Saint Nicholas was born in the seaport town of
Patara, on the Turkish
coast, in about 271 A.D. Although his parents were very wealthy, they died (most likely of plague) when Nicholas was still a boy.
At the time, Turkey was called Asia Minor. Today the ruins of Patara are mostly under the
beautiful sandy beaches of the area.
Not much has been excavated, although some ruins are visible.Little is known about the early years of his life. During the centuries, legend has replaced fact. According to Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Nicholas wanted to share the wealth his parents had left him. And it is that sharing of wealth, and how he did it, that led to his increasing fame and his association with
protecting children.