In a church in Turkey, archaeologists have discovered a sarcophagus that may be the final resting place of the saint who inspired the legend of Santa Claus.

A significant archaeological discovery has been made in Turkey. Archaeologists have found a sarcophagus made of limestone, which they believe may belong to St. Nicholas - it may hide the remains of the 4th-century bishop who laid the foundation for the legend of Santa Claus.

The find is located in the heart of the church built in the 7th century, which was erected in the city of Myra in honor of Saint Nicholas.

The sarcophagus is about 180 centimeters long and 150 centimeters deep, has a sloped lid and rests about 180 centimeters underground, Heritage Daily reported. According to archaeologist Ebru Fatma Findik, researcher at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University

experts hope to find an inscription on the sarcophagus that would clearly identify the person buried inside and help determine the exact era.

Centuries after his death, Saint Nicholas was even more respected. II. The Byzantine emperor Theodosius had a large-scale church built in his honor in Myra, in what is now Antalya province in Turkey.

According to legend, Miklós was the patron saint of children, merchants and repentant thieves, and because of his generous gifts, there are many stories about him, which formed the basis of the figure of Santa Claus.

The bones of Saint Nicholas were believed to have been found in Venice after the First Crusade. It is believed that his remains were first taken to a temple in Bari after being transported from Myra. According to the 1953 investigations, the bones found in Bari and Venice came from the same individual, but the researchers could not clearly prove that they were indeed the remains of St. Nicholas.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, excavations are continuing and more details are expected in the near future.

The discovery may give new hope that the secret of St. Nicholas' resting place may finally be revealed, and the story of the legend of Santa Claus may be enriched with another piece.

Híradó.hu

Cover image: Archaeologists have discovered a sarcophagus in a church in Turkey, which may be the final resting place of Saint Nicholas, the saint who inspired the legend of Santa Claus
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