He's remembered for giving gifts to children, trying to save
girls from human trafficking, advocating for people on death row, and perhaps
most of all: punching heretics in the face.
At the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, The man who would become
"Santa" lost his cool when Arius argued that Jesus was not co-eternal
and con-substantial with the Father, and punched Arius in the face for being a
heretic. Some legends have it that a man named Eusebius responded by urinating
on Nicholas' robe, but the position of Nicholas carried the day anyway.
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| Who knew St. Nicholas was a Klingon? |
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Comments from his readers:
Adam
Tate: St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra was present at the Council of Nicea
but not on the list. So he was probably in a gallery around the Patriarchs
involved. Or...its possible the slap was just days or even hours prior to the
council sessions.
Arius was a deacon at the Church of Alexandria who defied the teaching on the nature of Christ. He had beef with the Bishop of Alexandria's teaching on the nature and substance of God. Essentially he claimed there was a time when the Son was not.
St Nicholas was known for his humility and poverty. He came from well to do parents who left an inheritance to him. Of which he gave away. He served time in prison for preaching the gospel. Just prior to Constantine taking the throne. He was an old man, while Arius was a young man. Probably young enough to be Father Nicholas' grand son. He slapped the young lad no different than we would scold a teenage son for his ignorance and defiance of their elders.
Arius was a deacon at the Church of Alexandria who defied the teaching on the nature of Christ. He had beef with the Bishop of Alexandria's teaching on the nature and substance of God. Essentially he claimed there was a time when the Son was not.
St Nicholas was known for his humility and poverty. He came from well to do parents who left an inheritance to him. Of which he gave away. He served time in prison for preaching the gospel. Just prior to Constantine taking the throne. He was an old man, while Arius was a young man. Probably young enough to be Father Nicholas' grand son. He slapped the young lad no different than we would scold a teenage son for his ignorance and defiance of their elders.
Michael
Jay: Remember the result of this was he was removed from the council,
stripped of his bishop's robes, and locked up until the council was over. His
position was restored -- but, Nicholas removed himself from the council by his
bad behavior.
Yes, he was an old man, but he also slapped a priest who was not in his Diocese, and who was bluntly the main reason the council was called in the first place. I imagine a lot of people wanted to slap him, but Athanatius (also a priest, same Diocese) managed to use his words; and that was what was necessary.
Yes, he was an old man, but he also slapped a priest who was not in his Diocese, and who was bluntly the main reason the council was called in the first place. I imagine a lot of people wanted to slap him, but Athanatius (also a priest, same Diocese) managed to use his words; and that was what was necessary.
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