Note: To protect the privacy of our members, e-mail addresses
have been removed from the archived messages. As a result, some
links may be broken. Today's Honorary Subscriber is Nicholas,
the fourth-century Christian saint and bishop of Myra in Asia
Minor transformed by centuries of legend into the jolly gift-
giver known to us as Santa Claus. Except for the fact that
Nicholas was bishop of Myra (in present-day Turkey) and died for
his faith during the persecution of the Roman Emperor
Diocletian, little is actually known him. Legend has it that he
was born of wealthy parents and that after their death he
devoted himself to works of charity, giving his wealth to the
poor. Many miracles were attributed to him and in time he became
a revered and popular saint. His reputation for holiness and
kindness was built up by numerous stories, such as the time he
brought three boys back to life after they were killed by a
wicked butcher, their bodies cut up and pickled. But the story
that most closely associates him with C