SEARCHThe global authority in superyachting Works – which began in February 2024 – were comprehensive, including performance upgrades and a three-metre extension on the swimming platform courtesy of American firm Murray & Associates The sundeck has also been majorly overhauled Starfire now has new floor-to-ceiling windows installed on both the main and upper decks two of which are equipped with bunk beds for children along with a seventh cabin for two staff members Standout features include her impressive 2.3-metre minimum headroom throughout an elevator running right through from tank deck to pool deck and a swimming pool with counter-current jets and a bar "We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of Starfire," said project manager Hannes Köhler "This transformation has not only given the yacht a strikingly modern look especially with its bold new colour scheme and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows but also reflects the outstanding teamwork and seamless collaboration between all involved parties we have turned the vision for this iconic yacht into a reality." Latest news, brokerage headlines and yacht exclusives, every weekday SubscribeSign up to our newslettersSign up to BOAT International email newsletters to get the latest superyacht news Boat International Media Ltd © 2008 - 2025 Content presented under the "BOAT Presents" logo is an advertising feature and Boat International Limited has been paid to include this content Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article and sometimes a large basket with which to threaten naughty children About  .  Contact  .  Donation have revealed a limestone sarcophagus that may be the burial site of Saint Nicholas the Greek bishop whose life and deeds inspired the legend of Santa Claus This discovery is part of the ongoing “Legacy for the Future Project,” led by Associate Professor Ebru Fatma Findik from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University and initiated by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism found within the church’s two-story annex is believed to be the original burial site of Saint Nicholas who lived in the ancient city of Myra during the 4th century CE Measuring approximately two meters in length and buried at a depth of 1.5 to 2 meters the sarcophagus features a raised lid and a pitched roof consistent with burial styles of the region Its proximity to the church—constructed in the 5th century CE by order of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II—adds credibility to the theory that this was the saint’s original resting place “Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus,” said Dr “This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates from.” While only the lid of the sarcophagus has been fully uncovered so far further excavations are expected to provide more definitive evidence in the coming months known for his acts of generosity and miraculous intercessions served as the Bishop of Myra and died in 343 CE his remains were moved to the Church of St which was built over his original burial site his bones were reportedly taken to the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari additional remains were transported to Venice during the First Crusade scientific studies confirmed that bones from both Bari and Venice belonged to the same individual though whether they were Saint Nicholas himself remains inconclusive The current excavation has been underway since 1989 with this latest phase beginning two years ago Researchers have unearthed not only the sarcophagus but also fragments of clay lamps and animal bones indicating the area was historically used as a burial site “The fact that we have found a sarcophagus near the church may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area we have been searching for,” Dr The discovery holds importance beyond archaeology Saint Nicholas is revered as the patron saint of children and sailors and his legacy continues to be celebrated each December and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative Scott O’Dell’s 1960 children’s novel “Island of the Blue Dolphins” has introduced elementary and middle school students to the rugged landscapes of the Channel Islands The book was inspired by the true story of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island who spent 18 years mostly alone on the island after the rest of the Nicoleño people were brought to the mainland in 1835 But good luck visiting this famous place. Unlike the five islands that comprise Channel Islands National Park (or Catalina Island which isn’t part of the national park but is open to the public) Navy and used for weapons testing and training resulting in a different legacy for wildlife and the landscape than the other islands Get SFGATE's top stories sent to your inbox by signing up for The Daily newsletter here. San Nicolas Island is around 22 square miles in size, landing it in fifth place among the eight islands. It’s also considered the most remote, located 61 miles from the closest point on the mainland are just 22 and 20 miles from the mainland An aerial view of San Nicolas Island with three FPS-16 and one FPQ-10 radar antennas visible on Nov Don’t mistake isolated for unpopulated, though. San Nicolas Island is home to around 200 military and civilian personnel at any given time. San Clemente Island is also owned by the U.S. Navy and serves as the Navy’s last remaining live firing range lists just 267 people who have set foot on every island San Clemente and San Nicolas Island likely represent the biggest barriers for joining the club with visits only allowed on official business and no public access or transportation to the islands San Nicolas Island was officially handed off to the U.S. Navy by President Herbert Hoover in 1933. Besides being temporarily borrowed by the U.S. Army and used as a gunnery range during World War II While ranching dominated the other Channel Islands in the 20th century decades prior to the national park’s creation in 1980 San Nicolas Island supported a different industry — the military But before the Channel Islands became weapons testing sites and parkland, they were home to several Native populations for thousands of years, including the Chumash and Tongva peoples and the Nicoleño on San Nicolas Island the first people came from the islands,” said Nakia Zavalla the cultural director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Culture Department The Chumash mainly lived on four northern Channel Islands: San Miguel “The Channel Islands are all very much connected and our people intermarried with people of San Nicolas Island and we had a trade system that extended to San Nicolas Island as well,” said Zavalla “Our traditional story is definitely connected to all of the islands.” When the Lone Woman arrived in Santa Barbara she shared a traditional song from San Nicolas Island with Chumash people and that song was passed down over generations and saved in a wax cylinder recording About a century after the Lone Woman was left on San Nicolas Island, ownership of the island was officially transferred to the U.S. Navy (In the intervening years, it was used by the government as a lighthouse location and leased for sheep ranching) “We’re absolutely aware that we can’t change what’s been done,” said Zavalla “I guess they took that island for a reason but that island is very sacred and special It’s unfortunate it’s been utilized as a base.”  U.S. Navy operations have greatly reshaped the island over the decades, affecting its landscape and more. Passing vehicles and other ongoing work threaten the endemic Channel Island foxes, tiny gray creatures that made a swift recovery from the endangered species list after thousands of feral pigs were killed on Santa Cruz Island in the early 2000s The species has persisted through the legacy of ranching on the Channel Islands Get SFGATE's top stories sent to your inbox by signing up for The Daily newsletter here. The launch of a conventionally configured ground-launched cruise missile on San Nicolas Island off the coast of California on Aug Vehicle strikes are the leading cause of fox mortality on San Nicolas Island, where the fox’s lifespan is just seven to eight years, compared to 10 to 12 years on larger islands. Car strikes killed a total of 15 foxes on San Nicolas Island last year, according to nonprofit Friends of the Island Fox said the group has focused on educating U.S has seen “a dramatic reduction in car strikes on the two Navy islands.” In 2023 which Dearborn attributes to higher levels of fog on the island reducing visibility adding that it is “just another way that climate change is impacting the foxes that we didn’t expect.” other programs have included adding road signs that warn people to watch for foxes and cutting back vegetation on the side of the road to increase visibility And after years of Friends of the Island Fox calling for speed bumps along the main roads of San Clemente and San Nicolas islands Dearborn says speed bumps are finally in the works for San Clemente Island but automobile strikes are one of the major killers of wildlife across the country that doesn’t get very much attention,” said Dearborn Navy islands aren’t the only Channel Islands where car strikes are killing foxes which is open to the public but mostly privately owned by the Catalina Island Conservancy sees throngs of tourists each year and also houses a population of over 4,000 people A total of 14 island foxes were killed by cars on Catalina last year drowned in tubs used for washing scuba gear or killed due to human impacts on the island Over 62% of fox fatalities on Catalina last year were human-caused Zavalla is one of a small and exclusive number of people who have visited San Nicolas Island through limited access provided to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians “Seeing the island and being able to walk on the island after hearing about how the island is very special is just very emotional It’s an island that most people don’t have access to an island that we have stories connected there and knowing that some of our people likely lived there through intermarriages it just felt familiar in so many ways,” said Zavalla She also always pays tribute to the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island: “Every time I go Erin RodeContributing LA Outdoors EditorErin Rode is SFGATE’s Contributing Los Angeles Outdoors Editor Erin grew up in Los Angeles County and has hiked area trails for over a decade She previously covered the environment for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs Monthly donors sustain our global apostolate.Pledge your support today Mass Propers for Monday of the Third Week of Easter: Entrance Antiphon: The Good Shepherd has risen who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God Jn 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you Not as the world gives do I give it to you Jn 12:24: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies putting off our old self with all its ways for through the healing paschal remedies you have confirmed us to his nature Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit » Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books! Today the Roman Martyrology commemorates St convert from Judaism and a professed Priest of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel Born in 1145 at Jerusalem and died by being stabbed to death in 1220 at Licata Caterina Cittadini is also commemorated today She was an Italian Roman Catholic religious from Bergamo who established the Ursuline Sisters of Saint Jerome Emiliani The order was dedicated to the education of girls in Bergamo and in the surrounding areas and has since expanded outside of the Italian nation leaving you an example that you should follow His steps" (Epistle) The Christian slave might complain that his membership in the Church had not alleviated the harsh conditions of his life Peter points to the example of Christ who was in all things to be the model of the Christian neither was guile found in His mouth," but nevertheless he was subjected to persecution and injustice But the Christian is expected to be a follower of Christ but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly." If then Christians feel that they have not achieved the liberty and the equality they long for they are to remember that Christ had come not to right all the wrongs and injustices in the world but to give an "example that you should follow His steps." Men often complain against God when they suffer what they consider undeserved misfortunes They think that God ought to interfere and punish injustice and wickedness here and now They are like the apostles James and John; they want to call down fire from heaven and destroy those who appear to them to act improperly Christ made it clear that all injustice will be rectified eventually but that for the present He wishes to allow the cockle to grow among the wheat When the proper time comes God will deal with injustice in His own way But it is not only the slave who is to be subject to authority and to recognize that mistreatment patiently borne is a service acceptable to God and meritorious for man Obedience to legitimate authority does not depend on the worthiness of the official exercising authority Christ Himself had commanded His disciples to obey the officials of the Jewish Church even though they might not be personally worthy of the office they held He was obedient first of all to His parents "He went down with them and came to Nazareth He observed the ritual and the laws of the Jewish Church He obeyed the laws of the Roman authorities and paid the tribute they demanded He set off on a Genoese ship on 1 April 1219 and stopped first in Messina before heading off to Civitavecchia before he ended up in Rome to meet with the pope The friar preached in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran while in Rome where he met both Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Dominic He foretold that Francis would receive the stigmata while Francis foretold his premature death.st angelus of jerusalem snip From there he was a guest of the Basilians in Palermo where he was for about a month before preaching in Agrigento for over a month before settling in Licata He had healed seven lepers and the ailing Archbishop of Palermo Bernardo de Castanea while in Palermo He settled on the Sicilian island though his fame as a wonderworker caused crowds to flock to him He also had success in converting some Jews though most Jews in Palermo came to despise him for this since he himself was once Jewish He wanted to convert a Knight named Berenger Catholic tradition states that Berenger was living in incest and that Angelo convinced the knight’s companion to leave him Berenger became enraged and arranged to have him attacked and murdered in front of the Church of Saints Filippo and Giacomo in Licata He didn’t die from the attack until four days after the attack and during that time he prayed for his assassin and asked the civil authorities to pardon him setting an example for all those that he preached to He was buried at Saints Filippo and Giacomo Church His sepulchre at Licata quickly became a site of Pilgrimage Symbols and Representation: Carmelite with a knife in his head; Carmelite with a sword in his breast and three crowns; Carmelite with an angel bringing him three crowns; Carmelite with lilies and roses falling from his mouth The sisters left the orphanage in 1823 to live with their cousins Giovanni and Antonio Cittadini Caterina became a teacher at a girl‘s public school in Somasca in 1824 The sisters felt a call to the religious life; their spiritual director recommended that they should stay in Somasca and become the basis of a new congregation In 1826 the sisters rented a house in Somasca and in October opened a boarding school for girls and instituted the oratory style of education for her girls The sisters established another “Cittadini” private school in 1832 Giuditta directed these new school until her sudden death in 1840 followed quickly by her spiritual director from the orphanage The rapid succession of tragedy ruined Caterina’s health but was cured through the intercession of Saint Jerome Emilani Caterina quit her public teaching position in 1845 to manage the schools and guide the three companions who help her To help organize the work and lives of her companions she wrote the beginnings of a new rule similar to that of religious orders In 1850 she obtained permission to build a private oratory to keep the Blessed Sacrament at her boarding school In 1851 she applied for approval of her new religious family and told her to write the rules of the new order; her first attempt based on the Constitution of the Ursulines of Milano was rejected A second attempt was accepted on 17 September 1854 under the title Orsoline Gerolimiane (Ursuline Sisters of Somasca) the bishop of Bergamo gave his approval; the order achieved papal recognition on 8 July 1927 and to care for the abandoned; today they work in Italy Patricia Shannon gives how-to content a can-do attitude sharing her knowledge and research on housekeeping She has been writing and editing lifestyle content for more than a decade your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt Archeologists have discovered what they believe to be the tomb of Saint Nicholas the philanthropic Greek bishop and inspiration behind Christmas icon Santa Claus The six-foot-long limestone sarcophagus was found buried 6 feet deep within the two-story annex of St Long considered the final resting place of the Saint excavations have been underway here since 1989 - but this latest find is the most intriguing yet an Associate Professor at Hatay Kemal University as part of the 'Legacy for the Future Project' “The fact we have found a sarcophagus near the church may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area we have been searching for,” Findik said “This is a significant archaeological confirmation of historical sources regarding the burial place of St Nicholas." While its location lends credibility to the tomb belonging to Saint Nicholas the research team are now hoping to find an inscription that might reveal more details about who was inside Findik said: “Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates from.”  only the tomb’s lid has been completely uncovered with a small section of the burial chamber visible The team are planning further excavations in the coming months to find more clues in Myra (now the Demre district of Antalya Saint Nicholas was an early Christian bishop and patron saint of children and sailors He became idolised for his kindness and generosity tales of him giving money to those less fortunate lending themselves to legends of miracle work Over time, reverence for the holy figure evolved into the creation of Santa Claus, the jolly bearded present-giver and symbol of western Christmas celebrations. The name Santa Claus came from the Dutch nickname for Saint Nicholas - Sinter Klaas very little is actually known about the real Saint Nicholas except that he was buried in the church named after him following his death around 343 A.D His actual body’s whereabouts have always remained a mystery however - thought to have been stolen in 1087 and smuggled to the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari While scientific studies have been carried out on these bones the evidence that they actually belonged to Saint Nicholas remain inconclusive This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The requester URL cannot be found in our server. If you followed a broken URL please send an email to catholicna@catholicna.com so we can solve the problem. Click here to return to the homepage CNA is a service of EWTN News, Inc. There are less than 20 days until Christmas but for some Americans While it's not celebrated nationwide, St. Nicholas Day holds a special place for German and Dutch communities across the U.S Festivities and traditions are held in various cities In the small east Wisconsin city of New Ulm, celebrators hold bon fire ceremonies while sharing stories of the saint the holiday is named after, according to the Farmer’s Almanac Tradition declares the bonfire is formed through the sticks St a three-day Christmas market is held offering traditional German festive food Will there be snow for the holidays? Map shows probability of a white Christmas Saint Nicholas of Myra was a bishop during the Roman Empire who became the Patron Saint of Children because of the kindness he showed to young kids He was widely known for gift-giving and helping the poor Nicholas left golden coins behind for some children slipping them into stockings that were hung up to dry This led to the creation of the long-lasting custom of children hanging up stockings or leaving a plate out on St Nicholas was named a saint by the church on Dec which is the same day he is believed to have died in 343 A.D Nicholas became a popular tradition during the medieval period particularly in Germany and German-speaking countries St. Nicholas Day is the feast day of St. Nicholas, the fourth century bishop of Myra. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica candies and gifts under their pillows or in their shoes and stockings during the feast day It is also common for children to leave letters for St Nicholas and carrots or grass for his donkey or horse with German immigration that began in the 1600s In Cincinnati, Dr. Ludwig "Louis" Rehfuss, a German immigrant who was a medical doctor, set up the first Christmas tree in the early 19th century, Don Heinrich Tolzmann told The Cincinnati Enquirer Tolzmann is curator of the German Heritage Museum and president of the German American Citizens' League Nick's Day began in Cincinnati around that same time period because of the German heritage of our area is widely celebrated here even to this day," Tolzmann said Nicholas fills stockings left out for children based on how they behaved that year Kris Kringle or Father Christmas – similarly fills stockings and gives presents to children based on their behavior According to Smithsonian Magazine created the first image of Santa Claus in 1863 was created as Union propaganda during the war featuring Santa handing out presents at a Union Army camp Santa wears a jacket that has stars and pants colored in stripes Contributing: Cailey Gleeson and Amy Schwabe A version of this story was published in 2021 ProCon Debate: Is There Really a Santa Claus? Santa ClausThe first pictures of Santa Claus in his familiar red suit were drawn by Thomas Nast in the 1860s.(more)Although little is known for sure about St his kindness and generosity and habit of gift giving crystallized through the centuries into the modern-day Santa Claus Christmas day may be what usually jumps to mind when thinking of a Christian holiday during Advent however some areas of France celebrate another festival earlier in the month of December La fête de la Saint Nicolas (Saint Nicholas Day) is inspired by Bishop Nicolas of Myra who was born in the third century in what is present-day Turkey The bishop was known for protecting children miracles started to occur soon after his death on December 6 in the year 343 which were attributed to the bishop’s spirit Saint Nicholas is said to be the saint who inspired the legend of Santa Claus – due to his reputation as the bringer of gifts protector of the vulnerable and his wearing of long robes – and he is remembered on December 6 in Western Christian countries Saint Nicholas is also remembered as a protector of children thanks to an old tale in which he saves three boys from a wicked butcher and returns them to their families This story is often retold on December 6 and is also depicted in the popular French children’s song la légende de Saint Nicolas (The legend of Saint Nicholas) Although Saint Nicholas is a traditional Christmas figure across all of France it is mainly Eastern France that celebrates Saint Nicolas day - particularly Alsace This is said to date back to the Battle of Nancy in 1477 when René II the Duke of Lorraine was fighting against Charles the Bold in order to keep control of the area and placed his army under the protection of Saint Nicholas On winning the battle René made Nicholas the patron saint of Lorraine Someone dressed as Saint Nicholas visits children at schools nurseries or even door-to-door with chocolates Children often place their shoes on their doorstep for Saint Nicholas to fill with treats as well as something for him to drink and a carrot for his donkey Gingerbread is baked by families and bakeries in some areas prepare brioche-style treats called mannele which are made in a bishop shape and flavoured with raisins or chocolate chips the Saint Nicholas parade has become a tradition and usually takes place on the first Saturday or Sunday of December some areas put on spectacles such as firework displays during the first weekend of December to mark the occasion knocking on the door and asked for refuge for the night The man who answered was a butcher called Pierre Lenoir who killed the children and chopped them up storing their bodies in a bucket of salt with the plan of selling their meat Later Saint Nicholas was walking with his donkey He stopped and knocked on the butcher’s door who then invited him in for dinner out of fear of refusing a bishop Saint Nicholas asked for some salt and the butcher realised he had been discovered The saint then brought the children back to life and took them home to their families The evil butcher was chained to the Saint’s donkey as punishment and kept close to Nicholas at all times – thus becoming Père Fouettard (Father Whipper) and distributed lumps of coal instead of presents Saint Nicolas is also said to have helped a poor father with three unmarried girls by giving him a bag of gold for each of their dowries The story goes that he approached the house at night and tossed a first bag through an open window landing in a stocking hanging on the fireplace to dry He returned twice to give the father two more bags so that all three daughters could be married although on the third occasion he was caught by the girls’ father who had been watching out of the window to find out who had been so kind to him Saint Nicholas begged the father not to reveal his identity and told him to thank God alone for providing the gifts of gold in answer to his prayers used to help fight coastal erosion or even make animal feed The Connexion undertook a brief survey to find out Sarah Beattie has plenty of Christmas gifts to make horticulturalists happy Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInKIMBERLY Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Old Saint Nick will be coming to Kimberly this Saturday as the town will be full of festive cheer Nicholas Festival is going on its 18th year in Kimberly and this year will be on main street The event will feature many festive items live music People can vote on their favorite window by going into town and scanning a QR code on the window to vote the President of KBOA and the founder of the event said it’s a good way spread Christmas cheer it brings the true meaning of Christmas and you can come together as one to enjoy the holidays and starting off it doesn’t matter any of that type of stuff because it’s for everyone of all ages,” Muchow said The event was hosted at the school for five years but they brought it back to Main Street to improve access to it The event runs from 3:30 pm to 7 pm Saturday on main street in Kimberly at six o’clock in the evening the sun began to set in lower Manhattan and the bright light of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine began to glow but among the bustling pedestrians are volunteers heading to St Nicholas for its monthly food distribution run for the homeless The food distribution program officially started in October 2024 and St Nicholas team receives food items and are advised on where to distribute the food they prepare Nicholas accepts clothing and other essential care items from parishioners and anyone else who would like to donate and Liberty Bagels generously provides cold cuts and cheese for the sandwiches Midnight Run coordinates over 1,000 distributions per year schools and other civic groups distribute food blankets and personal care items to those experiencing homelessness in New York City gathered for this month’s food preparation and distribution Andreas Vithoulkas led the group in prayer thanking God for the opportunity to gather and uplift our neighbors who need assistance Parish Council member Christina Halatsis guided the volunteers in preparing the food for distribution as well as clothing and hygiene products. The volunteers were so efficient they went through all of the bread that they had for use Many people were participating for the first time but the sense of community and fellowship in faith made it seem as though everyone in the room were old friends.  Married couple Maxim Calixte and Siying Qu are catechumens attending St Nicholas prayerfully awaiting their christening on Lazarus Saturday of this year Siying’s mother married a Greek man from Sifnos which prompted many trips to the beautiful island the couple attended an Orthodox service and made the decision to convert to Orthodoxy Nicholas when walking by the Ground Zero memorials and was captivated by the structure of the church but especially impacted by the leadership and culture of the St Samuel who challenge us spiritually and intellectually,” Maxim stated Mother and daughter Sabrina and Althea Michals who attend St New Jersey were among the first time participants They swiftly packed sandwiches as if on an assembly line A young toddler with his father wandered the room and cheerily helped put sandwiches in bags for distribution Two young women from New York University took sandwiches for distribution to neighbors they knew would need them around Washington Square Park.  Those who remained for the distribution headed to areas near Herald Square as well as the Antonio Olivieri Center stated the distribution is very special and dispels myths often perpetuated about those experiencing homelessness The people the volunteers encounter are friendly and excited to chat This is her second time participating in the distribution Paula’s biggest takeaway from these experiences are the connections she builds with the other participants “It is a really fun way to bond with people and have something in common that is unspoken–to help a greater good,” Paula stated Nicholas brings together people from all walks of life to follow Christ’s example and what he demands of us; “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35-36 The next food and supply distribution will take place this Sunday, April 6, 2025 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero. Discover future events by subscribing to the St. Nicholas newsletter here Get the Orthodox Observer delivered to your inbox Download VCF • Join our Mailing Lists • Donate The information contained on the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is for informational purposes only Certain individuals and institutions are presented for reference purposes only and may not be under the supervision or jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese The Holy Archdiocese does not exercise any administrative oversight or assignment authority over clergy that are not part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Many children in Milwaukee will get an early miniature version of Christmas on Friday after St Even though the Catholic feast day is not celebrated nationwide, its become a holiday staple for families across the city, with many creating their own traditions to celebrate the occasion St. Nick’s Day is the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra, a 4th century bishop, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica St. Nicholas is referred to as the Patron Saint of Children, according to the Catholic World Mission. He is also the patron saint of several countries — including Russia and Greece — and cities throughout the world, according to the St. Nicholas Center Nick traditionally leaves gifts and candy on the night of Dec How is St. Nick’s Day celebrated?For families celebrating in Milwaukee, according to the St. Nicholas Center, children will hang stockings or put out their shoes on Dec Nick will then make a visit to collect the letters leaving candy and other treats for good children — and coal for those who haven’t been so nice Sometimes, St. Nicholas even stops at schools to leave presents in classrooms On the Sunday closest to St. Nick’s Day, many churches often host festivals in honor of the saint — which may even include an appearance from St. Nicholas himself, according to the St. Nicholas Center Communities with large German, Dutch and Ukrainian heritages often celebrate St. Nick’s Day, according to the St. Nicholas Center Milwaukee-area residents have previously told the Journal Sentinel they believed the feast day was celebrated everywhere with one resident saying the celebration is “definitely a Midwest thing.” Nicholas Center says some other places in the U.S Holland, Michigan and Pella, Iowa also celebrate the holiday, according to the Farmer’s Almanac More: Why St. Nick's Day is a Milwaukee tradition More: St. Nick fills stockings with candy. Or shoes with oranges. Or rides a moose. For Milwaukee families, the traditions vary. The bishop of Myra’s example of generosity and love for his fellow man has lasted and grown over 1700 years Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas. Families around the country remember this great saint by leaving out shoes the night before and filling them with treats. They do this because legend tells us that on three separate occasions, St. Nicholas the bishop of Myra living in the early 300s took pity on a widower with three daughters the families of young women traditionally gave money But the girls’ father had little money and could not offer this his daughters were in danger of being forced into prostitution Nicholas knew of the man’s dilemma and took it upon himself to help him anonymously Nicholas tossed a bag of gold through an open window and into the house the bags supposedly landed in shoes that were drying by the fire That is why we celebrate by leaving shoes out every December 6 Nicholas by perpetuating a giving spirit within our families Yet we can extend this giving spirit by caring for the poor in our communities as well rooted in his love for Jesus Christ and His Church teaches us valuable lessons about how we should treat others So as we prepare for this joyous feast day, let us also think about how we can fill metaphorical shoes with what the people in our communities truly need. By practicing some of the Corporal Works of Mercy Nicholas and alleviate the burden that many are facing this holiday season Now that Advent has begun it’s much easier to see needs within our communities Make this a joyful Christmas for a family who has very little Take food donations to shelters or to food pantries Volunteer to serve meals at a homeless shelter or a shelter for single moms Bake meals or treats for your parish priest who is likely overwhelmed with responsibilities this season Remember that no one should ever go hungry If you have ever stayed a significant time in a hospital or been confined to your home for a health reason Sometimes you feel forgotten; you may have even felt like a burden Visit residents in a nursing home or hospital or take time to visit someone who is homebound Take a special card or gift to further brighten their days and to serve as a remembrance of your love Think about the joy and relief felt by the father whom St The financial burden must have weighed heavily on him and the thought of his daughters entering a dangerous lifestyle must have crushed him Take a name or two off a giving tree and purchase a Christmas gift for this person Adopt a family and buy some Christmas presents for them Find a store with layaway and pay off someone’s toy purchase All of these things will help alleviate the financial stress that many families feel this time of year A prison ministry is not for everyone, and it can be terribly intimidating or even frightening to visit someone in prison. That’s why the Order of Malta has a prison ministry where people can write to prisoners instead of visiting them in person While many in prisons have done terrible things we must remember that no one is unforgivable Take the time to offer words of encouragement and Christ’s love to those who may feel hopeless St. Nicholas’ example of generosity and love for his fellow man has lasted and grown over 1700 years When we remember him and his kind works by perpetuating this love within our communities we ensure that his generosity will last indefinitely If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter What does it mean that almost half of the new cardinals will be from religious orders Fathers who lost their children to gender ideology: ‘I feel so betrayed’ Nick also resuscitated some children who had been murdered by an inn keeper and preserved in brine With “modernity,” reality and legend switch places: brine in legendary yesteryear; formaldehyde displays in labs today an abortion technique of choice today is a fatal saline solution The technical “progress” of sixteen centuries comes with the legend that this is “health care.” “The hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering worship to God” (John 16:2) Adding to the corporal works of mercy is being pro-life Having written previously that I at times wished for some outrage from our bishops I have always liked the story/legend that Bishop Nicholas slapped Arius at the Council of Nicea Dynamic Nicholas has been a renowned change-maker for centuries the legendary Nicky brings joy to millions of kids worldwide All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Rev. Thomas V. Berg, professor of moral theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and James C. Capretta, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, have written a relatively short but very […] You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/ Sign up to receive a weekly email with news, analysis, and commentary from a voice you can trust! (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[3]='MMERGE3';ftypes[3]='text';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[4]='MMERGE4';ftypes[4]='text';fnames[5]='MMERGE5';ftypes[5]='text';fnames[6]='MMERGE6';ftypes[6]='number';fnames[7]='MMERGE7';ftypes[7]='radio';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Installation view: Sean Scully: Procession at Église-Saint-Nicolas The latest exhibition of Sean Scully—one of America’s preeminent contemporary abstract painters—in Caen does not take place in a conventional venue such as a gallery as part of the 2024 Normandy Impressionist Festival is held in Caen’s historic Saint-Nicolas Church Reflecting on the Romanesque architectural style that proliferated across Europe following William the Conqueror’s Norman invasion of England it is challenging to grasp the significance this structure likely the sole stone edifice in the village Beyond serving as a sacred site of worship where newly converted Christians gathered for Sunday services the church also offered the community a rare opportunity to encounter art as this was the most effective way to communicate biblical history to a largely illiterate population the 19th-century proliferation of museums has rendered it rare for individuals today to have their first artistic encounters in a church first encountered art in a small Catholic church in London at the age of five Returning his works to this sacred space thus brings his artistic journey full circle Romanesque churches are organized around a Latin cross plan and this structure naturally guide the exhibition’s layout visitors are greeted by an absorbing tunnel Flanking the long nave are twelve three-meter-high canvases from a series created between 2019 and 2020 immediately summoning images of the Twelve Apostles Composed of horizontal stripes assembled in a tabular manner the repetitive irregular stripes create a sense of movement reminiscent of water evoking both physical and metaphysical qualities of lightness The simplicity and repetition of the compositions combined with their sequential arrangement create a ritualistic visual rhythm that echoes the prayers and chants so foundational to religious practice and purple—play central roles in the visual and symbolic language of the Christian faith and preparation for Christ’s second coming as King Although Scully often claims that his use of color is devoid of associations he acknowledges an exception: “I associate Catholicism with elements of dirt and smoke I see the religion as sensual and intimate due to the imagery it evokes—smoke tears.”1 He translates this into his art through the use of smoky red drips can be seen at the bottom of three canvases These might be interpreted as the Virgin Mary’s tears they could evoke the "Weeping" Statue of Civitavecchia which caused a sensation due to numerous instances of blood reportedly flowing from her eyes culminating with Pope John Paul II receiving the statue in the Vatican as a titanic sculpture obstructs the view of the altar and the exhibition’s second half is a nine-meter tower composed of layered wooden pieces covered in various colors of felt The irregular shapes of the layers make the sculpture resemble a modern interpretation of a Romanesque column on the verge of collapse a perfectly cut-out rectangle within the sculpture restores its fortitude and serves as a doorway Despite the lack of light emanating from this entrance allowing light to enter in a powerful gesture that suggests religious allegory Following the vibrant series of paintings near the entrance Scully’s ash-colored sculpture moves the exhibition into a deeper Two paintings of the same size and dark color palette Doric (2016) and Doric Air and Darkness (2016) Their titles resonate with the architectural surroundings reflecting the Roman architectural principles heavily influenced by Greek classical orders from which light struggles to escape through numerous applied paint layers These paintings exemplify Scully’s most characteristic motif cultivated since 1981 when he departed from Minimalism and the dense optical grid of the 1970s the selection of works becomes increasingly personal features a figurative tryptych titled Madonna A–C (2019) Their recent completion date is surprising as Scully abandoned representational art for abstraction when he moved from England to America seeking fertile ground for his pursuit of formal reduction The colors of these new figurative works correspond to some paintings from The 12 that open the exhibition creating a thematic link between the beginning and end When asked about his decision to return to figuration in these works Scully cites a personal tragedy that spurred him to immortalize his son is an iconographic reference to the Madonna and Child the exhibition culminates as we enter Scully’s personal altar churches were one of the first safety zones in times of warfare as civilians in countries engulfed by conflict sought refuge in places of worship our contemporary world often has little regard for this honorable tradition but the Saint-Nicolas Church nonetheless serves as a refuge for Sean Scully removed from the relentless commercialism of the art market characterized by grand visual unity and illuminated by the natural light shining from narrow windows above instead of harsh museum or gallery reflectors inspires a profound introspective and contemplative state We are once again reminded how Sean Scully is able to renew our understanding of abstraction through his desire to capture “something that can reflect the dimensionality of the human spirit within the grid of our world.”2 Home Troparion & Kontakion The Mission of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) the local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church is to be faithful in fulfilling the commandment of Christ to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Founded in 1794 — Granted Autocephaly in 1970 Copyright The Orthodox Church in America™ (OCA™)© 1996–2025 The people who portray Zwarte Piet and dress in this costume are usually white although Black people who dress as Zwarte Piet also typically wear blackface makeup “The Dutch tend to argue that Black Pete is a Dutch thing, and other people outside the Netherlands don’t understand our culture But it is part of an international tradition of racial stereotyping.” — Mitchell Esajas “But it is part of an international tradition of racial stereotyping.” Other Dutch cities continued to allow blackface in St have also replaced his Moorish clothing with that of Spanish nobility in an attempt to further distance the character from its problematic history blackface is replaced with brightly colored face paint in pinks and the character’s hair is sometimes similarly fantastical “It was like a weekend of Dutch racism in full display.” saying: “I expect in a few years there will be no more Black Petes.” All we have to do now is wait patiently for Santa Claus to arrive there's another holiday that's already making waves Saint-Nicolas is above all a tradition that endures in eastern France considered the patron saint of Lorraine and its inhabitants since 1477 And why does he distribute gifts and treats to well-behaved children Discover the origins and history of this tradition you need to know that Saint-Nicolas really did exist Behind this famous character is Nicholas of Myra This bishop was born in the 3rd century in Lycia after being imprisoned and forced into exile for several years Nicholas of Myra was persecuted by the emperor Diocletian But it was after his death that many miracles were attributed to him The legend of the 3 little children resurrected after being killed by a butcher This famous butcher also gave rise to another story Nicholas on his rounds and punishes disobedient children Nicholas of Myre became the patron saint of children and schoolchildren he slips into family chimneys to drop gifts and treats for well-behaved children gingerbread bearing the effigy of the Holy Bishop is in charge of distributing far less attractive gifts Nicholas Day remains a highly important tradition in Lorraine and the surrounding area The Battle of Nancy had a lot to do with it when Charles the Bold's army faced René II the latter decided to place his troops under the protection of Saint-Nicolas making the patron saint of children very important in the eyes of the region several men dressed up as Saint-Nicolas make the rounds of schools in Lorraine and Alsace Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here For families across the country, the Christmas season started Black Friday a special day in early December is when the real festivities begin The Feast of St. Nicholas, fondly referred to by many across the region as St. Nick's Day Though the holiday involves stockings and small gifts it is separate from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations Nick's Day may not be widely celebrated in the United States it is popular in American cities with large German or Dutch populations Here's everything to know about the longstanding tradition Who was St. Nicholas?Saint Nicholas of Myra St. Nicholas Day is the feast day of St. Nicholas, the fourth century bishop of Myra. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Nick's Day was brought to the United States with German immigration that began in the 1600s In Cincinnati, Dr. Ludwig "Louis" Rehfuss, a German immigrant who was a medical doctor, set up the first Christmas tree in the early 19th century, Don Heinrich Tolzmann, curator of the German Heritage Museum and president of the German American Citizens' League, told The Enquirer in 2021 The image was based on the likeness of St. Nicholas.  A version of this story was published in 2021, 2022 and 2023. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem The link you clicked may be broken or the page may have been removed Go to homepage Send Opinion articles to - [email protected] For advertisement- [email protected] Copyright © 2025 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab advances for the Fever United 2010B during a tournament Aug LEADING THE ATTACK: Jordan Michael San Nicolas dribbles through traffic for the Fever United 2010B during a tournament Aug APPLYING PRESSURE: Jordan Michael San Nicolas defends for the Fever United 2010B during a tournament Aug and Catalina Sablan San Nicolas are the parents of Jordan Michael San Nicolas a 13-year-old soccer player selected to the North Texas 2024/2025 Boys/Girls Olympic Development Program Pool Photo courtesy of Catalina Sablan San Nicolas  named their son Jordan after basketball hall-of-fame legend Michael Jordan Jordan Michael San Nicolas fell in love with soccer and idolized Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — two of the best-ever soccer players to compete on the world stage and while his friends were spending time playing video games or having their attention captivated elsewhere Jordan San Nicolas spent hours on YouTube studying and he would actually be out there while kids were playing video games and all of that He was out there,” said Catalina Sablan San Nicolas “We were like: ‘Where's Jordan?’ And he's out there in the backyard trying to mimic all the tricks and the footwork and just watching Messi and Ronaldo.” “He started loving it as soon as he started playing it,” said Steven San Nicolas Along with Jordan San Nicolas’ effort came recognition and awards and his parents realized and took the initiative to place him in leagues with older he really started to shine through from everybody else,” Steven San Nicolas said and we found we had to start putting him in a year up because his age group was really holding him back.” nine years later and after countless hours of practice the 13-year-old Jordan San Nicolas has been selected into the North Texas 2024/2025 Boys/Girls Olympic Development Program Pool By being handpicked and becoming a member of the elite squad Jordan San Nicolas will have the opportunity to compete regionally and nationally — steppingstones to playing for Team USA and competing in the Olympic Games “I got selected from ODP through an email that my parents got,” said Jordan San Nicolas hadn’t expected to have been selected so quickly “I was actually really scared because I only went to one tryout instead of two." Jordan San Nicolas told The Guam Daily Post that the ODP selection means a lot to him “because it shows that people from Guam can make it and also that all the hard work I put in paid off.” Being selected to the regional ODP team doesn’t come with guaranteed playing time or advancement to the national level But he is dead set on making the most of the opportunities and continuing to level up nationally and earn roster spots and play collegiately for a recognized NCAA Division I program “My first short-term goal is to win the championship with my Fever (United 2010B) team and my second goal is to be part of the U.S And my third short-term goal is to make a good college preferably North Carolina,” said Jordan San Nicolas who hopes to make the Tar Heels squad — the same school where his namesake led UNC to the National Championship in 1982 “My first long-term goal is to either make the (Major League Soccer) or Europe team and my second long-term goal is to make the U.S and showing you the best student-athlete I can I be,” he said “‘I'm going to be like Messi and Ronaldo,’” his mother recalled him telling her more than once Very early in Jordan San Nicolas’ young career his parents recognized his passion for the sport and encouraged him to improve and continue to grow as an athlete Even though the CHamoru midfielder and winger was and is one of the smallest players on the field his fighting spirit and determination became apparent — often outplaying opponents bigger than himself but often not as physically adept and skilled “I really enjoy the competitive aspect of the game because it helps me get better I really like playing better," Jordan San Nicolas said it helps my mindset and physicality of the game I also want to shine light on Guam so they can get the respect they deserve.” “I got selected from ODP through an email that my parents got I was actually really scared because I only went to one tryout instead of two." Email notifications are only sent once a day Poll results are published every Monday in The Guam Daily Post Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Saint-Nicolas Hospital in Saint-Marc continues to care for patients balancing constraints with the dedication of its staff Since the massacre that left about fifty dead and thirty wounded in Pont Sondé Saint-Nicolas Hospital has been overwhelmed pushing beyond the limits of its community hospital status Favoris Partager 0"We received 23 injured and five people who were already deceased upon arrival," stated Dr Medical Director of Saint-Nicolas Hospital in an interview with Le Nouvelliste on Monday Twenty-one of the injured arrived on the first day have been on call continuously to respond to the influx of patients Even before this tragic event, Saint-Nic Si vous avez déjà créé un compte, connectez-vous pour lire la suite de cet article. Connectez-vous Pas encore de compte ? Inscrivez-vous Looks like this is a wrong url or this page has been taken down The web server reported a bad gateway error The governor’s office on Tuesday evening said if leaders in the Legislature do not push forward two bills that aim to help the financially strapped Guam Memorial Hospital “then the leadership is thumbing it's nose up at an opportunity to save lives.” director of communications for the governor’s office responded in an email to a request for comment regarding a press conference held by Sen at which he stated he wouldn’t report the two bills out of his finance and taxation committee One bill — from the governor’s office — proposes a $425 million bond borrowing and refinancing of existing debt to help bail out the public hospital and turn it into a center of excellence. It also proposes raising taxes. The other bill — from  Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr. — proposes borrowing $30 million in new debt to subsidize GMH and refinancing of existing debt and stretching its repayments over a longer period to get some short-term cash for GMH San Nicolas said increasing the government’s tax burden isn’t the solution “given the fact that the taxpayer is going to be additionally burdened.” As the local government’s borrowing has increased the local tax burden on island residents has nearly doubled according to an analysis funded by the Department of Interior Ngirairikl in her email stated San Nicolas hasn’t asked the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority what he can do to help the hospital “The hardworking men and women at GMHA are trying to save lives,” Ngirairikl stated “The administration is working to give GMHA the tools and facilities to do their job in helping people as well as build a self-sustaining hospital and widen access to preventative healthcare San Nicolas is playing with those lives as he puts on the political face of being fiscally responsible.” Ngirairikl said the governor’s bill offers “actual solutions to address GMHA’s issue.” is not allowing his fellow lawmakers to do their jobs and not allowing the community to discuss the problems and potential solution to a decades-long issue Other senators do have the option of invoking a legislative rule to force the bills out of San Nicolas' committee This article originally appeared on Pacific Daily News: Governor's office: San Nicolas playing with lives as he plans to hold up bills Michael San Nicolas delivers his annual congressional address at the Guam Congress Building on June 28 along with its conclusions that "substantial evidence" against San Nicolas exists to show he accepted improper excessive campaign contributions and other potential federal criminal violations The House Committee on Ethics unanimously voted to send a report on Guam Del Michael San Nicolas to the Department of Justice the Investigative Subcommittee “unanimously concluded that there was substantial evidence that Delegate San Nicolas: accepted improper excessive campaign contributions; engaged in a conspiracy to hide the proceeds of the illicit campaign contributions; knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; and attempted to improperly influence a witness in connection with this Committee’s investigation.” submitted the report to the House of Representatives on allegations Delegate San Nicolas “In light of the Delegate’s impending retirement from the House and the potential for expiration of applicable statutes of limitations the ISC recommended that the Committee refer these allegations to the Department of Justice,” according to the press release “The Committee on Ethics has unanimously voted to adopt the ISC’s report refer the substantial evidence of potential violations of federal criminal law to the Department of Justice for such further action as it deems appropriate.” The committee added its thanks to the members of the Investigative Subcommittee “for their hard work and service to the Committee and to the House.” Darren Soto served as Chair of the Investigative Subcommittee Jackie Walorski served as Ranking Republican Member Representatives Dina Titus and Vicky Hartzler also served on the subcommittee Each of these members devoted substantial time and effort to the investigation has joined the roster of potential candidates eyeing the delegate's seat this election having picked up a packet from the Guam Election Commission on Wednesday "It is with great humility that we make ourselves available once again to serve if our people will so have us Keke and I talk often about what we know our island and people deserve and that everyone's lives and futures should be filled with greater opportunities - we want this for Guam," San Nicolas stated in a release announcing his intentions "It is our hope and belief that the island shares this vision and that we all know the only way to achieve this is to make it happen with true grit and unrelenting determination all politics parties; let's build a responsible Guam," San Nicolas added The former delegate is the third Democrat so far to put their hat in the ring as a potential candidate to Congress who served under the administration of former Gov Carl Gutierrez and as a deputy inspector general for the Iraq Reconstruction also picked up delegate packets as members of the Democrat party The three may have to face each other in the primary in August The primary election filing window begins on Feb is the incumbent in the delegate's seat this election cycle and he has confirmed that he will run for re-election "This office requires continuity and tenure and all I can say is that we have planted many seeds which will benefit our community and the work has only begun," Moylan told The Guam Daily Post Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.