At the conclusion of the children's sermon on December 8, Father Joseph told the children to take their shoes to the Narthex so that they could better understand story of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker --
St. Nicholas was known especially for his generous spirit and great love for the poor and needy, St. Nicholas lived in the region of Lycia in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), where he eventually became bishop of the city of Myra. His parents lived in the city of Patara, and were wealthy and well-respected. More importantly, though, they were faithful Christians who dedicated their only son to God. Little Nicholas had an uncle, also named Nicholas, who was the bishop in Patara. The uncle helped to raise his nephew in the spirit of the Christian faith, training him in love for God and others.
While still a young man, Nicholas was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Nicholas, his uncle. Assisting his uncle in the pastoral ministry in Patara, Nicholas became known for being unusually compassionate and generous. One characteristic story illustrates that generosity, which has now become legendary.
There was a formerly rich man who had fallen into poverty. The man had three daughters. Because he had no dowry to offer any would-be suitors, the man had fallen into despair about what to do with his daughters. He decided to sell them, since he considered marriage to be impossible for them. St. Nicholas somehow learned of the man’s intentions, and one night he secretly took a sack of gold with him to the man’s house. He threw the sack through the window into the house, and, as some say, it landed in the stocking, or shoe, of the eldest daughter. Understanding this to be God’s providence, the man then gave that daughter in marriage, with the dowry she had received. St. Nicholas did the same thing two more times, providing sacks of gold for the other two daughters. Though Nicholas tried to keep his giving a secret, the man chased after his family’s benefactor the third time, and discovered who he was.
After Sunday School, the children returned to find something special in their shoes.