Church Saint Nicholas, Antalya
Church Saint Nicholas, Demre, Saint Nicholas Church, Churches, Saint Nicholas pitures, Saint Nicholas photos
A large number of tourists from all over the world flock to Demre (formerly Myra) searching for the roots of Saint Nicholas. They arrive as pilgrims, especially from Russia-up to sixty bus loads a day during the peak season-where Saint Nicholas is revered as patron and a father of Orthodox faith.
The gorgeous beaches and warm weather along the Mediterranean coast also draw visitors from both Eastern and Western Europe. They may arrived at Demre as pilgrims, or, out of curiosity, wondering about the origin of Santa Claus, who is called Noel Baba or Father Christmas in Turkey.
Vendors’ stalls and shops are jam-packed with a vast array of St. Nicholas icon images offered in stone, weavings, wax, and metal. They’re found as medals, bookmarks, plates, figurines, and icons. Rug dealers hawk his image in many sizes and many colors. Icon images greatly outnumber Santa-types, giving silent testimony to the numbers of Christian, particularly Orthodox, pilgrims.
Saint Nicholas was born in Greco-Roman Lycia, an area now part of modern-day Turkey. During his life, Constantine became Emperor, following Diocletian who had persecuted Christians, including Nicholas. Christianity then flourished, replacing Greek and Roman Pagan deities, becoming the main religion.
However, after the Seljuk Turks conquest (11th-13th centuries) and with the Ottoman Empire’s long reign (14th-20th centuries), the dominant religion in this land, evangelized by the Apostle Paul, became Islamic. Today, after the expulsion of Greek Christians in 1922, 99.8%* of Turkish people are Muslim, though Turkey is officially a secular state.
In the early 1950s Turks pointed out that the Bishop of Myra, Saint Nicholas, was none other than the western world’s Santa Claus or Father Christmas. Just like the good saint had brought pilgrims to Myra, and later to Bari, Italy, it was hoped he would again attract tourists and pilgrims with their lira, euros, and dollars.
Turkey issued a Santa Claus stamp in 1955, drawing further attention to St. Nicholas’ relationship to this place. Since 1981 regular events somewhat related to the good saint have been held under the sponsorship of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Anatalyan governor’s office. The 1st Father Christmas Symposium, held in 1983, has become an annual event, lasting about a week over the 6th of December, St. Nicholas Day.
Saint Nicholas Church, Antalya, Wonders Of Turkey, Saint Nicholas Pics
Religious and scientific people come from many countries for the Activities for World Peace with Santa Claus, including the Santa Claus Peace Award. This led to the establishment in 1991 of the Santa Claus Foundation to promote peace, friendship and brotherhood.
For many years an Orthodox liturgy occured in the Church of St. Nicholas on the 6th of December, St. Nicholas Day. İt was the only service held in the church and it was not allowed from 2002-2006. Government permission was again granted in 2007. However, in January 2008 the name of the St. Nicholas Church (Aziz Nicholas Kilisesi) was officially changed to Father Christmas Museum (Noel Baba Müzesi). This may prevent such a service.
In today’s predominantly Muslim Turkey, commercial interests promote Santa Claus to encourage gift giving at New Year’s. So Western Santa, Noel Baba, is sometimes seen in shopping areas, on the streets, or in schools. Saint Nicholas is remembered in the land of his birth as a person who looked after all people, especially children. He is appreciated for his caring, humanitarian values, and especially because he gives a boost to tourism and the economy.
