St. Nicholas Monastery دير مار نقولا Ιερά Μονή Αγίου Νικολάου

On Greek Patriarchate Street, not far from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in the Christian Quarter of the Old City, is the Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas, one of the largest monasteries in the Old City of Jerusalem. The structure of the monastery features Crusader period architecture and documentation from the 12th century identifies it as a Greek Orthodox Church. After the conquest of Saladin in 1189, the Monastery was given to the Georgian community and it remained under their control throughout the Mamluk period. After the Ottoman conquest of Jerusalem, the monastery was returned to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. The monastery is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, who is one of the most recognized figures in Christian history. He is honored by Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches alike as an example of generosity and compassion and is widely believed to be the inspiration for the figure of Santa Clause. According to tradition, Saint Nicholas met a poor man with three daughters. Because of their poverty, the father could not afford a proper dowry for them and feared that they would remain unmarried. Upon hearing this, Nicholas, under the cover of darkness, anonymously threw three bags of gold coins into their window, one for each daughter’s dowry. Some accounts say that these bags landed in stockings or shoes left to dry by the fire, which is where the tradition of hanging stockings awaiting gifts is said to originate. Other stories of the miracles of Saint Nicholas include, calming storms through his prayers leading him to be known as the patron of sailors and resurrecting three children who were murdered by an evil butcher in order to be eaten, leading to him being known as the patron and protector of children. His many acts of generosity throughout his lifetime have led to his legacy in the Christian tradition as a protector of those in need. The Monastery of Saint Nicholas today occupies two floors, with the Church on the upper floor. Recent excavation at the site of the Monastery has uncovered remnants and additions from the Byzantine period, the early Islamic period, the Crusader period, the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, as well as modern renovation to the site. The Monastery of Saint Nicholas is only open during Divine Liturgy on the feast day of Saint Nicholas. In order to visit the monastery outside that time, arrangements must be made with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.