St. Nicholas Church: A Museum for History Lovers with an Interest in Early Christianity
Guests joining us on our Kekova route cruises often take a land-tour to visit the St. Nicholas Church located in the heart of Demre in Antalya province. The ancient church site (now a museum) was added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1982 and welcomes over half a million pilgrims and visitors each year.
The Byzantine church was originally used as a house of worship for Orthodox Christians between the 5th and 12th centuries, and is most notable for being the church where Saint Nicholas of Myra was a consecrated bishop. Who exactly was St. Nicholas of Myra? He was an Eastern Orthodox bishop born in nearby Patara in the 4th century, but is more commonly known as Santa Claus.
The grey-stone building sits in a depression which is several meters deep, and is surrounded by well-tended gardens and several modern-day statues portraying the many faces of St. Nicholas – including his roles as priest and bishop, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus. Faded frescoes depicting various religious scenes and the story of St. Nicholas' life cover the interior walls. Marble columns and vaulted ceilings give the space an open and airy feeling, and intricate mosaic tiles (dating to the 11th century) line the floor. There are several sarcophagi in the church, including one believed to have been the Saint's tomb.
The present day building is not the original church on the site. The building we see today was built on the foundation of an older church after St. Nicholas died (December 6, 343) to protect his tomb and honour his memory.
Unfortunately, in 1087, tomb raiders from Bari desecrated the tomb believed to contain the remains of St. Nicholas and took the bones to Italy, leaving an empty sarcophagus in the church. (Interestingly, no one is sure where St. Nicholas was buried, so there is still a degree of uncertainty that the remains the grave robbers took were actually those of much beloved St. Nick!)
As with many ancient buildings in the Mediterranean, weather, earthquakes, floods and war took their toll. The basilica was destroyed and restored several times in 8th and 9th century, including major rebuilds by Constantine IX in 1043 and Tsar Nicholas I in 1862. Repeated flooding with silty water from the Demre River eventually buried church and surrounding area several meters underground. The church was most recently re-discovered in 1956 during excavation near the main square in Demre, and has drawn significant attention from archaeologists, historians, religious experts and the curious public ever since.
A small relic box containing a few bone fragments which are believed to have been left behind by the Bari grave-robbers is on display in the Antalya Archaeological Museum, but no laboratory testing has been performed to confirm their authenticity.
![Relic box containing bone fragments and a small painting of St. Nicholas of Myra](../img/gallery/K4814-thumb.jpg)
Click to expand.
![Relic box containing bone fragments and a small painting of St. Nicholas of Myra](../img/gallery/K4814.jpg)
The St. Nicholas Church / Museum in Demre: A Photo Gallery
Click on any image to expand it.
![Statue of St. Nicholas of Myra carrying a young boy on his shoulder and holding the hand of a young girl, depicting his role as the patron saint of children](../img/gallery/A2966-thumb.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas of Myra with two children depicting his role as the patron saint of children](../img/gallery/A2967-thumb.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas of Myra holding a sack over his shoulder and surrounded by children, depicting his role as Father Christmas](../img/gallery/A2970-thumb.jpg)
![Haloed St. Nicholas statue, depicting him giving a blessing. The toe of the statue is burnished due to pilgrims touching and kissing it while passing by.](../img/gallery/A2977-thumb.jpg)
![Haloed St. Nicholas painting in the apse of the original St. Nicholas Church.](../img/gallery/A2978-thumb.jpg)
![Bearded and elderly St. Nicholas painting in the entry to the original St. Nicholas byzantine church.](../img/gallery/A2979-thumb.jpg)
![Interior of the original St. Nicholas of Myra Church with handcrafted marble columns in the apse](../img/gallery/A2981-thumb.jpg)
![Interior of the original St. Nicholas of Myrna Church with handcrafted marble columns in the apse](../img/gallery/A2983-thumb.jpg)
![Decorative stone tomb originally believed to be the St. Nicholas tomb.](../img/gallery/A2994-thumb.jpg)
![Frescoed alcove holding a decorative stone tomb originally believed to be the St. Nicholas tomb.](../img/gallery/A2995-thumb.jpg)
![Tourists milling about the St. Nicholas statue just outside the entrance to the St. Nicholas of Myra church, which is covered by a secondary building to protect it from the elements.](../img/gallery/A3000-thumb.jpg)
![Statue of the original St. Nicholas, carrying a young boy on his shoulder and holding the hand of a young girl, depicting his role as patron saint of children.](../img/gallery/D3927-thumb.jpg)
![Close up of a statue of the original St. Nicholas, carrying a young boy on his shoulder.](../img/gallery/D3928-thumb.jpg)
![Close up of a St. Nicholas statue, depicting his role as Father Christmas with a sack slung over his shoulder.](../img/gallery/D3933-thumb.jpg)
![Close up of colourful mosaic tiles on the floor of the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre.](../img/gallery/D3938-thumb.jpg)
![Paintings above the windows in the church of St. Nicholas saint at Demre](../img/gallery/D3940-thumb.jpg)
![Fresco of a haloed figure praying.](../img/gallery/D3943-thumb.jpg)
![Mural of a crowd of clergy men looking towards St. Nicholas of Myrna](../img/gallery/D3946-thumb.jpg)
![Mosaic tiles in a circular pattern form part of the floor in the apse of the St. Nicholas Byzantine church in modern-day Demre](../img/gallery/D3948-thumb.jpg)
![Painting of a faceless, haloed figure on an archway](../img/gallery/D3949-thumb.jpg)
![Ancient Greek characters carved into the bottom a doorway in the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra](../img/gallery/D3950-thumb.jpg)
![Decorative marble inlay](../img/gallery/D3954-thumb.jpg)
![Decorative marble inlay](../img/gallery/D3955-thumb.jpg)
![Decorative marble inlay](../img/gallery/D3957-thumb.jpg)
![Turkish St. Nicholas holding a bible painted on the wall of the main church hall in Demre](../img/gallery/D3959-thumb.jpg)
![Close-up of the foot of the St. Nicholas statue at the St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Demre showing how the touch of devout Orthodox visitors has polished the metal to a shine](../img/gallery/D3963-thumb.jpg)
![Close-up the St. Nicholas statue at the St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Demre taken at an upward angle to highlight the cross on his chest and halo](../img/gallery/D3964-thumb.jpg)
![Close up of St. Nicholas statue's face and hand](../img/gallery/D3965-thumb.jpg)
![Ceiling mural in St. Nick's Church in Antalya, Turkey](../img/gallery/E5501-thumb.jpg)
![Mosaic tiles laid out in a geometric pattern on the floor of the original St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox church](../img/gallery/E5505-thumb.jpg)
![Mosaic tiles laid out in a repeating circular pattern on the floor of the St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox church in Turkey](../img/gallery/E5506-thumb.jpg)
![Intricate marble tile work on the floor of the St. Nicholas Church in Turkey](../img/gallery/E5507-thumb.jpg)
![Colourful bushes form a pretty background to a statue of St. Nicholas giving a blessing.](../img/gallery/E5510-thumb.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas in his role as Father Christmas](../img/gallery/E5511-thumb.jpg)
![Trees form a pretty background to a statue of a haloed St. Nicholas giving a blessing.](../img/gallery/G2908-thumb.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas of Myra wearing a halo and holding a bible](../img/gallery/G2911-thumb.jpg)
![Close-up of the head of a statue of St. Nicholas of Myra wearing a halo](../img/gallery/G2912-thumb.jpg)
![Close-up of the head of a statue of St. Nicholas of Myra wearing a halo](../img/gallery/G2914-thumb.jpg)
![Faded wall mural in an alcove of the St. Nicholas church](../img/gallery/G2918-thumb.jpg)
![Painting of St. Nicholas of Myra in a white robe and halo holding two crosses](../img/gallery/G2921-thumb.jpg)
![Interior of the apse of the original St. Nicholas church](../img/gallery/G2927-thumb.jpg)
![Interior of the main hall at the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Turkey](../img/gallery/G2936-thumb.jpg)
![Interior of the arched ceiling and columns in the main hall at the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Turkey](../img/gallery/G2942-thumb.jpg)
![Painting on a domed ceiling depicting the life of St. Nicholas of Demre](../img/gallery/G2946-thumb.jpg)
![Frescoes on the walls and arches of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/G2949-thumb.jpg)
![Female visitor taking pictures of the walls and arched ceilings of the St. Nicholas of Myra orthodox church](../img/gallery/G2950-thumb.jpg)
![Female visitor looking at paintings on the walls of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/G2951-thumb.jpg)
![Painting of men in a rowboat high on the wall of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/G2952-thumb.jpg)
![Faded frescoes, in the process of being restored, cover virtually every inch of the walls and ceilings of the St. Nicholas Church / Museum](../img/gallery/G2953-thumb.jpg)
![Faded frescoes, many of which are indecipherable, cover virtually every inch of the walls and ceilings of the St. Nicholas Church / Museum](../img/gallery/G2954-thumb.jpg)
![Painting of a haloed St. Nicholas holding a bejewelled bible](../img/gallery/G2956-thumb.jpg)
![St. Nicholas statue depicting his role as Father Christmas on the exterior grounds of the St. Nicholas church and museum in Demre](../img/gallery/G2957-thumb.jpg)
![Vertical panorama of the apse area in the St. Nicholas Church showing the intricate brickwork on the ceiling](../img/gallery/18-09-18-3022-thumb.jpg)
![Exterior of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church / museum and structure erected to protect it from the elements](../img/gallery/H6442-thumb.jpg)
![Tourists milling around the base of a statue of Father Christmas on the grounds of the St. Nicholas Church in Myra (Demre, Antalya, Turkey)](../img/gallery/H6444-thumb.jpg)
![Tourists walking down the slope to the entrance of the St. Nicholas Church museum, which is below ground level due to centuries of alluvial silting.](../img/gallery/H6447-thumb.jpg)
![Pop-up museum shop on the grounds of the St. Nicholas Church site](../img/gallery/H6455-thumb.jpg)
![Panoramic view of the St. Nicholas Church apse from a side entrance](../img/gallery/19-09-09-3909-thumb.jpg)
![Exterior of the window opening set into the church's 2 foot thick stone walls](../img/gallery/H6456-thumb.jpg)
![Tourists milling about and taking photos of the statue of St. Nicholas giving a blessing which is located at the entrance / exit of the church](../img/gallery/H6458-thumb.jpg)
![Close-up of the apse of the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Turkey](../img/gallery/H6460-thumb.jpg)
![Religious paintings on the walls and ceiling of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/19-09-09-3919-thumb.jpg)
![Frescoes inside the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6467-thumb.jpg)
![Frescoes depicting haloed men crying inside the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6473-thumb.jpg)
![Paintings on the walls and ceilings of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6474-thumb.jpg)
![Religious paintings on the walls and ceiling of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6475-thumb.jpg)
![Religious paintings on the walls and ceiling of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6476-thumb.jpg)
![Structure built over the top of the St. Nicholas Church to keep it protected from the elements](../img/gallery/H6478-thumb.jpg)
![Painting of St. Nicholas beside three tall narrow windows at the church in Demre](../img/gallery/H7873-thumb.jpg)
![Close-up of a painting of a haloed St. Nicholas of Myra in white robes](../img/gallery/H7874-thumb.jpg)
![Ornately carved stone slab on display in the courtyard of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H7877-thumb.jpg)
![Looking through 2 arched doorways into the main chapel at the St. Nicholas Church in Antalya, Turkey](../img/gallery/H7879-thumb.jpg)
![Decorative paintings on an arched ceiling in the church where St. Nicholas was once bishop](../img/gallery/H7880-thumb.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas of Myra carrying a young boy on his shoulder and holding the hand of a young girl, depicting his role as the patron saint of children](../img/gallery/A2966.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas of Myra with two children depicting his role as the patron saint of children](../img/gallery/A2967.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas of Myra holding a sack over his shoulder and surrounded by children, depicting his role as Father Christmas](../img/gallery/A2970.jpg)
![Haloed St. Nicholas statue, depicting him giving a blessing. The toe of the statue is burnished due to pilgrims touching and kissing it while passing by.](../img/gallery/A2977.jpg)
![Haloed St. Nicholas painting in the apse of the original St. Nicholas Church.](../img/gallery/A2978.jpg)
![Bearded and elderly St. Nicholas painting in the entry to the original St. Nicholas byzantine church.](../img/gallery/A2979.jpg)
![Interior of the original St. Nicholas of Myra Church with handcrafted marble columns in the apse](../img/gallery/A2981.jpg)
![Interior of the original St. Nicholas of Myrna Church with handcrafted marble columns in the apse](../img/gallery/A2983.jpg)
![Decorative stone tomb originally believed to be the St. Nicholas tomb.](../img/gallery/A2994.jpg)
![Frescoed alcove holding a decorative stone tomb originally believed to be the St. Nicholas tomb.](../img/gallery/A2995.jpg)
![Tourists milling about the St. Nicholas statue just outside the entrance to the St. Nicholas of Myra church, which is covered by a secondary building to protect it from the elements.](../img/gallery/A3000.jpg)
![Statue of the original St. Nicholas, carrying a young boy on his shoulder and holding the hand of a young girl, depicting his role as patron saint of children.](../img/gallery/D3927.jpg)
![Close up of a statue of the original St. Nicholas, carrying a young boy on his shoulder.](../img/gallery/D3928.jpg)
![Close up of a St. Nicholas statue, depicting his role as Father Christmas with a sack slung over his shoulder.](../img/gallery/D3933.jpg)
![Close up of colourful mosaic tiles on the floor of the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre.](../img/gallery/D3938.jpg)
![Paintings above the windows in the church of St. Nicholas saint at Demre](../img/gallery/D3940.jpg)
![Fresco of a haloed figure praying.](../img/gallery/D3943.jpg)
![Mural of a crowd of clergy men looking towards St. Nicholas of Myrna](../img/gallery/D3946.jpg)
![Mosaic tiles in a circular pattern form part of the floor in the apse of the St. Nicholas Byzantine church in modern-day Demre](../img/gallery/D3948.jpg)
![Painting of a faceless, haloed figure on an archway](../img/gallery/D3949.jpg)
![Ancient Greek characters carved into the bottom a doorway in the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra](../img/gallery/D3950.jpg)
![Decorative marble inlay](../img/gallery/D3954.jpg)
![Decorative marble inlay](../img/gallery/D3955.jpg)
![Decorative marble inlay](../img/gallery/D3957.jpg)
![Turkish St. Nicholas holding a bible painted on the wall of the main church hall in Demre](../img/gallery/D3959.jpg)
![Close-up of the foot of the St. Nicholas statue at the St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Demre showing how the touch of devout Orthodox visitors has polished the metal to a shine](../img/gallery/D3963.jpg)
![Close-up the St. Nicholas statue at the St. Nicholas of Myra Church in Demre taken at an upward angle to highlight the cross on his chest and halo](../img/gallery/D3964.jpg)
![Close up of St. Nicholas statue's face and hand](../img/gallery/D3965.jpg)
![Ceiling mural in St. Nick's Church in Antalya, Turkey](../img/gallery/E5501.jpg)
![Mosaic tiles laid out in a geometric pattern on the floor of the original St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox church](../img/gallery/E5505.jpg)
![Mosaic tiles laid out in a repeating circular pattern on the floor of the St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox church in Turkey](../img/gallery/E5506.jpg)
![Intricate marble tile work on the floor of the St. Nicholas Church in Turkey](../img/gallery/E5507.jpg)
![Colourful bushes form a pretty background to a statue of St. Nicholas giving a blessing.](../img/gallery/E5510.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas in his role as Father Christmas](../img/gallery/E5511.jpg)
![Trees form a pretty background to a statue of a haloed St. Nicholas giving a blessing.](../img/gallery/G2908.jpg)
![Statue of St. Nicholas of Myra wearing a halo and holding a bible](../img/gallery/G2911.jpg)
![Close-up of the head of a statue of St. Nicholas of Myra wearing a halo](../img/gallery/G2912.jpg)
![Close-up of the head of a statue of St. Nicholas of Myra wearing a halo](../img/gallery/G2914.jpg)
![Faded wall mural in an alcove of the St. Nicholas church](../img/gallery/G2918.jpg)
![Painting of St. Nicholas of Myra in a white robe and halo holding two crosses](../img/gallery/G2921.jpg)
![Interior of the apse of the original St. Nicholas church](../img/gallery/G2927.jpg)
![Interior of the main hall at the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Turkey](../img/gallery/G2936.jpg)
![Interior of the arched ceiling and columns in the main hall at the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Turkey](../img/gallery/G2942.jpg)
![Painting on a domed ceiling depicting the life of St. Nicholas of Demre](../img/gallery/G2946.jpg)
![Frescoes on the walls and arches of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/G2949.jpg)
![Female visitor taking pictures of the walls and arched ceilings of the St. Nicholas of Myra orthodox church](../img/gallery/G2950.jpg)
![Female visitor looking at paintings on the walls of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/G2951.jpg)
![Painting of men in a rowboat high on the wall of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/G2952.jpg)
![Faded frescoes, in the process of being restored, cover virtually every inch of the walls and ceilings of the St. Nicholas Church / Museum](../img/gallery/G2953.jpg)
![Faded frescoes, many of which are indecipherable, cover virtually every inch of the walls and ceilings of the St. Nicholas Church / Museum](../img/gallery/G2954.jpg)
![Painting of a haloed St. Nicholas holding a bejewelled bible](../img/gallery/G2956.jpg)
![St. Nicholas statue depicting his role as Father Christmas on the exterior grounds of the St. Nicholas church and museum in Demre](../img/gallery/G2957.jpg)
![Vertical panorama of the apse area in the St. Nicholas Church showing the intricate brickwork on the ceiling](../img/gallery/18-09-18-3022.jpg)
![Exterior of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church / museum and structure erected to protect it from the elements](../img/gallery/H6442.jpg)
![Tourists milling around the base of a statue of Father Christmas on the grounds of the St. Nicholas Church in Myra (Demre, Antalya, Turkey)](../img/gallery/H6444.jpg)
![Tourists walking down the slope to the entrance of the St. Nicholas Church museum, which is below ground level due to centuries of alluvial silting.](../img/gallery/H6447.jpg)
![Pop-up museum shop on the grounds of the St. Nicholas Church site](../img/gallery/H6455.jpg)
![Panoramic view of the St. Nicholas Church apse from a side entrance](../img/gallery/19-09-09-3909.jpg)
![Exterior of the window opening set into the church's 2 foot thick stone walls](../img/gallery/H6456.jpg)
![Tourists milling about and taking photos of the statue of St. Nicholas giving a blessing which is located at the entrance / exit of the church](../img/gallery/H6458.jpg)
![Close-up of the apse of the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Turkey](../img/gallery/H6460.jpg)
![Religious paintings on the walls and ceiling of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/19-09-09-3919.jpg)
![Frescoes inside the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6467.jpg)
![Frescoes depicting haloed men crying inside the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6473.jpg)
![Paintings on the walls and ceilings of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6474.jpg)
![Religious paintings on the walls and ceiling of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6475.jpg)
![Religious paintings on the walls and ceiling of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H6476.jpg)
![Structure built over the top of the St. Nicholas Church to keep it protected from the elements](../img/gallery/H6478.jpg)
![Painting of St. Nicholas beside three tall narrow windows at the church in Demre](../img/gallery/H7873.jpg)
![Close-up of a painting of a haloed St. Nicholas of Myra in white robes](../img/gallery/H7874.jpg)
![Ornately carved stone slab on display in the courtyard of the St. Nicholas Church](../img/gallery/H7877.jpg)
![Looking through 2 arched doorways into the main chapel at the St. Nicholas Church in Antalya, Turkey](../img/gallery/H7879.jpg)
![Decorative paintings on an arched ceiling in the church where St. Nicholas was once bishop](../img/gallery/H7880.jpg)