A soldier said, “Orders from Emperor Maximinus. Christiani are not to hold gatherings in a place of burial.”
One of the believers behind Nicholas protested, “For what reason?”
The soldier said, “Talk to the magistrates. It’s not our job to explain the law, just enforce it.”
Nicholas asked the soldier, “Are there any other places we are forbidden from meeting?”
The soldier shook his head. “You can meet in the middle of the road for all I care.”
“Thank you,” said Nicholas. Then, turning to the believers, he said, “Follow me.” He hiked back up the road to the main gate of Myra. There by the side of the road he told the others, “Let us begin.” A brother came forward and led the believers in a song of praise to Christus. Amid the noise and dust of the main road, the Christiani offered up their songs and Nicholas declared the good news of Christus to all who would listen. Many passing by stopped to listen to the spectacle, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. And when it was over, many of them were believers.
They carried on this way for months. In the meantime, Nicholas heard the magistrates had appointed a high priest of Zeus who would preside over all the worship of the gods in the city. From the reports he heard, the high priest offered daily sacrifices to Zeus with songs and ceremonies modeled after the Christiani. The magistrates had given him authority to set up religious courts to investigate people who showed disrespect to the gods. Many believers came to Nicholas urging him to go and see how the high priest was stealing away believers with his lies, but Nicholas said, “A teacher of truth has nothing to learn from a liar.”
One day walking through the forum Nicholas saw a man passing by dressed in the white robe and red trim of an overseer. Taking him to be a visitor from out of town, Nicholas approached him. Then he noticed the brooch on his shoulder bore the image of Zeus. Too late, he realized it was the high priest of Zeus, dressed in a robe mimicking a Christian overseer. The priest seemed just as surprised, taking the white robe of Nicholas for that of a priest of Zeus. He blurted out, “You enemy of the gods! We will crush your superstitions in the dust.”
Nicholas recalled his former tutor, Anicetus, and what he said that so often troubled him. Nicholas looked the priest in the eye and quietly said, “Impossible.” Then he continued on his way.
One of the believers behind Nicholas protested, “For what reason?”
The soldier said, “Talk to the magistrates. It’s not our job to explain the law, just enforce it.”
Nicholas asked the soldier, “Are there any other places we are forbidden from meeting?”
The soldier shook his head. “You can meet in the middle of the road for all I care.”
“Thank you,” said Nicholas. Then, turning to the believers, he said, “Follow me.” He hiked back up the road to the main gate of Myra. There by the side of the road he told the others, “Let us begin.” A brother came forward and led the believers in a song of praise to Christus. Amid the noise and dust of the main road, the Christiani offered up their songs and Nicholas declared the good news of Christus to all who would listen. Many passing by stopped to listen to the spectacle, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. And when it was over, many of them were believers.
They carried on this way for months. In the meantime, Nicholas heard the magistrates had appointed a high priest of Zeus who would preside over all the worship of the gods in the city. From the reports he heard, the high priest offered daily sacrifices to Zeus with songs and ceremonies modeled after the Christiani. The magistrates had given him authority to set up religious courts to investigate people who showed disrespect to the gods. Many believers came to Nicholas urging him to go and see how the high priest was stealing away believers with his lies, but Nicholas said, “A teacher of truth has nothing to learn from a liar.”
One day walking through the forum Nicholas saw a man passing by dressed in the white robe and red trim of an overseer. Taking him to be a visitor from out of town, Nicholas approached him. Then he noticed the brooch on his shoulder bore the image of Zeus. Too late, he realized it was the high priest of Zeus, dressed in a robe mimicking a Christian overseer. The priest seemed just as surprised, taking the white robe of Nicholas for that of a priest of Zeus. He blurted out, “You enemy of the gods! We will crush your superstitions in the dust.”
Nicholas recalled his former tutor, Anicetus, and what he said that so often troubled him. Nicholas looked the priest in the eye and quietly said, “Impossible.” Then he continued on his way.
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