St. Nicholas was a native of the land that is now modern Turkey. Nicholas became a monk at a monastery founded by his uncle. It was during this time that Nicholas gave all of his money to the poor. Nicholas' reputation for charity continued throughout his lifetime and there are many stories of his love for God and for his neighbors. The best-known story involves a man with three unmarried daughters. Three bags of gold were generously given by Nicholas to this man in time of trouble, when he did not have enough money to provide his daughters with suitable dowries. This meant that they could not marry and would live a life of shame. Nicholas walked by the man's house on three successive nights, and each time threw a bag of gold in through a window. Thus, the daughters got married and lived happily ever after. Because of this and similar stories, Nicholas became a symbol of anonymous gift-giving. Hence, if we give a gift to someone today without saying whom it is from, it can be called "a present from Saint Nicholas”.

He raised to life three young boys who had been murdered and pickled in a barrel of brine to hide the crime. His protection against theft and robbery is well known. He helps thieves to repent and change, saving them from life of evil. During a voyage to the Holy Lands, a fierce storm blew up, threatening the ship. He prayed over it, and the storm calmed.

Nicholas was imprisoned for his faith, but continued to teach. He became Bishop of Myra in the fourth century.

St. Nicolas is one of the most beloved and popular saints. He is generous to the poor and special protector of the innocent and wronged. A model of faith and the image of a gentle saint, to most of us, Saint Nicholas is best known as Santa Claus who brings gifts on December 25. His patronage of children is remarkable. St. Nicholas visits children on his feast day, December 6. On this day, according to tradition, children put out wooden shoes filled with hay to feed the saint's horse in hope of receiving a gift. Traditional windmill cookies are baked for St. Nicholas Day. Many Eastern Orthodox congregations have services on the evening before December 6, that feature "visits from Saint Nicholas." The faithful leave their shoes outside the church door, and find in them afterwards gold coins (or chocolate wrapped in gold foil) representing the gold dowries of the three daughters.