Comments on: Jolly Old St. Nick — a Brawler? http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/ Mike Aquilina's Blog Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:36:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Aquilina http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/comment-page-1/#comment-7125 Mike Aquilina Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:15:03 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/#comment-7125 Yep, and that little explosion is better attested -- by no less than Athanasius, and immediately after the blast. Yep, and that little explosion is better attested — by no less than Athanasius, and immediately after the blast.

]]> By: Pauli http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/comment-page-1/#comment-7123 Pauli Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:07:03 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/#comment-7123 My view has always been that if history doesn't entertain then it's valuable only to the historians, whoever they are. I'm probably mistaken about this and it most likely proves that I'm a cultural Philistine. But as far as St. N goes, you have to admit, a sock in the nose generally goes along with being tortured, imprisoned and throwing bags of gold through people's windows. As for gore value, compared to the accounts of the death of the Arch-heretic Arius, getting socked in the schnozola is mild. I guess his guts supposedly exploded and went everywhere. My view has always been that if history doesn’t entertain then it’s valuable only to the historians, whoever they are. I’m probably mistaken about this and it most likely proves that I’m a cultural Philistine. But as far as St. N goes, you have to admit, a sock in the nose generally goes along with being tortured, imprisoned and throwing bags of gold through people’s windows.

As for gore value, compared to the accounts of the death of the Arch-heretic Arius, getting socked in the schnozola is mild. I guess his guts supposedly exploded and went everywhere.

]]> By: Mike Aquilina http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/comment-page-1/#comment-7053 Mike Aquilina Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:19:35 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/#comment-7053 Well, I rooted through all my sources on St. Nicholas, and here's what I have to report. Without exception, the modern lives of the saints report the punching incident, attributing it to "other traditions" (other than Epiphanius), but they don't name the source. My suspicion is that it's quite late. I put it up for its entertainment value more than its historical value. If anyone else out there knows the source, let us know. Well, I rooted through all my sources on St. Nicholas, and here’s what I have to report. Without exception, the modern lives of the saints report the punching incident, attributing it to “other traditions” (other than Epiphanius), but they don’t name the source. My suspicion is that it’s quite late. I put it up for its entertainment value more than its historical value. If anyone else out there knows the source, let us know.

]]> By: Mike Aquilina http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/comment-page-1/#comment-6757 Mike Aquilina Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:29:23 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/#comment-6757 The nose incident is late and most folks don't put much stock in it -- only those scrooges (heh heh) who relish the thought of Santa smacking heretics. ("Happy holidays, infidel.") I'm not in the office, so I don't have the sources at hand. They're late. Here are some Web references: http://www.istrianet.org/istria/customs/winter/st-nick1.htm#story http://www.byzantines.net/epiphany/nicholas.htm The nose incident is late and most folks don’t put much stock in it — only those scrooges (heh heh) who relish the thought of Santa smacking heretics. (“Happy holidays, infidel.”) I’m not in the office, so I don’t have the sources at hand. They’re late. Here are some Web references:

http://www.istrianet.org/istria/customs/winter/st-nick1.htm#story

http://www.byzantines.net/epiphany/nicholas.htm

]]> By: kitty http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/comment-page-1/#comment-6720 kitty Thu, 07 Dec 2006 03:54:56 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/#comment-6720 I notice that both of the above responses from males comment on the violence and blood. Being female, I am going to comment on the beautiful jewel with St. Nicholas carved into it. :D Actually, I love that story about St. Nicholas punching Arius and hope it's true. I wish we had more bishops like that today. But alas, even in St. Nicholas's time, most bishops followed Arius. I notice that both of the above responses from males comment on the violence and blood. Being female, I am going to comment on the beautiful jewel with St. Nicholas carved into it. :D

Actually, I love that story about St. Nicholas punching Arius and hope it’s true. I wish we had more bishops like that today. But alas, even in St. Nicholas’s time, most bishops followed Arius.

]]> By: Scott http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/comment-page-1/#comment-6717 Scott Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:42:15 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/#comment-6717 Where is the story told about Arius' "profusion of blood"? Where is the story told about Arius’ “profusion of blood”?

]]> By: Jason Sims http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/comment-page-1/#comment-6690 Jason Sims Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:33:35 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2006/12/06/jolly-old-st-nick-%e2%80%94-a-brawler/#comment-6690 <i>...according to later histories, he denounced Arius forcefully. Indeed, some sources (though not entirely reliable) claim that St. Nicholas punched Arius in the nose and brought forth a “profusion of blood.”</i> Ever since I heard that story, part of me has wanted to use an icon or cartoon of this event as a Christmas card. I don't think it's the best part of me. …according to later histories, he denounced Arius forcefully. Indeed, some sources (though not entirely reliable) claim that St. Nicholas punched Arius in the nose and brought forth a “profusion of blood.”

Ever since I heard that story, part of me has wanted to use an icon or cartoon of this event as a Christmas card.

I don’t think it’s the best part of me.

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