did the name evolve, but also Saint Nicholas—the man of God, the bishop—his identity and his meaning evolved. Let’s be honest, Santa Claus has unfortunately been reduced primarily to a commercial contrivance. And whatever connection exists between Santa Claus and the season we associate with him, Christmas, the birth of Jesus…well, it’s a stretch, at best.

If Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra, could see how we’ve come to regard him, I wonder what he’d think? Maybe he’d remind us of the beautiful truths of our faith that he supported, as claimed in the creed; “…I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages…For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.” (Read that quote again…slowly.)

Maybe he would say, if you don’t at least desire to deepen in this truth—et incarnátus est de Spíritu Sancto ex María Vírgine, et homo factus est—then you don’t know the real Santa Claus.

Yours in Christ,

Father Todd O. Strange