The Mother of St. Nicholas: A Story of Duty and Peril

"The Mother of St. Nicholas: A Story of Duty and Peril" by Grant Balfour is a late 1800s historical fiction set in the 3rd century AD, during the beginning of Christianity. It follows Pathema, a courageous Christian woman, as she risks everything to help the poor in Patara, even as anti-Christian feelings grow stronger, and highlighting the influence she had on her son, who would later become Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus. Her kindness leads to her arrest and a deadly showdown in the Roman Colosseum, where a brave nobleman named Tharsos steps in to save her as their lives become connected by their shared beliefs, demonstrating their immense courage, sacrifice, and the impact of Christian principles, that would lead to Santa Claus.