Real-life St. Nicholas’ grave discovered in Turkey

Xmas marks the spot.

Turkish researchers claim they’ve located the tomb of St. Nicholas, the real-life figure who inspired Santa Claus, under a 5th-century church in Turkey. While it’s long been known that St. Nick was buried in Turkey’s Antalya province, the holy man’s remains were pilfered around 700 years after his death, so his exact burial spot was unknown — until now, Live Science reported.

“This is an extremely important discovery, the first find from that period,” Osman Eravşar, chairman of the Antalya Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board, told local news outlet DHA.

Researchers discovered St. Nick’s alleged final resting place after uncovering the remnants of the ancient sanctuary in the coastal town of Demre.

"This is an extremely important discovery, the first find from that period," Osman Eravşar, chairman of the Antalya Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board.
“This is an extremely important discovery, the first find from that period,” said Osman Eravşar, chairman of the Antalya Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board.

Researchers believe Saint Nick is interred beneath a Fresco of Jesus like something out of "The Da Vinci Code."
Researchers believe St. Nick is interred beneath a fresco of Jesus.


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A view of the 11th century Church of St. Nicholas, in Demre, near Antalya, southern Turkey, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.
The 11th century Church of St. Nicholas in Demre, Turkey.


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The Kris Kringle precursor, who died Dec. 6, 343, had reportedly been interred at the UNESCO heritage site, the Daily Star reported.

However, the basilica was then submerged by rising Mediterranean sea levels in the Middle Ages, whereupon another church was built atop it in the town — then known as Myra — between the 5th and 12th centuries to protect the holy man’s grave. Unfortunately, thieves from Bari, Italy, desecrated the tomb in 1087 and carted off most of St. Nick’s remains, according to Live Science.

All seemed lost until recent excavations unearthed the remnants of the tile and mosaic flooring from the original basilica, leading them to believe that St. Nick had been interred there.

“Now we have reached the remains of the first church and the floor on which St. Nicholas stepped,” Eravşar said. Researchers speculate that his exact resting spot is at the base of a fresco of Jesus.


Saint Nicholas allegedly gave away most of his wealth to the poor, a deed that reportedly formed the basis for Santa Claus.
St. Nicholas allegedly gave away most of his wealth to the poor, a deed that reportedly formed the basis for Santa Claus.
ullstein bild via Getty Images

“The tiling of the floor of the first church, on which Saint Nicholas walked, has been unearthed," said Eravşar.
“The tiling of the floor of the first church, on which St. Nicholas walked, has been unearthed,” said Eravşar.
ullstein bild via Getty Images

While little is known about the real St. Nick, the bishop allegedly boasted a Christ-like résumé of miracles, including rescuing three girls from prostitution, chopping down a demon-possessed tree and saving a ship from wreckage by praying.

His most famous alleged deed entailed donating most of his wealth to the poor, which formed the basis for Father Christmas’ yearly gift-giving sprees.