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 Spring Campaign Launches TODAY!Join us to hit our $60,000 goal fast 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 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 Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine issued the following announcement of a Mission Divine Liturgy to be held on January 11 Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine 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 Why is there not a rating on this post? There's not enough verified evidence for us to definitively confirm or debunk this rumor. Contact us if you have credible information to share Saint Nicholas, the 4th-century Greek bishop who inspired the legend of Santa Claus, is traditionally believed to have been buried in Myra, which is in present-day Turkey. In early and mid-December 2024, a claim spread online that Turkish archaeologists finally discovered "Santa Claus tomb." One X post with on the topic with over 30.7 million views as of this writing read: "Archaeologists in Türkiye believe they have discovered the tomb of Saint Nicholas famously known as Santa Claus 🇹🇷." It featured a video allegedly showing the discovery "🚨#BREAKING: Archaeologists in Turkey believe they have discovered the tomb of Saint Nicholas. Yes, that's right, they actually just found Santa Claus," another X user wrote social media posts and news articles mentioned an authentic discovery though it has not yet been definitively identified as the tomb of St it remains unclear when the initial find actually took place as the earliest reports did not explicitly specify a discovery date suggests that a press event was held on Dec serving as the first public presentation of the findings that took place earlier (We verified their accuracy using transcription tools and Google Translate.) While it is too early to confirm the sarcophagus' date or precise connection to St Fındık noted its significance in corroborating historical accounts that place his burial site near the sacred area of Myra The team hopes to find inscriptions on the sarcophagus that could confirm its origins and shed light on the burial Further excavation and analysis were underway with researchers optimistic about uncovering more details by the end of 2024 "The fact that a sarcophagus has been unearthed very close to the church thought to contain the tomb of St we will be happy to complete the excavation and restoration of the area where the sarcophagus is and contribute to our country's tourism," Fındık said "It is too early to say anything about its history right now we will share information about the history of the sarcophagus with the scientific world." Google reverse image search results indicated the images of the in-question sarcophagus started spreading on Dec The images featured in posts (shown below) were captured by Zehra Tekeci from AA captioned (emphasis ours): "A limestone sarcophagus is uncovered during excavations at St Nicholas Church in Demre district of Antalya The photos were likely taken during an event where researchers shared details of the find with the media and public for the first time, but not on the day the sarcophagus was discovered. We have reached out to Tekeci for a comment and will update this article if we receive a response Some news article redirected to a pack of images hosted on an official website of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) operating under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism) there appeared to be a context label used by archaeologists to identify a specific excavation area or feature at a site The date shown on the label suggested the tomb was rather discovered on Aug We have reached out to the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism for clarification and will update this report if we receive a response have documented announcements of potential tomb discoveries beneath Demre's St We have recently investigated another Santa Claus related claim: An image allegedly showing a newspaper headline from 1945 saying that children wrote to Santa Claus to ask for atomic bombs for Christmas presents 7 A Limestone Sarcophagus Is Uncovered During Excavations At A Church In Demre District Of Antalya Turkey Photos & High Res Pictures - Getty Images https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?family=editorial&phrase=A%20limestone%20sarcophagus%20is%20uncovered%20during%20excavations%20at%20a%20church%20in%20Demre%20district%20of%20Antalya%2C%20Turkey&sort=mostpopular https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/pg/foto-galeri/aziz-nikolaos-kilisesi-kazilarinda-tarihe-isik-tutacak-lahit-bulundu/0 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/ancient-sarcophagus-discovered-at-st-nicholas-church-in-turkiyes-antalya/3416015 https://docs.tga.gov.tr/app/tr-TR/Klasor/Paylas/DocsTGA/1ca5c1a5-9aae-466f-836e-f9dded494594 Aziz Nikolaos Kilisesi Kazılarında Tarihe Işık Tutacak Lahit Bulundu https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/kultur/aziz-nikolaos-kilisesi-kazilarinda-tarihe-isik-tutacak-lahit-bulundu/3414796 https://www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-98537/contact.html "'Santa Claus' Sarcophagus Believed to Be Discovered during Excavation Project." Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/travel/santa-claus-sarcophagus-believe-discovered-during-excavation-project "Noel Baba'nın kilisesinde lahit bulundu; Aziz Nikolaos'un mezarı olabilir." Habertürk https://www.haberturk.com/video/haber/izle/noel-babanin-kilisesinde-lahit-bulundu-aziz-nikolaosun-mezari-olabilir/865067 Antalya'daki Noel Baba Kilisesinde Lahit Bulundu | Antalya Demre'de Bulunan Noel Baba'nın Kilisesinde Lahit Bulundu Henüz Kapak Kısmı Açığa Çıkarılan ve Aziz Nikolaos'a Ait Olabileceği Değerlendirilen.. https://www.facebook.com/Haberturk/videos/heyecanland%C4%B1ran-ke%C5%9Fif-antalyadaki-noel-baba-kilisesinde-lahit-bulundu/1990778174699523/ Nicholas Church: Sarcophagus Found – TURKMENISTAN AND WORLD NEWS https://www.atavatan-turkmenistan.com/en/historical-discovery-in-st-nicholas-church-sarcophagus-found/ "Noel Baba'nın kilisesinde lahit bulundu; Aziz Nikolaos'un mezarı olabilir." DHA | Demirören Haber Ajansı http://www.dha.com.tr/kultur-sanat/noel-babanin-kilisesinde-lahit-bulundu-aziz-nikolaosun-mezari-olabilir-2544541 "'Santa Claus' Sarcophagus Believed to Be Discovered during Excavation Project." FOX News https://www.fox13news.com/news/santa-claus-sarcophagus-discovered-excavation Aleksandra Wrona is a reporting fellow for Snopes This material may not be reproduced without permission Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com 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 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 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 His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America gathered with faithful for the annual Christmas Party at our National Shrine Emceed by Anthoula Katsimatides and Ernie Anastos the event was a joyful gathering where children from the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity School sang Christmas carols The National Church and Shrine –dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Mira the philanthropic bishop after whom the traditions around “Santa Clause” are modeled—was an ideal setting for this Christmas celebration Just as Saint Nicholas was particularly aware of the plights of families and children even making anonymous donations to very poor families His Eminence reminded those present of the preeminent place of children during this holiday season: “this is the most joyous and festive feast of the year Christmas: it especially involves children because our Lord Jesus Christ was born as a baby Not only is this holiday an invitation to care for the children around us—and the small children in each of our hearts—it is also a chance to honor the Christ child by opening our hearts and doors to those in need His Eminence added that “we need children to celebrate this feast not only as a reminder that our Lord became a baby but because you remind us of the innocence which we should have and the joy and beauty that you represent to this world.” 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 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 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.” 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" Seven cuts for a cold and snowy Friday: • Did you know that most, if not all, of the troubles in the Catholic Church can be traced back to one group of people? Yep. The […] 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 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 According to Smithsonian Magazine KING RAY: Ray San Nicolas won the King of the Lanes monthly bowling title Sunday at Central Lanes Bowling Center in Tamuning PRINCE LYO: Lyo Sawada won the Prince of the Lanes monthly bowling title Sunday The March installment of the 2025 King and Prince of the Lanes competition witnessed exhilarating action and high scores on the 44-foot-long oil pattern The event proved once again why it is one of the premier monthly bowling tournaments with fierce competitors lighting up the lanes Sunday at the Central Lanes Bowling Center Noah Taimanglo showcased his skills during the qualifying rounds leading the field with a stellar average of 234 pins per game across four games Taimanglo's precision and consistency earned him the top seed heading into the finals it was second seed Ray San Nicolas who stole the spotlight demonstrating nerves of steel and exceptional form to clinch the title The monthly finals saw Ray San Nicolas deliver a master class in striking opening with an electrifying seven consecutive strikes despite a promising start that included a turkey faltered in the fourth frame with a critical split and compounded his struggles with an open frame in the fifth These missteps left the top seed watching from the sidelines as Ray San Nicolas confidently seized the crown The semifinal round featured thrilling clashes Taimanglo secured his spot in the finals with a dramatic finish delivering clutch strikes in the closing frames to edge out the fifth seed RJ Santos in a high-scoring 255-238 showdown Ray San Nicolas found his rhythm late in the match defeating third seed Maria Wood 244-222 to set up the championship encounter The top 10 finishers in the King of the Lanes division included notable performances from Ricky Duenas The Prince of the Lanes division brought its own share of excitement with 12-year-old two-handed bowler Lyo Sawada making a bold statement finishing atop the leaderboard and proving he could compete with his older counterparts Fourteen-year-old Eyan Duenas secured the second seed with an impressive 217 average followed by strong performances from Manny Tagle all of whom advanced to the elimination stages The elimination rounds produced intense battles Seventh-seed Reyes and eighth-seed Fejeran emerged as contenders Reyes overcame sixth seed Shane San Nicolas and tenth seed Chris Santos while Fejeran dispatched fourth seed Park and third seed Tagle to secure their places in the semifinals Sawada maintained his composure to outscore Reyes 161-151 Eyan Duenas capitalized on his nine-pin handicap advantage to edge past Fejeran by a narrow four-pin margin The championship match lived up to its billing with Sawada narrowly defeating Eyan Duenas by a single pin cementing Sawada's place as a rising star in the sport Bowling enthusiasts eagerly await the next edition of the King and Prince of the Lanes April 13 at the Central Lanes Bowling Center The stage is set for another thrilling chapter in this celebrated tournament series 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: AAArchaeologists work to excavate the tomb found in Türkiye that may belong to Saint Nicholas Archaeologists in Türkiye believe they’ve uncovered the burial site of Saint Nicholas, the fourth-century Christian bishop who later became the inspiration for Santa Claus Beneath the Church of Saint Nicholas in Demre researchers discovered a sarcophagus that matches burial styles from his time Though only the lid has been unearthed so far hopes are high that this could actually be the resting place of Saint Nicholas Much of Saint Nicholas’ life is shrouded in mystery but historians believe that he was an early Christian leader of Greek descent who rose to prominence in the Roman era for his generous acts of charity his remains were reportedly scattered across various sites in Europe as they were moved repeatedly over the centuries Previous studies have concluded that various remains could perhaps belong to Saint Nicholas but this new discovery could finally settle the matter once and for all Wikimedia CommonsPortrait of Saint Nicholas of Myra Saint Nicholas of Myra was born in 270 C.E then within the Roman Empire and now part of Türkiye but he was said to be extremely charitable and was renowned for his selflessness One of the most famous stories of his good nature originates from this period of his life Saint Nicholas saved three innocent men from death after interrupting their execution and admonishing a juror who was bribed to find them guilty Wikimedia CommonsA Russian rendering of Saint Nicholas from Saint Nicholas Church on Lipno Island Saint Nicholas was reported to have performed miracles including warding off bad weather during a sea voyage and even resurrecting three children who were killed and pickled by a butcher who planned to pass them off as pork during a famine Saint Nicholas was believed to have died in Myra in 343 C.E The final resting place of his remains has been disputed for centuries Some believe that Saint Nicholas was buried in Myra but others believe he is buried at a church in Gemile Türkiye or the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari Historians also believe that some of his remains were taken to Venice during the First Crusade Historical evidence that Saint Nicholas’ remains were spread across all of these locations at different periods is convincing bones believed to belong to Saint Nicholas in Bari were studied for the first time revealing that their owner was roughly 70 years old at his time of death and suffered from arthritis and a broken nose A comparative analysis of the bones in Bari and Venice revealed that they originated from the same individual though they have never been positively identified as belonging to Saint Nicholas Evidence collected from the bones matched historical records of Saint Nicholas’ age and life story but with his bones reportedly spread across the Mediterranean it is difficult to get a full picture of his life archaeologists believe they may have discovered a key missing piece in the mystery of Saint Nicholas’ tomb underneath the Church of Saint Nicholas in Demre Dosseman/CC BY-SA 4.0The courtyard of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Demre excavations began at Saint Nicholas Church in Myra The church was built on top of an older Christian church where Saint Nicholas once served as bishop In 2017, researchers uncovered what they thought was Saint Nicholas’ grave at the church. That same year, experts tested a bone fragment that purportedly came from Saint Nicholas and concluded that it could have been his archaeologists from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University supported by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture began focusing their excavations at the church on uncovering artifacts from Saint Nicholas called “Legacy for the Future Project,” involved excavating the site’s two-story annex believed to be the original burial site of Saint Nicholas archaeologists uncovered a sarcophagus that they believe belongs to Saint Nicholas Measuring roughly 6.5 feet in length and buried at a depth of roughly six feet the sarcophagus’ features are consistent with burial styles from the saint’s time They also discovered animal bones and clay offerings at the site positively identifying it as a burial place “The fact that we have found a sarcophagus near the church, thought to house his tomb, may indicate that this is indeed the sacred area we have been searching for,” Associate Professor Ebru Fatma Findik from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University told Türkiye Today AAThe top of the tomb believed to belong to Saint Nicholas While archaeologists have only unearthed the lid of the sarcophagus researchers hope to find artifacts that connect the tomb to the famous saint “Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus,” Dr “This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates from.” These findings couldn’t have come at a more fitting time as the world eagerly awaits further discoveries that breathe new life into the story of Saint Nicholas this holiday season After reading about Saint Nicholas’ tomb, dive into the story of Saint Patrick, a Roman slave who became the patron saint of Ireland. Then, read about Olga of Kiev the vengeful Viking princess who became a saint after leading a revenge plot against the tribe who killed her husband 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 An official website of the United States government Latest Earthquakes linking the age model and sediment properties to the San Nicolas slide debris and the drape layer capping the debris The locations of the Chirp data are shown in panel (a) scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have identified nearly 1,500 submarine landslide features off the coast of.. 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 Just in time for Christmas, the iconic Saint Nicholas has a new home Or rather, The Icon Museum and Study Center in Clinton has just unveiled its latest acquisition a 19th century icon titled "Saint Nicholas and Scenes from His Life." The icon described an an "important" new piece in the museum's collection "This is a real masterpiece," said Icon Museum and Study Center curator Justin Willson The icon showcases the saint surrounded by 32 detailed scenes colorful lines of egg tempera on a wooden panel The scenes provide a visual narrative of the saint's life from his birth to his miraculous deeds and posthumous veneration "It's in beautiful condition," Willson said in an interview the day before the Dec Both the icon and its history are fascinating Not a great deal is known about Saint Nicholas who lived during the 3rd and 4th centuries in Lycia But he has become a beloved figure in Christian tradition generosity and miraculous powers such as calming the stormy seas His reputed secret gift-giving evolved into him becoming the legendary figure of Santa Claus Some of the facts about the "Saint Nicholas and Scenes From His Life" are also unknown at present but Willson said it is definitely by a class of artists from the Old Believers or Old Ritualists of a group of Russian religious dissenters who refused to accept the liturgical reforms made by the Russian Orthodox Church in the17th century Willson said "Saint Nicholas and Scenes from His Life" was perhaps painted in the second quarter of the 19th century likely by an Old Believers master artist and an assistant artist The icon is about three-and-half-feet tall and two-and-a-half- feet wide while 32 individual vision icons with a Cyrillic script tell a story from the saint's birth to his posthumous year including people praying to an icon of St The Old Believers "viewed icons as a narrative form .. Nicholas is one of the most beloved saints." The "Saint Nicholas and Scenes from his Life" icon is known as a "vita" icon Vita icons go back to about the 11th century and Byzantine painters helped develop the form The vita art form disappeared for a while but then came back "with force" in the 17th century The Old Believers revived Byzantine iconography shaping the reception of medieval artistic traditions In the painting of icons in Russia following the 17th century schism icons surrounding the state church began to be painted in a more realistic manner similar to that used in Western European religious art The Old Believers kept to the old stylized manner of painting saints and scenes In the "Saint Nicholas and Scenes from his Life" icon there several sea images in the stories is considered the patron saint of sailors. The blues of the seas are among the colors "It's a really powerful artistic statement as well," Willson said "This icon is as much about telling stories through playful contrasts of vibrant color and virtuoso detail as about the narrative of the saint's life It invites you into the world where the oral legends that knitted a community together found expression in their sacred art." The schism between the Old Believers and the state church in Russia in the 17th century was serious and had long-lasting ramifications with many Old Believers persecuted and feeling forced to move A large number went to the further reaches of Russia and the Baltic states Some Old Believers eventually settled in the United States "Saint Nicholas and Scenes from his Life" might have been painted by Old Believer artists in one of the Baltic states The icon is a gift to the museum from Lynette and Brandon Hull and was acquired from the Temple Gallery in London Lynette Hull is a member of the museum's board The Temple Gallery is one of the top four in Western Europe for Eastern European art and icons Simon Morsink, executive director at the Icon Museum and Study Center “We’re thrilled to add this important piece to the museum’s collection and deeply grateful to Lynette and Brandon Hull who very generously supported this acquisition.” Now that museum has the icon it can be studied closely there and it will be used for teaching the museum said the icon will support its strategic efforts to acquire works that expand research on the diversity of religious traditions within the Orthodox church "We're really focused on receiving new audiences," Willson said "Saint Nicholas and Scenes from his Life" was unveiled at the museum's annual holiday Open House for members on Dec coinciding with the traditional feast day of Saint Nicholas There is another upcoming day coinciding with the new acquisition — "People know Saint Nicholas as Santa Claus," Willson said The unveiling took place amid Christmas decorations at the museum The icon will be displayed on a prominent wall at the museum for the next six months The museum was founded in 2006 by the late industrialist and art collector Gordon B a plastics engineer and former chairman and CEO of Nypro Inc. Lankston had developed an extensive personal collection of icons The museum was led for more than 16 years by founding director Kent dur Russell a Dutch art historian and icon expert in Russian icons Greek icons and Ethiopian and Byzantine art came on board as the museum's new executive director in 2022 Willson joined the museum as curator in February He is a specialist in the art of Byzantium and the early Slavic world "I taught high school for four years and then decided to go back to school for art history," he said criticism and conservation from Princeton University "The Moods of Early Russian Art," will be published in 2026 He noted that there are a number of people with Orthodox heritages in Worcester including Greeks "The museum has an opportunity to meet new audiences." Willson said he has no family Orthodox background that led him to be interested in Orthodox art and icons "For me it was really the style of these objects The more I dug into that I saw they did it with fantastic grace," he said The story deserves to be better known than it is For more information about the Icon Museum and Study Center, visit iconmuseum.org. a Christian monk who is supposed to have lived in what is now modern-day Turkey sometime in the third century (200 to 299 AD) may have been the origin of Santa Claus Although we know almost nothing about Nicholas of Myra the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox celebrate his Saint’s Day on December 6th Nicholas gave charity to children and his good deeds included saving three young sisters from slavery During the European Renaissance (roughly 1350-1600 AD) Nicholas of Myra was the most popular saint in Europe As Christianity spread into northern Europe and Scandinavia Nicholas was enriched with Germanic beliefs and practices including the lighted Christmas tree and the Dutch brought him with them to their New Netherlands colony in North America and brought deserving children gifts and lumps of coal for children who hadn’t behaved In New York the story of Santa Claus gradually evolved into the way we see him today In a story by Washington Irving included in his 1809 book The History of New York Nicholas was a rotund Dutchman who arrived in a flying wagon and dropped gifts down chimneys for the children of the house In Clement Moore’s 1823 poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” Saint Nicholas’ wagon became a sleigh pulled by a team of “eight tiny reindeer.” After the Civil War, Thomas Nast’s drawing for Harper’s Weekly continued to show a rotund and jolly St Nicholas but Nast added a lot of new features to the legend lived at the North Pole where he had his toymaking workshop With the commercialization of Christmas in the late 19th century, gift giving was moved from December 6 to December 25 and the name St. Nicholas receded. An editorial addressed to 8-year-old Virginia in the New York Sun in 1897 promised her that “Yes There is a Santa Claus.” Over the years it has been repeatedly republished Santa on his sled has been the finale of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City Not signed up for Daily Kos yet? Create a free account A view of the Guam Department of Corrections facility in Mangilao on Sept A $5 million funding under a 2021 law toward building a modern prison system would be reallocated for immediate prison repairs maintenance and other Department of Corrections’ needs should Sen Dwayne San Nicolas’ Bill 368-37 — which has been added to the December legislative session — becomes law who won’t be part of the incoming 38th Legislature after losing his first reelection bid seeks his colleagues’ support for his bill which he said would immediately address the “hazardous conditions at DOC.” “Funding critical repairs and procuring necessary equipment are essential to ensuring the safety of the DOC staff and the public,” the senator said in a statement Monday San Nicolas’ bill would amend DOC’s fiscal 2025 budget allocation under Public Law 37-125 and reallocate $5 million initially earmarked for the construction of a new DOC facility to also fund much-needed repairs and security upgrades at both the Adult Correctional Facility and the Hagåtña Detention Facility San Nicolas believes Bill 368-37 will allow DOC the flexibility to do immediate repairs while continuing preparations for a new correctional facility “We need to prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone at DOC,” San Nicolas said “I’m glad my colleagues agreed to hear Bill 368 on the floor in the upcoming December session I hope to gain their support once again in passing this legislation preventing further deterioration of DOC’s facilities and upholding the integrity of our correctional system.” 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 Prayers and sympathies for the family of Sun Ok San Nicolas 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.