Twelve Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Duluth hosted their 8th St. Nicholas Day Celebration on Friday.

Kids and adults from the parish handed out cookies, cocoa, and stockings in front of the church on 2nd Street.

Father Dustin Lyon explained, “St. Nicholas was an Orthodox bishop in the 4th century, in modern day Turkey. He was well known for gift giving. He threw coins into the home of a family who was going to have to And over time, this developed into Santa Claus.”

The church also had a service in the morning that day.