SANTA CLAUS - SAINT NICHOLAS
WHO WAS SANTA CLAUS OR SAINT NICHOLAS?
Santa Claus, is an old man who enters the houses from the chimneys, carrying a sack on his back with gifts and makes the children happy for delivering toys strolling on a sled pulled by reindeers. But the real St. Nicholas lived in Myra, called Demre today, is in the Mediterranean coast with no snow. The protective personality of St. Nicholas and desire of helping children in difficult situations have been transformed into a sympathetic old Santa Claus, perhaps combined with a god lost in very dark early age , appearing on Christmas Eve to make everybody happy. But even if it is contrary to the actual, Father Christmas is a lovable person especially the lives of children as they expect excitement in Christian countries.
We do not know much about the life of St. Nicholas as in many of the saints. His life is adorned with many legends, of course, most of them are unreal. He is known as a child of grain trade family in Demre. Religious books tell us he was a gift from the heavens, a fruit of charity and a savior of the poor. He had done some miracles when he lived. He made travels to Palestine and Egypt in his youth and lived in 3rd or 4th C AD. It is accepted in Christain world that St. Nicholas passed away on December 6th. A lot of churches were built on behalf of Santa Claus in many European cities, among which was built the 6th century basilica in Istanbul is the most spectacular one. In Russia and Greece, he is also known the most respected and recognized saint as the protector of sailors and travelers.
Santa Claus, is an old man who enters the houses from the chimneys, carrying a sack on his back with gifts and makes the children happy for delivering toys strolling on a sled pulled by reindeers. But the real St. Nicholas lived in Myra, called Demre today, is in the Mediterranean coast with no snow. The protective personality of St. Nicholas and desire of helping children in difficult situations have been transformed into a sympathetic old Santa Claus, perhaps combined with a god lost in very dark early age , appearing on Christmas Eve to make everybody happy. But even if it is contrary to the actual, Father Christmas is a lovable person especially the lives of children as they expect excitement in Christian countries.
We do not know much about the life of St. Nicholas as in many of the saints. His life is adorned with many legends, of course, most of them are unreal. He is known as a child of grain trade family in Demre. Religious books tell us he was a gift from the heavens, a fruit of charity and a savior of the poor. He had done some miracles when he lived. He made travels to Palestine and Egypt in his youth and lived in 3rd or 4th C AD. It is accepted in Christain world that St. Nicholas passed away on December 6th. A lot of churches were built on behalf of Santa Claus in many European cities, among which was built the 6th century basilica in Istanbul is the most spectacular one. In Russia and Greece, he is also known the most respected and recognized saint as the protector of sailors and travelers.
SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH
St. Nicholas Church is the most outstanding example and an important monument of Byzantine art history in architectural style with ornaments. The people of Myra built a monument in memory of St. Nicholas in the 5th century AD and then a great basilica in 6th C AD. As the results of the earthquakes happened in 8th century and Arap raids in 9th century, the basilica in Myra was badly damaged and the curch was rebuilt with a dome. Subsequent additions were made in the 11th century. Most of the wall frescoes and floor mosaics belong to this period. Other comprehensive repairs of the church which were destroyed for various reasons over the centuries have been carried out by the Russian Tsar in 1862, Nikolai the first. The bell tower and dome rather deviated from the original plan is the product of these repairs.
There are many buildings built in different times on the original foundations of the church today thus the church looks like a complex which was built in different times. This complex consists of ; two narthexes opened onto the courtyard located between two side aisles of a domed central section and the apse in front of bama. Outer narthex is the new one comparing with inner. The inner narthex built on the original foundations is the oldest wall of the church depicting the prophet and council meetings frescoes on.
St. Nicholas Church is the most outstanding example and an important monument of Byzantine art history in architectural style with ornaments. The people of Myra built a monument in memory of St. Nicholas in the 5th century AD and then a great basilica in 6th C AD. As the results of the earthquakes happened in 8th century and Arap raids in 9th century, the basilica in Myra was badly damaged and the curch was rebuilt with a dome. Subsequent additions were made in the 11th century. Most of the wall frescoes and floor mosaics belong to this period. Other comprehensive repairs of the church which were destroyed for various reasons over the centuries have been carried out by the Russian Tsar in 1862, Nikolai the first. The bell tower and dome rather deviated from the original plan is the product of these repairs.
There are many buildings built in different times on the original foundations of the church today thus the church looks like a complex which was built in different times. This complex consists of ; two narthexes opened onto the courtyard located between two side aisles of a domed central section and the apse in front of bama. Outer narthex is the new one comparing with inner. The inner narthex built on the original foundations is the oldest wall of the church depicting the prophet and council meetings frescoes on.
Content Author : Mahmut ÖKÇESIZ
Page Editor : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published : 13 November 2014
Page Editor : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published : 13 November 2014
