Father Christmas & The Myrrh Streaming Icons

Did you know that Father Christmas secretes myrrh?

It sounds like something out of a gothic novel, but the history of St. Nicholas is far more "aromatic" than modern Christmas cards suggest. Before he was the jolly man in the red suit, he was Bishop Nicholas of Myra, a 4th-century healer known for secret acts of charity.

But his most mysterious legacy isn't the gold he threw through windows—it's the fact that he is known as "Saint Nicholas the Myroblite," or the Myrrh-Streaming Saint

What are The Myrrh Streaming Icons

These are certain Holy Relics that spontaneously begin to bleed a sticky fluid. There have been several claims of many of these so called myrrh streaming icons around the world (although some have been debunked as fake.) However, the saint with the most amount of pictures that do this, is St Nicholas!

What is Holy Myron? (Myrrh vs. Myron)

To be precise, the liquid secreted by these icons and relics is called Myron. While the word is derived from the Greek for "liquid oil of myrrh," in a church context, it refers to a luxury, sweet-scented anointing oil.

In the spiritual meaning of myrrh, we see a transition here: from the bitter "token of sorrow" given to Adam, to a "Holy Myron" that represents grace, healing, and the tangible presence of the divine.

St. Nicholas: The Original Gift Giver and Myrrh-Bearer

We often associate the Gifts of the Magi with gold, but St. Nicholas had a special connection to this treasure as well. Legend tells us he inherited a massive fortune and used it to secretly provide dowries for three sisters by dropping gold through their window (or down the chimney!).

While we celebrate his death on December 6th, there is a more "arcane" feast day on May 9th. This is the day that celebrates the "Translation of the Relics"—the day his bones were moved from Myra to Bari, Italy.

The Mystery of the Manna of Saint Nicholas

In the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, something remarkable happens. Since 1087 CE, priests have descended into the tomb to collect a liquid that drips directly from the Saint's bones.

The Name: In the West, this is called the "Manna of Saint Nicholas" (Manna di San Nicola).
The Science: Analysis in 1925 and 1953 found it to be a water of extreme purity. While some describe it as odorless, historical accounts often mention a light, sweet fragrance.
The Spiritual Meaning: For believers, this "Manna" is a continuation of the gift of myrrh—a documented, tangible source of blessing and healing that has persisted for nearly a thousand years.

Tap Into the Ancient Healing of Myrrh

Whether it is the resin from a tree or the "Manna" from a tomb, myrrh remains one of the most powerful tools in the aromatherapist's kit for connecting the physical body to the spiritual realm.

In my Aromatic Mystery School, we explore these "material continuities"—how a scent can bridge the gap between a 4th-century bishop and your own modern spiritual practice.

Want to learn more about the sacred history of your oils? 👉 Join my Sensorium Approach mailing list here and let’s explore the mysteries together.

The Secret Healer