St. Nicholas Church, Demre

St. Nicholas Church
St. Nicholas Church
Religion
AffiliationChristianity
StatusMuseum
Location
LocationDemre, Antalya Province, Turkey
St. Nicholas Church, Demre is located in Turkey
St. Nicholas Church, Demre
Shown within Turkey
Geographic coordinates36°14′41″N 29°59′08″E / 36.24467°N 29.98543°E / 36.24467; 29.98543
Ceiling fresco

St. Nicholas Church is an ancient East Roman basilica church in the ancient city of Myra, now a museum located in modern Demre, Antalya Province, Turkey. It was built above the burial place of St Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop of Myra,[1][2] an important religious figure for Eastern Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics and the historical inspiration for Santa Claus.[3] Its use dated from its 6th century construction for the state church of the Roman Empire by Justinian the Great. The basilica is on UNESCO's tentative list to become a World Heritage Site.[4]

  1. ^ Domenico, Roy Palmer (2002). The regions of Italy: a reference guide to history and culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 21. ISBN 0-313-30733-4. Saint Nicholas (Bishop of Myra) replaced Sabino as the patron saint of the city… A Greek from what is now Turkey, he lived in the early fourth century.
  2. ^ Burman, Edward (1991). Emperor to emperor: Italy before the Renaissance. Constable. p. 126. ISBN 0-09-469490-7. For although he is the patron saint of Russia, and the model for a northern invention such as Santa Claus, Nicholas of Myra was a Greek.
  3. ^ "Demre Statues". St. Nicholas Center. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  4. ^ "St. Nicholas Church". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 17 December 2018.