St Nicholas

Egg tempera, 24 carat gold leaf on gesso board

10 x 13 inches

St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (Feast day Dec 6th) also known as the Wonderworker. He is an ever-active intercessor performing practical miracles of healing and rescue. He is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers and students in various cities and countries around Europe.

 He is said to have rescued three girls from being forced into prostitution by dropping a sack of gold coins through the window of their house each night for three nights so their father could pay a dowry for each of them – leading to the legendary story of Father Christmas!

His body is enshrined at Bari in Italy.