A Surprise Ending
 Artist: Alexander Boguslawski St. Nicholas Center Collection |
A man from Constantinople, Demetrios, was sailing on the Black Sea when a great storm struck. The storm's fury overturned the boat and cast Demetrios into the depths of the sea. Slipping beneath the waves, he cried out to St. Nicholas, "Come and save me from certain death."
Back in Constantinople, Demetrios neighbors thought they heard him crying out to St. Nicholas from inside his house. Puzzled, as they knew he was away on a voyage, they hurried and tried to enter the house. It was locked up tight. When they managed to get inside, Demetrios was sitting, dazed, with water cascading down from his head and drenched clothing, forming puddles on the floor. Sitting there, he still was calling for St. Nicholas.
Suddenly Demetrios realized his neighbors were all around and he was sitting in his very own house—not the depths of the sea. It was amazing: St. Nicholas had indeed rescued him from certain drowning and put him down safely inside his very own house!
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NOTE
This St. Nicholas story is found in Greek texts from the 9th and 10th centuries.