#St Nicolas

[schweizercomics]

I started a collection of Christmas characters last year (though I didn’t post ‘em on tumblr), and I'm gonna add to it this year), posting one per day through the 23rd.

COMPANIONS OF CHRISTMAS 1: SANTA CLAUS, or Saint Nicolas (“Santa” means “Saint,” and “Claus” is short for “Niklaus/Nicolas)! 

Born to wealthy parents in a small port city in Asia Minor, Nicolas became a gift-giver at a young age when, upon learning that three sisters who wished to wed their loves could not do so because they had no dowry with which to pay their future husband’s family, he tossed coins through their window in the dead of night. Finding that he could so easily change lives for the better and bring hope to those who had little through these small acts of generosity, he sold his property and belongings and used the money to continue helping those he found in need. As he was already following his god Jesus’s order “sell what you possess and give the money to the poor,” it was only natural that he would adhere to the next dictate “then come, follow me,” which he did, becoming first a Christian priest, and, soon after, the bishop of Myra.

While Nicolas, a noted brawler even during his bishophood, never backed down from a fight in service to others. He frequently found himself rescuing the innocent from execution, saving children from those who would exploit them, and battling monsters and creatures long viewed by the Christians as servants of evil. But instead of killing these foes, Nick would recruit them. Using both force and Christian magic, he would make them accompany him on his errands and missions of mercy, and the exposure to his generosity and kindness changed their perception and their hearts, turning them from forces of destruction to forces of good, though few lost any of their wildness.

Nicolas was born a mortal man, and died one, at the age of seventy-three, on December 6, 343. His devotion to his faith and service to his neighbors ensured his place in heaven, but heaven was no paradise for Nick, who fretted constantly for the children of the world. He petitioned the three aspects of his god for a charter, to return to earth and bring joy and comfort to its children through acts of charity and joy. His charter was granted, and he returned to earth one year later, and he has done his good works each December since.

[postcard-from-the-past]

Interior of the St. Nicolas church in Chessy, Brie region of France

French vintage postcard

[retrogeographie]

Laval, quartier St-Nicolas.

[christhopersturniolo]

୨ PODCAST ୧

summary: matt leaves the podcast because of his brother's jokes, and y/n comforts him.

warnings: cussing, sad, fluff

notes: this fanfic was a request! also english is not my first language so im sorry about any mistake

୨୧

The day with the Triplets has been a little stressful, specially for Matt. Each time he spoke, his brothers would joke saying that he was being way too ‘depressed’ and ‘miserable’. Or Nick would always answer with ‘Yeah, yeah nobody wants to hear about that shit’.

Now, after they invited me to their podcast, here I am, sitting next to my boyfriend, holding his hand gently.

As Chris and Nick keep talking over their brother, calling him ‘Miserable Matt’ I could see him getting more annoyed, his eyes watering, and it feels like I'm the only one seeing his discomfort.

I don’t really know what to do, cause obviously his brothers are just joking, and I'm not sure how to intervene without making things awkward.

They keep teasing him over and over.

“I'm not going to sit here for like another 55 minutes or some shit.” Matt’s voice getting slowly lower.

“What? What was that? That mumble? I can’t understand you.” The older triplet mocks him, but he tries to ignore it. “Ok go ahead-“

“Now you are ‘mumble Matt’ too” Chris laughs after Nick’s comment. “It's like I can't even understand what you are saying, sounds like rocks rolling down a hill, your voice”

I try to end the conversation "Can we just-" Before I can finish, Chris and Nick burst into laughter "Can we start the podcast?" I try again, but Matt lets out a heavy sigh.

Nick continues “it literally sounds like an avalanch coming out of your mouth” Matt gets up aggressively, starting to leave the room “I’m not doing this shit anymore.”

“Oh come on Matt!” Chris says chucking. They laugh some more as I just think of what to do. I get up from my seat, hurrying after him “Hey.. Matt..” I begin, attempting to catch his attention. However, before I could reach him, he gets in his room, and slams the door in my face, leaving me standing outside. I'm sure this is not just about the stupid jokes they were making.

I hesitate for a moment before making any move, thinking if I should open the door, i’m sorry, but I can't just ignore the urge to check on him.

With a deep breath, I reach out and calmly push the door open. Inside, I find Matt lying on his bed, his face buried in his pillow, shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

“Can we talk love?” I say quietly closing the door behind me.

He lifts his head, his eyes red and puffy, his expression a mixture of sadness and anger. "What do you want?" His voice defensive.

Ignoring his tone, I move closer and sit on the bed.

With a gentle touch, I reach out and place my hand on his back, offering a silent gesture of comfort. For a moment, we sit in silence, until I interrupt it.

“Can you tell me what has been going on lately?” I ask softly, my voice filled with concern.

“Nothings going on” He sniffs, still with his face in the pillow “I’m fine” His voice barely above a whisper.

I shake my head, not trusting his words. "You don't seem fine to me" He stays silent, I take a deep breath.

I adjust my position, leaning against the headboard of the bed. I decide to take a different approach instead of talking “Come here..” I pat the spot next to me, in sign for him to come closer “Let's just cuddle for a bit."

He completely stops acting rude in the moment I suggest it, Matt scoots closer, laying his head on my chest, his arms around my waist. I stroke his smooth brown hair. I kiss the top of his head. We stay like this for some good ten minutes.

He presses his face into the crook of my neck and whispers with a shaky voice “I’m just so fucked up..”

Gently, I cupped his cheeks, lifting his head from my neck, making him look into my eyes “Matt.. Why do you say that?”

"I just.. I don't know" He admits. "I'm just so fucking exhausted of feeling like this all the time..”

I sigh, I hate seeing him in this state. “Since when do you feel like that?” I wait patiently for Matt's response, he looks away.

“I don’t know.. For some long time now.. I guess I've been trying to push it away, but it just keeps coming back, over and over.” As he spoke, I could see the pain in his eyes.

"I'm sorry I couldn't see it sooner babe.." I whisper, reaching out to gently brush away his tears. "I should have known something was wrong." I kiss his forehead.

He shakes his head "It's not your fault" He murmurs "I don’t want you to worry"

I wrap my arms around him, holding him close. "But I do worry, Matt" I confess softly. "I care about you more than anything."

He buries his face deeper into my chest. "I love you so much.." He whispers, his voice muffled by the fabric of my shirt.

"I love you too.." I whisper back in his ear, squeezing him tightly.

୨୧

sorry this is so short 😭😭

tags: @muwapsturniolo

[sturnzwrld]

day 2 of my period and im FERALLLLL I just wanna fuck the shit out of this man sorry not sorry

the necklace 😫 the hair 😫 the eyes 😫 the BEARD

[autistic-armand]

amc iwtv writers i am begging you to include Nicki living on Île Saint Louis please

something something all roads lead to (saint) louis

[sturnlover4eva]

I saw the Stromboli Triplets in public today

[wgm-beautiful-world]

The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kronstadt, RUSSIA

[nalyra-dreaming]

To anyone who hasn’t read TVL, there’s actually another layer to Lestat original planning on moving to St. Louis, Missouri. When Lestat was turned he inherited a lot of money, and because he didn’t want his loved ones to see him like that, he basically threw money at them instead. He even bought Nicki a nice house in a fancy neighborhood- where? On the Île Saint-Louis, an island in the River Seine. So when he decided to move to America much later, he chose St. Louis because it shared a name with where Nicki used to live.

And of course the very first words Louis hears Lestat say, and the first words Louis says to Lestat, are also among the first words Nicki said to Lestat when they re-met as adults: “Only the impossible can do the impossible”. So after he sees a man pull a knife on his bro, he decides to stay. Finding out that that man’s name is Louis AND he speaks French AND he repeats Nicki’s words (and reminds him of Nicki in general) proves to Lestat to Louis is his destiny.

Yes. :)

Thank you for expanding on that 💕

There are a lot of references to Nicolas throughout the two seasons already, and I personally loved how they did it.

[schweizercomics]

Companions of Christmas #6: Christkindl! Martin Luther, an opponent of saint veneration, wanted to ban St. Nick from entering protestant Europe in the 16th century, but knew that many of the people still wanted him to come, and that partisans might help smuggle the jolly old man across the borders. Luther reckoned that if somebody else was giving gifts in December, people would turn their backs on St. Nick, so he prayed that God would send baby Jesus to deliver presents.

God thought, "Well, Jesus isn't a baby anymore, but I'll see what I can do." So He sent down one of His littlest angels (and heaven’s biggest St. Nick fan) to deliver presents when kids weren't looking. But since she only comes around when eyes aren't on her, Luther had no way of knowing that she wasn't baby Jesus, and he told everyone that she was. Thus, everyone started calling the angel "Christkindl" which means "Christ Child," and she delivered presents in areas where Santa (at least for a while) wasn't welcome.

Eventually, the two became work friends and they sometimes team up, especially for parades and Christkindl Markets, where holiday crafts and treats are sold.

Fun aside: Christkindl would go back to heaven in the non-holiday months and report on her progress, and Jesus thought it sounded like so much fun that he sometimes morphs into his baby form and delivers presents, too, so in some regions ACTUAL baby Jesus is the giftgiver.

[postcard-from-the-past]

St Nicolas church in Givors, Lyonnais region of France

French vintage postcard

[nevver]

The birds, Nicolas St-Pierre (because)

[obsessedgirlsstuff]

WOW.

died dead

[artthatgivesmefeelings]

Nicolas Poussin (French, 1594-1665) Landscape with Saint John on Patmos, 1640

"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9). - The Bible

[renaissancetourfashion]

Beyoncé in Nicolas Jebran for The Renaissance World Tour MIND CONTROL ACT - St. Louis, 2023

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Basilica of St. Nicholas, Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS