Everyone knows Saint Nicholas, right? But not everyone knows where his tomb, temple, etc. is located. Well, at least I didn't know. But a few days ago we learned from an acquaintance that in Turkey there is a church of Saint Nicholas and that Saint Nicholas himself is buried there, as I read on Google. And a few days after learning this information, we went in search of this place. We went on a trip in our rental car. It is approximately 100 km from the city of Kemer to the city of Demre. After a while we arrived. We parked and looked around. We look, but we see no temple! We got lost and finally realized it was on the other side of the building we parked near. And finally, here we are, in front of the entrance to this mysterious place. We have museum cards, so entry was free for us.
As you approach the temple, you already see the impressive scale of the temple complex, its massive walls and the exquisite details that emphasize its religious significance. Near the entrance to the church there is an iron statue of Saint Nicholas. Upon entering, you immediately feel the unusual spirit of the temple, which is filled with the spirit of faith and piety.
Inside you walk as if you were in a magical room, the atmosphere is extraordinary. Soft light streams in through several small windows, creating a unique play of shadows and highlights. Every corner of the temple hides a part of history, impressive with its numerous rooms. The temple is so large that inside we almost get lost in the corridors. I couldn't understand where I was.
You know, I am extremely impressed with how beautiful this temple is. How many small details there are and how everything is clearly and perfectly done here. My favorite part of this temple is this huge hall you can see on few photos under and above this text. Inside this hall, everything looks so chic. The ceiling here is round and extremely flat, and is illuminated by several yellow lamps, which creates a divine atmosphere here. Such beauty!
As you enter the temple, you will be transported back in time and discover the atmosphere before you.
miracles of Saint Nicholas. His pious actions and inexhaustible goodness are captured in the paintings on the walls, creating a sense of incredible and divine presence. This place is extraordinary and I was fascinated to walk here.
Nicola grew up in a family in which faith and piety were given great importance. After the death of his parents, he inherited a huge estate, which he used to help the poor and needy. His fame as a generous benefactor spread far beyond his hometown. According to legend, he once saved three sisters from slavery by giving them secret help in the form of gold coins. This episode is often depicted in iconography and legends about Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was elected archbishop of Myr Lykia. The memory of Saint Nicholas is highly honored in the Christian world.
When I lived in Ukraine, in my childhood there was a very beautiful tradition: on the night of December 18 to 19, to give gifts to each other under the pillow. My grandfather had great respect for this Saint Nicholas. And he really believed that if you ask him for help, miracles can happen on Earth. He said that St. Nicholas really comes at night and gives gifts.
He taught us to sing a song and this evening before going to bed waiting for gifts, we always had to sing this song about St. Nicholas in front of him.
But my mother changed this tradition and told us the truth about Saint Nicholas. When my mother was little, she could not understand why St. Nicholas brings expensive gifts to some children and small gifts to other children. And this offense was in her soul until she learned the truth: gifts are put under the pillow by parents, and everyone has different financial capabilities. Therefore, my mother kept this beautiful tradition in honor of St. Nicholas. But we knew the truth. And it was very interesting to wait for this day. We wrote symbolic letters to St. Nicholas, and each of us tried to give each other what we wanted to receive :)
Somewhere closer to the other part of the building, two well-made exits lead you to the street. And they take you out to the courtyard inside. The courtyard contains a beautiful old fountain. This yard looks very elegant. I love the way this yard looks so much.
One of my favorite details in this temple is the circular part of the ceiling as you can see in the photos above. There are several of them here and they look so cool.
So, St. Nicholas Church in Turkey is an amazing place, this church impressed me a lot. Its grandeur and beauty amazes and leaves an unforgettable impression on everyone who visits this sanctuary.
Bye bye everyone!! 🏛️