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Ho ho ho - rumor has it there was a reindeer skeleton with a red nose next to him...
PUBLISHED: 15:52 EDT, 18 October 2022
The tomb of Saint Nicolas, the inspiration behind Santa Claus, has been discovered after archaeologists uncovered the remains of an ancient church in Turkey that was submerged by rising sea levels in the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages.
The holy figure, who lived between 270 and 343 AD, is most famous for inheriting money that he gave away to the poor and specifically the story about how he gifted three girls with bags of gold to save them from a life of prostitution.
Another church was built on top of the ancient basilica's foundation to protect the saint's tomb, but it was not until recently did archaeologists uncover mosaic and stone flooring from the previous sanctuary under the one that stands today that led them to St Nicholas' final resting place.
The discovery support claims that St Nicolas lived and died in Turkey and the team also announced that the same stone flooring found hiding beneath layers of sediment was also walked upon by the Christian figure, Demirören News Agency reports.
more
Tomb of 'Santa Claus' is FOUND: Burial spot of Saint Nicholas who died more than 1,600 years ago is discovered underneath a church in Turkey
- Archaeologists have found the tomb of Saint Nicholas underneath a Byzantine church in Turkey
- The church was built on top of the foundation of a previous basilica that was destroyed in the Middle Ages by rising sea levels in the Mediterranean
- Experts conducted work at the site in 2017 when they found gaps under the newer church's floor and spent the past few years carefully removing the mosaic flooring to reveal the ancient foundation
- Saint Nicholas, who lived between 270 and 343, is most famous for inheriting money that he gave away to the poor and is the inspiration behind the holiday story of Santa Claus
PUBLISHED: 15:52 EDT, 18 October 2022
The tomb of Saint Nicolas, the inspiration behind Santa Claus, has been discovered after archaeologists uncovered the remains of an ancient church in Turkey that was submerged by rising sea levels in the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages.
The holy figure, who lived between 270 and 343 AD, is most famous for inheriting money that he gave away to the poor and specifically the story about how he gifted three girls with bags of gold to save them from a life of prostitution.
Another church was built on top of the ancient basilica's foundation to protect the saint's tomb, but it was not until recently did archaeologists uncover mosaic and stone flooring from the previous sanctuary under the one that stands today that led them to St Nicholas' final resting place.
The discovery support claims that St Nicolas lived and died in Turkey and the team also announced that the same stone flooring found hiding beneath layers of sediment was also walked upon by the Christian figure, Demirören News Agency reports.
more
Tomb of St Nicholas who is also known as Santa Claus is FOUND
The tomb has been hiding underneath a Byzantine church in Turkey that was built atop an ancient basilica, which was destroyed by rising sea levels during the Middle Ages.