Russian icon depicting St. Nicholas, Late 18th century

Saint Nicholas the Thaumaturge is the most beloved and revered saint of Russia and one of the most popular in Christianity. The exceptional cult is supported by a very rich hagiographic literature; from birth the saint observed the fasts imposed by Orthodox rule. It is said that he, while still an infant, stood perfectly upright. As an adult, having received a substantial inheritance from his parents, he distributed it to the poor. Particularly popular is the legend that a man, having fallen into poverty to the point of wanting to make meretricians of his three daughters, was saved by the saint who threw three bags containing gold out of his window. From here would descend the custom of Christmas gifts to children: St. Klaus is nothing more than a deformation of the saint's name in the Dutch language. St. Nicholas also intervened several times on behalf of unjustly accused people.