St. Nicholas also calle Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th century (born aprox. 280) saint and Greek Bishop of Myra (Demre, part of modern-day Turkish) in Lycia.

His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young and he was raised by his uncle — also named Nicholas — who was the bishop of Patara. He tonsured the young Nicholas as a reader and later ordained him a priest.

In his most famous exploit, a poor man had three daughters but could not afford a proper dowry for them. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment, would have to become prostitutes. Hearing of the poor man's plight, Nicholas decided to help him, but being too modest to help the man in public (or to save the man the humiliation of accepting charity), he went to his house under the cover of night and threw three purses (one for each daughter) filled with gold coins through the window opening into the man's house.

Saint Nicholas is a popular subject portrayed on countless Easter Orthodox icons, particularly Russian ones. Sometimes he is depicted wearing the Eastern Orthodox mitre, sometimes he is bareheaded. The episode with the three dowries is commemorated by showing him holding in his hand either three purses, three coins or three balls of gold. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, pawnbroker and students in various cities and countries around Europe.