St. Nicolas of Myra
St. Nicolas of Myra The Real Santa Claus! Dr. Randy White
St. Nicholas of Myra
St. Nicholas of Myra
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • St. Nickolas died in Myra and was buried in a cave in 343 AD. • By 400 AD he began to be known as a “Wonder-worker” • In 540 AD an elaborate Basilica was built over his tomb.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • By 600 AD the Saxons were giving human characteristics to weather elements: Lord Snow, King Frost, etc. • Actors would dress as these characters and be the “Guest of honor” at large dinners.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • By 800 AD the Vikings believed in the northern god Odin, who would carry a satchel of gifts to give to the worthy. • Odin rode an eightlegged flying horse.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • 842 AD the first written work about St. Nicholas was published by the Patriarch of Constantinople, St. Methodius. • 850 AD the Clergy at the Cathedral in Cologne began to give fruit and cookies to boys of the Cathedral school on December 6 in honor of St. Nicholas.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • 987 AD Grand Prince Vladimir I is converted and brings Christianity to Russia. • His favorite saint: Nicholas!
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • One factor that caused the fame of Nicholas is that he had become the Patron Saint of sailors and his likeness was the figurehead of many ships. • By 1087 he was so popular that his bones were stolen by sailors and moved to Bari, Italy, where they remain
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra From 1200-1500 “Boy Bishops” or the “Nicholas Bishop” would parade through town and gather alms for the poor.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra About 1500 images of Nicholas began to change from a Greek Monk with a short, dark beard, to the Nordic/Germanic image of “Winterman” or “Odin”.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • 1492, Columbus sails the Ocean blue. • When he arrives in modern day Haiti, he names the Port… • Saint Nicholas!
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • In 1626 a fleet of ships with the figurehead of St. Nicholas depart Holland for the New World. • The Dutchmen purchased Manhattan Island for $24 and named the village “New Amsterdam” • Their first official act: erect a statue of St. Nicholas
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra In 1645 in England a popular leaflet about “The Arraignment, Conviction, and Imprisonment of Christmas” was published, describing the Holiday in a festive manner, including gift giving and feasting.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • The mid 1600s were tough times for Christmas! • Numerous pamphlets were written on the subject in England.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • In 1651 Christmas was outlawed in America. • By the Christians! • The Puritans saw Christmas as having become too festive. • They found no Scriptural justification for celebrating Christmas. • As late as 1870 classes were scheduled in Boston Public Schools on Dec. 25.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra
St. Nicholas of Myra • As “Santa” (Sint Niklaas) developed in the USA, “Father Christmas” remained in Europe. • Thin, tall, stern
St. Nicholas of Myra • From 1931-1964, Haddon Sunblom created the iconic American Santa for Coca-Cola.
St. Nicholas of Myra In the 1950s, the last images of the “religious” or “priestly based” Santa Claus began to disappear from Europe.
St. Nicholas of Myra A revival of the work of Saint Nicholas?
St. Nicholas of Myra The Real St. Nicholas• Served the poor • Defended the name of Christ • Led others to faith
Questions Coming up• Call 281-574-2007 to ask a pre-recorded question for our Tuesday broadcast. Call 24/7! – “This is Randy from Katy, TX and I’d like to know….”
• Pray for us in Israel December 9-18 – Join us March 5-15, 2014
• Our last Bible study for the year will be Thursday, December 19 • Your gifts are appreciated!
St. Nicholas of Myra
St. Nicholas of Myra
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • St. Nickolas died in Myra and was buried in a cave in 343 AD. • By 400 AD he began to be known as a “Wonder-worker” • In 540 AD an elaborate Basilica was built over his tomb.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • By 600 AD the Saxons were giving human characteristics to weather elements: Lord Snow, King Frost, etc. • Actors would dress as these characters and be the “Guest of honor” at large dinners.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • By 800 AD the Vikings believed in the northern god Odin, who would carry a satchel of gifts to give to the worthy. • Odin rode an eightlegged flying horse.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • 842 AD the first written work about St. Nicholas was published by the Patriarch of Constantinople, St. Methodius. • 850 AD the Clergy at the Cathedral in Cologne began to give fruit and cookies to boys of the Cathedral school on December 6 in honor of St. Nicholas.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • 987 AD Grand Prince Vladimir I is converted and brings Christianity to Russia. • His favorite saint: Nicholas!
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • One factor that caused the fame of Nicholas is that he had become the Patron Saint of sailors and his likeness was the figurehead of many ships. • By 1087 he was so popular that his bones were stolen by sailors and moved to Bari, Italy, where they remain
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra From 1200-1500 “Boy Bishops” or the “Nicholas Bishop” would parade through town and gather alms for the poor.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra About 1500 images of Nicholas began to change from a Greek Monk with a short, dark beard, to the Nordic/Germanic image of “Winterman” or “Odin”.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • 1492, Columbus sails the Ocean blue. • When he arrives in modern day Haiti, he names the Port… • Saint Nicholas!
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • In 1626 a fleet of ships with the figurehead of St. Nicholas depart Holland for the New World. • The Dutchmen purchased Manhattan Island for $24 and named the village “New Amsterdam” • Their first official act: erect a statue of St. Nicholas
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra In 1645 in England a popular leaflet about “The Arraignment, Conviction, and Imprisonment of Christmas” was published, describing the Holiday in a festive manner, including gift giving and feasting.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • The mid 1600s were tough times for Christmas! • Numerous pamphlets were written on the subject in England.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra • In 1651 Christmas was outlawed in America. • By the Christians! • The Puritans saw Christmas as having become too festive. • They found no Scriptural justification for celebrating Christmas. • As late as 1870 classes were scheduled in Boston Public Schools on Dec. 25.
St. Nickolas Nicholas of Myra
St. Nicholas of Myra • As “Santa” (Sint Niklaas) developed in the USA, “Father Christmas” remained in Europe. • Thin, tall, stern
St. Nicholas of Myra • From 1931-1964, Haddon Sunblom created the iconic American Santa for Coca-Cola.
St. Nicholas of Myra In the 1950s, the last images of the “religious” or “priestly based” Santa Claus began to disappear from Europe.
St. Nicholas of Myra A revival of the work of Saint Nicholas?
St. Nicholas of Myra The Real St. Nicholas• Served the poor • Defended the name of Christ • Led others to faith
Questions Coming up• Call 281-574-2007 to ask a pre-recorded question for our Tuesday broadcast. Call 24/7! – “This is Randy from Katy, TX and I’d like to know….”
• Pray for us in Israel December 9-18 – Join us March 5-15, 2014
• Our last Bible study for the year will be Thursday, December 19 • Your gifts are appreciated!
