Russians used to consider St. Nicholas of Byzantium entirely as their own saint. Today, every church in Russia has an icon featuring his image.

St. Nicholas was the archbishop of Myra in Lycia (present-day Turkey), and today he is undoubtedly one of the most venerated Christian saints. He lived at the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th centuries and became famous for his pious way of life, a profound knowledge of Holy Scripture (which is why icons often depict him with the Bible in his hands) and his great love and compassion for people.