Saint Nicholas

⛪ Church of Saint Nicholas of Myra: sacred memory and universal legend

📍 Location

• The church is located in the town of Demre, formerly called Myre, in the province ofAntalya, in the southwest of Turkey.
• It is nestled between the Lycian Mountains and the calm waters of the Mediterranean, in a region rich in ancient remains.

🧬 Origins and history

• Built in the 6th century, the church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra in the 4th century, famous for his generosity and miracles.
• It was built on the foundations of an older sanctuary, where Saint Nicholas is said to have officiated and perhaps been buried.
• Over the centuries, it was attacked, restored and enlarged : notably by the Byzantines in the 11th century and by the Russians in the 19th century, who added a bell tower.

🏛️ Architecture and atmosphere

• The church is a Byzantine masterpiece, with :
• A central nave lined with columns,
• A marble floor decorated with opus sectile (geometric mosaics),
• The murals representing scenes from the life of the saint,
• The low vaults, the side chapels, and a silent and sacred atmosphere.
• The original ground level is lower than the current level, which gives the impression of go down into the past.

🕊️ Saint Nicholas: a universal figure

• Born in Patara, Saint Nicholas was bishop of Myra and participated in the Council of Nicaea.
• He is known for his acts of charity, especially towards children and the poor - which later inspired the figure of the Santa Claus.
• His cult spread throughout the world, and today he is patron saint of sailors, children and travelers.

🧭 Place of pilgrimage and memory

• The church has become a major pilgrimage center, especially for the Orthodox Christians from Türkiye, Greece and Russia.
• Recent excavations suggest that the original tomb of the saint could be found under the floor of the church, although his relics were transferred to Bari, Italy, in the 11th century.

✨ Why this site is unforgettable

It is a place where religious history meets popular legend, where the stone preserves the memory of a man who became a myth, and where the silence of the frescoes dialogues with the prayers of the whole world. The Church of Saint Nicholas of Myra is moving, timeless and deeply human.