Changes

=== The Bishop ===

=== The Bishop ===

One of Nicholas' first acts upon his return seems to have been the destruction of multiple pagan shrines and temples. Chief among these was the Temple of Artemis.<ref name=NickCtr3>Authors not available, "[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=63 Nicholas and the Temple of Artemis]," ''[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 The Saint Nicholas Center]'', 2002-2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.</ref><ref name=NickCenter2/> Contemporary accounts state that these shrines and temples were infested with [[demon]]s. Nicholas fought as hard as he could to throw these buildings down, in a manner that would have pleased Kings [[Hezekiah]] and [[Josiah]] of the [[Southern Kingdom]] of [[Israel]], and possibly the [[Prophet]] [[Elijah]]. Demons or no, Nicholas' reported actions in destroying these temples are probably real enough, and indicate that Nicholas was as militant as he was generous and charitable, when he felt that militancy in the service of [[God]] was called for.

One of Nicholas' first acts upon his return seems to have been the destruction of multiple pagan shrines and [[temple]]s. Chief among these was the Temple of [[Artemis]].<ref name=NickCtr3>Authors not available, "[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=63 Nicholas and the Temple of Artemis]," ''[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 The Saint Nicholas Center]'', 2002-2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.</ref><ref name=NickCenter2/> Contemporary accounts state that these shrines and temples were infested with [[demon]]s. Nicholas fought as hard as he could to throw these buildings down, in a manner that would have pleased Kings [[Hezekiah]] and [[Josiah]] of the [[Southern Kingdom]] of [[Israel]], and possibly the [[Prophet]] [[Elijah]]. Demons or no, Nicholas' reported actions in destroying these temples are probably real enough, and indicate that Nicholas was as militant as he was generous and charitable, when he felt that militancy in the service of [[God]] was called for.

Nicholas' career as Bishop of Myra was quite illustrious. Multiple accounts credit him with relieving a famine in Myra (311-12 AD) by requesting donations from several grain-laden ships in the harbor. The accounts state that Nicholas promised the crews of those ships that their donations would not be missed at destination--and miraculously, they were not, even though Nicholas had quite enough grain to see the people through two years of famine and even to plant a new wheat crop at the end of that time.<ref name=NickCtr/><ref name=NickCtr4>Authors not available, "[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=55 Famine In Myra or The Miracle Of The Grain]," ''[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 The Saint Nicholas Center]'', 2002-2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.</ref><ref name=Note>This particular miracle, if true, recalls the miracle of the endless pot of oil that [[Elisha]] performed for a poor widow hard-pressed by creditors.</ref>

Nicholas' career as [[Bishop]] of [[Myra]] was quite illustrious. Multiple accounts credit him with relieving a famine in Myra (311-12 AD) by requesting donations from several grain-laden ships in the harbor. The accounts state that Nicholas promised the crews of those ships that their donations would not be missed at destination--and miraculously, they were not, even though Nicholas had quite enough grain to see the people through two years of famine and even to plant a new wheat crop at the end of that time.<ref name=NickCtr/><ref name=NickCtr4>Authors not available, "[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=55 Famine In Myra or The Miracle Of The Grain]," ''[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 The Saint Nicholas Center]'', 2002-2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.</ref><ref name=Note>This particular miracle, if true, recalls the miracle of the endless pot of oil that [[Elisha]] performed for a poor widow hard-pressed by creditors.</ref>

Nicholas is well-attested as having attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325.<ref name=NickCtr/><ref name=NickCenter2/> One account, which might or might not be completely accurate, states that Nicholas confronted the famed heretic [[Arias]] (who denied the Trinity), even going so far as to slap him across the face.<ref name=CT/><ref>William Smith, ''A Dictionary of Christian Biography'' vol. 1, London: John Murray (1887): 41</ref> For this Constantine temporarily relieved him of his bishopric and even had him imprisoned for a brief spell. The account also says that Nicholas was eventually reinstated.<ref name=CT/>

Nicholas is well-attested as having attended the [[Council of Nicaea]] in AD 325.<ref name=NickCtr/><ref name=NickCenter2/> One account, which might or might not be completely accurate, states that Nicholas confronted the famed heretic [[Arias]] (who denied the Trinity), even going so far as to slap him across the face.<ref name=CT/><ref>William Smith, ''A Dictionary of Christian Biography'' vol. 1, London: John Murray (1887): 41</ref> For this [[Constantine]] temporarily relieved him of his bishopric and even had him imprisoned for a brief spell. The account also says that Nicholas was eventually reinstated.<ref name=CT/>

Nicholas is also credited with personally stopping the execution of three wrongly convicted men (and later seeking to clear their names),<ref name=NickCenter2/> and with interceding with Constantine for a tax reduction for the citizens of Myra.<ref name=NickCtr5>Authors not available, "[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=62 Tax Relief for Myra]," ''[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 The Saint Nicholas Center]'', 2002-2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.</ref>

Nicholas is also credited with personally stopping the execution of three wrongly convicted men (and later seeking to clear their names),<ref name=NickCenter2/> and with interceding with Constantine for a tax reduction for the citizens of Myra.<ref name=NickCtr5>Authors not available, "[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=62 Tax Relief for Myra]," ''[http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 The Saint Nicholas Center]'', 2002-2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.</ref>