More than 1,600 years ago, St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, now Turkey. He was famous for anonymously giving gifts, the act of generosity that informed the immortalized, fictional character celebrated today during the Christmas season.
The Byzantine church where St. Nicholas’ tomb was purportedly found served as a house of worship for Orthodox Christians from the 5th century through the 12th century, according to the Daily Mail. The space is surrounded by statues of St. Nicholas.
The discovery of the church’s very existence is relatively new. It was reportedly only found in 2017.
