Is This Really Saint Nicholas?
By Movieguide® Contributor
You better not cry, you better not pout — The remains of Saint Nicholas may have come about.
The sarcophagus and remains of the original Saint Nicholas are presumed to have been uncovered at an excavation site in Turkey.
The discovery occurred at a two-story annex in the ancient city of Mya, where Saint Nicolas served as a bishop. “We believe that we have encountered a sarcophagus to be in situ (original position) for the first time,” said Ebru Fatma Findik, associate professor at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University’s Department of Art History. “While drilling inside the structure, we encountered a surprise sarcophagus. We are working inside the 20-meter-long, two-story structure that borders the church courtyard from the south. This work, among the undecorated sarcophagus group, is made of local stone and has a slightly high barrel roof.”
History appears to confirm the discovery.
“Some historical sources mention that St. Nicholas was buried near the sacred area of the city of Myra,” Findik said. “The discovery of a sarcophagus near the church, which is believed to be the resting place of St. Nicholas, could indicate that this site may indeed be the sacred area in question. We can say that we have reached archaeological evidence that confirms historical sources about St. Nicholas’ burial place being in the city’s sacred area.”
In addition to the remains, excavators found “many terracotta oil lamp fragments and animal bones were unearthed before reaching the sarcophagus during the drilling.”
The original Saint Nicholas was a Byzantine bishop born in present day Turkey. He fought against injustice, saving men from death.
“The story begins when a local businessman goes to see the provincial governor. For reasons that are lost to history, he wants three innocent men, Nepotian, Ursyna and Apollyn, killed. The governor, a notoriously dishonest man called Eustathios, is only too happy to help,” NZ News explained. “…once the bribe had been paid, the men were condemned to death.”
When Saint Nicholas heard what was happening, he went to help. When the men were about to be executed, he threw himself between them and the sword, thus saving their lives.
Related: Author Wayne Van Der Wal Explores The Real-Life Story of Saint Nicholas in New Book
“He then admonished the governor. When faced with the righteous fury of Nicholas, Eustathios fell to his knees and repented, promising to change his ways, sources suggest.”
Ultimately, Saint Nicholas’ love of justice came from his dedication to God.
“The Roman emperor Diocletian decided it was time to send out a message. He ordered the torture of any Christian who refused to worship the Roman gods. It unleashed a reign of terror. Nicholas was one of those imprisoned and tortured. The persecution by Diocletian lasted between eight and ten years. When Bishop Nicholas was finally freed, he was a changed man. Putting his life on the line for people he had never met could have been simply because he knew what it felt like to be innocent and have your freedom taken away.”
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