Miracles of St. Nicholas

from the Golden Legend

All Saints' Church, Hillesden, Buckinghamshire, England, has stunning 16th century Flemish stained glass illustrating some of the St. Nicholas miracle stories from The Golden Legend. The Golden Legend, ca. 1260, was enormously popular and was one of the first books printed when printing was invented. It had more editions than the Bible.

The Miracle of the Grain


Grain being unloaded to provide for the people of Myra

St. Nicholas as Guardian

Medieval glass
Robbers stealing treasure
Medieval glass
Rich man beating Nicholas image

Medieval glass
St Nicholas appears to robbers
Medieval glass
Robbers return treasure

Two Stories of Nicholas Rescuing Boys with Golden Cups

Medieval glass
Man who promised a golden cup, loved it so, he kept it and had a second one made. His son falls into the sea with the original cup.
Medieval glass
Boy is kidnapped on St. Nicholas Feast Day and pressed into service of a foreign king; Nicholas returns him to his parents

Boy Revived on St. Nicholas Day

Medieval glass
Devil strangles boy
Medieval glass
Nicholas reviving boy

"Here Beginneth the Life of S. Nicholas the Bishop," The Golden Legend or Lives of the Saints, Vol. II, compiled by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, 1275, Englished by William Caxton, First Edition 1483 

Photos: John Salmon, used by permission.