Nicholas is a much-loved Saint in the Orthodox Church. He is easily recognisable by his white curly short beard and his high forehead. As a Bishop, he is shown wearing an omophorion, holding the gospel, and raising his right hand in blessing- identical to Christ's blessing, demonstrating that Nicholas blesses in the name of Christ. The positioning of the fingers spells the first and the last letters of 'Jesus Christ' in Greek. The Virgin, on Nicholas' left, bestows him with his Episcopal omophorion (stole). http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?language=eng&pageID=2001