December 3rd - Did you know?

Did you know that archaeologists in Turkey recently discovered a tomb that they think may belong to St Nicholas?

St Nicholas was the inspiration for Santa Claus. He was born in Greek Anatolia in what is now Turkey, before making a pilgrimage in his youth to Egypt and Palestine.

Until now it has been believed that St Nicholas’ remains were stored at the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari, Italy, after his bones were stolen from his hometown of Myra by Italian merchants in 1087. This is the official line taken by the Catholic Church.

However, the new theory has it that the merchants stole the wrong bones. Using digital surveys, a new tomb has been discovered underneath the St Nicholas Church in Demre, formerly Myra.

The shrine is in relatively good condition but there’s still excavation work to be done before the archaeologists can take a proper look.

Fortunately for eager kids worldwide, however, the legend of Santa Claus lives on.