"Stop Persecuting Santa Claus.

He Loved Jesus!"

HE GAVE GENEROUSLY TO THE POOR AND DESTITUTE

In the year AD 280, Nicolas was born to an elderly wealthy couple in what is now in the southern part of the nation of Turkey . After the death of his parents, out of his inheritance, he gave generously to the poor and destitute. After receiving news that a merchant had gone bankrupt, and that the creditors were planning to take his daughters, and force them into a life of prostitution, Nicholas threw some money in the window of the businessman at night to provide a dowry so that the daughters could marry, and escape the horrible life the creditors planned for them.

THIS MAN OF GOD BECAME THE BISHOP OF MYRA

Wanting to give God all the glory, when the father discovered who gave the money, Nicholas made him promise not to tell anyone. This inspired the tradition of secret gift-giving on the anniversary of Nicholas' death the 6th December, AD 343. This man of God became bishop of Myra . After being imprisoned by Emperor Diocletian, during a period of the persecution of Christians, he was later released by Emperor Constantine.

LEGEND TELLS US THAT NICHOLAS WAS SO UPSET WITH ARIUS FOR STARTING THE HERESY THAT HE SLAPPED HIM

When the Arian heresy raised its ugly head, splitting the church and the Roman Empire, at the request of Emperor Constantine, all the bishops attended the Council of Nicaea, where they drafted the Nicene Creed. Legend tells us that Nicholas was so upset with Arius for starting the heresy that he slapped him. The man who was later made a saint by the church preached against a sex-fertility cult, with headquarters at the Temple of Diana in Ephesus , which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The local shrine in Myra was torn down. Bishop Nicholas would not tolerate its presence in his town.

THE ORIGINAL FATHER CHRISTMAS WAS A WORSHIPER OF CHRIST

The real Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, was an out-and-out totally committed Christian. He has nothing to do with the commercialization of Christmas which we have today. The original Father Christmas was a worshiper of Christ. He would be horrified to know that some in our world have substituted him for the Christ Child. Once when a flood threatened to destroy his town, he stretched forth his hands and commanded the waters to abate, and they did. As did Saint Nicholas, let us give to others, in the name of Jesus, honoring the One Who gave us the best gift of all--His life, which purchased our salvation.

Bishop Marvin Schmidt