St. Nicholas Church, Demre is an ancient Byzantine Church located in modern day town of Demre Antalya Province, (Southwest Turkey). It's usage is dated between 5th - 12th centuries. It is most notable for being the burial place of St. Nicholas of Myra, who was the Eastern Orthodox bishop of the ancient city of Myra in the 4th century, and is an important religious figure for Eastern Orthodox Christians.[1]
Archaeological excavations in the Church started in 1988 directed by Prof. S. Yıldız Ötüken of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. The work has revealed some of the northern section of the monastery complex, and also the small chapels around the nave, one of which notably contains vibrant frescoes detailing the life and miracles of the saint, and a desecrated sarcophagus which is thought to be the original burial place from where his remains were stolen by raiders from Bari in 1087.[2]
Since 2009, the excavations are being directed by Prof. Nevzat Çevik of Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey.
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