December 6, 2025

Today I would like to take an opportunity to diverge from our usual essay format to try my hand at a bit of storytelling to get us in the holiday spirit. And what better way to celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas than with a story of how St. Nicholas became Santa Claus?

Long ago, in the town of Patara, in what is now Turkey, a child was born and given the name Nicholas. When Nicholas was still young, he and his family moved to the nearby city of Myra. Nicholas was, more or less, a typical boy. His parents were devout Christians and he was raised in the Church where he developed an undying faith and love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He also proved to be an incredibly bright boy who excelled at his studies. But beyond this there was nothing particularly remarkable about this boy. Though a kind and conscientious child, none who saw him grow up and, indeed, not even those who sat beside him in his final hours in this life could have predicted the worldwide renown that this unassuming boy would one day receive. 

As a young man, tragedy struck Nicholas. A plague fell on Myra and claimed the lives of both of his parents. In his grief, the youth went to live with his uncle, the Bishop of Myra. There he spent his days assisting his uncle in his duties as bishop and learning the ins and outs of the priestly profession. In time, at his uncle’s urging, Nicholas was ordained into the priesthood as well. 

Nicholas was more than eager to take on this new role and made great efforts to model his life, as far as possible, after the example of Christ. His parents had been relatively well-off, and when they died, Nicholas was left with a respectable inheritance. But in his love for Christ, Nicholas had no need for worldly things, and was always happy to part with some of his money whenever a worthy charitable cause crossed his path and, not wanting to attract attention and risk becoming prideful in his kindness, Nicholas was always careful to conceal his identity from the recipients of his charity.  To this end, he developed a habit of leaving his gifts behind under the cover of night. 

The most famous instance of Nicholas’ generosity occurred when he heard of a righteous man with three daughters for whom he could not provide a dowry. In those days, a woman who was not able to be married was liable to find themselves forced into a life of sin and debauchery. Overcome with sympathy for the man and the young women, Nicholas decided that something had to be done. One night, cloaked by darkness, Nicholas walked by the man’s home and threw a bag into the open window containing just enough gold to pay the dowry for the man’s first daughter’s wedding. The family was overjoyed with the good fortune of the oldest daughter, but when they were alone the younger two daughters prayed fervently that they too might find similar fortunes. Meanwhile, the father privately wondered who the mysterious benefactor might be. 

The wedding was a joyous affair, and after it came and went, Nicholas was determined to finish what he had started. A couple of nights later, he repeated his act of generosity, setting out in the dark and tossing yet another bag of gold through the family’s window large enough to pay the dowry of the middle daughter. Upon discovering the bag the middle daughter dropped to her knees and thanked God for answering her prayers. The youngest sister resolved to pray even harder than before, certain that God would soon hear her as well. Meanwhile, their father grew ever more curious to know who was responsible for this remarkable generosity. 

The second wedding came and went, with even more rejoicing than the first. A few nights later, Nicholas again set out to toss a bag of gold through the family’s window. This time, however, the father was ready. He stayed up late with the hope that he might discover the kind soul who had done so much for his family in order to give his thanks. Sure enough, a bag of gold soon came sailing through the window, plopping down on the floor in front of the chair where the old man sat. He leaped up and saw a shadowy figure outside the window. He called out to the figure through the window, but the figure began to run. The old man proved much faster than his age might have suggested and springing out of his door and down the street, he managed to take hold of the mysterious figure’s robe. Nicholas turned around and pulled back his hood and the old man instantly recognized him. The old man fell to his knees and with tears in his eyes thanked Nicholas for all he had done for his family. But Nicholas was uncomfortable with the praise so he took hold of the man, raised him to his feet, and told him to direct all of his thanks to God alone. Before taking his leave, Nicholas asked the old man to promise to keep his role in providing the dowries a secret and the old man agreed. However, whether because the old man, in his gratitude and exuberance, could not contain the secret he had committed to keep, or, perhaps, because of some onlooker who had secretly witnessed the scene, Nicholas’ deeds were not to remain a secret and word of his generosity quickly spread all around.

Nicholas, unsurprisingly, was not comfortable with his newfound fame and wished to escape all of the attention he was drawing to himself in Myra. Having always wanted to travel to the Holy Land to walk in the footsteps of his Lord, Jesus Christ, Nicholas decided that then was as good a time as any to get away for a while. Little did he know, this journey would be the occasion for his first truly miraculous feat. Travelling by sea, the ship he was on got caught in a violent storm and even the experienced sailors around him began panicking for fear they would not make it. But Nicholas remained undeterred and stood on the deck of the boat, calmly praying as the storm raged on. As waves crashed against the sides of the boat, Nicholas cried out in the name of Christ for them to cease. Almost immediately, a ray of sunlight began to peek out from behind the parting clouds and the sea became still. There was now little hope of Nicholas’ reputation being confined to Myra. The sailors had never seen anything like what Nicholas had done before, and they could not help but tell the story to anyone who would listen at every port they visited. Soon, sailors across the known world developed a habit of praying to God for the same favor he showed Nicholas when the seas turned rough. 

When it came time for Nicholas to return to Myra, tales of this miracle preceded him and, much to his dismay, he returned even more famous than he had left. When his uncle died shortly after, Nicholas was the clear choice to replace him as bishop. And Nicholas lived up to all expectations. He was scrupulous in his attention to ritual detail, attentive to the needs and concerns of his flock, and, of course, generous in his gift giving which he continued to practice in secret. 

Unfortunately, this happy picture was not to last for long. In Nicholas’ time, Christianity was still a marginal religion and its adherents were subjected to discrimination as well as periodic persecutions. Unfortunately, for Nicholas, the worst of these persecutions, ordered by the Emperor Diocletian, commenced not long after Nicholas became bishop. All around him, Nicholas saw his Christian brothers and sisters arrested, beaten, and murdered. It was not long before Nicholas himself became a target. He was imprisoned and made to endure horrific tortures that should not even be named. But no matter how his captors tried, Nicholas’ faith in Christ was unshakeable and his prayers only intensified. Indeed, it was only by focusing on the life of his Savior, and the torment he endured for the remission of the world’s sins, that Nicholas managed to find the hope and strength to persevere through his own ordeal. 

In time, Nicholas’ prayers were answered. A new emperor, Constantine, came to the throne. Constantine called for an end to the Diocletianic Persecutions and ordered Nicholas release from prison. Upon his release, Nicholas returned to his duties as bishop. Little did anyone know, the most miraculous period of Nicholas’ life was about to begin. 

Shortly after his release he became aware that the Roman governor had accepted a bribe in exchange for a guilty verdict in a capital case against three men. On the day the men were scheduled to be executed, at the last moment, Nicholas appeared, throwing down the executioner’s sword and breaking the prisoner’s chains. Dodging the governor’s men, Nicholas found a safe place to hide and prayed vigorously through the night for some relief from the oppressive regime that tormented his home. So vigorous was Nicholas’ prayer that he managed to appear to Emperor Constantine in a dream and inform him of the governor’s misdeeds. The Emperor immediately ordered an investigation and, upon discovering evidence substantiating Nicholas’ accusations, Constantine removed the governor from office. 

By far, Nicholas’ most impressive miracle came in the midst of a famine that struck Myra. A butcher, trying to make some quick money, kidnapped three children, murdered them, and brined them in a barrel in hopes of passing them off as ham. Amongst the unsuspecting customers the butcher sought to fool was none other than Nicholas. As the butcher haggled with the hungry customers, Nicholas received a sign from the Holy Spirit that allowed him to see clearly what the butcher had done. Immediately, Nicholas rose up and demanded the butcher confess his crimes. Though visibly shaken by Nicholas’ accusation, the butcher denied the charges, calling Nicholas a madman. Then Nicholas appealed to the butcher’s victims directly, calling on them to rise up out of the barrel and, sure enough, just as he had done this, three children, fully intact, came climbing out of the barrel, repeating Nicholas’ accusations against the butcher. Horrified, the color drained from the butcher’s face, as he began to run, but the crowd quickly apprehended him and handed him over to the authorities. Later, Nicholas helped to bring an end to the famine when a ship carrying grain meant for the Emperor docked in the city. Nicholas pleaded with the crew to leave some grain behind, promising that Constantine would never find out that any of the grain was missing. Reluctantly, the ship’s crew agreed to hand over enough grain to sustain Myra for the next two years. Remarkably, when the ship arrived at its ultimate destination and its cargo was weighed, not only had the grain they had left in Myra replaced, but there was actually more grain than the ship had departed with. This is but a small sampling of the many wonders that Nicholas worked. If we were to list them all, we would never reach the heart of our story. 

The good fortune that Nicholas and his fellow faithful had with the ascension of Constantine was not to end there. In 312, after receiving a sign on the battlefield, the Emperor himself was compelled to convert to Christianity. At last it seemed the Christians’ long history of turmoil and oppression was at an end and that a new period of acceptance and vindication was at hand. And, to be sure, these hopes were not unfounded and they, in large part, came to pass as Christianity would eventually become the official religion of the Roman Empire, from whence it was to spread across the globe. 

Still, however, this process was hardly smooth and without troubles. Though Constantine’s conversion helped to protect Christians from threats from non-Christians, now Christians began to turn on each other. It was around this time that a priest by the name of Arius emerged and began to gain popularity. At the heart of his preaching was a simple principle: There is but one God, and one God alone, with no equals beside Him. On the surface, such a teaching would seem uncontroversial. After all, was this not the very doctrine that had been proclaimed since the earliest books of the Old Testament, reasserted again and again by the prophets, and preached by none other than Christ himself? But in practice, Arius’ teachings were anything but uncontroversial, and they sent shockwaves throughout the Christian world. Though many Christians were receptive of Arius’ teachings, many others considered them amongst the most vile heresies imaginable, as it led to the conclusion that Jesus was not truly the co-equal Son of the Father and, thus, not truly God as Trinitarian theology would have it. Christians argued bitterly with one another over these questions. Nicholas was staunchly on the Trinitarian side, being wholly convinced that God had been incarnated as a man and that that man was Jess Christ. He simply could not understand how anyone could deny the marvelous notion that God had seen fit to live alongside us in this world and so he was saddened when so many around him did deny it. What’s more was the anger he felt whenever he heard others so impiously deny the divinity of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

The Emperor Constantine, who himself was sympathetic to the Arian position, grew frustrated with the constant infighting and confusion over doctrines and resolved to call a council in the city of Nicaea in order to settle on the essentials of Christian doctrine and to bring the disputes to an end once and for all. All of the great Christian minds of the day were called to attend. In Myra, a letter soon came informing Nicholas that he was amongst those invited to attend. He quickly packed his bags and immediately set out, eager to defend the truth that he was so certain of, that God had become man in Jesus Christ. 

As the Council began, there was already tension in the air. As the attendees arrived and were introduced to one another, they immediately began sizing each other up and feeling out where sympathies lied. When Arians and Trinitarians discovered one another, it was almost inevitable that curt words, back handed compliments, and outright insults were to follow. Nicholas, with his kind and compassionate nature, was at first put off by the whole display and tried his best to rise above the behaviour he observed all around him. Several times he tried to introduce himself to the Arians, but he was met with jeers and accusations of illogicism and idolatry to the point that his kind soul began to grow bitter and angry. 

Then the proceedings began and they raged on for weeks on end. As the weeks dragged on, the debates became more intense and fiery. Nicholas spoke at several points, only to be mocked and shamed in front of the entire Council by the Arians. He wondered how, despite their shared admiration for Christ, that man who had taught to love one’s neighbours and enemies alike, there could be so much animosity between the members of the Council, and he fell into a deeper and deeper despair that covered over his typical joyous and warm-hearted demeanor. The final straw came when he tried to explain the beauty and hope that the doctrine of God become man inspired. An Arian rose laughing and interrupted Nicholas’ speech, saying that Nicholas’ doctrine sounded more like the imagination of a young child accustomed to fairy stories and chastising Nicholas as insulting God by even entertaining the idea that God could exist alongside all of the base things of this world. Nicholas sat down, tears welling in his eyes, quietly seething with rage. 

Then Arius himself arose and started into a speech, but Nicholas’ rage rendered him deaf to every word he spoke. Nicholas stood, his fist clenched and his face beet red, and marched across the room toward Arius. Arius, focused on his speech, paid no mind to Nicholas, but the rest of the room watched the events unfold in slow motion, frozen and unable to intervene. As Nicholas reached Arius, he raised his hand and slapped Arius firmly across the face. Arius stumbled back to collect himself, at a loss for words, while two bishops rushed over and restrained Nicholas’ arms to prevent any further violence. Soldiers were called into the assembly and they carried Nicholas off to jail. 

That night, Nicholas sat weeping in his cell and praying to the Lord for guidance, until just before dawn. Suddenly, in a flash of light, two figures appeared before him. He recognized them immediately as the Holy Mother, Mary, and with her was Jesus Christ himself. Jesus spoke, “My child, what have you done to find yourself in such a lowly place? Did I not teach you to not resist an evil person and that should he strike you on the right cheek you should turn to them the other cheek also? Yet you raise your hand to one of my own.”

Nicholas fell on his face, saying, “My Lord, I did it only because he insulted you and blasphemed against you.”

Mary interjected, “Do you not see? Blasphemy was the very charge the High Priest Caiaphas levied against my son when he sent him up to be crucified! Will you deny Christ’s resurrection so that you might resurrect that horrid practice instead?” 

Nicholas collapsed, overcome with grief. He cried out,  “I see now the error of my ways. I know I must repent.” Then turning to Christ he said, “My Lord, I know I have sinned against you. I know that I must answer for my crimes, I pray only that you can forgive me and I know that that is in your power, for I am only in this prison for loving you.” 

Just then, the Lord approached Nicholas, lifting him onto his feet and warmly embracing him. “I know,” he said, “that you have only ever acted out of love for me, but you must understand that even this can be taken to excess. I never intended for my children to come to blows over such marginal disputes. You are right in believing that, in me, God was incarnated, took on human form, and walked amongst you, but those you call Arians have their reasons for believing otherwise. Many of them are highly logical people who struggle to understand how I and my Father can be one and the same despite the apparent contradictions in our natures. This, I admit, is a difficult doctrine. A logical mind can often be an impediment to appreciating Holy Mysteries and hylic, and even psychic, people often are so absorbed in the ways of the world around them that they find it difficult, if not impossible to break out of logical frameworks. Still, many of them earnestly follow me and my teachings and live the sort of life of love and peace I prescribed and I smile on them for doing so and will welcome them into my Kingdom with open arms when the time comes, despite their misunderstandings. And I know too that the Arians are not every one innocent, and that your actions were in no small part brought about because they treated you rudely and meanly. But did your fellow Trinitarians not contribute to this hostility by insisting they were heretics, unworthy of my love. All of this must stop now! I know that you are a good man at heart. I have smiled many times over at your generosity and look forward to doing so many times more. I see that you still have much to offer this world that cannot be accomplished if you are rotting away in a cell, therefore, you shall be released. But know this: your period of purgation is not yet complete and will have to be completed at a later date, but once it is complete, you will rise again more glorious than before and serve me in wondrous ways beyond your current imagination, instilling charitability, kindness, and good will in all who will receive you. But this shall be a curse as well as a blessing, as you will also learn what it is like for people to love you excessively, to the point of perverting your own will.”

As soon as Jesus had spoken these words, Nicholas’ shackles miraculously disintegrated into dust and the door to his cell swung open. Nicholas immediately shot out the door and ran directly to the council that was still in session. When Nicholas appeared in the doorway an impenetrable silence conquered the room. The seconds felt like eternities as Nicholas slowly made his way to the center of the room and began to explain what had happened to him. He then made his way to Arius and apologized for his violent behavior. Several members of the council shouted out in disbelief. But Arius arose and motioned for silence. He then explained that he too had a vision of Christ in the night and that he had been ordered to forgive Nicholas for his transgression. The two embraced. Then the Emperor Constantine, who happened to be in attendance that day, rose, pardoning Nicholas and calling for the whole affair to be put behind them.

Nicholas then set into explaining how Jesus had called for an end of animosity between Trinitarians and Arians and his desire that all his followers should live in peace. Sadly, this was more than the council could handle. Trinitarians and Arians alike turned against Nicholas, insisting that the truth was too important to not arrive at a definitive answer. With this, they held a vote to revoke Nicholas’ invitation to the council. When the count ruled against him, Nicholas was expelled from the council, though he was permitted to turn to Myra and his duties as bishop on the sole condition that he never tell anyone of what had transpired at the council. The council further decided to erase any record that Nicholas had ever been there and to withhold his name from the list of attendees. 

Nicholas returned to Myra defeated. He continued to faithfully execute his duties as bishop. Remembering Jesus’ words, he redoubled his practice of periodically leaving secret gifts for people around the city. And though everyone knew who was responsible for these gifts, they mostly allowed Nicholas to believe he had successfully concealed his identity. Still, it was clear something had changed in Nicholas. He was not his old joyful self. The people presumed something must have happened at Nicaea, but he would not speak of it. Anytime he was asked about it, he would quickly reply that he had never been there. 

Still, Nicholas carried on in this dismal state, faithfully carrying out his duties and spreading joy to others, for nearly twenty long years after Nicaea, outliving both Arius and the Emperor Constantine, until he was a frail old man. Near the close of the year 343, Nicholas took ill and was confined to his bed. As the dire nature of his illness became clear, a steady stream of visitors appeared to express their appreciation for the wonderful man that Nicholas was. By December 6th, it appeared the end was near. His closest friends gathered around Nicholas to keep vigil through the night. Praying late into the night, Nicholas and his friends eventually fell asleep. 

But soon, Nicholas was startled awake by what sounded like the blast of a trumpet. Nicholas looked around the dimly lit room, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise, but all he could see were his companions sleeping around him. Just as Nicholas began to settle back into his bed, he heard the trumpet blast again and at just that moment, the door swung open and a bright white light filled the room. 

Just as soon as the door had opened, a voice began to call out saying, “Nicholas, arise and follow me! There is no time to waste! Walk through the door and begin your new life.” 

Nicholas looked around the room and saw that none of his companions had stirred, as though nothing at all had happened. Nicholas thought that this must be the voice of God speaking to him, calling him forth to finally look upon that pure form of the Divine that Nicholas had longed to look upon all his life. Eagerly, Nicholas got up out of bed, crossed the room, and without giving it a second thought, walked through the threshold of the door. 

But the moment Nicholas had stepped over the threshold, all of his eagerness and enthusiasm immediately left him. What he saw around him fell far short of his expectations. Stretching out before him for as far as he could see in every direction was a barren, snow covered plain. The white light that had illuminated his room was not the Pure Light of God, but merely sun light reflecting off the glistening snow. Bewildered, a wave of despair overcame Nicholas. He turned around to return to the safety of his room and the warmth of his bed, but just then, he heard the blast of a trumpet again. With that, the door he had walked through slammed closed, disappearing as though it had never been there at all. There was no going back. Nicholas was alone, lost in a frigid tundra, without the slightest idea of where to go or what to do. 

Suddenly, Nicholas saw a large black raven swoop over his head. The bird landed several feet in front of him, looking back at him, as though beckoning him to follow. Almost instinctively, Nicholas began to do just that, thinking, hopefully, at the very least, the bird might lead him to food or shelter where he might shield himself from the elements. The raven led Nicholas over many miles of harsh terrain, ever mindful to pause just ahead of Nicholas, allowing him time to keep up. As they went on, the wind kicked up and snow began to fall. Nicholas could barely make out the raven’s outline through the wall of white. The raven began to gently caw, as if to help Nicholas find his way in the blinding snow. 

When Nicholas had first awoken, it was as though his illness had left him and he had been so overwhelmed by the strange events he witnessed that he all but forgot that he was sick. But as the day dragged on and the journey grew longer, Nicholas quickly became aware of his body again. His muscles ached, his stomach growled, but worst of all was the frigid cold that made him feel frozen to his core. The violent cough that had plagued him over the last weeks returned with even more force than before and Nicholas wheezed, struggling to catch his breath. 

Nearly all of his strength had left him and he felt as though his legs were about to give out when Nicholas caught a glimpse of something just ahead of him. He squinted his eyes just enough to be able to make out what appeared to be the outline of tents and the glow of fire just ahead of him through the snow. Relieved that there might be other people capable of helping him, Nicholas summoned what was left of his strength and dashed toward the camp. Just as he reached the center of the camp where a group of people were gathered, Nicholas finally collapsed. The raven circled overhead.

The people members of the camp were startled by Nicholas’ appearance, but recognizing he was in distress, several rushed over to help him to his feet and carried him into a tent where a fire was raging. Nicholas sat close to the fire, warming every inch of his body until the feeling began to return. 

As he sat there, a figure emerged from the shadows at the corner of the tent. As the figure stepped into the light, Nicholas could see that it was an old man. Like those who had brought Nicholas into the tent, the mysterious man was draped in animal furs, but these were clearly of a much finer quality than those worn by the others. Ornamented with leather and beads and embroidered with animal designs, the clothing draped around him suggested that this was a man of distinction. The man began to speak as he approached, “I have been awaiting your arrival. I can see that you are afflicted with the sickness. This will help you to recover your strength.” The man handed Nicholas a steaming wooden bowl filled with a dark liquid. 

Nicholas’ fatigue was so great that he didn’t even notice the man’s strange, ominous words before greedily taking a large gulp of the thick, bitter liquid in the bowl. Nicholas gagged. “What have you given me?” he asked. 

“It is medicine. It will treat your sickness.” replied the man. 

Nicholas took another large gulp then said, “Yes, I suppose I have been sick, but how did you know that? And what was that you said about awaiting my arrival.” Without thinking, Nicholas took one last large gulp, emptying the bowl. Though the taste was repulsive and it took all of Nicholas’ fortitude to keep it down, he was strangely drawn to and comforted by the liquid. Perhaps it was simply because it was one of the few sources of warmth he had found in this new frozen world. 

Nicholas’ mysterious host looked on, satisfied. “Good, that should help to deliver you from your affliction. The Great Raven told me that you were coming and tasked me with seeing you through your trials. The Raven foresees that should you prevail in the great tribulation you are about to endure, you will emerge magnificent and glorified.”

With this Nicholas’ mind darted back to the raven that had led him into the camp. “Th…the raven, i…it speaks to you.” Nicholas stuttered. 

“Speaks? Sometimes, but more often, he shows. His spirit enters me and he shows me through his own eyes.” 

It was then that Nicholas’ eyes began to adjust to the dim light of the tent. Now, for the first time, he began to see what had been around him the whole time. Hanging from every beam that held up the tent were a series of masks bearing horrible, grotesque, and twisted faces. Nicholas was visibly distressed. “Be not afraid” said the man, “those are just the faces of my ancestors and gods. I am my tribe’s shaman. I wear them so that they might enter me and continue to be with our tribe through me.” At that moment, Nicholas heard the trumpet blast again and his face became deathly pale.

“Wh…what madness is this?” Nicholas stammered. “These are not gods, but idols. You invite possession by demons. I must escape this ungodly place.”

A sudden burst of energy overcame Nicholas. He leapt out of the tent and sprinted out of the camp with his former host calling after him to come back. The raven followed Nicholas overhead, letting out loud accusatory caws all the way. Nicholas ran and ran without looking back, until he came to a grove of evergreen trees. He quickly entered, zig-zagging through the trees, hoping that it would throw the raven off of his trail. The caws continued for a short time, but soon disappeared. 

After several hours of navigating the grove, becoming completely lost, Nicholas at last came to a small clearing in the middle. Here, in the midst of the pines, Nicholas found a large tree, much different than the other ones. All around the tree, many large red mushrooms with white spots sprouted out of the ground. Rather than needles, this tree bore leaves, and nestled within the leaves, Nicholas could make out countless red fruits. Apples! Now, aware of his hunger once again and in desperate need of cleansing his palate of the lingering taste from the unholy concoction he had drunk back at the camp, Nicholas rushed toward the tree to gather the fruit. But before he could reach the tree, he heard the loud accusatory caw that had chased him from the camp. He looked up at the tree and saw the very same raven already perched there, as though waiting for him. 

“Why do you run from that which you cannot evade?” asked the raven. 

“Be gone, demon, why do you torment me so?” replied Nicholas.

“Demon?” squawked the raven, “I am no such thing. The people in this region call me Quikinna’qu and that shall suffice for you as well. I have been sent to guide your spirit through the many trials you are about to face.” 

“I will hear none of your lies!” Nicholas exclaimed. He then dropped to his knees in prayer, “Please, Jesus protect me from this demon and lead me back into the warmth and comfort of your embrace.” 

“Jesus?” Quikinna’qu cackled, “Christ cannot hear you and will not save you. You are to be completely separated from him for as long as you are in this place. Do you not recall that even he promised you, all those years ago in the cell, that you would have to undergo further purgation?”

With that, the memory of Christ’s promise to withhold his purgation until a later date flooded back into Nicholas’ memory, and he heard the trumpet blast yet again. Nicholas fell to his knees and began to vomit a thick, violet fluid that appeared to take on a life of its own, moving this way and that, congealing and then flowing once again. The movements hypnotized Nicholas and he could not help but look deep inside the strange liquid. Suddenly, images began to appear in it. He saw his room and his bed and he saw himself lying in it, his bushy white beard peaking out of the covers. But there was a strange stillness about the body Nicholas saw in the bed. Then his attention turned to the rest of the room. He saw several people sitting along the edges of the room, seemingly asleep. He realized these were the very same people who had been with him just before he walked out the door into the frozen hellscape where he found himself now. One of them stirred and a wave of sorrow washed over his face. He quickly made his way across the room to where Nicholas was lying and reached down to touch him. He pulled his hand back in horror, and said with a gasp, “He’s dead!” With this the others in the room began to wake up and whispers of, “He’s dead,” filled the room until one exclaimed, “Surely Nicholas will be named a saint!” With this Nicholas’ collapsed and the world around him turned into a silent, impenetrable darkness.

When Nicholas awoke he found himself back in the tent that he had run from before. He saw the shaman before with his back turned to him. The man was carefully securing a large tree trunk to the floor in the middle of the tent, its top reaching the roof of the tent and continuing on out of sight through a hole cut at the top of the tent. 

“What is the meaning of this?” Nicholas demanded, “How did I get back here?” 

“One should never trudge across the frozen tundra on their own.” The man answered, “It was fortunate that we were able to find your trail and bring you back to camp. Any longer with your face in the snow and you surely would not have made it.” 

“Why did you come after me?” asked Nicholas. 

“I’ve told you already. The Great Raven, Quikkina’qu, appointed me to help guide you through your trials. It would be quite inauspicious to lose one with whom he has charged me, so I was compelled to follow you.” The man explained, “But it wasn’t all a waste of time. Fortunately you led us to that magnificent apple tree and we were able to haul it and its fruit back to the camp. This is its trunk here. It shall be the center point of your trials and shall lift you up to new heights.” 

But Nicholas was not satisfied. “I cannot stay here. Your customs are strange and your gods are false. I follow only the One True God who was incarnated in the form of Jesus Christ. I will not bow down to your idols. I must leave.” 

“And where will you go?” the man asked. “None of the comforts of civilization you are accustomed to can be found for many miles. How will you ever make it on your own? Besides, did this Jesus not himself warn you of your future purgation? And did not Quikkina’qu know of this without you having to say a word about it? Is it not possible that Quikkina’qu learned of your situation and was appointed to guide you by none other than this Christ you speak of himself?”

With this, the futility of trying to escape became apparent to Nicholas and the reality that he would have to make the best of his life in this new place began to set in. But the last thing the man said gave him comfort. Perhaps this all really was part of Jesus’ plan all along. 

“Very well,” said Nicholas. “I understand that I cannot leave, but may I have some water, please? I’m terribly thirsty after all of this. 

“Of course, I’ve already made some for you.” the man said as he handed Nicholas a small cup. Nicholas quickly swallowed its contents in a single gulp, before he could realize the awful, salty taste of the liquid. He began to retch. 

“Why would you give me that?” Nicholas demanded. 

“You asked me for water, did you not? And I gave it.” the man answered, “You never said what type you would like. Or did you not know that “water” can refer to any wet, flowing substance, not just that vitalizing drink that we are used to? As I understand it, you are here as the result of a dispute with others over whether the same word can be used to describe several distinct entities. While your affirmative answer to that question might make perfect sense from your own point of view, there is, no doubt, something to be said for your opponent, Arius’, position. Let this be your first taste of the truth in his position. Let it be a lesson in the importance of distinctions and the potential dangers in equivocation.”

With that, Nicholas began to vomit once again, the same strange, violet fluid as before. “Ah yes,” the man exclaimed, “the first matter! I know it can be unpleasant at first, but it will become easier in time. Know that you are truly fortunate to produce it. It is the lifeblood of Creation, the universal solvent, in which all things are dissolved and from which all things spring forth once again. Fix your gaze on it, and it will allow you to peer into events that are far from here in both space and time, for the memories and anticipations of all things are contained therein.”

Nicholas looked deeply into the mysterious fluid and a flood of scenes appeared before him. He saw fishermen caught in storms on the open ocean, sailors preparing to enter into great naval battles, children lost in the wilderness, and others trapped in abusive homes. Some of the scenes he saw were familiar to him, but others seemed to occur in the distant past, and still others far in the future. But in every scene, one thing remained constant. There was always someone crying out, “Please, St. Nicholas, pray for me! Intercede with God on my behalf so that He might carry me through these trials!”

“They are calling on you to save them,” the man said. “Though you are not yet ready, if you trust in me and Quikkina’qu, you will be prepared to aid any who call on you in the future. Until then, all those who call on you are doomed. Those you have just seen will surely perish.” 

Nicholas was overcome with dread and despair at this news and he watched as countless souls who had cried out to him began to perish and suffer horrible fates. It was too much for Nicholas to bear and he passed out once again. 

Sometime later Nicholas awoke to the sound of a rattle and drum and the chants of the shaman. He sat up and saw sitting in front of him a plate filled with the same mushrooms he had earlier seen growing around the apple tree. The man motioned for Nicholas to eat them. Nicholas complied, choking down the rough bitter fungi, though the flavor reminded him of the liquid he had drunk before. The mushrooms sat in his stomach, absorbing the juices within, making Nicholas quite uncomfortable as they expanded. He deeply regretted this meal, but there was nothing he could do now but endure. As he sat there he began to become absorbed in the rhythm of the drums and chants, as though entranced, unable to divert his attention. Then the world around him began to shake. The walls of the tent turned a fiery red and began to melt. Finally the ground beneath Nicholas gave way, and Nicholas fell away into a dark underworld.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Nicholas began to make out the outlines of figures all around him. Then the figures in front of Nicholas began to part, creating an opening in the middle. A new figure emerged from the gap carrying a torch, which he touched to the ground, instantly igniting a ring of flames around Nicholas. Now Nicholas could clearly see the features of the figures that surrounded him. They were grotesque figures of all shapes and sizes. Some appeared as men, others more like animals. Some had horns and wings, others glowing red eyes. They had flesh of all colours which, on some, had been pulled back to expose bone. They carried with them every instrument of destruction imaginable. Those closest to the front held clubs, while those behind them held swords, knives, axes and the like. 

They began to close in on Nicholas, passing through the flames that surrounded him unbothered. The ones with clubs began to beat him and Nicholas cried out, “Get back demons! You have no power here. In the name of Je-” Just as he was about to speak the name of the Lord, one of the smaller demons, no larger than a mouse and armed with a razor blade, jumped up, caught Nicholas’ tongue mid-sentence and cut it out, leaving Nicholas unable to speak. Another demon jumped up and, with a spoon, scooped out Nicholas’ eyes and tossed them on the ground, but Nicholas continued to see through them. One rolled and fixed its gaze on the edge of the ring of demons, and the other continued to watch as the demons continued to assault Nicholas. A large demon came forth and pinned Nicholas to the ground while another appeared holding a large axe which he used to sever Nicholas’ limbs from his body. With one final stroke, he lopped off Nicholas’ head. Another came forward with a knife and sliced open his abdomen, then they all began clawing at one another as they competed to rip out his bowels. As organs began to fly, the demons let out exuberant screeches and began to feast. Once they had devoured all of the organs, the demons set their sights on Nicholas’ flesh. Even with his head removed, Nicholas could feel every excruciating moment of the savage ordeal. They pulled out small, sharp knives and set to work on slicing the flesh from the bones and began roasting the slabs of flesh in the fire. 

As the demons feasted, the eye that had been turned away from the violence suddenly saw something descend and land just outside of the ring of demons. It was Quikkina’qu. The great raven stood silent, but Nicholas could hear his voice, “I can set you free from your torment, if only you agree to follow me and heed my instructions. While you can no longer speak, all you must do is think your agreement, and I will know.” 

Desperate to escape, Nicholas immediately said in his mind, “Yes, I will follow you and heed all of your instructions! Just, please, deliver me from this evil!” 

With that, Quikkina’qu let out a loud and aggressive caw. When the demons turned and saw Quikkina’qu, they began to tremble. Some ran, but others were too paralyzed with fear to move. Then, out of the shadows, an army of small men with pointed ears wearing green pointed hats came marching and quickly slew all of the straggling demons. 

Then Quikkina’qu said to Nicholas, “These are my friends, the elves. They shall be your friends too and, once you have completed your trials, they shall be your loyal attendants, aiding you in all of your endeavours.” Quikkina’qu then turned to the elves and instructed them, “Quickly mend this man so he might proceed in his trials.”

The elves immediately set to work, harvesting materials from the slain demons which they first purified with their magic and then fashioned into organs and flesh. They then collected Nicholas’ bones and began to put him back together again. 

Just then, Nicholas noticed for the first time that the tree trunk that had been erected in the tent had fallen into the underworld with him. He walked toward it and inspected it. His eyes followed it up until it disappeared into the darkness. It appeared to have gotten longer. He could not tell how far up it went, but when he strained his eyes, he was able to make out a faint point of light far above him. He turned back to Quikkina’qu, who said, “It is time for you to ascend from the underworld and rise into the heavens. You must climb until you reach the light.” Then Quikkina’qu spread his wings and flew up the tree trunk toward the light.

Nicholas obediently wrapped his arms and legs around the tree trunk and began to pull himself up into the darkness. He climbed and climbed. He knew not how long he climbed; it felt like days. His muscles ached, but he knew he could not stop. 

Eventually, he came to a region where a mild light came flickering down, cutting through the darkness, from a small opening through which the tree trunk passed. Nicholas pulled himself up through the hole and found himself back in the shaman’s tent. Exhausted, Nicholas rolled onto his back and sprawled himself out on the floor of the tent. Nicholas was exhausted and famished, but a sense of relief began to wash over him as it seemed his trial was complete. He thought of the apple tree and the sweet juicy fruit that grew on it and he longed to taste one, though he suddenly realized he could not for the life of him remember the word for apple.

As he lay on the ground gasping for breath, the shaman, who was now wearing one of the masks Nicholas had seen before, walked over to Nicholas and stood over him. “What are you doing!?” he shrieked, “You have not yet completed your journey and you reek of the underworld and I will not have you contaminating my good earth with its taint!” The man grabbed a leather cord and began to whip Nicholas with it, chasing him into the corner of the tent.

Huddled in the corner Nicholas pleaded, “Please, stop whipping me. I will continue climbing, but I’m so hungry I’m not sure I can continue on without eating. Please let me eat and I will go.” 

But the whipping didn’t stop. “I cannot have you polluting my ground! You must go now to the One on High for your purification. Only then will you be permitted on earth again.” 

Just then Quikkina’qu swept down from the tree trunk and said to the man, “That is enough. He says he is hungry, let us ask him what he would like and feed him. It may be an opportunity to teach him an important lesson. I will help you remove any impurities he might leave behind.” 

“Very well,” the man said as he laid down his whip. “What would you like to eat?” he asked, turning to Nicholas. 

Nicholas began to speak, but he realized he still could not remember the name of the fruit that he wanted, though he could picture it vividly in his mind. “I’d like to… eat of the tree I discovered in the woods,” he said, motioning to the tree trunk. 

The man turned and walked to the opposite corner of the tent, then came back holding a large, heavy bowl that he handed to Nicholas. Nicholas was ecstatic and didn’t waste a minute reaching into the bowl, but his heart sank when he pulled out a bunch of hard, woody tree roots. “What is this!?” he cried out, “this is not what I asked you for.” 

“You asked to eat of the tree,” the man answered, “is this not the tree? What could be more truly a tree than the roots from which it grows and is sustained?” 

“I can’t eat wood! How am I supposed to eat these?” said Nicholas. 

“Many animals eat wood. You’d do well to learn from them.” said the man. 

Quikkina’qu hopped over to Nicholas and whispered in his ear, “You don’t want him thinking you’re ungrateful. He might whip you again. It’s best you at least take a bite.”

So Nicholas sunk his teeth into the hard wood, chipping several in the process. Splinters dug into his tongue and gums as he chewed. When he swallowed he thought he would choke and he continued to feel the sharp splinters poke and prod his throat and stomach while it was on the way down. He coughed and cleared his throat, then as politely as possible told the man, “Thank you. I’m quite full now. I cannot eat another bite.” 

“But you’ve already touched the roots and tainted them with the stench of the underworld. You must finish them,” the man insisted. 

“I really cannot,” said Nicholas. 

“Fine,” said the man as he reached for a burlap sack, “but they cannot stay here. You will have to take them with you.” As Nicholas dumped the roots into the bag, the man said, “Now, hurry! Pull yourself to the top of the tree trunk before I decide to whip you some more.” 

Nicholas walked back toward the tree trunk, noticing that the hole in the ground that he had just pulled himself through had miraculously closed up sometime during the ordeal with the whip and the tree roots. He looked up through the opening in the roof and saw light pouring in from what looked like the same point he saw in the underworld, though now it appeared slightly bigger. Nicholas slung the sack of sticks over his shoulder and began once more to climb. As he climbed, the tent seemed to expand, and the hole in the roof seemed to rise many miles above his head. This climb would be every bit as arduous as the last. 

When Nicholas finally reached the top of the tent and pulled himself out of the roof he was exhausted. For the first time, the cold wind of the tundra actually came as a relief. Nicholas carefully maneuvered, balancing himself between the tree trunk and the tent’s support beams in order to sit down and take a short rest. Before he knew it, he had dozed off. 

As Nicholas sat there at the top of the tent, his surroundings suddenly changed. Night turned to day and the frozen tundra gave way to a bustling market place in the center of a large city. Instead of the cold wind biting his face, Nicholas rejoiced to feel the warm kiss of the sun. On a high rocky outcrop just above the market, Nicholas could see a number of exquisitely built temples to pagan gods. Though Nicholas had never been there in his life, he knew immediately from descriptions he had read in books and heard from travellers that this was Athens. But then he turned his attention to the voices of the crowd all around him and noticed something strange. Their language was like his own, but different, more archaic, like a simpler version of what he read in the works of the great authors of antiquity. Suddenly he honed in on one conversation that caught his attention.

“I’ve heard that Plato’s great student has returned to the city and is preparing a lecture at the Lyceum. Let us go out to hear him,” a man said to his friend. 

Nicholas knew that the man must have been referring to none other than Aristotle, and eager to learn from the great philosopher in the flesh, Nicholas followed the two men to the Lyceum. 

When they arrived, there was already a large crowd gathered in anticipation. Some were guessing at what the topic of the lecture might be, others were engaged in their own disputes, while still others were simply sitting, waiting for the philosopher to arrive. Nicholas was fortunate enough to find an empty bench and sat down.  

After a little while, a dignified looking man in a blue robe appeared and the crowd grew silent save for a few whispers of, “he’s here,” and “it’s Aristotle.” After a few pleasantries, Aristotle launched immediately into his lecture, pacing back and forth in front of the crowd as he spoke. The crowd listened intently and several in attendance were diligently taking notes. Nicholas recognized the lecture almost immediately as nearly identical, word for word, with Aristotle’s discussion of the principle of non-contradiction in the fourth book of his Metaphysics, 

“There are some who both themselves assert that it is possible for the same thing to be and not to be, and say that people can judge this to be the case. And among others many writers about nature use this language. But we have now posited that it is impossible for anything at the same time to be and not to be and by this means have shown that this is the most indisputable of all principles. Some indeed demand that even this shall be demonstrated, but this they do through want of education, for not to know of what thighs one should demand demonstration, and of what one should not, argues want of education. For it is impossible that there should be demonstration of absolutely everything (there would be an infinite regress, so that there would still be no demonstration); but if there are things of which one should not demand demonstration, these persons could not say what principle they maintain to be more self-evident than the present one.

We can, however, demonstrate negatively even that this view is impossible, if our opponent will only say something; and if he says nothing, it is absurd to seek to give an account of our views to one who cannot give an account of anything, in so far as he cannot do so. For such a man, as such, is from the start no better than a vegetable. Now negative demonstration I distinguish from demonstration proper, because in a demonstration one might be thought to be begging the question, but if another person is responsible for the assumption we shall have negative proof, not demonstration. The starting-point for all such arguments is not the demand that our opponent shall say that something either is or is not (for this one might perhaps take to be a begging of the question) but that he shall say something which is significant both for himself and for another; for this is necessary, if he really is to say anything. For, if he means nothing, such a man will not be capable of reasoning, either with himself or with another. But if any one grants this, demonstration will be possible; for we shall already have something definite. The person responsible for the proof, however, is not he who demonstrates but he who listens; for while disowning reason he listens to reason. And again he who admits this has admitted that something is true apart from demonstration (so that not everything will be ‘so and not so’).”

Nicholas had read these words many times before, but they had never been so impactful as they were now, coming from the mouth of the man who wrote them. Nicholas thought back to the incident in the tent where he was made to eat the tree roots and suddenly the full importance of making clear distinctions and naming things (though the word “apple” still escaped him) accordingly became more evident than ever. Aristotle continued, 

“First then this at least is obviously true, that the word ‘be’ or ‘not be’ has a definite meaning, so that not everything will be ‘so and not so’. Again, if ‘man’ has one meaning, let this be ‘two-footed animal’; by having one meaning I understand this: -if ‘man’ means ‘X’, then if A is a man ‘X’ will be what ‘being a man’ means for him. (It makes no difference even if one were to say a word has several meanings, if only they are limited in number; for to each definition there might be assigned a different word. For instance we might say that ‘man’ has not one meaning but several, one of which would have one definition, viz. ‘two-footed animal’, while there might be also several other definitions if only they were limited in number; for a peculiar name might be assigned to each of the definitions. If, however, they were not limited but one were to say that the word has an infinite number of meanings, obviously reasoning would be impossible; for not to have one meaning is to have no meaning, and if words have no meaning our reasoning with one another, and indeed with ourselves, has been annihilated; for it is impossible to think of anything if we do not think of one thing; but if this is possible, one name might be assigned to this thing.) 

Let it be assumed then, as was said at the beginning, that the name has a meaning and has one meaning; it is impossible, then, that ‘being a man’ should mean precisely ‘not being a man’, if ‘man’ not only signifies something about one subject but also has one significance (for we do not identify ‘having one significance’ with ‘signifying something about one subject’, since on that assumption even ‘musical’ and ‘white’ and ‘man’ would have had one significance, so that all things would have been one; for they would all have had the same significance). 

And it will not be possible to be and not to be the same thing, except in virtue of an ambiguity, just as if one whom we call ‘man’, others were to call ‘not-man’; but the point in question is not this, whether the same thing can at the same time be and not be a man in name, but whether it can in fact. Now, if ‘man’ and ‘not-man’ mean nothing different, obviously ‘not being a man’ will mean nothing different from ‘being a man’; so that ‘being a man’ will be ‘not being a man’; for they will be one. For being one means this-being related as ‘raiment’ and ‘dress’ are, if their definition is one. And if ‘being a man’ and ‘being a not-man’ are to be one, they must mean one thing. But it was shown earlier that they mean different things . Therefore, if it is true to say of anything that it is a man, it must be a two-footed animal (for this was what ‘man’ meant), and if this is necessary, it is impossible that the same thing should not at that time be a two-footed animal; for this is what ‘being necessary’ means – that it is impossible for the thing not to be. It is, then, impossible that it should be at the same time true to say the same thing is a man and is not a man. 

The same account holds good with regard to ‘not being a man’, for ‘being a man’ and ‘being a not-man’ mean different things, since even ‘being white’ and ‘being a man’ are different; for the former terms are much more different so that they must a fortiori mean different things. And if any one says that ‘white’ means one and the same thing as ‘man’, again we shall say the same as what was said before, that it would follow that all things are one, and not only opposites. But if this is impossible, then what we have maintained will follow, if our opponent will only answer our question.”

Hearing Aristotle apply the principle to man, Nicholas’ thought drifted to the conflict with the Arians, which now felt like a distant memory from a remote age, and, for the first time, he began to see Arius’ point of view. How could Christ be both a man and not a man? How could God be both not a man and a man? How could one and the same thing be both unlimited and beyond all material form while, at the same time, being confined to the form of a limited, bipedal animal? Perhaps Arius was right and Trinitarianism, by identifying Christ with God was unduly limiting God by confining His rightfully infinite nature to the limited form of a man. If failing to distinguish such mundane things as the roots of a tree and its fruits could have such consequential results, how much more consequential must be the results of failing to properly distinguish God from the Messiah? Surely, it was just this sort of confusion that led the shaman to the absurd notion that the gods themselves could dwell within him.  

As Nicholas began to slip into what he once regarded as heresy he suddenly feel sharp pecks on his face. Suddenly, Aristotle, the crowd, and the Lyceum dissolved around him. He once again felt the bitter cold of the tundra and found himself still sitting on top of the tent where he had fallen asleep. The pecking he felt was Quikkina’qu trying to wake him. The great bird cawed, “Nicholas, you must wake up and continue your journey or you will surely freeze to death on this roof!”

Nicholas put his hands up to defend his face from the pecks. “I’m awake,” he said, “but I just had the most vivid dream. I had the privilege of hearing the great philosopher, Aristotle, lecture and I believe I am at last beginning to understand why I was sent here and the lesson I was meant to learn.” 

“Let us test what you have learned,” Quikkina’qu replied, “is there anything you would like before continuing your journey.” 

Nicholas thought of the apples again, but the word still escaped him. Still, he tried to formulate his request as precisely as possible. “I would very much like some of the fruit of the tree that I am climbing.” 

Quikkina’qu hopped over to the opposite side of the roof and snatched up a small bag he had apparently left there earlier in his beak then hopped back and dropped the bag on Nicholas’ lap. Nicholas eagerly opened the bag. His heart leapt when he caught his first glimpse of red, but it dropped again when he realized it was not the apples he had wished for, but more of the mushrooms that had been growing at the base of the tree. “These do not come from the tree,” he said aloud, “they grow out of the ground.” 

“Looks can be deceiving,” said Quikkina’qu, “it is true that these mushrooms are not always, or even typically, the fruit of the tree in question; they tend to prefer the roots of evergreens. And perhaps the mushrooms were only able to grow because the roots of this tree were so entwined with the roots of the evergreens in the surrounding forrest. But, nonetheless, it was the roots of the tree of which you speak that provided the nutrients that allowed these mushrooms to burst through the ground. And what could more properly be said to be the fruit of a tree than that which grows directly from the roots of that tree?”

Nicholas could not argue with this explanation. It was clear that he would have to be more specific, but the word “apple” still escaped him. “I understand. I will protest no more.” 

“Good,” said Quikkina’qu as Nicholas reluctantly raised a mushroom to his mouth, “but there is no need for you to eat these. You’ve had quite enough already. However, take them with you, as you are likely to find them quite useful as you proceed. Now go, you must reach the light at the top of the tree trunk.”

Nicholas looked up. He could now clearly see the source of light that he had been climbing toward; it had been the moon and the tree trunk appeared to stretch all the way there. He thanked Quikkina’qu and quickly went on his way. This stretch of the climb was longer than the last two combined, and though he was already exhausted, he undertook it with good spirits, feeling at last that he was actually learning valuable lessons from this whole experience. 

When Nicholas had reached the moon, Quikkina’qu was there waiting for him. “You have done well,” he congratulated Nicholas, “but your journey is not yet complete. You have only succeeded in reaching the lower light. If you’ll direct your attention upward you’ll see your ultimate destination.”

Nicholas looked up and saw a large glowing orb high above his head. “But how am I to reach it?” he asked, “there is no more tree trunk for me to climb.” 

“You are not to climb to the True Light, but to fly,” said Quikkina’qu. 

“How am I supposed to fly?” asked Nicholas. 

“Not you, yourself,” answered Quikkina’qu, “but perhaps you can hitch a ride.” He pointed his wing to a point in the sky, “If you’ll look over here you’ll see the great celestial reindeer herd that is ever flying through the sky. They normally can’t reach the High One, but they have a great love for those mushrooms you have with you and with the mushroom’s aid, they might just be able to take you.” 

Nicholas looked where Quikkina’qu directed and saw a great herd of reindeer stampeding at break neck speed. “From what do they run?” Nicholas asked?

“Ah yes, a further complication,” Quikkina’qu answered, “they have been pursued for many aeons by the celestial hunter. If they stop for even a moment, he threatens to kill them, and even if you ascend to the Light with them, they, and you, will still be in mortal danger because of his arrows. If only his bow could somehow be taken away from him.” 

Nicholas continued watching and the huntsman now entered into view. He observed as the hunter followed the reindeer, pausing at regular intervals to fire off an arrow from his bow. Nicholas thought for a moment and then remembered the sack full of roots he had climbed the tree with. He watched closely as the reindeer passed immediately overhead and set to work building a fire. He managed to get the fire roaring just as the hunter paused overhead to shoot his bow. The flames leapt up igniting the bow and scorching the hunter’s face and hands. Letting out a cry, the hunter retreated to tend his wounds. 

When the reindeer heard the commotion they circled back to investigate what had finally brought the pursuit to an end. As they approached, Nicholas quickly emptied the mushrooms from the bag they were in and held them up as an offering. When they reached Nicholas the reindeer at the head of the herd began to speak, “My name is Donner. We are incredibly grateful that you were able to stop the hunter from chasing us and now you offer us such a delicious meal!? Who are you and how can we repay you?”

“I am Nicholas,” he said, “and I would be immensely grateful if you could help me to get to the Great Light overhead.” 

“Of course,” said Donner, “I can take you. Please, climb onto my back.” 

Nicholas sat down and Donner began to soar through the air at remarkable speed. They arrived just before the Light in no time. Nicholas was astounded when he dismounted and found that he could stand, as if supported by some invisible force. The Light gently pulsed a warm light as he approached. Suddenly the outline of a man began to appear, as if emerging from the center of the orb. Nicholas heard the trumpet blast a final time. As Nicholas’ eyes adjusted he suddenly realized that he recognized the man. He could never forget that face since he first looked upon it in his prison cell. It was Jesus. For the first time since he had begun his journey, Nicholas’ spirit felt full. He fell down on his face in worship. 

“Please, rise,” Jesus said, “you have done well to reach this place.” 

“I am so relieved to look on you again. I have learned much since we last met and, in the trials that brought me here, I have found a great deal of sympathy for Arius’ point of view. I see now just how wrong I was to raise my hand against him. I thank you for allowing me to see how wrong I was and for allowing me to come into your presence once again.”

Jesus laughed and said, “You’re quite welcome, but you should know, you have always been in my presence, even if you failed to realize, and while you have begun to see the merit in Arius’ position, please do not get too carried away. Arius’ view is the product of earthly wisdom, and though such wisdom is indispensable for accomplishing earthly things, it is not the true and complete Divine Wisdom. Your original understanding came far closer to this Truth, even if it left you blind to earthly wisdom.” 

When Jesus started saying this, his body began to glow brightly and his form began to change, when the light subsided, Nicholas gasped, for it was none other than Quikkina’qu staring back at him. 

“Y…y…you are Quikkina’qu?” Nicholas asked. 

“Yes, in a manner of speaking,” he answered, “but I have also been known by very many other names and have been perceived in many different forms by different people. Or, more properly, I am a Divine Principle that has been revealed to the world, cloaked in many different forms. I am the liminal principle that runs through all things, reconciling contraries, and unifying all of Creation. The Egyptians knew me as Thoth, deep in the heart of Africa, I am called Legba, and to the Greeks I am Hermes. They are the gods of the crossroads and I am the God of the Cross. And it would seem that you too share distinctions with Hermes, as travellers now call on you for protection as they once did him. Indeed, I can be found in all deities, or rather all deities can originally be found in me, for Apollo is the image of my wisdom, Zeus the image of my power, and Ares the image of my wrath. However, in your world, I was most perfectly embodied in the man you know as Jesus. It is the very desire to bring the Divine Principle down to earth, accomplished in Jesus Christ that caused the pagans to invite the gods into their very bodies.” As he spoke, he took on the form of each of the deities he mentioned before, at last, returning to the human form so familiar to Nicholas. 

Nicholas was awestruck. “I am still unsure I understand all you have revealed to me. How can you be all these things at once? And how do all these things relate to the Father and the Spirit? What is the Trinity and why is it exempt from Aristotle’s principles? I have so many questions!” 

Jesus laughed, “You are certainly not alone in your confusion. Let me try to help you understand. The Son is the pure Light you saw on your approach; it is the outside of the One; The various forms you saw me take are reflections of that light, some more perfect than others, that call our attention back to the pure Light. If the world were a tree, the Father would be the root, while the Son would be the fruit that springs directly from the root. This is the Divine aspect that was most perfectly incarnated in your world in the man you know as Jesus Christ. If the principle is the fruit that springs from the root, then the man, Jesus, is the fruit that springs from the branch. He is every bit as much the Son of the Father as is the Son that sprang from the root, but the Son had to pass through all of the intermediaries being however imperfectly realized in the trunk, branches, and leaves, before finally finding that most worthy vessel for carrying His full glory in the apple. But even still, the Son is not perfectly realized in just any apple, for some are stunted, or misshapen, or bitter, dry, but the Son is only realized in the most perfect apple to spring from the branch.” With this, the word “apple” instantly reentered Nicholas’ mind. Jesus continued, “To put it differently, the whole tree is God, but very often, in practice, it is best to ignore this in favor of very clearly distinguishing the parts. And there is, to be sure, a very important sense in which the Trinity and its members are more truly God than the rest of the tree, representing the One, that perfect principle of Unity that animates all other things, allowing them to be what they are. Still, understand that, though there are distinctions, even within the Trinity itself,  there is a very important sense in which the Son is One with the Father much more truly than any of the forms that He comes to occupy, even that of Jesus. For the Father is absolute Unity, and the Son is His perfect Image. One may think of the Son as the Father’s reflection and the Spirit as the Light that transmits the Image between them. The Son unfolded the potential within the Father into Creation and it is the Image of the Father within the Son that Creation looks upon. He serves as the intermediary between the Father and Creation, reminding creatures of their Father and it is only through Him that any may ever achieve Union with the Father once again. But as you have seen on your journey, the roots of one tree can intermingle with those of another, as well as those of a fungus, as if to become a single network of roots and though the same mushroom will spring from the roots no matter the type of tree that it springs from, a very different fruit will spring from the branch depending on the tree. Thus, while on the tree in which you live, the apple was the fruit of the branch, on other trees there is an entirely different fruit on the branch. This is admittedly a difficult teaching, perhaps would be easier to simply show you. But you have come a long way. You must be starving. Can I offer you anything to eat before we proceed.”

“Only an apple my Lord,” Nicholas replied. 

“Of course,” Jesus said, producing an apple as if out of nowhere. 

Nicholas held the apple, examining its perfect shape and size. When he bit into it he tasted the juiciest and sweetest apple he had ever tasted before and ate it slowly savoring every bite. When he was done he could not restrain himself from embracing Jesus. At that instant, there was a birth of light, Nicholas’ body merged into Christ’s and the two fell away into the center of the Divine Orb, becoming One with the Father. Nicholas observed the process of Creation in intimate details that, though he instinctively understood, he knew he would not be able to articulate the language necessarily to adequately convey to others. After what felt like an eternity, Nicholas began to feel his body return to him as he separated from the One and he was once again standing face to face with the form of Jesus. 

Jesus said, “That is enough of a glimpse of the Father for you for the time being. You still have much more to accomplish.” 

“Thank you,” said Nicholas, “I understand much now that I did not before, even if I cannot put it into words.” 

“Nicholas, you have now been purified and for your steadfast display of faith and courage, I am proud to declare you a Saint. You will now be able to answer the prayers of those who call on you for aid with ease. But this shall not be your only task. I was always moved by your generosity and your wish to remain anonymous in your gift giving. I would like you to spread that same generosity far and wide, animating the very same spirit in every person throughout the land, and to serve as the mask whereby people might achieve anonymity in their own gift giving. Though you refused credit for all the gifts you gave in life, in death, you will receive credit for every gift given on the day of my birth. You shall be the spirit of giving and generosity, and every year the people, like the shaman with his gods, shall let you within themselves to continue your giving through them. You shall be children’s first sign that there is good and magic in the world, until they can graduate to my mysteries, at which point they will continue to participate in your mysteries, but from the other side.”

“Yes, of course My Lord,” he said, “I will serve in the station you assigned me faithfully.” 

“Good, but it is not right that you should be naked in your new role.” Jesus snapped his fingers and suddenly the elves that had saved Nicholas from the demons appeared, and quickly worked to sew him, as if from nothing, a fine new robe that fit perfectly. Then Jesus continued, “Your clothes shall be like those of the shaman and they shall be colored red and white to remind you of the mushroom that has been so central to your journey. In addition, these elves will work as your faithful assistance in all of your endeavours, and the reindeer you saved shall help you to spread Christmas cheer around the globe.” Suddenly the rest of the reindeer herd appeared, pulling a sleigh through the air.

Then Nicholas asked, “I am very grateful for all you are entrusting me with, however, I was hoping that you might grant me just one last favor. I am indebted to the shaman for guiding me through this process, I think it is only right that I get a head start on my new role by taking him a gift from this realm.” 

“Of course,” said Jesus, “I would like you to take him this evergreen tree, for it is the typical tree from which the mushroom grows, and because it does not shed its needles in the fall, whereas the apple tree sheds its leaves, it more perfectly exemplifies the eternal and necessary life in the Son itself as opposed to the temporary and limited life of the reflections of that light. This tree shall be his Axis Mundi”

“Thank you, I will be on my way now,” said Nicholas. 

“There’s one last thing,” Jesus said, “to the West there is an unholy abomination making the season of my birth one of terror for children. Your first mission will be to subdue this beast. The locals know him as Krampus.” 

With that, Nicholas was off in his sleigh. He made a short stop to leave the tree with the shaman who was thankful to receive the gift and requested that Nicholas help spread the symbol around the world. Nicholas, of course, agreed. 

Finally, Nicholas set his sights West, traveling until he reached the Alps. There he inquired about the beast Krampus. He learned that Krampus threatened to devour any child who misbehaved, even for the most minor infraction. He also learned that Krampus had a love for sweets and he could often be bribed with fruits or candy. So, Nicholas devised a plan. Nicholas decided to lure Krampus deep into a coal mine using a bag of apples. When Krampus went down to recover the apples, Nicholas sealed a large stone in front of the entrance, sealing Krampus inside. 

“It is true that naughty children must be taught a lesson, but yours is too severe. You may continue you to help teach them, however, by mining coal for the naughty children’s stockings,” Nicholas said.

With Krampus subdued, Nicholas set his sights North. He eventually found himself in a poor Dutch village that had recently been hit with a severe blizzard that piled the snow so high, no one could open the doors to their homes. Nicholas decided this was the perfect place to begin spreading Christmas cheer. He waited until everyone had gone to bed, then silently made his way down the chimneys of each home, leaving behind gifts of immense value to the occupants. He did this every night for twelve nights, until the snow had melted and the people could come out of their homes once more.

As soon as the people could leave their homes, they all gathered in the town square, sharing stories of the mysterious gift giver, wondering who it could have been. For the first time, completely contrary to his character, Nicholas stepped up to claim responsibility for the gifts. He told them his whole story and explained to them the unparalleled joy that is to be found in an act of pure charity with no expectation or possibility of repayment and how his image would serve to provide the cover for the people there to practice their own anonymous charity. He asked them to show their thanks for the gifts he had left by letting his spirit into them every Christmas season from then on, so that they might continue the gift giving and spread it far and wide. And finally he taught them the ritual of the Christmas tree which would serve to channel his spirit.

The villagers, in their gratitude, we’re happy to comply with Nicholas’ request, who they took to calling Sinterklaas in their Dutch tongue. It did not take long before this tradition made its way into neighbouring villages, then the city and eventually to other nations, where he acquired different names, perhaps most notably, Santa Claus.

This tradition spread and grew for several centuries, with each year proving more successful than the last. Nicholas found great satisfaction in the joy the tradition caused, taking particular delight in the smiles of the little children who benefited in his name. 

But as the industrial era began, the nature of this tradition began to transform. Advertisers took hold of the image of Santa Claus and used him to promote mindless consumerism. In their hands, the Christmas spirit was quickly transformed from one of giving to one of getting. Gift giving became less about the thought behind the gift and more about the quality of the gift. In some cases it became a competition to see who could give the most extravagant and expensive gift. At times this even led people to come to blows over the last gift on a shelf. Meanwhile, others went into debt to pay for the gifts they gave and those who could not even afford that feared they would be looked down on and despised, and they were often not wrong. Worst of all, in the increasingly secular world, the friendly face of Santa Claus began to overshadow the clearly religious, often controversial face of Christ as the face of the Christmas season. And in some extreme cases, when some children learned that Santa Claus was merely acting through their parents, they concluded that the whole thing was a myth and went on to apply the same reasoning the Christ himself as well. Nicholas had even come to be the cause of many cases of lost faith.

With the rise of this perversion of his intentions, Nicholas at last realized that his purgation had not ended when he ascended to the One and became Santa Claus, but it was only just beginning. He would have to persist in the pain of knowing that these horrible things were being carried out in his name. Even more excruciating was the knowledge that his yearly visit came to be more closely associated with Christmas than the birth of the savior it was originally meant to celebrate. Nicholas now can’t help but think back to his first face to face encounter with Jesus in the jail cell all those years ago. He knew now the immense pain he had caused Jesus by using his name to justify something entirely contrary to his teachings. This was the lesson that his entire journey had been leading up to teaching him and it is unclear if the lesson will end any time soon. There is absolutely nothing that either Nicholas, nor Jesus can do to end the suffering they must endure at the hands of those who falsely act in their names. Their stations are both blessings and curses. They do all they can to guide humanity to the Light, but their ultimate fates are tied to the decisions of men. Only when all of humanity freely chooses to imitate the true natures of St. Nicholas and Jesus and to truly believe in them, will either be released from their suffering and raised to their proper place of glory. Only time will tell if this shall be accomplished.