Saint Nicholas
- Feast
- 6 December
- Patron of
- children, sailors, the falsely accused and Bari
Nicholas was bishop of Myra, a city in what is now southern Turkey, in the fourth century. Little is known of his life for certain, but devotion to him spread early through both East and West. In 1087 his relics were carried by sailors to Bari in southern Italy, where they are still kept, and he is often called Nicholas of Bari.
The best-loved story tells how he secretly left gold at the house of a poor man who could not afford dowries for his three daughters. Painters show him in a bishop's vestments, with three golden balls or purses, and sometimes with three children rising from a tub. The custom of gifts on his feast grew, by way of the Dutch Sinterklaas, into Santa Claus.
He gave in secret and cared most for children and people in danger, which is exactly how he is still remembered. A warm patron for a boy named Nicholas, or for any child baptised near his feast.
3 prints of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Catholic Art Studio
From $33.26
Madonna col Bambino tra i santi Giovanni evangelista e Nicola di Bari
Cima da Conegliano
From $32.98
Saint Nicholas
Benvenuto di Giovanni
From $44.13
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Nicholas?
The feast of Saint Nicholas is kept on 6 December.
What is Saint Nicholas the patron saint of?
Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children, sailors, the falsely accused and Bari.
Is Saint Nicholas a good confirmation saint?
He gave in secret and cared most for children and people in danger, which is exactly how he is still remembered. A warm patron for a boy named Nicholas, or for any child baptised near his feast.
Is Saint Nicholas the patron saint of people named Nicholas?
Yes. Saint Nicholas is the traditional name saint for anyone called Nicholas, Nicolas, Nicola, Nicole, Niccolò and Nikolai, and the feast on 6 December is their name day.
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Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours