Saint Nicholas of Myra is a figure of both history and legend — a bishop during his life, he’s now best known as the inspiration for Santa Claus and the spirit of generous giving which pervades the Christmas season.
But the real story of Saint Nicholas doesn't begin in the North Pole — rather, it begins in the southwest corner of Anatolia, modern-day Turkey. There, through an act of radical generosity, Nicholas saved three daughters from being forced into prostitution.
Today, we explore this episode to reveal what it can teach you about the ideals of noblesse oblige and Christian charitas — and most importantly, how you can fuse them together to transform lives and leave a legacy.
Poverty & Prostitution
Nicholas of Myra was born in 270 in the city of Patara, a maritime trading city on the southwest coast of Anatolia. He was born to a decently wealthy family and raised in the Christian faith — two factors which would influence him heavily throughout his life.
Specifically, Nicholas understood that the opportunities he was afforded in life came at a cost — namely, that of duty. However, his sense of duty soon extended beyond the scope of normal noblesse oblige. Indeed, he decided to give his life in service of Christ’s Church, and was ordained a priest.
Early on in his career, he heard of a man who, through the “plotting and envy of Satan,” had lost all of his money and was unable to provide a dowry for his daughters. Destitute and unable to marry, the three daughters faced a grim future — being forced into prostitution to survive. Their father, wracked with despair, could do nothing to save them.
Upon learning of the family’s plight, Nicholas understood the depth of their predicament — it was not just the lives of three daughters at stake, but the wellbeing of entire generations, should the family fall into the grasp of poverty.
His sense of duty compelled him to act. And so he did, and began to devise a plan…
Windows & Chimneys
In line with the culture of his time, Nicholas understood he couldn’t provide aid to the family directly — such an act would, in the eyes of some, invite more humiliation than the act of prostitution itself.
That’s why Nicholas, after reaching into his own personal coffers, descended under the cover of darkness one night and made his way toward the home of the hapless family. In his hand, he carried a small pouch of gold — enough to serve as a dowry for the eldest daughter.
He slipped the pouch through an open window (or the chimney, depending on which tradition you’re pulling from), and retreated quietly back into the night. When the gold was discovered the next morning, it was considered nothing short of a miracle. The eldest daughter’s marriage was secured, and she was spared from a cruel and calamitous fate.
Again the next night, Nicholas journeyed to the home and deposited another bag of gold. But as he returned the third night, his stealth was betrayed…
The Gift that Keeps Giving
Eager to discover the identity of his mysterious benefactor, the daughters’ father stayed up hiding in wait. When Nicholas arrived with a bag of gold for the third daughter, the father seized at him, preventing his escape — then, recognizing his bishop, threw himself down on his knees:
"Ah, Nicholas, it is you! You have saved my daughters from certain disaster."
Nicholas, wishing to remain anonymous in his generosity, first commanded the father to keep his charity a secret. He then exhorted him:
"You must thank God alone for providing these gifts in answer to your prayers for deliverance."
Indeed, deliverance it was. Not only were all three daughters spared from the need to prostitute themselves, but they were all three successfully married off in quick succession. As they raised their new families, they gave thanks to the Lord for their fortune — and specifically, for the generosity shown to them by their bishop.
Soon the story of Nicholas got out and, in addition to many other episodes of his generosity, cemented his reputation as a model of Christian virtue. His duty-driven sense of noblesse oblige and Christian charitas inspired others to embrace generosity in simple, yet significant, ways.
After Nicholas’ death, his legacy grew and transformed over the years, eventually being co-opted into the figure of Santa Claus. His story is a powerful reminder of how one simple act of giving can change the trajectory of lives for generations to come.
Takeaways
1) Give Quietly
Under the cover of darkness, Nicholas slipped pouches of gold into the home of a desperate father. His anonymity, by preserving the family’s dignity, was itself an additional gift.
True generosity doesn’t seek the spotlight — it focuses on uplifting others without expectation. Let your actions be like Nicholas’s: impactful, selfless, and unannounced.
2) Act Decisively
When faced with the opportunity to make a difference, hesitation can mean the difference between action and regret. Nicholas didn’t wait for someone else to step in — he took the initiative, and acted while he could still make a difference.
In your life, recognize when help is needed, and move swiftly to provide it. The right moment to act may not come again, so be prepared to seize it.
3) Remember Your Duty to Others
Noblesse oblige is the idea that privilege entails responsibility. Those blessed with resources — whether financial, intellectual, or otherwise — carry a responsibility to help those in need. Nicholas understood this deeply.
You are not required to give to every cause, nor are you required to help everyone who asks. But you are required to steward well the resources you’ve been given — consider who you are duty-bound to provide for, and act accordingly.
Merry Christmas!
I hope you enjoyed this email. James and I are taking this week off, so there’s no livestream — but a deep-dive email into the life of Saint Nicholas will still go out to paid subscribers on Thursday as scheduled.
From our families to yours, we wish you a very merry Christmas!
Ad finem fidelis,
-Evan