The Saint Who Became Santa Claus
by JohnLeonardSanta Claus was a real person -- well, sort of, at least in the sense that the legendary character we know today was inspired by a real person.
St. Nicholas was born late in the third century, supposedly in the year 270, in the village of Patara, in Lycia. At the time, Lycia was a Greek province of Asia Minor in what is now a southern coastal region in Turkey. St. Nicholas was raised a devout Christian by his wealthy parents until they succumbed to an epidemic, after which Nicholas used his inheritance to help the sick and less fortunate. Nicholas was named Bishop of Myra as a young man around 300 and served in that capacity until the year 341 A.D. He was imprisoned by the Roman emperor Diocletian and tortured until released by emperor Constantine. Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea, which was responsible for the development of the Nicene Creed. There he strongly advocated acceptance of the Holy Trinity as part of Christian doctrine. Nicholas is believed to have destroyed many pagan temples, including the famous temple of Artemis.
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https://www.themaven.net/theresurgent/contributors/the-saint-who-became-santa-claus-90aFucheCECGhl4L2GBXUA
