Remains in church could be St Nicholas

Turkish archaeologists believe they may have discovered the remains of Saint Nicholas, from whom the legend of Santa Claus emerged, beneath a church at his birthplace in the south of the country.

If confirmed, the discovery would scotch the longheld belief his remains had been removed to the southern Italian town of Bari.

St Nicholas was born and served as a bishop of what is now the Turkish Mediterranean town of Demre, near Antalya, in the fourth century. He was buried in the area formerly known as Myra, but his bones were believed to have been stolen and taken to Bari.

Archaeologists, however, have recently discovered what they think is a temple below the church and now believe his remains may be lying there, Cemil Karabayram, the head of Antalya’s Reliefs and Monuments authority, said.