Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. According to tradition Saint Nicholas is said to have visited the Holy Land but the ship he was on was nearly destroyed by a terrible storm. Then a miracle happened and he rebuked the waves, causing the storm to subside. According to another story, he saved three innocent men from execution. Saint Nicholas appeared, pushed the executioner’s sword to the ground, released them from their chains, and angrily chastised a juror who had accepted a bribe