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By tradition, Nicholas born in the province of Lycia in the southern part of Asia Minor in the city of Patara to well-to-do parents. The date of his birth is not known. Having inherited his parent’s estate, he became known for his generous gifts to those in need. As a youth, he made pilgrimages to Palestine and Egypt. He was subsequently consecrated Bishop of Myra as the fourth century began. He was imprisoned during the persecutions of Diocletian and released by [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]] after his ascension to emperor. Nicholas was noted for his defense of Orthodoxy against the Arians. He is reputed to have been present at the Council of Nicaea, but his name does not appear among any documents from that era. He died in Myra on [[December 6]] in a year uncertain, but between 342 and 352. He is commemorated on December 6.
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[[Image: Nicholas.jpg|Thumbthumb|right|200pxl|St Nicholas of Myra]]
Our father among the saints '''Nicholas of Myra''' was the [[bishop]] of Myra in southern Asia Minor in the fourth century. While widely honored and venerated, not only in the Orthodox Church, but throughout most Christian groups, little is known historically of the life of Nicholas. He is known to have been [[bishop]] of Myra and he may have participated in the [[First Ecumenical Council|Council of Nicaea]] in 325 . In addition to being honored as the patron [[saint]] of many countries, notably Greece and Russia, and of cities, he is the patron of many occupational groups most notably of sea farers.
==Life and Tradition==
Many of the details of his life that we have appeared during medieval times. St. Methodius, [[patriarch]] of Constantinople, in the middle of the ninth century produced a life of Nicholas in which he noted that the life of Nicholas was unknown to most of the Christians of the time, thus indicating his composition was probably based mainly on legend. Methodius noted that Nicholas was raised well by pious and well-to-do parents and related how Nicholas contributed from his inheritance the dowry for three daughters of a citizen of Patara who had lost all his money.
His [[feast]] was being celebrated by the time of St. Justinian two centuries after his death. After Methodius’ life of Nicholas became available, Nicholas was acclaimed and honored throughout Europe and especially in Italy. When Myra was captured by the Saracens in 1034, many Italian cities planned to “rescue
