Saint Nicholas of Myra is the historical basis for the figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th century Greek bishop in modern-day Turkey noted for his generous gifts to the poor. His remains were moved to Bari, Italy in 1087 to increase pilgrimages. Over time, his legend associated him with bringing gifts at Christmas and became the model for Santa Claus traditions. He remains an important saint in both Christian and Turkish heritage as the patron of many groups.

1. SANTA CLAUS

3. HE WAS HE WAS A 4TH CENTURY GREEK CHRISTIAN BISHOP OF MYRA(NOW DEMRE)IN LYCIA,A PROVINCE OF THE BYZANTINE ANATOLIA,NOW IN TURKEY.

4. NICHOLAS WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS GENEROUS GIFTS TO THE POOR,IN PARTICULAR PRESENTING THE THREE IMPOVERISHED DAUGHTERS OF A PIOUS CHRISTIAN WITH DOWRIES SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO BECOME PROSTITUTES.

5. HE WAS VERY RELIGIOUS FROM ON EARLY AGE AND DEVOTED HIS LIFE ENTIRELY TO CHRISTIANITY.

6. IN EUROPE(MORE PRECISELY THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM,AUSTRIA AND GERMANY )HE IS STILLPORTRAYED AS A BEARDED BISHOP IN CANONICAL ROBES.

7. IN 1087 THE ITALIAN CITY OF BARI , WANTING TO ENTER THE PROFITABLE PILGRIMAGE INDUSTRY OF THE TIMES,

8. MOUNTED AN EXPEDITION TO LOCATE THE TOMB OF THE CHRISTIAN SAINT AND PROCURE HIS REMAINS

9. THE RELIQUARY OF ST.NICHOLAS WAS DESECRATED BY ITALIAN SAILORS AND THE SPOILS ,INCLUDING HIS RELICS, TAKEN TO BARI WHERE THEY ARE KEPT TO THIS DAY.

10. A BASILICA WAS CONSTRUCTED THE SAME YEAR TO STORE THE LOOT AND THE AREA BECAME A PILGRIMAGE SITE FOR THE DEVOUT,

11. THUS JUSTIFYING THE ECONOMIC COST OF THE EXPEDITION.

12. IRISH HISTORIANS SAY THAT HIS REMAINS WERE MOVED ON AGAIN FROM ITALY TO JERPOINT ABBEY IN COUNTY KILKENNY ,WHERE HIS GRAVE CAN STILL BE SEEN.

13. SAINT NICHOLAS BECAME CLAIMED AS A PATRON SAINT OF MANY DIVERSE GROUPS,FROM ARCHERS AND CHILDREN TO PAWNBROKERS.

14. HE IS ALSO THE PATRON SAINT OF BOTH AMSTERDAM AND MOSCOW.

15. CHURCH OF ST.NICHOLAS MYRA (KALE/DEMRE) IN ANTALYA/TURKEY

16. THE CHURCH OF ST.NICHOLAS IN MYRA

17. CHURCH INTERIOR

18. CEILING FRESCO

19. CHURCH ENTRANCE

20. OPUS SECTILE FLOOR

21. FRESCO IN A NICHE

22. INTERİOR, LOOKİNG TOWARDS THE ALTAR

23. STATUE OF ST. NICHOLAS OUTSIDE OF CHURCH.

25. A PICTURE OF SOME OF THE RUINS AT PATARA.NOTE A CITY GATE AT THE LOWER LEFT CORNER AND THE THEATRE SET IN THE HILLSIDE.

26. A VIEW BACK ACROSS THE CITY RUINS FROM THE TOP OF THE AMPHITHEATRE.

27. A VIEW OF THE PARTIALLY RESTORED MAIN STREET OF PATARA.

28. PATARA GATEWAY

29. RUINS OF ROMAN DATE BATHS

30. PATARA’S BEACH

31. MYRA’S ANTIQUE THEATRE

32. MYRA’S ROCKTOMBS

33. ST. NICHOLAS’ S REAL GRAVE

34. SOME OF THE MANY CARVED MASKS AT MYRA’S THEATRE

35. CHRISTMAS IN TURKEY