特别广播英语第 387 课：Celebrating Christmas: A Visit With Nicholas
圣诞老人，报上名来-2

However, when Constantine the Great became emperor in 306, he legalized Christianity and made it the official religion of the Roman Empire. Nicholas was freed. 然而，公元306年君士坦丁大帝登基称帝，他使基督教合法化，并使之成为罗马帝国的国教。尼古拉也获释放。

The scribes tell us that Nicholas's prayers and leadership during the great tribulation led many to become Christians. 据史书记载，尼古拉在受难期间的祈祷和领导让很多人皈依成为基督教徒。

Nicholas continued to serve as bishop for many years. （出狱后）尼古拉继续担任主教多年。

On December 6, 343, Nicholas the man died, and Saint Nicholas the legend was born. 公元343年12月6日，真人尼古拉去世，然而圣人尼可拉的传说诞生了。

During his lifetime, Nicholas's reputation for generosity and kindness gave rise to stories of miracles he performed for the poor, the weak--and children. 尼古拉在世时慷慨仁慈的名声衍生出他为穷人、弱者和孩子创造奇迹的许多故事。

After his death, devotion to Nicholas extended to all parts of Europe. 尼古拉死后，人们对他的挚爱延伸到欧洲各地。

His feast day was celebrated on December 6, but his reputation as a gift-giver later became attached to the celebration of Christmas on December 25. 节日仪式定在12月6日举行，但是他身为“赠礼者”的声望，后来却与12月25日圣诞节的庆典扯上了关系。

After the Reformation in the 16th century, Nicholas's cult disappeared in most Protestant countries of Europe. 16世纪宗教改革运动以后，对尼古拉的膜拜便在多数欧洲新教国家销声匿迹了。

But his legend was united with old Nordic folktales of a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents. 但是有关他的传说却跟一个北欧民间故事结合了起来，故事中有位魔术师，他爱惩罚顽皮的孩子，并送礼物奖励好孩子。