# St. Nicholas — Russian Folktales character guide

> St. Nicholas in Russian Folktales by A. N. Afanasyev.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Nicholas, Saint Nicholas

**First appearance:** 0043-a-story-of-saint-nicholas

## Snapshot

The Wonder-Worker whose rescued icon becomes a merchant's silent partner, blessing honest trade and quietly steering a fortune toward the poor.

## Who they are

When Iván finds Nicholas's forgotten image in his dead father's shop, he washes it, lights a lamp before it, and carries it to his counter as a daily witness. The saint repays this devotion with customers who seem sent by heaven, then sends an old man to serve as clerk and conscience, urging Iván away from tobacco and toward alms. He anchors the tale's moral economy: wealth is a loan from the holy, repayable only in generosity.

## In the story

### [The Priest with the Envious Eyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-priest-with-the-envious-eyes)

The saint whom the priest served; the priest strikes his icon in frustration before leaving.

### [A Story of Saint Nicholas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/a-story-of-saint-nicholas)

Appears as an old man who guides Iván, advises him in trade, and ultimately reveals his divine nature.

### [Elijah the Prophet and St. Nicholas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/elijah-the-prophet-and-st-nicholas)

Protects the peasant by advising him to sell and later redeem his field, and to thresh one sheaf at a time.

### [Christ and the Geese](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/christ-and-the-geese)

Mentioned as St. Peter, the disciple who wishes to experience being God and is tasked with watching the geese.

### [Christ and Folksongs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/christ-and-folksongs)

Accompanies Christ and is puzzled by His choice to stop for folksongs instead of hymns.

### [The Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-dream-notes)

Mentioned alongside Elijah the Prophet; name-day on December 6th.

### [Midnight Dance. General Notes to This Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/midnight-dance-general-notes-to-this-story)

Noted as the most popular miracle worker among saints in Russia, with a beneficent character shown in the story of St. Nicholas and St. Elias.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters/st_nicholas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/russian_folktales_se/characters