St. Nicholas Classic Sources
The oldest surviving accounts from the 5th century, the oldest complete 9th century biography, thirteen stories from The Golden Legend, contemporary source material on the Translation of the Relics, and more. These classic sources are presented in translation from the original texts, primarily Greek and Latin. Later classic English texts are also included.
![]() St Nicholas Center Collection |
Stratelatis or Military Officers
Anonymous Greek account from around AD 400
Encomium on Nicholas of Myra
by St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantiople, AD 440
Encomium of St. Nicholas of Myra
by Andrew of Crete, early 8th century
The Life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
by Michael the Archimandrite, 9th century
The Life of St. Nicholas of Myra
Methodius Ad Theodorum, 10th century
The Life and Miracles of Our Holy Father, Saint Nicholas Bishop for Myra
by Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople, ca. 845
The Life St Nicholas, Bishop for Myra
by John the Deacon, Neopolitan historian, ca. 880, earliest Latin account
Vita Compilata: The Collected Life of Nicholas of Myra
Anonymous Greek, 9th – 10th century
The Life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
selections by Symeon the Metaphrast, ca 912
Nicholas of Myra. VII. Synaxarion
drawn from five 10th – 14th century Greek manuscripts
The Life of St. Nicholas the Bishop
thirteen stories from The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine, 1275
Vita sancti Nicholai
MS Laud 108, the first English life of Nicholas, 1280-90
From the Life of St Nicholas
selections from Bergr Sokkason, early 14th century
Saint Nicholas, Confessor, Archbishop of Myra
by the Rev. Alban Butler, 1756-59, 1866 edition
The Lyf of Seynt Nicholas the Bisshop
from William Morris' 1892 edition of The Golden Legend
Latin Miracle Stories of St. Nicholas
29 narrations of miracles by the living St. Nicholas
Latin Miracle Stories of St. Nicholas
13 miracles after his death but before his translation
Latin Miracle Stories of St. Nicholas
Later miracle stories from Angers and Cluny, France, and Brauweiler, Germany
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia
from The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints (ca 1940)
Saint Nicholas of Myra
from Lives of Saints, 1954
Translation of Saint Nicholas
Earliest account, written by Nicephorus immediately after the arrival in Bari, May 9, 1087
Translation of Saint Nicholas
13th Century anonymous Greek account
Literary Development of the "Life" of St Nicholas of Myra A chronology of Nicholas biographies, wonder stories, and later literature by Roger Pearse
In another section
Nicholas of Myra — Early Evidence
Link
Thirteen primary sources in Italian from the Centro Studi Nicolaiani, Bari, Italy
Traditional Stories & Legends
Life of St. Nicholas shown in images
Modern Miracles
More Stories, Poems, & Videos
Life of St. Nicholas shown in images
Modern Miracles
More Stories, Poems, & Videos