St. Nicholas is very popular today and was revered in his own day as well. He was held as a living martyr by the emperor and bishops at the council of Nicea in 325. He was bishop of Myra in Asia Minor at the beginning of the fourth century. Devotion to him, already widespread in the East, became common in the West as the result of the translation of his relics to Bari in Italy in 1087. Many churches are dedicated to him and representations of him abound. The most famous of the miracles attributed to him will be remembered—the raising from the dead of the three children in the brine tub. From his charity, in particular, anonymously leaving dowries for young ladies wishing to marry, he has been transformed. He has been given the name of Santa Claus and is credited with distributing presents on Christ’s birthday.