Covenant Between St. Nicholas and the Apostles of the Church

Covenant between St. Nicholas and the Apostles of the Church

Translation by Michelle J. Morris, Ph.D.

Translator’s Note: As a biblical scholar, sometimes I get passed interesting documents in Greek to translate. This one has just hit my desk, but as it seems imminently applicable to so many of my friends, I thought I best translate it immediately and send it out. I know many of you and your families are already aware of this tradition, but may not know its source. For those of you who are not, hopefully this will bring you peace for a crowded season. And for those of you with children who have wondered why your Christmas season is different from others, perhaps reading this translation of this ancient document will help them understand. Also, I am sorry for all of the big and complicated words, but it is a legal document. Please explain to your children as best you can in a way they will understand. As a translator, I must stick to the actual words. And to all of you who serve as pastors and your families, this is my gift to you. Merry Christmas

Covenant of St. Nicholas and the Apostles of the Church

Recognizing that St. Nicholas, as newly appointed patron saint of gift giving, has the task of bringing Christmas gifts to the children of the world, and has thus been equipped with assistants, hereafter known as elves, and transportation in the form of a sleigh and reindeer in some parts of the world, and a donkey in others, and walking on foot in others, whatever the terrain and custom demands;

And acknowledging that there would be no purpose for such work if Christmas was not celebrated;

And knowing that Christmas is known and practiced throughout the world because people have continued to share the story of Jesus Christ with others so that people understand the purpose of the season, that being the recognition of Jesus being born into our world in a modest stable and placed in a manger, to grow up and herald salvation for us all;

And realizing that certain people are especially chosen to bear this news to the world as apostles, or those who order the life of the gathered community of faith [i.e. the church], and who sometimes go by other names, such as bishops, presbyters, deacons, pastors, preachers, shepherds, teachers of the Word, etc.;

And admitting that such work sometimes means that such apostles and their families must celebrate Christmas differently, as the apostles are responsible for preparing worship and taking care of the community during these high holy days;

St. Nicholas agrees to accommodate such challenges of timing the holy day [i.e. holiday] in the following ways, so as to honor the precious and important work of the apostles:

·        St. Nicholas will contact each apostle in advance of the Christmas Holy Day to arrange what day and time will be best for his arrival to visit the apostle’s family. A special division of his elves will be responsible for this coordination, hereafter known as the Apostles’ Family Division. This arrangement will be mutually beneficial to the apostles, their families, and St. Nicholas, as it will allow the apostles and their families to carve out a special time to celebrate the Holy Day together, and it will allow St. Nicholas to spread out his work, in hopes that as the faith grows, the demand on St. Nicholas will also grow, and so he will have more options for delivery dates, times, and locations.

·        St. Nicholas will also treat the children of the apostles’ families with special care and concern, because he recognizes without the work of the apostles and the apostles’ families, there would be no purpose to his work. St. Nicholas will take special care of the wishes of these children, and will make every effort to fulfill them, even if there is sometimes a necessary and pre-determined delay in delivering such gifts.

·        Since St. Nicholas has an ample staff that experiences a low season in the late winter and early Spring, St. Nicholas will loan his Apostles’ Family Division to the Easter Bunny, and allow them to also coordinate with Apostles’ families what day they would like the Easter Bunny to arrive as well, acknowledging that the Easter Holy Day is also a very busy one for Apostles’ families. Again, this will also be beneficial for the Easter Bunny as well, as this will allow other days for the Easter Bunny to accomplish said bunny’s work.

This agreement will be held in perpetuity as long as there is a Christmas and a St. Nicholas, and Apostles and families who are called to the very important work of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with all the earth.

Signed,

St. Nicholas

Representatives of the World’s Apostles

7 December 343