The city of Myra was
a chief Lycian port
in antiquity.
Including both the
city and the harbor
a short distance
away, the once
prosperous city was
near to the Lycian
tombs (a short walk
to the north), a
rock carved
necropolis with an
impressive fa�ade
from the C4 BCE and
onward.
Along with the
necropolis, there
was a Roman theatre
erected, which still
appears in a good
state of
preservation. The
port regularly
serviced Alexandrian
grain ships, serving
the needs of the
Lycian Cities.
Though not
extensively
excavated, the city
has significant
remains. Julius the
Centurion chose the
ill-fated ship bound
for Italy to take
St. Paul for his
requested
presentation to
Caesar (Acts
27:5-6). The
contrary winds and
waves eventually
overwhelmed the
vessel. Christianity
took hold in the
city, and a world
famous Christian
bishop of
Myra.
St. Nicolas is
remembered in the
restored C 11 CE
Byzantine basilica.
Nicolas was a late
C4 CE bishop who
served the people of
his region with
zeal, and is
remembered as a
particularly
selfless and giving
Christian. After a
gift of three small
bags of gold were
left as dowry
payments from three
young women of
Patara (to aid them
in escaping a life
of prostitution) the
fame of his selfless
acts grew in
historical legend.
It was said that
Nicolas sold
possessions dear to
him to gain the
money to care for
these women. Today,
a pawnbroker uses
the three balls of
gold to remember
this gift. St.
Nicolas is today the
patron of Russia,
virgins and sailors
in liturgical
settings, and is
remembered world
wide in the Santa
Claus tradition.
