What's the story behind St. Nicholas hitting Arius?

Nicholas striking Arius Detail: The ... The work of the Council produced the Nicene Creed which to this day many Christians repeat weekly when they stand to say what they believe. * Other versions of the story have Jesus and Mary with Nicholas appearing in a dream to Constantine or, even, to all the bishops. read more

Either way, the result was that Nicholas was reinstated to the council, at which Arius' heresy was later condemned. And we include the statement that Jesus Christ is 'consubstantial with the father' in the Creed even now. read more

The gruesome account became an instant hit. Traveling performers re-enacted the drama in towns and villages across Europe. Thanks in part to this story, Nicholas became recognized as the protector and patron saint of children. read more

Methodius asserted that "thanks to the teaching of St. Nicholas the metropolis of Myra alone was untouched by the filth of the Arian heresy, which it firmly rejected as death-dealing poison." Arianism was declared heresy at the Council of Nicaea. read more

* Other versions of the story have Jesus and Mary with Nicholas appearing in a dream to Constantine or, even, to all the bishops. In the dream, they give the Book of the Gospels and an omophorion to Nicholas, convincing Constantine and the bishops that Nicholas should be reinstated as Bishop of Myra. read more

Next, the Blessed Virgin vested Nicholas with his episcopal pallium, thus restoring him to his rank as a bishop. The story of Our Lord and Our Lady visiting St. Nichols is depicted in his iconography. Notice the images of Christ and Mary bringing to St. Nicholas a copy of the Holy Gospels and his episcopal pallium. read more