The Early English Life of St Nicholas

This is the earliest known Life of Nicholas in the English language. It was translated from the Latin that John the Deacon had translated from Greek around AD 880. An anonymous monk in the Monastery of St Andrew in Rochester, translated John the Deacon's Latin into Old English, probably around 1150.

Introduction and translation by Elaine Treharne, Stanford University

Translation of The Life of St Nicholas

Introduction

The unique text of the Early English Life of St Nicholas, a saint who is known now, of course, as Santa Claus or Father Christmas in popular culture, was written on pages 171-185 of Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 303. This manuscript was copied in the Benedictine cathedral-monastery of St Andrew in Rochester in around 1150. The Life of St Nicholas is one of three saints' lives original to this manuscript that were probably translated into English around or after the Norman Conquest in 1066. For that reason alone, this Life is important testimony to creativity in the English vernacular in the twelfth century and to the desire to produce religious works for those who found access to education and edification easier in English than in Latin or French—the two more official languages of the learned elite from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries in England.

The history of the Life is complex and fascinating and shows how a single miracle attributed to a holy person grew into a phenomenally successful cult with global popularity. As the narrative reveals, Nicholas was born in Patara in the region of Lycia in southwestern Turkey. Reluctantly, he became bishop of the diocese of Myra (modern-day Demre) and worked numerous miracles both during his life, as we have here in this version, and posthumously, as other versions reveal. His sanctity was acknowledged in early legends from at least the sixth century, but the first full vita, a Greek life, was by Michael the Archimandrite in the first half of the ninth century. The earliest full Latin vita of Nicholas was translated by John the Deacon of St Januarius's church in Naples in the later ninth century, though his fame was already becoming established by that time. According to the Greek tradition of the life, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicea in 325 when he slapped the heretic, Arius, and he died on 6 December 343, that date becoming his feastday. After his death, a sweet-smelling oil emerged from his body, which, it is said, happens to this day. The 'manna' exuded from his body is now collected on May 9th by clergy at the Basilica of St Nicholas in Bari, southern Italy. This is the place to which the saint's body was translated from Myra by Norman traders in 1087. Nicholas is now the patron saint of sailors, children, merchants, students, pawnbrokers, unmarried people, brewers, Russia, Greece, Moscow, and the falsely accused. He was a hugely popular saint in the Middle Ages, and particularly so once his cult became widely spread throughout Europe, beginning in the eastern Mediterranean and spreading to England by the eleventh century.

In the Life as it exists in this version, Nicholas is born to noble parents, and his piety is manifested from the youngest age, when he fasts as a baby, and shows true Christian devotion as a boy. Alert to the gospel teaching that one should not hoard wealth, he gives away his wealth, saving three young women from prostitution, and is miraculously shown to be God's candidate for the bishopric of Myra—a position he holds with such grace and mercy (and sometimes righteous anger) that his fame spreads quickly. He saves people from starvation; travellers from mortal danger in the shape of the wicked goddess Diana (Artemis, whose cult had been popular in Myra prior to the Christianization of the Roman Empire); and he rescues unjustly condemned soldiers by appearing both in person to chastise their would-be executioners and thaumaturgically (miraculously appearing, while physically being elsewhere). He tackles armed executioners, corrupt officials, and the Emperor Constantine himself, unafraid to do what is right and just. The Life in this English manuscript ends with rescued prisoners rejoicing in God and St Nicholas, and just as it ends prior to the death of St Nicholas, so too does the English translator abbreviate their probable source to keep the speeches lively and to minimise what might be considered extraneous erudite information.

Many themes of interest to contemporary literary studies are evinced in this narrative including the moving depictions of the relationships that Nicholas strikes up with God (as 'God's darling') and those whom he saves, which are notable in the light of the affective mode of religious worship in the twelfth-century. As far as travel narratives are concerned, too, the Life offers a fascinating account of encounters, trade, and imperial power across the eastern Mediterranean. Nicholas is depicted as a consistent exemplar of a just and simultaneously merciful Christian leader. The direct speech is all imagined, but provides a seeming authenticity to the text. This is coupled with an historical background that is geographically detailed and accurate (Myra was an ancient site where Diana/Artemis was worshipped; the harbour, called 'Adriaticus' here, corresponds to a grain-trading harbour close to Myra, now called Andriake). Even the street names are given in the author's determination to provide a truthful precision to the urban landscape in which Nicholas lives.

In all, this Life moves quickly, and is a genuinely engaging account of a saint whose emotional and spiritual closeness to God is always evident. Nicholas's energetic movement throughout the Mediterranean moves us from north to south on sea and on land, as this beloved saint strives to fulfil his role as an exemplary and loving representative of God's grace.

Translation of The Life of St Nicholas

Here begins the prologue of Saint Nicholas, bishop and confessor

Truly, each ill-formed work which a craftsman attempts to produce will not be elegant or considered stable; neither will any writing which the ignorant man begins to produce be spoken of as wise or easy to understand. Now you have often asked me, dear Father Anastasius, that I translate for you into Latin the birth and pious life of the most blessed Nicholas and the manifold miracles which the Lord performed through him. And I, John, servant of Saint Januarius, to whom I am now bound with the position of deacon, though I am unworthy of this office, answered you with my little understanding that I desired more to learn than to write about such a thing, because I know myself to be unschooled in such accomplished language. But nevertheless, because of the original writing that you have about the holy Nicholas, I will not be disobedient to you. But I fear if I begin it that learned masters throughout this world shall condemn me and consider me unworthy among themselves. So I now ask you, worthy Father Anastasius, that you and all your brothers pray to almighty God to unlock my tongue and open my understanding to this man's language, just as he opens the tongue of the child and makes it very talkative. Also, at other times when it is his will, he opens the mouths of dumb animals to human speech; so may he also open my mouth through your prayer, if it is his will, so that I might begin to praise in the Latin language.

I will now begin it with God's help as an honour to all people who rejoice in him. Also, I pray humbly that all the wise readers who come to this reading do not prejudge me if anything seems amiss to them: but, I ask that they forgive me my age and my ability. They should remember moreover that I am now fifteen years old and feeble in nature. Even so, I wrote of this saint's birth and his honourable life, and the manifold miracles that God did through him in Latin, just as Methodius, the patriarch, wrote it in Greek, and afterwards sent it as an honour to the alderman, Theodore. Now, dear brothers, we ask this precious saint to intercede for us with the Lord so that we will be able through his holy merit to withstand the temptation of the devil and to receive eternal bliss after this life.

Here ends the prologue of Saint Nicholas.

Here begins the life.

The blessed Nicholas came from a noble family, and he lived in a town called Patera. Truly, his father and mother were always esteemed among the noblest and best in that same town; and though they lived in such great honour, nevertheless they had their thoughts set more on the heavenly kingdom than on any honour they might have had on earth. They discovered how they might maintain a pious life between themselves: a great gift from God was within them, because they considered how they might best withhold themselves from fleshly lust. When they first came together in their youth and they had conceived this blessed child, they withheld themselves from all physical desire, and very often visited God's house, and there they eagerly thanked our Lord Christ that he had granted them the birth of their child, and with all humility they performed their prayers daily. Truly, the Lord heard their prayers, and granted to them through that child all that they eagerly asked of him, and he showed his mercy on that child.

As soon as Nicholas was born and was feeding at his mother's breast, it was his habit every Wednesday and every Friday to only feed once a day, and he stayed like this until the following day. Truly, by this token of God it was shown what a glorious man he would become. He flourished and began to thrive well then; and when he grew out of childhood and became older, he desired nothing of this world's wealth, but was sometimes with his father and mother and at other times he went alone to church; and everything he heard read from holy writings there, he fastened in his heart and firmly kept it in his mind.

Then it happened that his father and mother departed from this life, and he considered in his thoughts often and frequently what our Lord Christ said in his Gospel: Qui non renuntiaverit omnia que possidet, non potest meus esse discipulus.¹ That is: 'He who does not renounce all that he owns cannot be my disciple.' Then he thought he would do the same following the holy word of God, but he feared people would talk about it and they might honour him for such things, and then his Lord might be the more displeased about this. He considered all this alone in his mind and would not reveal it to anyone but God alone, who always beholds the thoughts of all people. He prayed very earnestly to him that he might dispose of his possessions in the way most pleasing to his Lord, so that no praise might come to him from people because of this.

While he reflected on this in his mind, there lived in that same town a good man. He had been very prosperous and held in great honour by the noble-born people, but thereafter he became so poor and so very wretched that he did not have much by way of goods to support his wretched life. He also had three daughters, all maidens, and because of their wretchedness, poor men despised to take them as wives. Then their father wanted to make them become prostitutes so that then they might support his wretched life through that. Indeed then, that great shame became known throughout the town, and the people spoke a great deal about it.

And as soon as the holy man Nicholas heard this, he grieved greatly for the poor man and his daughters who were descended from noble birth; and he thought he would help them with the wealth that was still in his control, so that the evil deed would be put aside through this act, and the maidens would not have to be defiled by such open prostitution. In truth, he did not want any man to know about this except Christ alone. Truly, then God's darling began to consider at what time he might secretly do this so that he who would go on to have the treasure would not know who had done him this good deed. Then he chose a time of night when all people were in their beds, and it was very quiet, and he took a good portion of gold and wrapped it in a cloth, went to the house of the wretched man, and threw that gold in through a window very quietly, and went away immediately so that no one knew about it.

In early morning, when the man arose and found that gold there where it had been thrown, he was so greatly surprised by it that he jumped about and began to weep for joy and thanked his Lord very earnestly that such great mercy had been shown to him because of his love. Then he immediately gave his eldest daughter as a wife to a good man through proper wedlock, just as Christian people are accustomed to do. And after that, he began to investigate who the man might be that had done so much good for him.

Then quickly, Nicholas, the servant of God, came again secretly in the night and brought the good man as much gold as he did before, in such a way that no person knew of it. Truly, as soon as it was day and the man saw that gold, then he again began to weep for joy and thus said: "Lord, I pray you that you show me, sinful as I am, who it is that brings so many good things into my hands." He said again: "Truly, I shall stay awake and forgo sleep until almighty God might show me through his mercy who his servant is who dwells among men and behaves with purity just like the Lord's angel."

Then after a few days, the blessed Nicholas came in the night and again for the third time brought just as much gold as he did before, and threw it into that man's house. And it fell so loudly that the poor man woke straightaway and quickly rose up and ran after God's darling, and said thus to him: "Wait, lord, wait! For God's sake, I pray you, do not flee from me any longer. Truly, I have often prayed to my Lord that I might see you with my own eyes." And then he caught up with him and recognized him, though it was dark at night, and fell down and kissed his feet, and began to cry a great deal. And, mildly, the blessed Nicholas forbade him from doing this; he also asked him very earnestly that, as long as he was living, he should never reveal to any man what he had done, since he did not wish to have any praise in this life because of it; instead, he thought by this to earn and receive his just reward in heaven. In truth, he entrusted himself daily to almighty God, who appoints and directs all things as and when he wants and in whatever way he desires.

Truly, when this had all happened in this way, the archbishop of the good city called Myra died; and as soon as the bishops who served under him heard this, they began to weep very sorrowfully, because he was beloved by all people and honoured for his good merits. They gathered themselves together in one place with all their clerics, because they wanted to choose such a man as bishop who would be acceptable to the Lord.

There was there among them a certain honourable bishop, who was so wise through the gift of the Holy Ghost that all the other bishops submitted to his advice so much that whichever man he would name with the honour, they would all accept. The bishop did not want to name any man yet, but asked them to fast for three days and to pray with all enthusiasm to almighty God that he might show them through his great mercy which man he wanted to fill the place there among the apostles whom Judas betrayed. They turned then with all their hearts to Christ, as if the exhortation to them had been heaven-sent, and prayed their Lord, he who is the eternal guardian of all people, that he would ordain what they longed for, and that he should reveal to them a useful shepherd who would know how to protect his sheep well.

Truly, when they thus remained in their prayers, the good bishop heard a voice above from heaven, and it commanded him that he should go to the church gates, and the man that he first saw coming there at daybreak they should ordain as bishop, and his name would be Nicholas. Then the bishop revealed to the other bishops what the voice had commanded him, and said this to them: "Dear brothers, you should pray constantly for our Lord's mercy in here, and I shall eagerly wait outside for that which God has promised us." When he had said this to them, he went out and waited by the church gates with great love and with holy perception.

Truly, when dawn came, the holy Nicholas hurried, as if he was sent from God himself, in front of all the other people toward the church. And just as God's darling came to the gate, the bishop clasped him with his hands and asked him, with much humility, what his name might be. God's man answered him with a holy voice and, with his head bowing down, he said he was called Nicholas. The bishop said to him: "Come here with me now, dear child, as I have something secret to discuss with you."

And as soon as they came into the church, the bishop called out with a loud voice to all the servants of God, and said thus: "It is now revealed, dear brothers, what the Lord said: Quidcumque petieritis in nomine meo, credite quia accipietis et fiet vobis.² That is, 'Whatsoever you pray for in my name, believe that you will receive it and it will be done for you.' Be happy and rejoice now because we have received what we prayed for from the Lord, and this is the same man that we were praying about." And when they saw him, they all praised the name of the saviour with a loud voice, and gloried in his great mercy: bishops were glad because they would receive such a companion; clerics rejoiced because God had granted them such a shepherd. What happened there too was that they placed him on the bishop's throne against his will; he rejected it for a long time, but yet they pleaded with him for so long that he granted them this and accepted the bishopric.

Indeed, after he became bishop and had that honour in hand, he still lived from that time forward in his great humility and with the same goodness that had previously been his custom. He often remained awake in prayer, and he punished his body with fasting. Gladly, he taught men to do good deeds, and he humbly received needy widows and orphans; and he was anxious for all those who were troubled with affliction, and he helped them all as if it were his own need. He taught the rich that they should not unjustly deprive the poor of anything. If he saw any man falling into any misfortune, he restored him from his trouble immediately and comforted him compassionately. Thus his goodness grew greater and greater daily, and all men rejoiced because of such a good bishop, and the Lord strengthened him in many powers. Then he became so famous and so honoured through God's will that he could remedy any person's sorrow; whether someone was on land or at sea, if they called on the saint to help, immediately that person would be relieved of all distress.

Then it happened at a certain time that some sailors were suddenly beset with such a great storm out at sea that they all thought they would drown because of it. Also, they were terribly overcome by the cold so that they could control nothing properly for themselves. And as soon as they found themselves in such great trouble, they all called out with loud voices saying: "Oh you God's servant, Nicholas, if the things that we have heard about you are true, show it to us now so we will be able to thank God and you for saving our lives!" Truly, during the moment that they were calling, a man appeared to them and said to them: "I am here because you called me," and thereupon he began to help them with the ropes and the masts and the other ship's tackle as if he were one of them.

Then, not long after that, the storm fell quiet and the sea became calm and peaceful through their shepherd's bidding. And the sailors rowed forth with great happiness and arrived quickly at the very harbor that they had intended to. And as soon as they went up onto land, they asked where God's servant Nicholas might be. They were told that he was in church, and they thanked God for this and went in. In truth, they had not known him prior to this, and yet as soon as they saw him in the church they knew him without the guidance of anyone. They fell to the feet of the holy man and began to weep for joy and thanked him very sincerely for their rescue from death because of his help and they told him all about what happened to them out at sea.

Then the blessed man said to them: "Dear brothers, do not think that this happened through my power, but God, through his customary mercy, has saved you because of the firm belief you have had in him. In fact, daily we are vexed because of our sins, and yet, if we turn to our merciful Lord with all our might, he pities us immediately and saves us from all the evil which comes upon us. And, therefore, dear brothers, do not hesitate at all to do good, from striving with humility and happily helping wretched people, and believe how much power pure belief and true prayers to the Lord has. Truly, ever since our ancestral father, Adam, was thrown out of paradise after his wrongdoing into this earth, there is nothing as agreeable to God as almsgiving, as long as a person does not do it for this world's glory." Thus the holy man humbly instructed them toward God, and allowed them to go from him afterwards with his blessing.

Again, it happened through God's providence that there was a great famine in the land in which the holy man lived, because the unfaithful people would not hear the true faith which the blessed Nicholas was continually teaching them. Truly, because of this, almighty God deprived them of their grain and also all other items of food so that they had nothing by which they could live. Then, there was great contrition among the people, and they came immediately and sought the feet of the saint, and begged him very sincerely to intercede for them with the Lord. So God's man answered them and said that he would plead for them, if they would love the Lord with all their heart. They said then with a tearful voice that they would observe all those things which were pleasing to the Lord.

Then God's darling Nicholas went into the Lord's temple and prayed very earnestly for that wretched people and he remained there in his prayers so long that someone came and told him that a large number of ships had arrived at the harbour called Adriaticus, and these were fully laden with wheat. When the man of God heard this, he went there swiftly and said thus to the sailors: "Listen friends of God, grant me a request that I wish to ask of you." They answered and said that they would happily do that. The holy man said: "The people of this land are almost dead from hunger, and I come here because I want to ask from you some aid from your grain so that this poor people will not perish in the midst of all this." They answered and said: "Alas, venerable father, we dare not lessen the amount of wheat because it was measured very exactly at Alexandria, and we have shall have it measured just as closely by the servants of the emperor." Then the bishop said again: "Dear brothers, even so, grant me one hundred bushels of wheat from each ship if you cannot give more, so that these poor people do not perish any further. And I absolutely promise you, through the grace of my Lord, that you shall have none the less when you come home and have to deliver it back."

Truly, as the sailors heard this, they were greatly amazed and considered whether this could ever happen; and at last, they believed him and granted him what he desired. They measured out a hundred bushels of wheat from each ship, and as soon as that was done, good weather came and with a speedy wind they sailed home to Constantinople.

In truth, just as soon as they arrived home, they measured that corn from the ship. They found it just as as it had been received at Alexandria, as if not a single grain had gone. Then they all began to weep for joy, and told all the emperor's men what had happened, and as soon as they heard that, they all began to praise God with many blessings. O, what a wonderful thing we have just heard about this grain, but a greater wonder is what became of the part which had been left with the saint. Truly, the venerable Nicholas divided the grain he had received between each person as the need arose. And almighty God multiplied that small amount of grain so greatly in his hands that all the people of that land had enough throughout the entire year. And they also sowed their land with the same grain, and it grew into abundant produce for them.

Truly, he would not permit any idolatry to take place in the province of Lycia after he was ordained as bishop, but he destroyed all the devil's work: he drove out of his bishopric all the heathen gods and all the sorcerers and witches that he was able to discover. He also expelled the shameful goddess Diana from the land, and he broke up all worship of her with his Lord's help. Then the devil became very angry with the holy man Nicholas and considered a number of evil things against the valuable work that Nicholas always performed for his Lord's will. Truly, he never stopped working among the poor people, whom the cursed spirit had seized fast, until he had released them from the devil's power, and therefore the devil planned to do some evil things against God's servant.

Then the devil came one night to certain sorcerers, who were very knowledgeable about evil deeds, and he asked them to prepare quickly a kind of oil which is called 'Greek fire'. In truth, that same oil is so powerful and so strong that whatever it touches immediately burns completely. The sorcerers did just as the demon asked of them: they prepared that oil quickly and delivered it to the devil. And the devil disguised himself as if he were an old woman, and went out to sea, and, rowing in a boat, he came up to a ship full of people who wanted to visit the holy minster with their alms for the holy Nicholas. The demon travelled a little of the way as if he wanted to go there too, and said thus to them: "Dear brothers, I see that you hurry towards the lord Nicholas, and I, a poor wretch, would also like to journey there with you and receive his blessing if I might now. But now I have another necessity to attend to and, because of this anxiety, I cannot travel there. Now, I have here a little oil with which I wanted to ease God's friend, because my gratitude is very much owed to him. And I ask you, dear friends, to bring this little offering to his minster, and smear the walls all about with this in remembrance of me." The sailors answered and said that they would gladly do that. The demon immediately handed over that evil oil, and rowed from them and quickly vanished from their sight.

Truly, the sailors did not know anything about this deceit, but rowed forward, just as they had done before, with great innocence. And when they had rowed for a little while, they unexpectedly saw a ship full of men who were very fair in appearance, and in the middle of them all sat a man very like Nicholas, who immediately began to question them, and thus said: "Oh, you good people, who was that woman who spoke with you a little while before?" Straightaway, the people told him what she had said to them and what she had given them and also showed him the oil. And he said again to them: "Truly, that women who spoke like this to you was the shameful goddess Diana, and if you want to know what that oil is which she placed in your hands, then quickly throw it away from you now out into the sea." They immediately did just as they were instructed, and as soon as the oil touched the water, a great fire rose up there and the sea burned for a long time. Truly, that was against normal nature! And as soon as the sailors saw that wonder, the ships became separated from one another so far that they could not call out to the other people or ask who it was who had spoken with them. But they journeyed on just as they had wanted to before, and they told all the people they met what had happened to them.

Moreover, when they came to Nicholas, God's servant, they all told him in one voice: "Truly, you are the man who showed us that miracle on the sea. Indeed, you are God's just servant, and because of your blessed merits we are delivered from the devil's deceit." And then when they had said this, they told him in order about everything that had happened to them. When the blessed Nicholas heard these things, he began to praise God as was his custom, and instructed the people that they entrust themselves earnestly to God. And he gave them his blessing, and they journeyed from him back to their own country with happy spirits.

After that, it happened suddenly that a regional people, who are called the Attraiphala, became strongly opposed to the Emperor Constantine and so bold that they would not show him any of the obedience that all the other peoples did, but always contradicted his high-level commands. Truly, as soon as the emperor heard this, he commanded a great fleet be sent out and ordered his three thanes—the names of whom were Nepotianus, Ursus, and Arpilatio—to go the land of Phrygia and discipline the people who were disobedient to God and to him. They did just as the emperor commanded them, and as soon as the fleet was entirely gathered they set out to sea and had very good weather and a calm sea on which to travel.

But when they came to the sea near the land in which the lord Nicholas lived, such a strong wind blew up against them that they could go no further, but were driven into the harbour Adriaticus, against their will, from where they went ashore. Then some of them went to the marketplace and robbed the people there. And as soon as they did that injustice, it quickly became known to the man of God, Nicholas, over three miles away in the town of Patera. Truly, as soon as he heard this, he went with great haste and met there three favourites of the emperor, Nepotianus, Ursus, and Arpilatio, and he kissed them and said thus: "Dear brothers, why do you come here—in peace or for a fight?" They answered: "Lord, we come here in peace, though we wished to go to Phrygia on the emperor's business and subdue the people who are rebellious to him with God's help and with yours. But we cannot go further now because a strong wind that has driven us here. Now, dear father, we ask you that you help us with your prayers so that we can bring this thing to a worthy end." God's man asked them very humbly then to restrain their soldiers from all trouble, and to go with him afterwards to the town of Patera to receive his blessing there. Then the three officers immediately did all that the bishop asked of them: they forbade any contention and effected it so that each kept his own possessions.

Truly, as soon as this was done, some people came to the bishop there and said to him: "Lord bishop, over there three men are being taken to their death and all the people lament sorrowfully that you are not there, because if you were, you would not allow this to happen at all. Truly, their death is dearly bought by the magistrate, and they are condemned to death without any guilt." When the blessed Nicholas heard this injustice, he asked the three thanes to go with him there, and they did just that. And as soon as they came into the town to a place which is called Leonthi, the bishop asked whether the three young men that had been condemned to death were still alive. The townspeople answered and said this: "Hurry now quickly, worthy father, because with God's help you will find them still alive on Dioscorus's Street."

The bishop and the thanes ran towards there very swiftly, and when they came to the street where the men had been, they were being led from there. The man of God asked where they were being led and a person answered: "Lord, now they are being led out of the city gate and forward to the execution place called Bisrano." When the holy man heard that, he began to run swiftly again, even though he was tired. And just as he came to the execution place, he saw the young men sitting on their knees, and their eyes were blindfolded, and the executioner stood with a drawn sword over their bare necks. Indeed, then God's darling Nicholas ran very bravely at the executioner and wrenched the naked sword out of his hands and asked that he would kill him instead of them. Truly, none of the executioners would say one word against his will, because they knew full well that he was very dear to almighty God.

The bishop then quickly unbound the young men and led them forth with him. And all the people followed after them until they came to the house of the magistrate, Eustachius — he who had condemned the three young men to death. And as soon as the magistrate saw the bishop, he went over to him with great haste and greeted him, but the bishop would not accept his greeting; instead he said this to him with great anger: "Alas, you enemy of God! How dare you, who has performed so much evil, look upon my face? Alas, you most savage of men, unmindful of God! Why did you not consider what holy writing commands us: that we should not condemn righteous men to death?"

Eustachius the earl answered him and said: "Lord, why do you threaten me so much? Indeed, I am not as responsible for this crime as are Symonides and Eudoxius, the two town reeves, because they are men who are always eager to kill people." Then the blessed Nicholas said: "Alas, you avaricious man, most wicked of all men! I know full well that neither Symonides nor Eudoxius urged you to condemn these innocent young men to death, but you yourself betrayed them to death because of the great greed which you have for gold and silver. Truly, I say to you that it shall be revealed to the emperor how you destroy his authority, and how you condemn innocent men to death, and how you steal his gold and his silver, and all the honour that he himself should have; and after he has heard this injustice, he shall make a just judgement of you." When the earl Eustachius heard this forceful speech, he asked Nepotianus and Ursus and Arpilatio to intercede for him with the bishop, and they did that with all sincerity. Then God's man became cheered by the gift of the Holy Ghost and immediately set aside all his anger, and because of the prayers of the thanes, he forgave Eustachius the earl all that guilt.

Truly, after this the bishop went home to the town of Patera, and the three thanes ate and drank with him there; and after the meal he blessed them, and so with his holy blessing they went from him. They journeyed to their ship with a happy spirit, and the blessed Nicholas prayed to the Lord for them they that might come safely to the land of Phrygia. He also prayed very earnestly for the foolish people who lived in Phrygia that God should turn their minds to his will. And the Lord mercifully heard his prayer and gave the three thanes good weather, and they sailed forth with a speedy wind until they and all the emperor's army came into Phrygia. And as soon as the land-dwellers heard this, they sent their messenger to the three thanes and made it known to them that they would obey the emperor just as his other peoples did. When Nepotianus and Ursus and Arpilatio heard this, they were very happy and thanked God and the holy Nicholas, who had interceded so mildly for them with the Lord.

Then they travelled all over the land in complete peace and they killed no one, but their hands remained unstained by any bloodshed. They broke all the heathen idols and burnt them with fire, and they exalted God's praise and beseeched the people to forsake the devil and all his works completely and to offer a pleasing gift to God. And the people did all that was commanded of them. Truly, as soon as the three thanes set up that land just as they wanted it in honour of the emperor, they went back to Constantinople. And the Emperor Constantine, as soon as he heard that they were near, went out of the city with many people to meet Nepotianus and Ursus and Arpilatio, and received them with great honour. The emperor honoured them greatly and loved them as if they were his own children, and all the people rejoiced because of their victory and the more so because not one person had been killed there.

There were some evil-minded men then who possessed a great hatred against the three thanes and considered most eagerly how they might lessen their honour and in this way ruin them. They went on a certain day to Ablavius the alderman who was the highest and most powerful man under the emperor, and they began to stir up many lies against them. And at last, about the thanes they said that they were considering the betrayal of the emperor and that this ought to be made known quickly to all people. When Ablavius the alderman heard this, he was greatly amazed and did not believe any of it. They did not want to abandon their evil deeds, however, so they offered him gold and silver and many other treasures and turned him to their deceit and to the betrayal of innocent men.

Then Ablavius went in to the emperor as if he were very sad and said this to him: "Alas my dear lord, be on guard against your three thanes that you sent on a mission to Phrygia. In truth, day and night they consider betraying you, and they promise much power to each person who will help them to this end." Then the emperor said: "But how do you know this is truly the case?" The evil Ablavius said: "Lord, I heard it from one of their own people in the night when it was quietly whispered among themselves there." Indeed, then the emperor truly believed him, just as he did his oldest and dearest men, and commanded then that Nepotianus and Ursus and Arpilatio be taken immediately, without any guilt, and shoved into prison and locked fast in there. And so it was done.

Truly, when the aforesaid accusers discovered that the thanes were held in prison but were not yet dead, they became sorely troubled and they came again quickly to the evil Ablavius and brought him a valuable gift and said to him: "Lord, why do you allow your enemies to live so long that they were not instantly killed? Do you think you can bring this to a favourable end without them all being killed? Truly, unless they are executed more quickly, you shall sorely repent, and when you least expect it, you shall be betrayed." Then Ablavius became very angry and went to the emperor and said this to him: "Lord, the three men that you commanded be put in prison still will not abandon their treachery, but eagerly turn to their counsellors day and night and urge them to rush upon you suddenly and kill you." Well then the emperor became as angry as if he saw his own death before him, and he commanded the three innocent men to be killed instantly. When Ablavius heard this wonder, he was very happy and sent word to Hilarianus, who was in charge of the prison, and commanded him that he have the three men prepared, separated from the other men, so that the next night they might be secretly killed.

Truly, as soon as Hilarianus heard this, he became very sad and ran over to the prison and said to the men with much sorrow: "So sad that I ever ever, saw you! So sad that we should be separated so sorrowfully today!" Then they asked what he said this for. Hilarianus answered them and said that word had suddenly come from the emperor that they were to be killed that same night: "And therefore I pray you that you sort out your things while you still have time, lest you will not be able to otherwise." Truly, as soon as the men heard this grim news, they said with great anxiety: "So sad! Who ever heard of so much cruelty that we should now die just like outlaws and that we might not be given a chance of defence?"

Then while they were sorrowing, Nepotianus, the noble man, thought about how the blessed Nicholas had released the three young men from the hands of those people that wanted to kill them. And as soon as he thought about this, he prayed to the Lord with a tearful voice and said thus: "Lord Christ, help us wretches and hear our prayer through the merits of Saint Nicholas, your servant, and release us from this sword's edge, just as you released those three men in the town of Patera because of his love, there where we looked on. Lord, we truly believe that though your servant is not physically here with us, yet he may be wherever he wishes spiritually, and through your gift, he can help all those who call to him with a pure heart. And you, Lord God, help us now through his prayer." In this way Nepotianus prayed to God, and both his companions continuously did so with him, and they called out persistently with weeping voices, always saying this: "Lord Saint Nicholas, help us and grant us that we might yet see you and kiss your holy feet!"

Then it happened later in that night that the emperor and Ablavius both saw a vision in their dreams. It seemed to the emperor that the blessed Nicholas came to him, saying this: "Constantine, why have you ordered three innocent men to be put in prison and condemned to death? Arise now quickly and command them to be released, and if you do otherwise and scorn me so, I will pray that the heavenly emperor sets great strife upon you and allows you to be killed there, and gives your flesh to the beasts and the birds." Then the emperor said: "Who are you, presumptuous man, that you come to me at this time and threaten me so openly?" "I am the sinful Nicholas, archbishop of Myra."

And with these words he went to Ablavius and said this to him: "You witless man, what need was there for you to condemn the three innocent men to death? Arise now quickly, and get those men released from prison; and if you do not do this, I will pray to the heavenly king that your body should be allowed to be meat for the worms, and all the men who belong to you shall also die a sorrowful death." Ablavius said with a sorrowing voice: "Who are you who threatens me like this so openly?" He said: "I am Nicholas, the archbishop of Myra." And with those words, he went from him.

Truly, after this, the emperor awoke and so did the evil Ablavius, and each immediately told the other his dream. And as soon as it was day, the emperor commanded the three men to be led out of prison, and so it was done. They were quickly brought before the emperor, and as soon as he saw them he said to them with great anger: "Tell me with what witchcraft you caused us to be tormented at night in our dreams?" In truth, when they heard this statement, they were greatly amazed and gave no answer. The emperor said again: "Reveal your sorcery to us!" Nepotianus then answered alone for them all, and said this: "Lord Constantine, what we say is the truth, that we do not know any witchcraft, nor have we ever learned any. Also, we have not committed any crime against you or your people such that we should be put to death."

The emperor said: "Do you know any man called Nicholas?" Truly, as soon as they heard Nicholas named, they raised their hands up and with loud voices said: "Blessed are you Lord, you who help all those who firmly believe in you: help us now too and release us from these lies through the merits of Nicholas, your servant, just as you helped those three young men in our own sight." The emperor quietened them, and commanded them to say explicitly what they meant, and who Nicholas might be.

Then Nepotianus began to tell the emperor all about the holy Nicholas: how they came to him and how he released the young men from death; and how simple a man he was in his goodness; and how they called to him all that night, and how mercifully he had helped them. Indeed, then the emperor was amazed when he heard this speech, and he said to them: "Now go straightaway to the servant of God and thank him, as well as God, that you have been released through him, and bring these gifts on my behalf, in the service of Christ." These were two golden candlesticks and a golden bowl adorned with the most precious gems, and a gospel-book all encased in metalwork of precious gold and set with gemstones. And he sent a letter with these gifts, asking God's man that he have mercy on him, saying that he would henceforth be obedient to him, and to pray for him to the Lord for the prosperity of his kingdom.

Then they did just as the emperor commanded them: they travelled to the lord Nicholas, and as soon as they saw him, they fell down on the earth and kissed his feet with much weeping, saying to him: "Oh, Nicholas, you friend of God! Truly, you ought to be praised by the mouths of all people because you are the helper of all people on land and at sea. Truly, because of you we are released from death to life." They told him in order about everything that had happened and gave him the emperor's gifts and his letter. And when he heard and saw this, he raised up his hands to heaven and began to praise God, saying thus: "You are mighty, Lord God, and your power is great, and your wisdom has no measure. You are abundant in all things and you alone are at the heart of all men."

Truly, as soon as he had said these things, he turned to the three men and preached to them for a long while about God's kingdom, and taught them that they should give a portion of their possessions to the needy, and how they should live in this world. Indeed, then the blessed man had ended his speech, except he instructed them to bathe and trim their bushy locks of hair that had grown in prison, and afterwards he clothed them with new garments and told them to journey back again in peace to the Emperor Constantine. The men did everything the man of God told them to: they journeyed back to the city of Constantinople, rejoicing in God and in the holy Nicholas.

1. Luke 14:33 back
2. Matthew 21:22 back

St Nicholas: Old English Text

Introduction and translation by Elaine Treharne, Stanford University, used by permission.

back to top