St. Nicholas: A Kind Heart and Ten Charming Churches

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia and Lorraine and is based on a real person. He is the second most honored saint in Eastern Churches after the Virgin Mary and can be traced back to the historical figure Nicholas of Myra, known for his kindness and compassionate nature. He was born around the year 280 in Patras, Greece, which is now in southern Turkey, to a wealthy Christian family. Tragically, he became an orphan early in life and chose to give his wealth to those in need. Afterward, he traveled to Palestine and stopped in Myra to pray on his way home. When he entered the church, a large crowd gathered, cheering for the new bishop. Nicholas was taken aback but soon realized that the people had been unable to select a new bishop for months after the previous one’s death. They decided that the first priest to come to the church in the morning would become their new Bishop, and that was Nicholas, who arrived first.

During the time of Emperor Diocletian, who persecuted Christians in the Roman Empire, St. Nicholas was imprisoned and exiled. He was only freed in 313 when Emperor Constantine allowed Christianity and Nicholas regained his position as bishop. Numerous stories about Nicholas highlight his focus on helping those in need. In one tale, he rescued three innocent men from execution, and another one tells of how he secretly tossed three bags of gold through a window to assist the three daughters of a father who was deeply in debt and in danger of selling them into prostitution. There is also a story of how he saved sailors caught in a storm. He was always considerate of the poor and sick during his time as bishop, even founding schools and orphanages. During his visits to the schools, the children gathered around him, and Nicholas read both the praises and mistakes of the kids, with ignorance being corrected with mild punishment.

When the beloved Bishop of Myra died on December 6 around the years 345-350 (the exact year is unknown), everyone mourned him. They adorned his grave in Myra with roses. The worship of Nicholas quickly spread to many countries, arriving in our region from Germany in the 13th century.

The respect for St. Nicholas is also evident in architecture; countless churches in the Czech Republic are dedicated to him.

Customs and Proverbs for St. Nicholas

In Bohemia, the first records of St. Nicholas Day celebrations go back to the 13th century. According to tradition, St. Nicholas comes down from the heavens on the evening of December 5 every year (the old Czech day began at evening with the appearance of the first star). He wanders around homes with an angel and a devil, giving gifts and fruits to good kids, and giving naughty kids coal and potatoes. The saint arrives alongside an angel and a devil. Besides asking children how well they’ve behaved, he also quizzes them on their prayers. Good children receive apples, nuts, and sweets, while naughty ones find raw potatoes or pieces of coal in their stockings. The way celebrations are held varies by region; in poorer areas, children leave a stocking outside the window, while in wealthier areas, St. Nicholas himself visits the house to distribute presents.In some places, instead of St. Nicholas, a fearsome figure called “Santa Claus” appears. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in a rather alarming manner. This Santa Claus figure would not give gifts to children; rather, he would often use a broom to punish them. In even scarier versions, she carried a sickle, threatening to decapitate naughty children or even cut open their bellies. She dressed in a long white gown, her face was wrinkled, and she was covered by a sheer veil. She punished children who misbehaved and made sure they prayed regularly, teaching them to respect the elderly.

As part of the St. Nicholas Day celebrations, there used to be lively public events called St. Nicholas markets. These markets featured pastries, gingerbread, marzipan, and small toys. Gingerbread bakers showcased their beautifully decorated creations, the most renowned ones being the figures of St. Nicholas, the devil, and the angel. Klatovy was particularly famous for its devil figurines made from prunes.

And what sort of proverbs are related to St. Nicholas? For example, “on St. Nicholas, winter is all ours,” or “if it rains or snows on St. Nicholas, we can expect a lot of peas next year.” Other sayings include “snow often falls on St. Nicholas” and “St. Nicholas drives horses into the yard,” as well as, “if a bird drinks from the rail on St. Nicholas, horses won’t drink from the river for three months.”

West Bohemia Is Clear: St. Nicholas is Coming from Krudum

Krudum, which has three peaks, is the most enigmatic mountain of the Slavkov Forest. It is located between Horní Slavkov and Sokolov, and beneath it lies the medieval church of St. Nicholas. The legend tells that he emerges from here surrounded by a flock of angels and a group of devils every December. Near Mount Krudum, at an important crossroads from Cheb through Kynšperk nad Ohří to the Czech lands, local miners constructed a church in the 13th century. We might not have known about it if it weren’t for an archaeological discovery in 2002 that uncovered the walls hidden underground for centuries. This revelation rekindled old legends: in the westernmost part of Bohemia, the location of Mount Krudum remains a mystery, just as does the Church of St. Nicholas. However, people know there is a mystical place in Slavkov Forest where St. Nicholas resides and from where he brings gifts to children in the area on the eve of his feast day.

Where Does Your St. Nicholas Come From?

Is St. Nicholas from Krudum close to you? What if the kind saint in bishop’s robes happens to have a home in a nearby St. Nicholas church? Perhaps in Cheb, where you can find the stunning Gothic church of St. Nicholas, which, along with the Black Tower at Cheb Castle and the Spalice in the main square, forms a symbolic triad for the town. While in the area, you can climb one of the towers for a fantastic view of the surrounding region.

If you’re in South Moravia, your St. Nicholas might come from the Gothic church of St. Nicholas in Znojmo. His title as the “white patron saint of the town” is entirely fitting: together with the town hall tower, it stands as a defining landmark in all views of Znojmo. In December 1437, the church showcased the dead body of Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg, and visitors can also admire the unique Gothic frescoes and the exquisite Baroque pulpit shaped like a globe.

St. Nicholas in Prague

Two St. Nicholases exist, each more splendid than the last: the St. Nicholas Church in Lesser Town is often called the most beautiful building of the Prague Baroque style. Designed by Kryštof Dientzenhofer and his son Kilián Ignác, it took many years to build on the site of an older Gothic church as a part of the Lesser Town Jesuit College. Several talented artists contributed to its interior decorations. The church also includes the St. Nicholas Bell Tower, which was completed by his son-in-law in the mid-18th century based on Dientzenhofer’s designs. Anselmo Lurago completed the plans. However, due to a contract with the Jesuits, the tower, which rises 80 meters high—equal to the neighboring dome—was technically not part of the church, belonging to the city instead, serving as a fire station and finally becoming the last public announcement tower in Prague. It opened to the public in 1997 and features a historical exhibition. In those beautiful surroundings, another St. Nicholas Church can be found in the heart of Prague; this Baroque masterpiece is located at the corner of Old Town Square and was also built by Kilian Ignác Dientzenhofer as a monastery church for the Benedictine order. Today, it serves the Czechoslovak Hussite Church. Both St. Nicholas churches frequently host classical music concerts, connecting them through culture and music.