St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) ChurchPlaces to Visit in Antalya

St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) Church

Saint Nicholas, a highly venerated religious figure, was born in Patara in the late third century AD. He eventually became the bishop of Myra and was canonized after his death. Saint Nicholas is widely honored across many European nations, especially those formerly under the Russian Empire. The well-known Santa Claus figure, cherished by children in northern Europe, was inspired by the legend of Saint Nicholas, evolving into a beloved character deeply embedded in European culture.

The St. Nicholas Church (Aziz Nikolaos Kilisesi) stands as a significant monument in the history of Middle Byzantine art. It exemplifies distinguished architectural and decorative styles that date back to the 5th century CE. Additionally, Myra's role as the capital of the Lycian region and as the second most important religious center in Anatolia enhanced the church’s prominence, especially after the passing of Saint Nicholas.

The original church at this location was destroyed by an earthquake in 529 AD. It was subsequently rebuilt as a larger basilica-style church, incorporating some remains of the original structure, including two small residential buildings south of its extensive wall and fragments of the northern wall.

Sadly, the church experienced severe destruction either from another earthquake or attacks by Arabian raiders during the eighth century. It was later rebuilt but faced complete demolition in 1034 due to assaults by the Arabian navy. An inscription indicates the structure lay in ruins for about ten years until it was restored by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachus and his wife Zoë in 1042. Further renovations and expansions were carried out under Byzantine Emperor Basil II, giving the church much of its present-day form.

In the 13th century, the Turks took control of Myra, yet the church continued functioning as a place of worship. In 1738, restoration was performed on a chapel adjacent to the main building. The French traveler C. Texier visited Myra during his Anatolian journey from 1833 to 1837 and documented his findings. Later, Lieutenant Spratt and Professor Forbes toured the site in March 1842 and created a detailed sketch of the church.

During the Crimean War in 1853, a group of Russians showed interest in Saint Nicholas Church and acquired land intending to establish a Russian settlement there. The Ottoman government, aware of the political consequences, reclaimed the land but consented to the restoration of the church. In 1862, August Salzmann, a French architect, was commissioned for the restoration. Unfortunately, his work was poorly executed, disregarding the original design and causing unfortunate alterations, including the addition of a bulky bell tower in 1876, which still stands today.

The Saint Nicholas Church, situated in the historic city of Myra, was included in the UNESCO Tentative List in 2000 and is considered one of Turkey’s important cultural treasures.