Despite some idiotic claims from FOX News that Santa was white, there is a fascinating history behind Saint Nicholas, the real man who is the basis of our Santa Claus. While many of our images of Santa come from advertisements for Coca-Cola, St. Nicholas was born in Greece in the third century. He became the Bishop of Myra, the town now known as Demre in modern Turkey.
Saint Nicholas was known for miracles and gift giving to the less fortunate, which is what led to the mythology of his Christmas icon. The story goes that there were three sisters who were so poor that they were about to become prostitutes to make money. Saint Nicholas heard about this and threw a bag of coins down the chimney to help them.
Upon his death, Saint Nicholas’ remains were buried in Myra, but in 1087 they were taken to Bari, Italy while others were taken to Venice. It was thought that they would be safer there, but now the Turkish government is trying to have them returned. It is said that his remains release myrrh every day.
The tomb of St. Nicholas is still in Demre and is a popular stop for Orthodox tourists. The church was built in 520 AD to honor the saint and has frescoes on the ceiling that are still in good condition. In 1862, Russian Tsar Nicholas I had it restored.
Today the town of Demre has cashed in on the popularity of those visiting for religious reasons, despite the fact that it is overwhelmingly Muslim. You can see many stores throughout town selling “Santa Claus” or “Saint Nicholas” wares. There are two statues of the saint as well, one how he would have looked and one based on Santa Claus.
While the tomb in Demre is home to one of the tombs of St. Nicholas, there are other significant sites relevant to the saint. You can visit the ruins of ancient Myra, where St. Nicholas lived. Another place is Gemiler Island, located between Fethiye and Rhodes, where archaeologists believe is home to the original tomb of St. Nicholas.
It is also known as St. Nicholas Island for this reason. You can also visit the tomb of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy, where the relics are currently housed.
Getting There
Demre is located 2.5 hours from Fethiye and 10 hours from Istanbul. The town is accessible by bus and boat and the closest airport is in Dalaman, three hours away. The Tomb of St. Nicholas in Demre is in the central district and is accessible for 15 Turkish lira ($7.50). Gemiler Island is accessible only by boat, but is a popular stop on many “blue cruises,” particularly around sunset. Admission is 8 Turkish lira ($4.00).
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