Archaeologists unearth 'surprise' sarcophagus at ancient church that could rewrite history of saint that inspired Santa Claus



A groundbreaking archaeological discovery could potentially rewrite the history of the burial location of St. Nicholas, the saint who inspired the legend of Santa Claus.

Saint Nicholas of Myra — also known as Nicholas of Bari — was born in the maritime city of Patara, in what is modern-day Turkey.

'The discovery of a sarcophagus near the church, which is believed to be the resting place of St. Nicholas, could indicate that this site may indeed be the sacred area in question.'

Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop celebrated for his generosity, kindness, and numerous miracles. Because of charitable causes — especially toward children — Saint Nicholas was known as the patron saint of children.

St. Nicholas died on Dec. 6, 343 AD.

To this day, Christians honor Saint Nicholas on Dec. 6 with Saint Nicholas Day or the Feast of Saint Nicholas.

The St. Nicholas Church was erected in 520 AD on the foundations of an older church where St. Nicholas served as bishop in the ancient city of Myra — what is now the modern-day municipality of Demre in Turkey.

Historians had previously said that the remains of St. Nicholas were initially buried in Myra but later transported to Italy.

The Catholic News Agency reported, "Amid the takeover of the Turkish region by the Muslim Seljuks, Nicholas’ bones were purportedly moved by merchants from Myra to Bari in 1087 — and a few bones reportedly made their way to Venice — not long after the Great Schism between Catholics and the Orthodox in 1054."

However, a groundbreaking archaeological discovery is challenging the narrative of the final resting place of Saint Nicholas.

A team of archaeologists has made an eye-opening discovery of a "surprise" sarcophagus in Turkey that could rewrite the history of St. Nicholas. The archaeologists say they have unearthed a special sarcophagus at the St. Nicholas Church in Demre that could be the burial ground of St. Nicholas.

"We believe that we have encountered a sarcophagus to be in situ (original position) for the first time," proclaimed associate professor Ebru Fatma Findik, who is heading the excavation team through Hatay Mustafa Kemal University's Department of Art History.

The sarcophagus was reportedly found in the church’s two-story annex.

"While drilling inside the structure, we encountered a surprise sarcophagus," Findik stated. "We are working inside the 20-meter-long, two-story structure that borders the church courtyard from the south. This work, among the undecorated sarcophagus group, is made of local stone and has a slightly high barrel roof."

Findik noted of the promising archaeological find, "According to initial evaluations, its similarity to the types of sarcophagi in the region is striking."

"The discovery of a sarcophagus near the church, which is believed to be the resting place of St. Nicholas, could indicate that this site may indeed be the sacred area in question," Findik continued. "We can say that we have reached archaeological evidence that confirms historical sources about St. Nicholas' burial place being in the city's sacred area."

Findik told Daily Sabah, "Our biggest hope is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus. This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates from. While the lid of the sarcophagus has been uncovered, only a small section of the burial chamber has been exposed, and further excavation is expected to reveal more details in the coming months."

"The fact that a sarcophagus has been unearthed very close to the church that is thought to contain the tomb of St. Nicholas excites us greatly," Findik said.

Archaeology experts also discovered several "terracotta oil lamp fragments and animal bones," which they say indicates that it is a burial site.

However, Findik conceded that the exact location of Saint Nicholas’ burial remains uncertain.

Findik and his team will continue to excavate the area around the ancient church in an effort to contribute to his country’s tourism.

The project is financed by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Belgian mayor downplays proposal to make Christmastime celebration of St. Nicholas more Arabic and 'intersectional'



A secularist Belgian mayor suggested that his municipality's yearly Christmastime celebration of Saint Nicholas was due for some inclusivity. In what has retroactively been characterized as a joke, Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette expressed the desire to augment his region's Dec. 6 festivities commemorating the Greek Christian in order catch up with the times and accommodate migrants from Morocco — a 99% Sunni Muslim nation in North Africa that restricts the practice of Christianity and punishes its public adherents.

Dec. 6 marks the death of Saint Nicholas, the 4th-century Greek bishop of Myra whom some revisionists like to think punched the heretic Arius in the face.

Saint Nicholas, the dominant inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus, was apparently born rich but gave his inheritance to the poor. The bishop is also credited with donating money to a father who was compelled to sell his daughters into prostitution and stopping a storm to save ill-fated sailors. The Russian Orthodox Church holds him in high esteem, and the Catholic Church regards him as the patron saint of children.

Every year, a man dresses up as the historic figure and visits schoolchildren around Saint-Gilles, a Brussels satellite, dispensing gifts.

Spinette indicated he struck a partnership with the Moroccan town of Berkane, known for its production of clementines, reported Sudinfo.

"I would find it comical to have a Sidi Nicolas who provides clementines to children," the mayor told La Derniere Heure, replacing "saint" with an Arabic honorific.

"It's a way to find a link with the Muslim community in the town," said the mayor. "You should know that many people residing in Saint-Gilles come from this region of Morocco."

13.4% of Belgium's population is foreign-born. According to the government, 17.3% of Belgians with a foreign background and non-Belgians come from North Africa.

Beyond the title change and a new gig peddling Moroccan goods, the mayor indicated he had other changes in mind for the Greek saint.

"For us, Saint Nicholas must be environmentally friendly, respectful of religion, and intersectional," said Spinette.

Spinette alluded to the consequences of failing to placate modern sensibilites, adding, "Father Fouettard was fired a long time ago."

Father Fouettard or "Father Whipper" is a sinister character who served as Saint Nicholas' nemesis in an apocryphal 13th-century tale and in many more since. Whereas the saint protects and rewards good children, according to legend, Fouettard would chastise and sometimes murder naughty children.

Yannis Bakhouche, a Reform Movement section president in Saint-Gilles, said in a statement to DH, "It seems that the mayor is trying to divert attention from much more serious problems by launching this idea of changing the name of Saint-Nicolas to Sidi Nicolas. Saint Nicholas is a Catholic tradition that enchants all children, regardless of their origin or religion."

"It's a time when we come together, share sweets, chocolates, and create memories together. Why [would Spinette] want to change something that brings everyone together over trifles? This has never been a demand from the Muslim community, it is truly astonishing," said Bakhouche.

"We should work together to resolve these concrete problems that affect each of us on a daily basis instead of trying to please with ideas that divide," continued Bakhouche. "I believe that our municipality needs leaders who take care of real priorities and who unite the Saint-Gilloise community rather than dividing it with futile ideas."

Facing backlash, Spinette suggested in a subsequent Meta post that he has no intention of changing "the name of Saint-Nicolas or this beautiful tradition appreciated by all children in Saint-Gilles. This is obviously not the case and the Saint-Nicolas event is particularly appreciated in all the schools in our town. He will be celebrated this year as always and I deplore this unnecessary controversy."

While the Christian tradition in Saint-Gilles may survive this year, elsewhere in Europe it appears to be getting the axe.

The European Conservative highlighted how the Austrian municipality of Plainfield in Salzburg has told event organizers to keep Saint Nicholas — often wearing a bishop's miter and a visibly Christian cross — away from its kindergarten due to concerns about "diversity" and "cultural differences."

Cultural differences have been recently cited elsewhere in the region for another kind of change.

Blaze News recently reported that a school in northern Germany is in the process of changing the name of a kindergarten because "Kindertagesstätte 'Anne Frank'" is apparently not diverse or inclusive enough and fails to resonate with immigrant families.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

I’m Glad My Parents Lied To Me About Santa Claus

People of good faith can dream up many reasons to dispose of Santa Claus, but I am glad my parents kept up the ruse -- and here's why.

The Real Story Of St. Nick And Other Tips For Parents Looking To Improve On Secular Santa

Santa has been equated with Christmas, a season where our focus should be on the child born in Bethlehem, not the jolly old gentleman with magical powers.