Sarcophagus find in Turkey may reveal St. Nicholas' tomb
Archaeologists have discovered a sarcophagus in the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre, Antalya, Turkey. This find could be a breakthrough in the research regarding the burial place of the bishop of Myra, who inspired the modern image of Santa Claus.
The discovery was made in a two-story annex of the Church of St. Nicholas, which has been the focus of intensive archaeological research for years. According to Turkiye Today, excavation work has been ongoing since 1989, aimed at exploring the history of one of the region's most important monuments. The sarcophagus, made of local limestone, was found about 5 to 6.5 feet below the ground and is nearly 6.5 feet long. Its design, featuring a convex lid and sloping roof, is typical of sarcophagi built in this area.
Archaeologists made a valuable discovery
Dr. habil. Ebru Fatma Findik from Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, who heads the excavation work under the "Heritage for the Future" project by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, emphasizes the exceptional significance of the find. Animal bones and fragments of clay lamps were discovered near the sarcophagus, suggesting that the area served as a burial site.
"Our main goal is to find an inscription on the sarcophagus that would help accurately date the find and identify the person buried inside," Findik noted. Currently, only a fragment of the burial chamber has been uncovered, and further work is expected to yield more details.
Is this the tomb of St. Nicholas?
According to Turkiye Today, the find may be crucial for understanding the burial place of St. Nicholas, also known as the bishop of the city of Myra. Historical sources suggest he may have been buried near the "holy area" of Myra. The proximity of the sarcophagus to the Church of St. Nicholas supports this theory. Since 2000, this church has been on the UNESCO tentative list of world heritage sites.
"The fact that we found the sarcophagus so close to the church, which has long been associated with his burial site, may confirm the theory about the location of this holy area," Findik stated.
The Bishop of Myra, also known as Nicholas of Myra or Nicholas the Wonderworker, lived around the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries (approximately 270–343 AD) and served as a bishop in the city of Myra (now Demre in Turkey). He is one of the most revered figures in Christianity, especially in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions. He gained fame as a man full of compassion, generosity, and faith.
Saint Nicholas was known for helping the poor and needy, often anonymously. Many legends have arisen around his figure, and he is also considered a miracle worker. Nicholas of Myra was reputed to have saved sailors during a storm and resurrected children. Most of his relics are preserved in Bari, Italy, where they were transferred in the 11th century.
