Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, served in this place
 St Nicholas statue in Myra Photo: Cem Karan Historic Ruins & Antique Sites of Turkey Used by permission |
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When Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, the city, named a metropolis in the 2nd century, was one of the most important cities in Lycia. It was the regional capital and had administrative authority and influence. Myra was three miles east of Andriaki, the port at the mouth of the Andriacus River. St. Luke visited and St. Paul, the apostle, changed ships here on his way to Rome.
Myra, with a population up to 50,000, sat in a valley rich with trees, vines, and flowers. The area is still an important agricultural region, with many orange groves, fruit orchards, and greenhouses growing tomatoes, eggplant, and other vegetables.
After Nicholas' death Myra became a popular pilgrimage center and many new churches were built. However, fortunes shifted with Arab raids, flooding and earthquakes causing the city to be nearly abandoned by the early 11th century. As the people left, silt coming down the hills built up each year until the city nearly disappeared. The saint's relics were removed to Bari, Italy, in 1087. Filled with silt, the harbor was of limited use, and Andriaki disappeared under the sand. Its ruins are visible at Çayagzi, which sports a lovely long sand beach along a shallow bay. Cruise ships and pleasure boats now dock along the quay.
Myra has some of the most spectacular Lycian ruins—the ancient rock tombs and the amphitheatre which is still used for festival productions. Myra lies between the modern town Demre, also known as Kale, and the sea.
Nicholas as Bishop of Myra
The Three Faces of Nicholas—
Who is he in his hometown?
More information
Saint Nicholas Bishop of Myra: The Life and Times of the Original Father Christmas by D. L. Cann, Novalis/Twenty-Third Publications, 2002
Describes the culture and places of the Graeco-Roman Empire that was home to St Nicholas
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