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.
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