And in this corner, in the red trunks with white fur trim...

While Mormons, Christian Scientists, Jehovah's Witnesses and others may not want to remember this particular Christmas-related story, gift giving wasn't the only thing St. Nicholas (a forensic reconstruction of his face is at the right) was famous for.

An orthodox (small "o," as well as large), Nicene Christian, jolly old St. Nick was also well known for having walked up to the heretic Arius and punched him in the face.

Arius, for those who need a brush-up course in church history, denied the Trinity and taught that Jesus was similar to (homoiousious)  but not identical to (homoousious) the Father.

I guess you would kind of expect somebody whose father was named Ammonius to have a rather stinky theology...

The feast day of St. Nicholas is December 6.

HT: Real Clear Religion