Free Republic

Archaeologists have unearthed a sarcophagus during ongoing excavation work at the St. Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, shedding light on the ancient past of the historical site. The church, believed to be located near the burial place of St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra and the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus, has been a site of important archaeological findings for years. The discovery was made in the church’s two-story annex, which has been under excavation since 1989. SNIP

Top officials in Turkey say the country is considering requesting the return of St Nicholas's remains from Italy so they may be placed at a museum to be built at his birthplace. St Nicholas, from whom the story of Santa Claus emerged, was born and served as a bishop of what is now the Turkish Mediterranean town of Demre, in the 4th century AD. He was buried there, but his bones were later taken to the southern Italian town of Bari. Turkish Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay told the Anatolia news agency that Turkey was planning to build a museum in...